Gearing Up For a Birthmasiversary With the Mouse! - A Dec 09 PTR

[disneyaddicted]

OOH OOH! I just had a flash of inspiration!

I could maybe scratch the Crystal Palace dinner and replace it with breakfast instead! That is one where I don't much care which meal it is, long as we eat there once! And it would also mean actually getting to use our park tickets on that last day, and say good bye to the castle before we head to DTD then drive home.

This also means picking out a different dinner place in or near the MK for my birthday dinner on the 3rd. Hmmmmmm!

Off to check for ADRs.... AGAIN!!!!

In my opinion crystal palace has a better breakfast then dinner. I've done both and wasn't too impressed with dinner.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Well, after sleeping, I'm at it again, obsessing over these ADRs. Now I'm thinking that maybe I'd rather have Tony's instead of Crystal Palace on my birthday.

NOOOOOoooooo! Don't trade for Tony's. oops. I mean do what ya want man, I mean it's your trip. Don't let me influence you at all.

 

[Elevationist]

In my opinion crystal palace has a better breakfast then dinner. I've done both and wasn't too impressed with dinner.

I did Dinner in 2006, and rather liked it. Never done breakfast at CP. I'm thinking of trying to replace it with Tony's though, if I can snag an ADR. But only because I am worried that I've inadvertently booked us too many buffet-style meals. 2 breakfasts and 4 dinners in 7 days.

With all the revisions I've been doing, here is how our ADR list currently stands:

12/1: Chef Mickey's, 9:00pm
12/2: Maya Grill, 7:45am.
12/2: Cape May Cafe, 8:45pm
12/3: Crystal Palace, 4:30pm
12/4: Restaurant Marrakesh, 7:00pm
12/5: Ohana, 9:45pm
12/6: Boma, 4:55pm
12/7: 1900 Park Fare, 9:05am

 

[Elevationist]

NOOOOOoooooo! Don't trade for Tony's. oops. I mean do what ya want man, I mean it's your trip. Don't let me influence you at all.

Was that reverse psychology? Or are you trying to get an ADR that night, too?

 

[disneyaddicted]

I'm set on my ADR's I just got a little carried away when you thought about trading CP for TOny's. You do have a lot of buffets booked. But buffets mean more choices.

 

[Elevationist]

I'm set on my ADR's I just got a little carried away when you thought about trading CP for TOny's. You do have a lot of buffets booked. But buffets mean more choices.

This is true. I also tend towards buffet-style meals while vacationing, because either: (1) The easy way to get photo ops with characters, or (2) If no characters, I feel you can get in and out of a buffet restaurant faster than a traditional one, where you have to wait for everything to be cooked to order and served, blah blah blah.

But I also want each meal to be memorable for Ron. I'm afraid that so many dinner buffets are just going to all blend together after the trip, especially since three of them are on 3 nights in a row.

OCD on overdrive.

 

[disneyaddicted]

That's true. But then again, the stmospher at each place will be different.

 

[Elevationist]

That's true. But then again, the stmospher at each place will be different.

I've never actually been to Tony's, all I know is that Lady & the Tramp is one of my favorites. And as far as normal, order a la carte restaurants, it's that or the Plaza. And just judging from the menus, Tony's just seems more "birthday dinner" appropriate than the Plaza.

All though these are all probably moot points anyhow, seeing as how there's no availability anywhere that evening at the times I need!

I'll do some more research on Tony's and read some reviews before I decide if I'm going to start pursuing a res there. Bad enough that I'm still chasing Le Cellier for the next night!

 

[TiggerAllie]

We ate at Tony's on a past trip and it was totally disappointing--not enough Lady & the Tramp theming, and the food was very poor quality Italian.

I absolutely love CP for breakfast, but I probably wouldn't go for the other meals, based on the menu.

What about dinner at Park Fare? Supposedly the castle is good, but I refuse to eat there since they added the required picture package and pre-pay.

Maybe dinner at one of the MK resorts for your birthday?

 

[Elevationist]

We ate at Tony's on a past trip and it was totally disappointing--not enough Lady & the Tramp theming, and the food was very poor quality Italian.

