Chef Mickey's & Epcot
Tuesday 30th August 2005
I'm "up and at 'em" at the crack of dawn today.
It's the last Advance Dining Reservation at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and I don't want to keep him waiting.
I sit on the patio sipping an early morning coffee and start to feel a bit sad. There is only two days left - boy - time has really flown by this year. I could do with another couple of weeks here.
Actually - I could do with living here!
I start the "wakey wakey" routine by rattling pots and pans in the kitchen. As this has no effect I move on to the "loud TV" playing and rustling crisp packets - still on my own I resort to singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the top of my voice!
Dogs begin to howl, windows shatter and the neighbours bellow out in their appreciation of such a pitch perfect rendition!
It works and after a lot of huffing and puffing (by me!) we are soon driving Jaunty down the US27 towards Disney.
We drive up to the Contempory for our 8.40 date with Mickey and his friends. As we pull up at the gatehouse and are greeted by the Disney employee - it feels great - almost like we are staying here! (I wish!) He waves us through and we park at the side of the lobby.
It feels wonderful to be here in this hotel. I would love to stay here for a couple of nights - maybe later when the kids are older! (about 45 ish!)
We wander over to the restaurant and are quickly shown to our table.
The food is very good - lots to choose from - and the characters are very playful - Pluto tries to bite off Ricky's head! (A man after my own heart!). He gives Joyce and Cyril a big hug.
And Chip poses with the family.
There are some strange dishes here that I have not come across anywhere else - Peanut Butter & Jelly Pizza (Yuk!) - and banana & custard to name a couple! Well I suppose it is aimed at the younger market.
Its a great atmosphere and we are able to get some very good photos of the family with the characters.
Minnie and Mickey were particularly good with all the kids and made time for everyone.
I guess they bring out th child in all of us.
Hannah and Ricky are in despair as we exit and find a whole buffet station that we had missed it contained nothing but sweets and cakes! However - Goofy bumps into Hannah on the way out - so it wasn't all bad.
After breakfast we wander around the lobby and shops for a while. I venture up a few floors and after asking a cast member where to get a view of the castle - find a great spot that would be perfect for a view of the Wishes fireworks.
We take the usual pictures and but a coupe of souvenirs from the gift shop before catching the monorail over to the Polynesian.
We stop here and have a look around - fabulous beach area - Ricky and Hannah try out the hammocks.
The restaurant looks gorgeous - I really wanted to try to get an ADR for this but I was afraid that the food would not be liked by our entire group - (altogether now....) maybe next time!
There is a lovely relaxed feel to this resort.
OK so thats three nights at the Contempory and three nights at the Poly ..
Back on the monorail to the Grand Floridian for next another nose around.
This place is lovely - I could happily spend a week here (I don't think my bank manager would be as happy though!).
How's this for a staircase?
What a Lobby!
Hmmm...... how about one week here followed by three nights at the Poly then over to the Hard Rock for a couple and finally back to the Contempory for the last three nights? What do you reckon? About £7000 should cover it!!!!!!
Oh well - a man can dream can't he?
While were at it - we may as well throw in a four night Disney cruise and three nights at Vero Beach just to recover!
Now that's my idea of a Holiday!
One of the Grand Floridian Pools.
There were a couple of very posh ducks staying here - I kid you not - look - they had full use of the swimming pool!
We head back to pick up Jaunty and drive to Wal-Mart to get some of our photo's printed off. It's so much cheaper to do this here than back at home - 19 cents a print! Also if there are any problems then you can go back for those must have photos before you leave.
After dropping off Joyce and Cyril at the Golden Corral for their dinner (I couldn't face another buffet today!) We pop into Cracker Barrel for our dinner. Another first for us all.
This was a lovely meal.
Lena had "The Sampler", Ricky had Chicken and Dumplings, Hannah had the Beef Dinner and I had the Beef Sandwich.
$40 including drinks plus tip - good value.
The shop is very good and makes a great place to pick up some presents for those back home. If I had a veranda then I would definitely purchase a couple of those rocking chairs!
We pick up Joyce & Cyril and drive over to Epcot for our final trip around the world.
We stroll through the front of Epcot and try to avoid the lure of the massive Disney shops but failed miserably!
So after what seemed like decades we make it through to the world showcase and catch a boat to Morocco.
Then Japan, America, France, England and Canada. I think weve just about covered the whole of the world now.
The "British Invasion" band is playing in the bandstand at the back of England and we catch the end of their last number as we walk through - "Hey Jude".
We leave the park as the ROE fireworks are starting - and head back via Wal-Mart to pick up the photo's.
Oh dear - last day tomorrow - it's that sinking feeling that is beginning to creep in!.
The weather channel is now showing Hurricane Katrinas "Direct Hit" on New Orleans - they are very worried about this as the levies are not in a very good state of repair and they fear that they may not hold out if there is sustained hurricane force winds. (How right they were!)
Tomorrow is a final Universal day..............
