Even Miracles Take A Little Time; a PTR 5 years in the making. NEW! Nov. 2 - Single Digits!

[DisneyHoover]

Glad you're feeling better!

I haven't done any of the tours yet so I can't give you a review, but I've heard good things about the Keys to the Kingdom tour (it's one we're going to try during our trip this September).

 

[emmysmommy]

Sorry about having the crud... blanket forts are medicinal right?

Ha ha! I thought I was the only Diser not in WDW according to everyone's FB posts! I can so relate.

So many great tour options. If you have an AP there are discounts...

We did the KTTK tour before and then the Backstage Magic last summer which was awesome! It included lunch at WCC which was a plus. But the best parts were going back stage in the America pavilion in Epcot and costuming at DHS.

 

[princessbelle2015]

I love all of the pics of your animals

I hope you feel better.

 

[eeyore04]

I am here!!!!! I read everything and as of RIGHT NOW I'm caught up. I too am a little iffy on this new layout. Not sure what I think about it...

 

[Wood Nymph]

We took the Keys to the Kingdom tour and really enjoyed it. We were able to get 20% off the price of the tour by using our Disney Visa card. I don't know if you can take advantage of that, though.

 

[teekathepony]

Very glad to hear that you both are back on your feet after a couple weeks of collectively not feeling well. Now, as for that restaurant list... good luck with that! That's a heck of a hard list to narrow down as there are SO many great options! But I guess you can look at it this way... ya can't go wrong!

I've actually thought about doing a tour soon myself. I've heard great things about Keys to the Kingdom. I'd love to do that one or Behind the Seeds - I love seeing that tour group in action.

And seriously... who goes to Orlando and doesn't step foot into Disney?! and Not this gal, that's for sure!

Thank you!
Yeah we need the luck! Or something. I have no idea how we're going to narrow it down. We've been avoiding it because neither of us wants to cross off any more!
We did love Behind the Seeds! I highly recommend it.
Not this gal either!

... I hear that! Not to mention friends and family that live if Florida posting "funny" things about surviving the Florida Winter of 2014 - Februrary 19-20 ... never forget

Congrats on getting the ADR list down at least a little bit. .... of course now you go an add the tour list to increase the decision making back up

We have never done a tour but several of them are on my Disney Bucket list - with probably the Steam Train Tour being at the top of the list. Though, the behind the seeds tour will probably be the first one we do as it appears to be family friendly, is the cheapest and my kids love living with the land. Keys to the Kingdom seems to be the main one a lot of people do and does get you behind the scenes on a number of rides and down into the utilidoors. I've read a few reviews of the Backstage Safari and they were very positive. Probably would recommend one of those two for you.

Hahaha oh yes, those poor tortured Floridians. You know they had a chilly day the other day, don't you?
Backstage Safari looks more and more appealing... gosh this is going to be hard.

Wendy, I hope you are feeling better. There is a lot of sickness going around (Mark and I have been playing with a cold for the last week or so and then had a 36 hour stomach bug over the weekend).

We have done the Keys to the Kingdom Tour and the Backstage Safari Tour. We LOVED them both. It really is very hard for me to choose one over the other because we did LOVE them both. I guess I'd give a slight edge to the Keys to the Kingdom Tour just because you get some background on Walt himself.

Thanks Kathy! Back on my feet, just building my strength back up. It took a lot out of me! Hope you and Mark are feeling better too, darn this time of year for sickness.
Hmmmm this isn't going to be an easy decision!!

Ugh, I am with you on the ice there Wendy. Strange that our weather is always so similar.
Also UGH UGH, yes, it feels like every DISer is down in Disney right now or at least Orlando. At least they've had a bit of cold to make us feel a little better, lol.

Obviously I'm all in for the Keys tour. When you consider that it includes lunch at CHH it's even cheaper. But the Backstage Magic does intrigue me as well.

Too ironic, eh?
I just want to go down with them all for a few days!!
I can not make up my mind on these tours. Every time I think I'm settled on one, another looks more inviting.

 

[teekathepony]

Glad you're feeling better!