I absolutely love CP for breakfast, but I probably wouldn't go for the other meals, based on the menu.

What about dinner at Park Fare? Supposedly the castle is good, but I refuse to eat there since they added the required picture package and pre-pay.

Maybe dinner at one of the MK resorts for your birthday?

Oh, that's too bad about Tony's! Hrmm.

I've never done breakfast at CP, but I did dinner there a few years ago, and I liked it alot. We did 1900 Park Fare that same trip for dinner, and only liked it slightly more. So I have no problem with the food, and the character interaction is fun! The only reason I'm considering changing it up is to cut down on the amount of buffets dinners we're doing in a row.

And I agree with you totally about the castle. I'd love to eat there again, but I just can't see dropping 2 TS credits on it when we're on the regular dining plan. As is, I have us scheduled for 8 TS meals even though we only have 6 TS credits each, so we're already paying for two of them out of pocket. CRT is definitely not an option this trip.

I considered looking into one of the MK resorts, but from I can tell, looks like they are all full too! Not to mention that during the week, we are already eating at the Contemporary (Chef Mickey's), the Polynesian (Ohana), and the Grand Floridian (1900 Park Fare). I want to try to mix it up and visit different resorts if I'm trying their restaurants.

I was thinking about maybe Wilderness Lodge. We can't afford Artist Point, as much as I would love to do that for my birthday. Which I guess only leaves Whispering Canyon Cafe? I'm not totally opposed to that, I think the food looks tasty. And we have options there... Depending upon our appetites come dinner time, we could go for the family skillet, or order a la carte. Hmmm.

I'm really okay with keeping my birthday dinner at CP, I like the food, I like that we won't have to leave the park, and I like the character interaction. But, I don't wanna overload Ron with so many buffet meals, and I do like the idea of trying something new, since I've yet to even visit Wilderness Lodge, much less eat at any of the restaurants there. I doubt I'll be able to get am ADR at this point, but it's definitely an option I'll run past Ron.

I tend to ramble alot, I'm sorry.

 

[Elevationist]

Okay, just talked to Ron (right after he read through this thread ). He promises me that the multiple buffets isn't a problem, and that it's okay for me to leave everything as is.

He tells me to just relax. I tell him that I just want everything to be perfect. He says "Everything will be perfect, because I'll be at Disney World, and I'll be with you."

Soooooo...

I'm going to force myself to stop obsessing over my ADRs, and consider everything set now!
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...Well. Almost. Still gonna chase that Le Cellier res for 12/4. But if I don't get it, no worries. I know it's a long shot.

 

[disneyaddicted]

That's good. Now let your mind rest a minute before you start obsessing over something else. We all do it here. Can't think of a single person on these boards who have not second guessed their decisions, and if they tell you different, they are LYING!
It's a curse maybe? We just keep thinking we can make the plans better. Especially if we are planning a trip for a newbie or loved one. It makes it all the harder when we want to give them the best experience ever.

 

[Elevationist]

That's good. Now let your mind rest a minute before you start obsessing over something else. We all do it here. Can't think of a single person on these boards who have not second guessed their decisions, and if they tell you different, they are LYING!
It's a curse maybe? We just keep thinking we can make the plans better. Especially if we are planning a trip for a newbie or loved one. It makes it all the harder when we want to give them the best experience ever.

Exactly exactly EXACTLY! Gosh, I would be lost without the DIS, it's so nice to be around people who understand!

 

[jenbear123]

So glad to hear you've got your ADRs ironed out - well for now. But like disneyaddicted put it, give yourself a break. It's very tempting to go to the online dining reservations and continually search and search and search for that one ADR you are just hoping will pop up (hmmm this sounds familiar) but it just adds unneeded stress. I'm one to talk! I'm going to try and follow my own advice too

 

[Elevationist]

So glad to hear you've got your ADRs ironed out - well for now. But like disneyaddicted put it, give yourself a break. It's very tempting to go to the online dining reservations and continually search and search and search for that one ADR you are just hoping will pop up (hmmm this sounds familiar) but it just adds unneeded stress. I'm one to talk! I'm going to try and follow my own advice too

Shhhh...
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Don't tell DBF...
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But...
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...I just made another ADR change.

