Disney Gives Me the Warm Fuzzies. January 2010 PreTrip Report. Update 11/6 Pg. 79

[Flossbolna]

So sorry abot the polenta!! I read somewhere that someon complained that the lunch and dinner menus at Brown Derby are now the same, so this might not be a mistake, but I hope for you!!

Like the gift card idea, but have you considered going with charging it to your room? My friend and I did just that: We charged every meal where we wanted to split the cost to our room and then payed the amount off the evening before we chacked out. You can pay it off with all kind of payments, for example my credit card was used to secure the room charge, but my friend used her card to pay off her half while I used cash. My credit card was never charged with anything. I think I would be worried of losing that gift card with all my food money on it! And also, you will always have your room key with you when you are out for dinner and even if one forgets it, the other can charge it with her room key.

 

[MEK]

Great Update LL!

Do not mourn your canceled September trip. Just remember that when the rest of us are freezing our butts off in January, anxiously waiting for winter to end while feeling the post holiday let-down, you will be in the happiest place on earth out in the warm sunshine!

Boo to the loss of the salmon polenta. I think that's what I had the last time I ate at BD and it was quite yummy!

 

[jenjolt]

I am absolutely in love with all the new plans for 2012 and if they aren't done by Sept 3rd, maybe they will be done by Oct 2nd LOL

I'm so sorry about your Salmon Polenta, but I promise to research this thoroughly and make sure that come January you can get your polenta LOL!!!

Well thanks for the credit, but you know it's always a team effort!!! I love the idea of not having to worry about the money. To me its like a payment plan to you...then no worries in January!! I know we'll have money left over and I'm already trying to think of what I would like to get you!!!

 

[Happydog]

Well LL I just love this update and I just love your ideas!!! I think your plans look wonderful and some great choices!!! I am excited for you! So do you get to do your ADRs 180 days in advance. THAT is too too cool. I am fretting about my 90 day thing! ADR day is a week from tomorrow...

I am going to post my final days for December this week.

I also agree that the gift card idea is a smart one! Easy to just tuck it away a spot at a time for a few months.... I just might do something similar for "xmas" -- not for food, but for Disney gifts...

I like it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Don't be sad, LL, about your September trip because those four months are going to fly by!

I think I am just as deliriously giddy as you are about the Fantasyland expansion -- I feel like a kid again I am so excited! (And let's face it, Toon Town is not all that great...time for something new there.)

Didn't TK tell us one time that the menu at the Brown Derby changes seasonally? Maybe the salmon polenta is just taking a break -- I hope so for you.

I like the idea of Jen's food report -- you can never have too much food porn!

I also really like the idea of putting all the money for your meals on a gift card and using the left-over to buy each other a gift. Too cool!

 

[TarzansKat]

It is common for The Brown Derby, as well as other signature restaurants, to go through seasonal menu changes. It has do with the freshness of what's available and a desire to match the season as well, all according to your head chef, of course.

Sorry. Food snob arrived.

Anyway, the most I've heard about the Derby is that there's now one menu all day, so lunch and dinner are the same. Whether or not that's true I'll be figuring out in a couple of weeks.

I also have to tell you that if you really love a particular dish, and you're really jonesin' for it, and it's in their power, you can try to contact management and ask them to make it for you. Mom and Nana have done that in the past when one of their favorite items wasn't on the menu, and it was prepared specially for them. I don't know if there's was easier because it was an app, not an entree, though.

I do love the idea of appetizers and desserts, and to my mind, that's just the right amount of food, too. Sounds like you and Jen have some great plans!

 

[Lady Lallie]

All I can say at this point is there must be some kind of mistake at the allears site!!!!

Sadly, I don't think it is.

Great idea on the gift card for dining! I love the part that you are going to shop for each other with the extra dollars!

I love that part too! I think we'll have some left over, which is going to be so much fun!

LOVE the idea of putting your food money on a gift card! And is it possible the salmon dish is seasonal?

I don't know if it's seasonal or not, it's been on the menu since I had it last September.

So sorry abot the polenta!! I read somewhere that someon complained that the lunch and dinner menus at Brown Derby are now the same, so this might not be a mistake, but I hope for you!!

Like the gift card idea, but have you considered going with charging it to your room? My friend and I did just that: We charged every meal where we wanted to split the cost to our room and then payed the amount off the evening before we chacked out. You can pay it off with all kind of payments, for example my credit card was used to secure the room charge, but my friend used her card to pay off her half while I used cash. My credit card was never charged with anything. I think I would be worried of losing that gift card with all my food money on it! And also, you will always have your room key with you when you are out for dinner and even if one forgets it, the other can charge it with her room key.

