septbride2002
"TO MILE 9!!!"
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2003
- Messages
- 5,472
Sunday December 5, 2004
Cast Members: Amanda (25) loves Disney, cant wait to tour the resorts.
Brian (26) loves Disney but cant believe he is up at 7a.m. on vacation.
Susan (30-ish) Disney Fanatic wakes up very early.
Eric (30-ish) loves Disney wakes up even earlier.
I hear movement in the room. As I peak one eye open I can see Eric sitting straight up in bed looking at the wall in front of him. Susan is wake but at least still laying down. And my dear husband is still sound asleep. So I gently nudge him with my foot he doesnt stir. I try again nothing. Finally I nudge not so gently okay we have eye movement. I then whisper, Everyone is up. To which Eric and Susan practically jump out of bed and start getting ready. Think they were waiting on us?
Now I figured that 4 adults, all needing showers and such would take awhile to get ready but we were done in about an hour and a half not to shabby. We had breakfast in the room Mountain Dew and doughnuts hey it is vacation! And the number one rule of a vacation is that we dont eat healthy foods!
We pack up our stuff and head to the French Quarter Resort to check us in. We stand in line a whole 15 minutes when I realize I left our annual pass vouchers at the beach club. Back in the car, back to the BC, back to the French Quarter Resort where we check in. This is our first time staying here and let me tell ya it will not be the last. Resort Review to follow. Our room is ready right away which I cant believe since it is already 10 a.m. So we head up to the room. LOVE IT! Then we hop in the car and head to Celebration since none of us had seen it. It is very cute and a lot like the planned communities here in St. Louis. We moseyed (we dont do a lot of moseying on this vacation so I have to point it out when we do) around for maybe 30 minutes and then back in the car. Now it is approaching 11:30 and we have a lot of resorts to see today so we decide we better get lunch and since downtown Disney is so close why not head back to Earl of Sandwich. LOL! Again a feast fit for a king and at $17 for 2 people including sodas and chips I think the price is pretty reasonable.
We make a grocery stop since we discovered that DH and I have a fridge in our room. And while I can drink any soda, DH has a love affair with Mountain Dew. And usually by Wednesday we have Mountain Dew withdrawal which is not fun. And usually includes a lot of complaining.
Saratoga Springs Resort how very pretty and very festive. Of course we have been thinking about joining the DVC and this was our first glimpse at the resort. Very very pretty and exactly our style. I loved that it was a little whimsical as well. Off the lobby there was a room that featured pictures of all the horses who ever starred in a Disney film. Quite fun! While there we also toured the spa and gym. Ooohhh la la. Did someone say massage?
Caribbean Beach Resort this was the resort that I disliked the most. The Christmas decorations were in an island theme and while that makes sense I missed the traditional ornaments used at the BC and YC. We are staying here in January for the marathon so we walked around a lot the first thing I notice this place is HUGE and not so .how do you say ..to our taste. Im glad we will only be here for 4 nights although we may change our minds later and love it.
Coronado Springs Resort DH didnt like this resort at all but I saw its potential. The decorations were really cool with the Latin flare and they had a huge angel on top of their tree. Which I thought was very fitting with most of the Mexican population being Catholic.
We head back to the resorts to get cleaned up because we are going to the California Grill tonight. This will be DH and my third time eating here but the neighbors first. On their trips they typically eat off property can you believe it? It was time for them to be educated.
Our PS was at 6:10 and I love the new system of checking in downstairs and then going up. It keeps the restaurant from becoming a free for all of the fireworks show and much quieter. Now when we made our PS arrangements we were told that we should dress business casual. So we all show up in nice slacks and shirts. However there were many people there still in park gear and this bothered me. Not sure if they were told the business casual wear or not but lets face it folks this is a very nice restaurant. Would you go to this type of restaurant at home in a sleeveless t-shirt and shorts probably not. And another thing and I will preface this by saying I do not have children but common sense would say to me that if my under the age of 3 child has been cranky all day, or maybe didnt get a nap due to touring the parks that taking them to this type of restaurant may not be a good idea. Screaming and crying babies do not add to the atmosphere. And I do not blame the kiddos for this since they are too young to know any better but parents if you child is crying loudly WALK OUT OF THE RESTURANT! Sheesh. Okay I will be stepping off my soapbox and putting on my flame retardant suit.