I haven't done any of the tours yet so I can't give you a review, but I've heard good things about the Keys to the Kingdom tour (it's one we're going to try during our trip this September).

Thanks, me too!
KttK is definitely one of the more popular ones, I've heard more about it which makes me more inclined to try it...

Sorry about having the crud... blanket forts are medicinal right?

Ha ha! I thought I was the only Diser not in WDW according to everyone's FB posts! I can so relate.

So many great tour options. If you have an AP there are discounts...

We did the KTTK tour before and then the Backstage Magic last summer which was awesome! It included lunch at WCC which was a plus. But the best parts were going back stage in the America pavilion in Epcot and costuming at DHS.

Thanks Brenda, and thanks for understanding the healing powers of the blanket fort too. (Can you believe some people tell me I'm too old for such things??)
There aren't many of us left to hold down the boards by the looks of things!
I remember reading about your tour. Love the idea of seeing the costuming!

I love all of the pics of your animals

I hope you feel better.

Thanks!
And thanks again, I finally do!

 

[teekathepony]

I am here!!!!! I read everything and as of RIGHT NOW I'm caught up. I too am a little iffy on this new layout. Not sure what I think about it...

Mims! The new layout gets easier. I actually really like it now!

We took the Keys to the Kingdom tour and really enjoyed it. We were able to get 20% off the price of the tour by using our Disney Visa card. I don't know if you can take advantage of that, though.

Glad to hear! Unfortunately no, (I believe, anyway!) no Disney visas in Canada, which is too bad (for the discounts!)

 

[Nermel9]

Glad you're feeling better!

I've always wanted to do a tour, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I think the one I'd like to do the most is the KTTK tour. I had no idea it was only $79! For some reason I was thinking it was hundreds of $$$!!!

 

[teekathepony]

Glad you're feeling better!

I've always wanted to do a tour, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I think the one I'd like to do the most is the KTTK tour. I had no idea it was only $79! For some reason I was thinking it was hundreds of $$$!!!

Oh thanks, me too!

I was the same! I don't know if I was getting KTTK mixed up with Backstage Magic or what, but I was shocked when I checked the price! It's a lot more appealing now...

 

[teekathepony]

Food! Oh, and wine too.

I would never consider Johnny or I a "foodie". Not even remotely. In fact, I've often said (and still maintain) that if there were a pill I could take that would be my entire daily nutrition, I'd go that route. Or something I could absorb in my sleep. Or maybe regenerate like a Borg.

Er... maybe not.

Anyway, I'm not what you'd consider a big fan of food.

Of course that changes when someone else is cooking, and deciding what's for dinner is as easy as perusing a menu. I do enjoy a good meal from time to time, and sometimes those times are Disney times.

Oh, and a fun fact about me - I hate alcohol.

Ok that's more like an un-fun fact.

It's not a religious/moral/addiction issue, but a flavour one -- I HATE the taste of alcohol, and I promise you I can taste it in ANYTHING. So don't try your, "Oh I'll fix you something and you'll never taste it!" -- my friends have ALL tried their best and I can smell it from 5 feet.

I also find coffee too strong, tea too bitter, pepper too spicy, and peppers burn my tongue. Apparently I taste everything very strongly, which also makes me extremely picky!

What this all means is that although I like table service meals at Disney, and I do try to incorporate lots of variety, I don't plan my trips around the food like I know lots of people do. That and the alcohol issues mean I never usually even look up the dates of Epcot's Food & Wine festival.

Something told me to go check it this morning though, and sure enough we do hit the last 4 days of F&W.

Last year we actually tried a few F&W offerings, tried a few new foods (very daring for us!) and had some good luck. So when I saw that we actually do overlap, though it was never part of the plans, I figured we might just take a day and take part in the food festivities!

We were thinking in a very general way about plans and thought we might spend the first half of the trip going to MK, DHS, and AK, focusing on rides and such, and the second half bombing around Epcot and the resort, taking it easy. I guess that's going to be shuffled a little, but of course it's so early!

So that's my newest bit of pre-trip news.