Just one, though! I finally decided where I really wanna be on my birthday, and what restaurant I want to be eating at (other than Le Cellier). He's not gonna like it, though, so I'm not sure how to tell him.

See, the more I've thought about it, I just don't want a buffet for my birthday dinner. I want to be waited on, dangit! And Epcot is my most favorite of all the parks. We're going to MVMCP that night, but that doesn't mean we can't spend the first part of the day somewhere else.

So. Instead of MK and Crystal Palace... I want to make that an Epcot day instead. And I want to have dinner at Les Chefs de France. I've never really experienced french cuisine, and I think the menu looks yummy. However, when we were originally picking out Epcot ADR's, Ron vetoed this place because he has no interest in French food.

But... I do. And... it's my birthday.

So I made the res. Now I just have to figure out how to convince him that it won't be that bad.

 

[jenbear123]

"The mind is like a parachute. It only works when it's open"

Tell your BF that French food will not kill him and he's not allowed to say he doesn't like something when he hasn't even tried it.

And it's your birthday! Eat where YOU want

 

[Wrexie]

I've never been to Chefs de France, but I love Bistro de Paris upstairs! From what I've heard, the upstairs restaurant is pricier and more authentic. So I'm betting that the downstairs restaurant will have lots of things even for people who don't think they like French food. You can't beat the bread anywhere French, so even something as simple as a grilled cheese (Croque Monsieur in French) can be heavenly!

Maybe before you tell him, you can look over the menu and find a couple of things you can point out that he likes?

 

[TiggerAllie]

Ooo we are doing Les Chefs for dinner on NYE! I'll be interested to know what you think. We decided on Chefs over Bistro because the food options sounded better (not so much into all the French meatiness). I've only eaten at Chefs once for the prix fixe lunch, which was good but not terribly adventurous (french onion soup & sandwich + cream brulee).

Is Artist's Point 1 TS or 2? I can't remember if they increased it. If it is still 1TS, that would definitely be worth it, but I don't think at any of the restaurants you can justify dropping 2 TS--who can eat enough to make it worth the $$?

Personally, I really like doing a park other than MK on party days (MNSSHP, MVMCP), because it makes the party seem more special.

 

[DONTMINDME]

Ladies, I need your thoughts on Crocs.

I hate, repeat, I HATE, sneakers. But it's hard for me to imagine spending 14 hours a day in a theme park wearing anything else.

I really really want to find some sort of shoe that breathes! And that I won't have to worry about my sock/shoes getting wet on Splash Mountain or Kali River!

If you're a Croc lover, what style do you like best and why? Should I go for original Crocs? Do their sandal styles provide the same amount of comfort and support?

These are on close-out, and I like the style of them, they look like something I would buy for running errands and such. (I can't do thong-style sandals, like flops, because they KILL my toes!)

Or since my primary objective is comfort and support, should I stick with a more "traditional" Croc shoe, like these? What do ya'll think?

Also, how do you find that the sizes run? Big or small? I wear a women's 12-13 and a men's 10-11, so sometimes finding shoes is a big pain in the butt!

Please, any and all suggestions welcome!

I know how you feel. Hi I'm Tammy I noticed you on JOJO's Thread and thought I'd see if there was anymore room on the bus. I like the 3rd row back on the right. I am a tall lady too 6' and i hate sneakers too. I have found a type of shoe at Sam's club called deerfoams and I absolutely love them. I am also toying with the croc idea but no flipflop style they kill me. I am ejoying you ptr and I am sort of a lurker I tend to read alot and try not to butt in too much. We are going to be at WL Nov.28/Dec6 and it is also our first time at Christmas, we are celebrating 25 years together, we met Dec3rd and have been married 23 1/2 years. I love that banana it makes me laugh. I agree about the planning and I am just like you I want to know where I'm going and a general idea of what I'm doing not just standing around scratching my?????

 

[DONTMINDME]

Artist point is considered signature dining and is now 2 pts. I've heard it's excellent tho.