Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[teachermommy78]

Just a quick note for the princess and Mickey fast passes... We were just there in late June. This may be obvious, but you need a fast pass for everyone going through the line with you. At the end of the night we had 4 FPs for mickey, and we couldn't go through the line with 5 even though my dh nor I would be participating in pictures, etc. We didn't put up a stink at all, just asked for the heck of it. It made sense, but when you are used to just shooting through a character line with the kids, it throws you off a bit! Also, in my opinion, go for the pics earlier in the day. Dh and I went on our own for EMH one night and were in line at about 2am (the kiddos were safe in our room with my MIL!), and then we went with the kids at about 10:30 pm. We felt rushed, PP photographers were a bit crabby (not ALL, just a majority), and the princesses just seemed a bit slower and less perky (except cinderella). Also about half of the photos came back off centered. It may have just been bad luck, but if you want great pics, maybe go earlier!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Just a quick note for the princess and Mickey fast passes... We were just there in late June. This may be obvious, but you need a fast pass for everyone going through the line with you. At the end of the night we had 4 FPs for mickey, and we couldn't go through the line with 5 even though my dh nor I would be participating in pictures, etc. We didn't put up a stink at all, just asked for the heck of it. It made sense, but when you are used to just shooting through a character line with the kids, it throws you off a bit! Also, in my opinion, go for the pics earlier in the day. Dh and I went on our own for EMH one night and were in line at about 2am (the kiddos were safe in our room with my MIL!), and then we went with the kids at about 10:30 pm. We felt rushed, PP photographers were a bit crabby (not ALL, just a majority), and the princesses just seemed a bit slower and less perky (except cinderella). Also about half of the photos came back off centered. It may have just been bad luck, but if you want great pics, maybe go earlier!

Good to know!

 

[orangecats2]

I thought I would definitely be right with WCC!
My next guess is Trails End Buffet. If I keep guessing I may get it right before your next update.
I did read all your TR's but I only read the updates, not the chatting in-between. It took me about two weeks but only reading at work.
I was curious if you have a tenative date for your next cruise?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I thought I would definitely be right with WCC!
My next guess is Trails End Buffet. If I keep guessing I may get it right before your next update.
I did read all your TR's but I only read the updates, not the chatting in-between. It took me about two weeks but only reading at work.
I was curious if you have a tenative date for your next cruise?

Nope, not Trail's End either.

I put a deposit down on the May 12, 2012 Western Caribbean Fantasy sailing (just Mom and I) but those plans may change depending on what happens with Erich next summer. If he gets the Disney internship the cruise will probably get canceled/moved as we would need to fly him down there and help him move in. Also rumours have been heard that Disney may sail the Eastern Med in 2013, if that is true we would probably move the cruise to one of those sailings.

 

[englishrose47]

Me too!



The checkers table is in front of the confectionery and hat shop on the town square.



Mickey has a fastpass line and a standby line. It was not necessary for us to get a fastpass as the line was so short. If you do decide to get a fastpass for Mickey or the princesses the fast pass machines are located between the hat shop and Tony's Town Square/Exposition Hall.

Thanks Lessa I will check out stand bye first and then head over to The Hat Shop/ Tony's for a FP if needed !!I can also check out THE PHONE in the Hat Shop another to do on my list!!!!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Those Dole Whips so tempting. I still can't believe I haven't had the chance to try one I'm such a bad DISer. :/ The problem is I'm not a fan of pineapple, but maybe just a regular vanilla one would be nice, so definitely got to try those That's great, your brothers just decided to play checkers. Hahahaha I don't think I could ever just sit down in play checkers in Disney. It just isn't possible Hahahaha Love the parade pictures and the picture with Minnie and Mickey! That's awesome you got new Minnie ears in time for the pictures Can't wait to read more!

 

[orangecats2]

Nope, not Trail's End either.

I put a deposit down on the May 12, 2012 Western Caribbean Fantasy sailing (just Mom and I) but those plans may change depending on what happens with Erich next summer. If he gets the Disney internship the cruise will probably get canceled/moved as we would need to fly him down there and help him move in. Also rumours have been heard that Disney may sail the Eastern Med in 2013, if that is true we would probably move the cruise to one of those sailings.

Ok, one more try and then I give up! How about Ohana?

That would be awesome to go on a Europe cruise!