If you've been to the Food & Wine Festival, what are your favourite foods and/or wines?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We've been to Food & Wine several times - actually, generally plan our WDW trips around it

My one big recommendation is to avoid going on the weekends - it is so, so, SO much more crowded. There are a number of really good things we have had in the past - though part of the fun is getting to try things you likely wouldn't order a full meal of and the vast majority of the offerings are big enough for splitting if all you want is to try things.

Some really good things that come to mind are:
- Kalua slider from Hawaii
- Mongolian beef in Steamed Bun from China
- Scottish Banoffee Tart from Scotland
- Ravioli from Italy (and it is huge so plenty to share)
- Berbere style beef from Africa (it is a little spicy so perhaps not for you)
- Grilled lamb chop from Australia
- Pork belly from Brazil

If interested, starting on page 15 in my TR from October 2013 has our take on a number of items:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/oo...t-update-2-23-were-going-back.3182545/page-15

BTW - you might actually be really good at tasting wine if you palate picks up flavors that well. And even though you said not to try to talk you into trying an alcholic beverage, you might want to give the grapefruit beer a shot while you are there - especially if a hot day it is very refreshing.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Backstage Safari - $72 each, at Animal Kingdom. See some behind the scenes places like the animal care centers. A maybe, we are animal lovers of course.

Just a quick note that I saw they are ending the Backstage Safari tour and replacing it with the "Backstage Tales" which seems like kinda the same but a little longer and more expensive:

Here is a link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm#backstagetales

 

[Tracy161]

I'm with you, Wendy - I HATE alcohol for the exact same reason. Yuck, just yuck. I can't even do lime flavored soda because it's too strong a smell resemblance to certain alcoholic drinks.

Anywho... you guys should absolutely check out F&W! Even without being alcohol fans or foodies, it's bound to be loads of fun! I've only ever been once but I'm hoping, as I've pointed out before, to get there again for it very soon.

 

[deedee2177]

Hi Wendy! DH and I aren't drinkers either...now don't get me wrong I did do my share in college but really don't have a taste for it now. My DH is a VERY picky eater...he is definitely a meat and potatoes guy. I like to try different things, but this trip will be pretty "safe". We are mainly looking forward to just being able to sit down and have a few meals together.

 

[teekathepony]

We've been to Food & Wine several times - actually, generally plan our WDW trips around it

My one big recommendation is to avoid going on the weekends - it is so, so, SO much more crowded. There are a number of really good things we have had in the past - though part of the fun is getting to try things you likely wouldn't order a full meal of and the vast majority of the offerings are big enough for splitting if all you want is to try things.

Some really good things that come to mind are:
- Kalua slider from Hawaii
- Mongolian beef in Steamed Bun from China
- Scottish Banoffee Tart from Scotland
- Ravioli from Italy (and it is huge so plenty to share)
- Berbere style beef from Africa (it is a little spicy so perhaps not for you)
- Grilled lamb chop from Australia
- Pork belly from Brazil

If interested, starting on page 15 in my TR from October 2013 has our take on a number of items:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/oo...t-update-2-23-were-going-back.3182545/page-15

BTW - you might actually be really good at tasting wine if you palate picks up flavors that well. And even though you said not to try to talk you into trying an alcholic beverage, you might want to give the grapefruit beer a shot while you are there - especially if a hot day it is very refreshing.

Thanks for the info Phil, I will definitely check out your TR for more reviews.
Ha! Too funny that you mention the grapefruit beer -- when I was in Germany last year our hosts offered us a German grapefruit beer. Johnny actually didn't mind it and drank it, I had a taste and it was the only alcoholic beverage I've ever tried that I thought wasn't too bad! I mentioned your suggestion to Johnny and he lit up a little, he says he's definitely getting one at F&W!

Just a quick note that I saw they are ending the Backstage Safari tour and replacing it with the "Backstage Tales" which seems like kinda the same but a little longer and more expensive:

Here is a link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm#backstagetales

Thank you for that heads up, I'll check it out.

I'm with you, Wendy - I HATE alcohol for the exact same reason. Yuck, just yuck. I can't even do lime flavored soda because it's too strong a smell resemblance to certain alcoholic drinks.