I get nervous having the charging ability with my room key, sounds like it could be dangerous for my wallet.

Great Update LL!

Do not mourn your canceled September trip. Just remember that when the rest of us are freezing our butts off in January, anxiously waiting for winter to end while feeling the post holiday let-down, you will be in the happiest place on earth out in the warm sunshine!

Boo to the loss of the salmon polenta. I think that's what I had the last time I ate at BD and it was quite yummy!

That is what I keep telling myself. I hate winter so it's going to be good for me to get away during the middle of it.

I am absolutely in love with all the new plans for 2012 and if they aren't done by Sept 3rd, maybe they will be done by Oct 2nd LOL

I'm so sorry about your Salmon Polenta, but I promise to research this thoroughly and make sure that come January you can get your polenta LOL!!!

Well thanks for the credit, but you know it's always a team effort!!! I love the idea of not having to worry about the money. To me its like a payment plan to you...then no worries in January!! I know we'll have money left over and I'm already trying to think of what I would like to get you!!!

Hehehe. Let's hope, huh!? I know you will research for me, I am just so sad. I was so looking forward to eating that again!

Well LL I just love this update and I just love your ideas!!! I think your plans look wonderful and some great choices!!! I am excited for you! So do you get to do your ADRs 180 days in advance. THAT is too too cool. I am fretting about my 90 day thing! ADR day is a week from tomorrow...

I am going to post my final days for December this week.

I also agree that the gift card idea is a smart one! Easy to just tuck it away a spot at a time for a few months.... I just might do something similar for "xmas" -- not for food, but for Disney gifts...

I like it!

We get to do our ADRs at our 90 day mark but thank goodness it's BEFORE that crazy day where they are going to open up the window back up to 180 days in advance. I put a lot of my spending money on a gift card last trip and I really just liked it. I like the idea of having a gift card for food and then I'm going to have another one for spending money and if I have any left over on that one....it can go to the next trip.

Don't be sad, LL, about your September trip because those four months are going to fly by!

I think I am just as deliriously giddy as you are about the Fantasyland expansion -- I feel like a kid again I am so excited! (And let's face it, Toon Town is not all that great...time for something new there.)

Didn't TK tell us one time that the menu at the Brown Derby changes seasonally? Maybe the salmon polenta is just taking a break -- I hope so for you.

I like the idea of Jen's food report -- you can never have too much food porn!

I also really like the idea of putting all the money for your meals on a gift card and using the left-over to buy each other a gift. Too cool!

I am so so so excited about Fantasyland. The more I read about it the more excited I get. Marc & I have already talked about doing a big Disney trip for my 30th so it's going to fit in nicely.

I hope the salmon polenta is just taking a break, that would make me feel better.

I also like the gift card idea because I put it in a separate part of my wallet so that I'm not always bringing out my other cards and license at a register. I get a bit paranoid that I'm going to lose something when I travel so it makes me a bit more relaxed.

It is common for The Brown Derby, as well as other signature restaurants, to go through seasonal menu changes. It has do with the freshness of what's available and a desire to match the season as well, all according to your head chef, of course.

Sorry. Food snob arrived.

Anyway, the most I've heard about the Derby is that there's now one menu all day, so lunch and dinner are the same. Whether or not that's true I'll be figuring out in a couple of weeks.

I also have to tell you that if you really love a particular dish, and you're really jonesin' for it, and it's in their power, you can try to contact management and ask them to make it for you. Mom and Nana have done that in the past when one of their favorite items wasn't on the menu, and it was prepared specially for them. I don't know if there's was easier because it was an app, not an entree, though.

I do love the idea of appetizers and desserts, and to my mind, that's just the right amount of food, too. Sounds like you and Jen have some great plans!

I remember you telling us all about your Mom & Nana special ordering their appetizer. I hope maybe I can do something like that if it doesn't come back on the menu but then again there are plenty of things on the appetizer menu that I want to try at Brown Derby so maybe I'll just suck it up and eat something different. I always liked that they had two different menus for lunch & dinner but that's just me.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yay for only 4 months until your trip!

I think all the Fantasyland changes look and sound amazing. I am particularly excited about the new Pixie Hollow. I saw something on the Disney Channel a while ago about the PH at Disneyland and it is AWESOME. And a Little Mermaid ride! Ahhh can't wait.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

OMG-I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved polenta...
(It's really hard when you have your heart set on a certain dish only to find that poof...it's gone...)...

but just like TarzansKat said maybe you can have them make it special and it is actually the sign of a good restaurant when they try to stay fresh and current and seasonal...-who knows you may even find a new favorite...