The food as always was incredible at the CA Grill. We had the best waiter ever who didnt mind going into great detail for Susan who typically orders off of the childrens menu. I counted 6 different Christmas tree in the restaurant and each one was done in a different color. We were sat by an all purple tree, my favorite color. I know I said I would do dining reviews but the food is too good to not talk about in the trip report. We shared the 4 cheese and sun dried tomato flat bread very yummy even Susan liked it after she removed the tomatoes. Then Eric, DH, and I split CA rolls and asked for a Shrimp tempura roll. Eric had eaten sushi before but never quite like this. He wasnt fond of the CA roll but loved the Shrimp tempura. For entrees each couple split the filet (so far weve eaten a lot of food) it was of course incredible. I let DH have most of it because I knew what we were getting for desert. Molten Lava Chocolate cake. YUMMY! Last time it was served with White Chocolate Ice Cream but this time it was coffee flavored and again spectacular. Total bill came to $200 before tip. But worth every penny. Oh Susan and I also had 1 bottle of wine with dinner. The best wine I have ever tasted.
We hopped on the Monorail to the Polynesian Resort. DH and I stayed here in 2002 for our honeymoon and it is by far DHs favorite resort. They have a gingerbread Poly resort set up. One thing I was a bit dismayed is that at night you really cant see the waterfalls which is a bit of a bummer. The decorations were in an island theme but not as much as the CBR. I also walked through the Wyland gallery and there was a beautiful painting of whales that I would love to buy.
We walked outside and what do I hear the Electric Water Parade so I take off running. Everyone caught up to me just as it started. A lot of the boats must have been damaged with the hurricanes because the parade only had 5 to 6 of them out there in comparison to about 10 to 15 that I remember.
Back to the monorail where I ask if we can ride up front, something the Eric and Susan have never done. We did an entire loop and landed back at the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian decorations are amazing! The tree is very beautiful and the life size gingerbread house is just Wow! We took lots and lots of pictures and then decided everyone was getting sleepy and we needed to head back to the resort we had a full day ahead of use tomorrow.
Cast Members: Amanda (25) loves Disney, cant wait to tour the resorts.
Brian (26) loves Disney but cant believe he is up at 7a.m. on vacation.
Susan (30-ish) Disney Fanatic wakes up very early.
Eric (30-ish) loves Disney wakes up even earlier.
I hear movement in the room. As I peak one eye open I can see Eric sitting straight up in bed looking at the wall in front of him. Susan is wake but at least still laying down. And my dear husband is still sound asleep. So I gently nudge him with my foot he doesnt stir. I try again nothing. Finally I nudge not so gently okay we have eye movement. I then whisper, Everyone is up. To which Eric and Susan practically jump out of bed and start getting ready. Think they were waiting on us?
Now I figured that 4 adults, all needing showers and such would take awhile to get ready but we were done in about an hour and a half not to shabby. We had breakfast in the room Mountain Dew and doughnuts hey it is vacation! And the number one rule of a vacation is that we dont eat healthy foods!
We pack up our stuff and head to the French Quarter Resort to check us in. We stand in line a whole 15 minutes when I realize I left our annual pass vouchers at the beach club. Back in the car, back to the BC, back to the French Quarter Resort where we check in. This is our first time staying here and let me tell ya it will not be the last. Resort Review to follow. Our room is ready right away which I cant believe since it is already 10 a.m. So we head up to the room. LOVE IT! Then we hop in the car and head to Celebration since none of us had seen it. It is very cute and a lot like the planned communities here in St. Louis. We moseyed (we dont do a lot of moseying on this vacation so I have to point it out when we do) around for maybe 30 minutes and then back in the car. Now it is approaching 11:30 and we have a lot of resorts to see today so we decide we better get lunch and since downtown Disney is so close why not head back to Earl of Sandwich. LOL! Again a feast fit for a king and at $17 for 2 people including sodas and chips I think the price is pretty reasonable.
We make a grocery stop since we discovered that DH and I have a fridge in our room. And while I can drink any soda, DH has a love affair with Mountain Dew. And usually by Wednesday we have Mountain Dew withdrawal which is not fun. And usually includes a lot of complaining.