It would also be cool if Erich got to work at Disney!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Those Dole Whips so tempting. I still can't believe I haven't had the chance to try one I'm such a bad DISer. :/ The problem is I'm not a fan of pineapple, but maybe just a regular vanilla one would be nice, so definitely got to try those That's great, your brothers just decided to play checkers. Hahahaha I don't think I could ever just sit down in play checkers in Disney. It just isn't possible Hahahaha Love the parade pictures and the picture with Minnie and Mickey! That's awesome you got new Minnie ears in time for the pictures Can't wait to read more!

You have to try the traditional Dole Whip at least once! Just get the ice cream part and skip the float if you don't like pineapple.

Stopping to play checkers, it is all about taking it easy and having fun! We don't feel the need to rush and do everything anymore since we have been so often and know we will always be back.

Ok, one more try and then I give up! How about Ohana?

That would be awesome to go on a Europe cruise!

It would also be cool if Erich got to work at Disney!

Nope, not Ohana either although I had booked an Ohana dinner originally.

An eastern Med cruise would be fantastic but we will see how things go, don't even know if they will offer it yet!

 

[englishrose47]

Just checking in Lessa !!Would it have been Beaches and Cream !!!!!I remmeber mention of the Kitchen Sink??????

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Just checking in Lessa !!Would it have been Beaches and Cream !!!!!I remmeber mention of the Kitchen Sink??????

Nope, not headed there that night either.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Catching up...

We must have had the same Photopass guy at DHS. All my pics are bad. We had never been at night before and I was really hoping for some cute pics of all of us, and then of me and B. But they were all blurry and weird. Not to mention he was very impatient and rude.

 

[englishrose47]

Nope, not headed there that night either.

How about Olive Garden ??????

 

[orangecats2]

Chef Mickey's?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Catching up...

We must have had the same Photopass guy at DHS. All my pics are bad. We had never been at night before and I was really hoping for some cute pics of all of us, and then of me and B. But they were all blurry and weird. Not to mention he was very impatient and rude.

How disappointing! I hope you got some nice family pictures throughout the rest of the trip!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

How about Olive Garden ??????

Chef Mickey's?

I can leave you in suspense no longer, special weekend update coming soon!

 

[dsnycrzy]

I know Im late but Im joining and waiting for updates

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I know Im late but Im joining and waiting for updates

Welcome! You are not late, I am only on day 3 of 15!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

May 13th continued

After our meet and greet with Mickey and his best gal we decided to leave the park. We had about an hour and a half until our 5pm ADR but we were done with park touring for the day. We figured we could just check out one of the monorail resorts while we waited for our ADR.

After a quick ride on the monorail we were at the Contemporary. Mom and I had checked it out on our last trip and we were not too impressed but Alek and Erich had never been and it was the most logical hotel to explore before dinner. The rooms themselves look nice enough from the pictures I have seen and the theme park views are spectacular but the blandness of the rest of the resort does nothing for me. If I want a bland resort I will stay offsite!

We spent some time checking out the gift shops, I once again ogled the Dooney and Bourke purses. There was a Sketch tote that had perfect placement and I was so tempted to buy it then and there but I didn't! One of the reasons I was holding off on buying it was I wanted to wait and see how badly my bank account would be damaged after our trip to the Wizarding World!

We didn't do anything terribly exciting while waiting for our ADR, we were pretty tired and just wanted to kick back and relax so we grabbed some seats in the lounge next to Chef Mickey's and the Contempo Cafe and got comfortable.

After a little while I saw more and more people start to show up and linger in the area so I figured I better go get in line to check in for our ADR, no point being that early and then having to wait forever to get seated because you didn't think to get in line!

I was second in line to check-in for our dinner at...... Chef Mickey's!

We had never eaten here before despite making reservations on each and every trip. For whatever reason we just never seemed to make it but tonight that would change and we would finally make our ADR!

They started checking people in around 4:45, so 15 minutes before they were due to open. We were led over to the big plate to have our picture taken (which I had no intention of buying) and then we took a seat on the very comfy couches in the waiting area.

Soon enough we were shown to our seats by an elderly man who seemed to be slightly confused. He was very friendly but he looked like he should be at home relaxing, not escorting people to their dinner table. He also moved as slow as a turtle, poor guy!