Tuesday 30th August 2005
I'm "up and at 'em" at the crack of dawn today.
It's the last Advance Dining Reservation at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and I don't want to keep him waiting.
I sit on the patio sipping an early morning coffee and start to feel a bit sad. There is only two days left - boy - time has really flown by this year. I could do with another couple of weeks here.
Actually - I could do with living here!
I start the "wakey wakey" routine by rattling pots and pans in the kitchen. As this has no effect I move on to the "loud TV" playing and rustling crisp packets - still on my own I resort to singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the top of my voice!
Dogs begin to howl, windows shatter and the neighbours bellow out in their appreciation of such a pitch perfect rendition!
It works and after a lot of huffing and puffing (by me!) we are soon driving Jaunty down the US27 towards Disney.
We drive up to the Contempory for our 8.40 date with Mickey and his friends. As we pull up at the gatehouse and are greeted by the Disney employee - it feels great - almost like we are staying here! (I wish!) He waves us through and we park at the side of the lobby.
It feels wonderful to be here in this hotel. I would love to stay here for a couple of nights - maybe later when the kids are older! (about 45 ish!)
We wander over to the restaurant and are quickly shown to our table.
The food is very good - lots to choose from - and the characters are very playful - Pluto tries to bite off Ricky's head! (A man after my own heart!). He gives Joyce and Cyril a big hug.
And Chip poses with the family.
There are some strange dishes here that I have not come across anywhere else - Peanut Butter & Jelly Pizza (Yuk!) - and banana & custard to name a couple! Well I suppose it is aimed at the younger market.
Its a great atmosphere and we are able to get some very good photos of the family with the characters.
Minnie and Mickey were particularly good with all the kids and made time for everyone.
I guess they bring out th child in all of us.
Hannah and Ricky are in despair as we exit and find a whole buffet station that we had missed it contained nothing but sweets and cakes! However - Goofy bumps into Hannah on the way out - so it wasn't all bad.
After breakfast we wander around the lobby and shops for a while. I venture up a few floors and after asking a cast member where to get a view of the castle - find a great spot that would be perfect for a view of the Wishes fireworks.
We take the usual pictures and but a coupe of souvenirs from the gift shop before catching the monorail over to the Polynesian.
We stop here and have a look around - fabulous beach area - Ricky and Hannah try out the hammocks.
The restaurant looks gorgeous - I really wanted to try to get an ADR for this but I was afraid that the food would not be liked by our entire group - (altogether now....) maybe next time!
There is a lovely relaxed feel to this resort.
OK so thats three nights at the Contempory and three nights at the Poly ..
Back on the monorail to the Grand Floridian for next another nose around.
This place is lovely - I could happily spend a week here (I don't think my bank manager would be as happy though!).
How's this for a staircase?
What a Lobby!
Hmmm...... how about one week here followed by three nights at the Poly then over to the Hard Rock for a couple and finally back to the Contempory for the last three nights? What do you reckon? About £7000 should cover it!!!!!!
Oh well - a man can dream can't he?
While were at it - we may as well throw in a four night Disney cruise and three nights at Vero Beach just to recover!
Now that's my idea of a Holiday!
One of the Grand Floridian Pools.
There were a couple of very posh ducks staying here - I kid you not - look - they had full use of the swimming pool!
We head back to pick up Jaunty and drive to Wal-Mart to get some of our photo's printed off. It's so much cheaper to do this here than back at home - 19 cents a print! Also if there are any problems then you can go back for those must have photos before you leave.
After dropping off Joyce and Cyril at the Golden Corral for their dinner (I couldn't face another buffet today!) We pop into Cracker Barrel for our dinner. Another first for us all.
This was a lovely meal.
Lena had "The Sampler", Ricky had Chicken and Dumplings, Hannah had the Beef Dinner and I had the Beef Sandwich.
$40 including drinks plus tip - good value.
The shop is very good and makes a great place to pick up some presents for those back home. If I had a veranda then I would definitely purchase a couple of those rocking chairs!
We pick up Joyce & Cyril and drive over to Epcot for our final trip around the world.
We stroll through the front of Epcot and try to avoid the lure of the massive Disney shops but failed miserably!
So after what seemed like decades we make it through to the world showcase and catch a boat to Morocco.
Then Japan, America, France, England and Canada. I think weve just about covered the whole of the world now.
The "British Invasion" band is playing in the bandstand at the back of England and we catch the end of their last number as we walk through - "Hey Jude".
We leave the park as the ROE fireworks are starting - and head back via Wal-Mart to pick up the photo's.
Oh dear - last day tomorrow - it's that sinking feeling that is beginning to creep in!.
The weather channel is now showing Hurricane Katrinas "Direct Hit" on New Orleans - they are very worried about this as the levies are not in a very good state of repair and they fear that they may not hold out if there is sustained hurricane force winds. (How right they were!)
Tomorrow is a final Universal day..............
...I hope you are planning another trip soon.....you have so much enthusiam for Orlando ...it really comes through in your reports.