Saratoga Springs Resort how very pretty and very festive. Of course we have been thinking about joining the DVC and this was our first glimpse at the resort. Very very pretty and exactly our style. I loved that it was a little whimsical as well. Off the lobby there was a room that featured pictures of all the horses who ever starred in a Disney film. Quite fun! While there we also toured the spa and gym. Ooohhh la la. Did someone say massage?
Caribbean Beach Resort this was the resort that I disliked the most. The Christmas decorations were in an island theme and while that makes sense I missed the traditional ornaments used at the BC and YC. We are staying here in January for the marathon so we walked around a lot the first thing I notice this place is HUGE and not so .how do you say ..to our taste. Im glad we will only be here for 4 nights although we may change our minds later and love it.
Coronado Springs Resort DH didnt like this resort at all but I saw its potential. The decorations were really cool with the Latin flare and they had a huge angel on top of their tree. Which I thought was very fitting with most of the Mexican population being Catholic.
We head back to the resorts to get cleaned up because we are going to the California Grill tonight. This will be DH and my third time eating here but the neighbors first. On their trips they typically eat off property can you believe it? It was time for them to be educated.
Our PS was at 6:10 and I love the new system of checking in downstairs and then going up. It keeps the restaurant from becoming a free for all of the fireworks show and much quieter. Now when we made our PS arrangements we were told that we should dress business casual. So we all show up in nice slacks and shirts. However there were many people there still in park gear and this bothered me. Not sure if they were told the business casual wear or not but lets face it folks this is a very nice restaurant. Would you go to this type of restaurant at home in a sleeveless t-shirt and shorts probably not. And another thing and I will preface this by saying I do not have children but common sense would say to me that if my under the age of 3 child has been cranky all day, or maybe didnt get a nap due to touring the parks that taking them to this type of restaurant may not be a good idea. Screaming and crying babies do not add to the atmosphere. And I do not blame the kiddos for this since they are too young to know any better but parents if you child is crying loudly WALK OUT OF THE RESTURANT! Sheesh. Okay I will be stepping off my soapbox and putting on my flame retardant suit.
The food as always was incredible at the CA Grill. We had the best waiter ever who didnt mind going into great detail for Susan who typically orders off of the childrens menu. I counted 6 different Christmas tree in the restaurant and each one was done in a different color. We were sat by an all purple tree, my favorite color. I know I said I would do dining reviews but the food is too good to not talk about in the trip report. We shared the 4 cheese and sun dried tomato flat bread very yummy even Susan liked it after she removed the tomatoes. Then Eric, DH, and I split CA rolls and asked for a Shrimp tempura roll. Eric had eaten sushi before but never quite like this. He wasnt fond of the CA roll but loved the Shrimp tempura. For entrees each couple split the filet (so far weve eaten a lot of food) it was of course incredible. I let DH have most of it because I knew what we were getting for desert. Molten Lava Chocolate cake. YUMMY! Last time it was served with White Chocolate Ice Cream but this time it was coffee flavored and again spectacular. Total bill came to $200 before tip. But worth every penny. Oh Susan and I also had 1 bottle of wine with dinner. The best wine I have ever tasted.
We hopped on the Monorail to the Polynesian Resort. DH and I stayed here in 2002 for our honeymoon and it is by far DHs favorite resort. They have a gingerbread Poly resort set up. One thing I was a bit dismayed is that at night you really cant see the waterfalls which is a bit of a bummer. The decorations were in an island theme but not as much as the CBR. I also walked through the Wyland gallery and there was a beautiful painting of whales that I would love to buy.
We walked outside and what do I hear the Electric Water Parade so I take off running. Everyone caught up to me just as it started. A lot of the boats must have been damaged with the hurricanes because the parade only had 5 to 6 of them out there in comparison to about 10 to 15 that I remember.
Back to the monorail where I ask if we can ride up front, something the Eric and Susan have never done. We did an entire loop and landed back at the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian decorations are amazing! The tree is very beautiful and the life size gingerbread house is just Wow! We took lots and lots of pictures and then decided everyone was getting sleepy and we needed to head back to the resort we had a full day ahead of use tomorrow.
I have four small children and that's why DH and I haven't made it to California Grill yet. We will someday, but we are firm believers in making sure as few people are bothered by our children as possible. They didn't choose to have them, we did.
