Finally here..Updates daily from some WDW vets *Now with PICS*

[tjl1388]

We are hear until 8/1 and I am going to try and update with pics, crowd reports and food porn every day. Hopefully I can assist those in need of the Disney fix, lord only knows this board has helped me out in that manner on multiple occasions.

Man, what a place this is. Sooo beautiful.

A little back story, this me the DW's 10yr anniversary trip.......with no kids!!

Let me also preface that we are Disney people with 100+ trips between the two of us.
We left out of Jax. Fl and landed at LAX approx 10:45 LA time. The weather here is amazing. We had a limo pick us up from the airport and we quickly ate lunch at a restaurant called Phillipe's. It was simply amazing. Pics will be up tonight after they upload.

After a trip to the beach to grab some sand...it's a DW thing. After 10yrs sometimes you just don't ask.

We are staying at the caurosel inn and suites and it is pretty nice for the money. You really can't beat the walk. It is approx. a 5min walk. I will have pics of the room up asap as well.

We decided to get the "lay of the land" at Downtown Disney and loved it. The grounds are beautiful.

I will add more details and get some pics up tonight. Stay tuned, this should be fun.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Have a great time! I just finished our trip report from our trip in June. I'll be interested to read and see your trip now - we love reliving our vacation!

 

[tjl1388]

This place is amazing, the weather is amazing, the crowds are manageable and so far the food is not to bad. One thing that separates this park so far is the detail. It is in EVERYTHING. Pirates was waaay better here. I am sure I will have more to say about it after I ride it another 8-9 times

Just a quick update to satisfy some folks who love the pics... I will detail our foray into the park and dinner at Jazz Kitchen in my afternoon update.

The children weren't quite as happy as we were to leave....TOUGH!!!
No, really, Grandma and Grandpa are spoiling them rotten as we speak.

Lamb Sandwich at Phillip's..Simply Amazing

Some wandering around shots...

I will update again this afternoon..if we come back to the room. If not it will be waaay later for you east coasters. Enjoy, and stay tooned.

 

[Disney Dreams]

DH and I are DLR locals. We went to WDW for our 10 year anniversary. (We have no children.) We had the absolute best vacation. I hope yours is equally as wonderful and magical. Enjoy!

 

[SSRJen]

Looking forward to more of your report! I love hearing how those who have visited WDW many times feel about DL.

 

[tjl1388]

Sorry everyone. Late on
my updates tonight. Still at the park so no pics but will load some tonight. Just a quick note. The BB menu has changed.... For the worst. One of the worst Disney dining experiances EVER!!! I will detail it next post.

Thanks for tuning in.

Off to ride the bobsleds for the first time.

 

[tjl1388]

Man, what a day yesterday. We had a blast at DL and rode almost everything we wanted. Weather was great, crowds were busy and slow in waves.

A couple of observations from the eyes of a WDW couple.

1. To those who say the food is worse here I will agree in only one category and that is sit down restaurants. There are not enough of them and alot of them serve the same type food. As far as snacks and counter service DL rocks!!! The variety and selection is waaay better that WDW. Throw in the variety of fresh fruits and cool snacks and I think it is superior to WDW.

Frozen lemonade with flavor shots it REALLY COOL..no pun intended, and frozen apple juice is as refreshing as a Dole Float.

2. Mr. Toad is a ride that should have never have left WDW. That ride brings back so many good memories and I will always love it.

3. Alice in wonderland is great, what a cool ride.

4. Space Mountain, Pirates, and Small World are better here in DL, Snow White is a waste of space in both parks.
Sorry DL folks, Fantasmic and fireworks have a loooong way to go the reach WDW standards. I will say this though, you people do take your fireworks seriously. The crowds leading up the show were NUTS!!!

For those of you who love Blue Bayou turn your head away because this is gonna hurt you to read.

In my 28 years of eating at Disney I have never had a worse dining experience. They have changed their menu's and don't even think it is a big deal not to tell you. As WDW vets we know all about planning meals and did so for this trip early and often based on what we wanted to eat. Every single posted menu on the internet that I have seen for BB is wrong. They have eliminated appetizers and several desserts and the night we went they were out of the SAILS for the cookie boat!!! I was floored. We found this out AFTER we had ordered dinner that the tortuga trio of creme brulee was eliminated from the menu and that they were out of lobster for the surf and turf...that we had ordered. Our waiter said they were going to substitute..without warning us. We left and will never go back. It was horrible. The gumbo was good, that is the only positive thing I can say.

On a positive note we did end up going to Catal and had an AMAZING dinner (pics below). We sat out on the porch and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Quality food, service and atmosphere.


Enough talking, time for some pics. I will post them below.

 

[tjl1388]

The Great Dole Whip Float!!

Bengal BBQ, Very good. I liked it, it was a good snack.

The matterhorn is really cool...

Space Mountain is themed really good here...

My favorite Disney ship, and it's not even close..the Columbia is really beautiful

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Great trip report! When we get a chance could you post your pics of your hotel room? We're staying the Carousel in a few weeks and I'd love to see some. Thanks.

 

[tjl1388]

Great trip report! When we get a chance could you post your pics of your hotel room? We're staying the Carousel in a few weeks and I'd love to see some. Thanks.

No problem, will do..

Here is REALLY crappy one. This is a "club" room. I will take more later in the trip for you.

We have get going, we have reservations tonight as a tiny little place in Orleans square, you might have heard of it....

Club 33...

I will take a TON of pics and get them up asap.

 

[lcasa]

And I have to agree with you on the BB - way over-priced and just not worth it anymore. 4 of us ate their in April, and were very disappointed. Catal is good - I always forget to recommend that one. Snacks in Downtown can be good too - if you get tired of burgers, pizza slices at Napoli take-out are good.

The burgers are best ( imho ) at the Taste Pilot's Grill btw...

 

[MeLaNie9]

Loving your report - uh oh about BB.
DH and I will be taking an anniversary trip (our 7th anniversary) to California in Oct-Nov, will end up with 3 days/4 nights at DL/GC and were seriously considering BB...maybe not?
Hope to see/hear more about Catal.
We are like you - WDW vets (maybe not as vet as you and your DW) and certainly used to pre-planning all the TS meals so will be making PS reservations.

p.s. Excellent pictures!

 

[tjl1388]

Catal was AMAZING, behind Napa Rose probably the best food of the trip.

I'll have to see if I can dig up some of the pics from there. We sat up on the open air balcony and it was gorgeous. Service was great and the food was spectacular.

Sorry, the trip report kinda died..I was having to much fun and by the time I got back to the room I was DEAD!!!


We had a blast, hopefully when I get my pics together I can come back and detail Club 33 and Napa Rose...


And no, I would not recommend BB, it's great to look at as you go by on Pirates but I have no interest in eating at a high dollar restaurant with 4-6 expensive standard fare items on the menu and no appetizers and the same boring desserts. My recommendations if your an adult only trip...spend $40-60 more, sit chefs table at Napa Rose and not only have the best food you'll ever eat short of Grandma's house but have an experience as well.

 

[stacieberry]

Very nice pics and good advice! I will be sure to dine at Napa Rose instead of BB in my next adults-only trip.