Anywho... you guys should absolutely check out F&W! Even without being alcohol fans or foodies, it's bound to be loads of fun! I've only ever been once but I'm hoping, as I've pointed out before, to get there again for it very soon.

I haven't run into too many others who didn't like the taste of alcohol! No one I know in person other than Johnny!
We almost always are there during F&W, but we've only really taken part twice. We did enjoy it last year!
Hoping you get there for it this year!!

Hi Wendy! DH and I aren't drinkers either...now don't get me wrong I did do my share in college but really don't have a taste for it now. My DH is a VERY picky eater...he is definitely a meat and potatoes guy. I like to try different things, but this trip will be pretty "safe". We are mainly looking forward to just being able to sit down and have a few meals together.

It's hard for picky eaters! I try to expand my range a tiny bit each year. I'm slowly getting a bit better. I drive myself crazy looking at menus to make sure there's something on it I'll eat.

 

[eeyore04]

Food and Wine would be cool to take part in. Moreso the food than the Wine. I'm not quite as anti-alcohol as you, I can stand the taste of some, and I don't mind trying, but it's not my first idea of a good time. Come to think of it, it's pretty far down on the list. I like to think that I'm not too picky though I am to a degree, but I do like to try new things. Though I have my big no-no's, like seafood of any kind.

And just so you know I STILL don't like the layout. Just sayin'.

 

[teekathepony]

Food and Wine would be cool to take part in. Moreso the food than the Wine. I'm not quite as anti-alcohol as you, I can stand the taste of some, and I don't mind trying, but it's not my first idea of a good time. Come to think of it, it's pretty far down on the list. I like to think that I'm not too picky though I am to a degree, but I do like to try new things. Though I have my big no-no's, like seafood of any kind.

And just so you know I STILL don't like the layout. Just sayin'.

We enjoyed it last year. We even tried a wine... but we hated it. Hahaha

Give it time!

 

[KatMark]

Wendy, as you know from my TR, we fell in love with Food & Wine and the main reason we are going back.

Our favorites were the rainbow trout in England with the cheddar cheese soup, the scallops in Scotland with the potato pancake, the beef and Slush in France. Also, loved the kielbasa in Poland and the Belgian Waffles. Was not a fan of the filet in Canada...very fatty and overcooked.

 

[natebenma]

I am so behind everywhere that I don't get to PreTripReportLand very often, so I was behind several updates! I am caught up now.

And of course, I saw your oh-so-important post over on the BC/YC FAQ thread.



Restaurants- question about Cape May- are you considering that for the character breakfast or dinner? I love the character breakfast with the everyone in their beach attire and great food. I also love the Cape May Clambake, but wonder if you are considering the dinner buffet, since, well, seafood is the big draw. There is other good stuff (some of it red meat, also off limits)

I believe you read my Captain's Grille breakfast review from my August trip- from me and all of my dining companions. I'll post the link here if you want to check it out again. Actually, there are a few reviews on the FAQ dining page, so I'll include those too.

The Breakfast Club, Captain's Grille, August 2014

Captain's Grille Breakfast review by missyrose and pixeldust

Captain's Grille Breakfast Buffet, Review by emmysmommy

I see you scratched off Tusker House, which makes sense since you have Boma on the list. I think the two places are fairly similar but I like Boma much better.

Good luck choosing the other places you need to cut, especially now that Food & Wine is part of your trip.

Once again, I love reading about and seeing pictures of your animals. They are beautiful! Some great stories about where they all came from, but I have to say the Oscar story is the best one. I didn't remember that Harry is named after that famous Wizard, but you call him Harry Monster. One of our cats is named Monster Energy Cat, Monster for short.

I am so sorry to hear you were so sick for so long. What a horrid winter!

And I have not done any of the tours, so I can't really give you any advice. I considered Behind the Seeds in August if we got an afternoon rainstorm, but weather was hot and sunny so Stormalong Bay won out. I would love to do KTTK someday, too. But now that you mention Backstage Magic, that sounds awesome!

I'll try to do a better job keeping up here.

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