We all ordered water to drink except for Mom who ordered a Pina Colava which I took a sip of. Yum!

I liked being the first ADR for the night, it meant we got to the buffet before it had been picked over. I filled my plate with Mickey ravioli, parmesan mashed potatoes, Mickey Macaroni and Cheese, broccoli, cheese cubes and some melon.

I LOVED the mashed potatoes, the ravioli was pretty good. The mac and cheese was average, nothing spectacular and the fruit and veggies were well fruit and veggies! When I went up for my second plate I got more mashed potatoes and ravioli and broccoli. The broccoli balanced the meal out.

Alek and Erich were carnivores and mostly stuck to the meat which they were pretty happy with.

We were all fairly pleased with the food. It was not fine cuisine nor was it the best meal of the trip but it was filling and tasty, and fresh and warm and that is all that we were expecting from a buffet. Alek and Erich were mostly focused on the All You Can Eat aspect of the meal.

The characters started coming out shortly after we had all returned to the table with our first plates. We were seated next to the door they came out of so we were the second table in our section that they came to.

First was Donald

Then Mickey

Minnie

Goofy

And last but not least, Pluto

We could not leave without having dessert, I have been wanting to try one of those Chocolate Mickey Domes for years!

I couldn't finish the desserts but I ate some of each. The brownie was too much for my tastes but the rest was good.

Stuffed and satisfied we paid our bill and departed. We were very happy with our meal and would not hesitate to return.

Back up to the monorail we went to catch a ride back to the TTC.

When we got back to the car I glanced in the mirror and saw to my horror that I had broken out in a rash all over my chin, nose and part of my check. I had little hives all over my face. Why does this always happen to me in Florida?! If you have read my past reports you will know that in 2008 and 2009 I also broke out in a rash towards the beginning of the trips. I had changed sunscreen brands because of my discovery on the previous trip when it was proven that it was the Coppertone formula causing the problem but this time I was using Hawaiian Tropic and the rash was only on my face and nowhere else on my body. Through process of elimination based on what I did that day and on following days I figured that it was the suncreen that had once again been the culprit. On the previous day I had not put the sunscreen on my face, I had only put on my own facial moisturizer which has SPF 25 built into it. On this day however I had applied the sunscreen to my face. I didn't use the sunscreen on my face for the rest of the trip and the rash/break out went away slowly but not soon enough for my liking! I guess I just have really sensitive skin, especially on my face. So the sun, sweat and sunscreen combined make for a not so nice surprise.

Back at the hotel Alek and Erich changed into their swimsuits and I found The CW on the tv. I was happy to be back in the room by 8pm that night as one of my favourite shows was having its 2-hour series finale that night after ten years on television. That's right, I am a die hard Smallville fan, tease me if you want but I love it! Tom Welling and Erica Durance are the best Clark Kent and Lois Lane in my opinion. Alek and Erich tease me about the show all the time but they were nice enough to go to the pool for two hours while it was on so I could watch in peace, I probably would have killed them if they had talked/mocked the show the whole time.

So with them off to the pool it was just Mom and I in the room. Mom quickly feel asleep while I got comfy and watched the last two hours of one of my favourite shows. So sad! At least I have all the seasons on DVD!

When Alek and Erich returned it was time for bed. We had rope drop to get to in the morning!

[post=41816859]Click here to continue[/post]

 

[mrssmith06]

Glad to see you had a good dinner at CM, it seems to always get bad reviews for lunch and dinner. We had an OK breakfast there, nothing great but it wasn't bad at all. The desserts you got look good!! I love any dessert that is Disney/Mickey themed, just makes me smile!!

Yikes about the rash, glad you figured out the cause and it went away!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Glad to see you had a good dinner at CM, it seems to always get bad reviews for lunch and dinner. We had an OK breakfast there, nothing great but it wasn't bad at all. The desserts you got look good!! I love any dessert that is Disney/Mickey themed, just makes me smile!!

Yikes about the rash, glad you figured out the cause and it went away!

I have read all the bad reviews as well as the good. I think a lot of it has to do with expectations going in and also probably has to do with what you choose to eat. We are not hard to satisfy and we are more likely to say a meal is good than bad. It is a buffet so we don't expect anything fancy and we are fairly easy to please.

Stupid rash, I swear I must be allergic to Florida!