I love the idea of putting the food money on a gift card...

It's only natural that your sad about your Sept trip-but it in end its all for a greater good -your health-and that will make you Jan trip that much more spectacular...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

LOVE your plan with the giftcard for meals. That is brilliant! And I agree it will be a great way to end the trip picking up special gifts in Downtown Disney!

Sorry about the salmon polenta. I agree - can't hurt to ask and see if they can whip it up for you. They seem like the kind of place that would go out of their way for you if it is at all possible! Thank goodness they invented the Cobb salad - otherwise I'd be worrying that it could disappear too.

Big appetizer fan here too. Looking forward to a dining report!

Oh and I'm right there with you making plans for 2012!!

 

[eandesmom]

I love the giftcard plan, as well as the "leftovers" plan! What a great way to stay in budget but not stress about the adding as you go nightmare.

Definitely look into a special request for your polenta, you deserve it

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks for posting the link about the Fantasyland expansion. I wish it were happening sooner!!! I'm thinking a D23 membership is in order

I love love love the idea about putting the food money on a gift card. So smart!

I'm looking forward to your tr and Jen's food report.

 

[DreaGirl]

I'm really behind, but I wanted to comment on your Concord trip. I am so JEALOUS! I'm such a history person. I want to come to MA now. I'll add it to the ever growing list.

I can see the weight loss as well. So exciting. :

So glad the Band-Aid stuff is working for you. It worked wonders for me.

Our GPS is named, Margie.

 

[DreaGirl]

All caught up now!

The gift card idea is such a great idea! A friend and I are thinking about a trip in a few years and that would make dining so much easier!

I am so amazed by the Fantasyland redo!! It will be just in time for my DD because I'm sure at that point she will be obsessed with all things "Princess".

I'm drooling over your ADRs. YUMMY!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

See what happened!?! I didn't get much Dis time the past few days and I missed your update! Darn it!!

First, OMG thank you for sharing the video of the announcement! I saw the rumors and actually posted about them in my PTR. I'm so freakin excited about this I actually teared up!! It looks incredible!!!

Your ADR list looks fantastic!! I kinda glad you changed your mind about Coral Reef. The worst meal I have ever had I had there. I hate to think that my diser friends would have the same experience!

I'm so sorry about the polenta!! Why do they take away the good stuff!?

 

[MeMom]

I've been a bit melancholy this week. I've really been regretting canceling my trip in September. I know it's for the best and I know I am going to have a fabulous time with Jen in January BUT I am still a little sad.

The good news is today is 4 Months until Disney!

Plus I've been reading about all the wonderful changes to Fantasyland. All the changes make me seriously giddy. I am so excited about the Ariel ride and all of the new greeting areas and Beast's restaurant. All of it sounds simply fabulous and I just can't wait to see how this all works out, too bad we have to wait 3 years. Have no fear, I've already have my trip planning wheels spinning!! 2012 is the year of my 30th Birthday...think everything will be finished by September 3, 2012? We've decided to put all of the food money onto one gift card which will be in my possession. Jen will send me the money and I'll put it on the card. Therefore, all we have to do is whip out the gift card and our food is all paid for. I love this idea, I think it's going to be so much easier.

When we do the food budget we also have the tendency to over estimate a bit so we came up with a solution to any left over money we might have on our last day. We are going to split the money on the gift card and buy each other a gift at Downtown Disney. I think it's a great idea and it will be so much fun to buy one another a little present on the way to the airport.

I think it would be normal to be a little down around the time you had originally thought you be taking a Disney trip. You will have a great time in January, though, and you will feel great waltzing through Magic Kingdom with a new look!

A brand new Fantasyland especially for your 30th sounds great!

Great idea about the gift card and about buying each other a last little gift. Very fun!

 

[meeko_33785]

Looks like a great ADR line up! Sorry to hear about the Brown Derby menu change. I'm sure you'll find something on the menu that you'll enjoy though.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'll be dangerously close to 40 by the time the Fantasyland addition comes to life and you'll only be 30 I'm sooooo old!!!!!

Did you ever get your present????

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Hi! Subbing! I'm trying to find PTRs for January since that's when I'm going too. 32 pages?!??? I'm glad you have chapter links in your first post. I need to get caught up!

 

[MaryAz]

Fun update. Sorry about the trip blues-just think of how great you will look and feel then! Great idea on the gift card-may do that myself if we don't get the dining plan.