He Was Bitten, Bitten By The Bug! A Nov-Dec '12 TR **WRAP UP 7/26**

[ronnmel]

*Sending positive vibes his way.*

 

[SAT887]

I'm trying to catch up on TRs! I love all your pictures Also, I love sitting in Pinocchio Village Haus and watching the IASW boats.... 2 months and we will be back!

Also, sending goodvibes for your friend Steve, I hope everything works out!

 

[SAT887]

I just got through all the castle photos..... I can not wait to go back at Christmas time again, it's so beautiful!!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

*Sending positive vibes his way.*

Thank you very much! I know he appreciates it too.

I'm trying to catch up on TRs! I love all your pictures Also, I love sitting in Pinocchio Village Haus and watching the IASW boats.... 2 months and we will be back!

Also, sending goodvibes for your friend Steve, I hope everything works out!

I just got through all the castle photos..... I can not wait to go back at Christmas time again, it's so beautiful!!

Watching IASW is my favorite thing at Pinocchio Village Haus and I always try to get one of the tables with that view. Yay for only 2 months to go!

Thank you very much for the good vibes, he needs them for sure!

Christmas time is definitely my favorite time. The decorations, special programs, extra magical feel....

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome pics!

 

[afwdwfan]

You can never have too many castle/fireworks pictures. Very nice!

Prayers for Steve. I hope things find a way of working out for him. It truly is a shame that our banking system got so screwed up by basically handing money to anyone who could sign at the X that now they're too restricted to even be able to lend for a legitmate business expense. Hopefully, something will fall into place and allow him to do the upgrades he needs.

 

[KatMark]

I love the castle and firework pictures...beautiful.

Sending prayers and good thoughts for Steve.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Awesome pics!

Thanks!

You can never have too many castle/fireworks pictures. Very nice!

Prayers for Steve. I hope things find a way of working out for him. It truly is a shame that our banking system got so screwed up by basically handing money to anyone who could sign at the X that now they're too restricted to even be able to lend for a legitmate business expense. Hopefully, something will fall into place and allow him to do the upgrades he needs.

I agree, you can definitely never have too many of those pictures!

Thanks for the prayers! It is ridiculous that because they screwed up and gave out loans they shouldn't have, now they won't give the ones they should.

I love the castle and firework pictures...beautiful.

Sending prayers and good thoughts for Steve.

Thanks, on both accounts!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

HELP FOR STEVE:

My friend Steve has set up a GoFundMe account to help fund his Advancement of Underwater Cleaning project. If anyone is interested in donating anything at all to him please PM me and I'll send you the link to his page. Thanks everyone! If can't donate then I'd appreciate if you kept him in your thoughts/prayers still since he doesn't know if he can raise the money he needs to get this project started and is hoping this helps.

Thanks!


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[PhoenixStrength]

DAY FIVE, MONDAY DECEMBER 3RD, PART SIX

After enjoying the comedy of Monsters Inc Laugh Floor I headed over for another attraction I hadn't yet done this trip.









I only waited about 2 minutes before being let in the theater. There were about 10 other people in theater and that was it.






One of the other people asked the CM if it was okay to take pictures. He said you really aren't supposed to, but if no one else in theater minded than he didn't care as long as you didn't use the flash. None of us minded, so I got to break the rules and take pictures of the scenes thru the decades!! They turned out pretty nice, so here they are!






The turn of the 20th century:















The 1920s:















The 1940s:


















The future:












It's a great big beautiful tomorrow....now I'm going to have that stuck in my head all day!

Once I finished my journeys through the 1900s I headed back over to Fantasyland to do some other things I hadn't had time yet that day. First up was Winnie the Pooh!






The posted wait time was 15 minutes, but as you can see in the next picture the line was dead!






I was in my honey pot within 5 minutes and on my way thru the Hundred Acre Wood.












CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

More Winnie the Pooh pictures:















I walked further into Fantasyland and took a couple pictures of New Fantasyland on the walkway. First up was Beast's castle...






...then the new extended walls from Cinderella's castle.






Apparently I was wrong earlier and I did make it back to see Philharmagic, so that was up next!















As always, I loved it! Such a wonderfully designed show and fun too.

I was a bit hungry when I got out of the show, so I decided to head into New Fantasyland and see what they had at Gaston's Tavern.












After looking over the menu I decided on the Warm Cinnamon Roll.






It wasn't really warm, but it was quite delicious! And HUGE!!! That plate it is on is a full size plate, not a small dessert one! I only ate about 1/3 of it before I was full. I did get a to-go container for the rest of it and enjoyed it the next morning.


NEXT TIME: BELLE DISAPPOINTS, AND TIME TO GO!




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[PhoenixStrength]

Question/help request:

So, I don't know yet for sure if we are going, but I made ADRs for the possible upcoming trip with Steve a few weeks ago. My biggest issue is my MK evening. I haven't done many TS meals at MK, and the only one I've done in the past decade was CRT, which is not an option this time both in availability and I don't know that Steve would enjoy it. I am currently booked for Crystal Palace, but wanted to get everyone's opinions on the options I have.

The 4 places that do have availability still are Crystal Palace (which I currently have booked), Liberty Tree Tavern, The Plaza, and Tony's Town Square. I'd rather not do Tony's since we are scheduled for Via Napoli the next day for dinner and don't want Italian 2 nights in a row. Plus I know it gets bad reviews often. Of the other 3 which do you prefer, and why? I haven't eaten at any of them. Well, actually I did LTT as a kid but that's before it became family-style so it's different now and I don't remember it well anyway.

Any opinions are appreciated!

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[KatMark]

You started that update out with my favorite nap attraction--COP. Then went to a favorite, Pooh and Philharmagic. That cinammon roll does look huge.

As for your question on dining at MK in the evening. Here are my thoughts:

1) We do NOT do buffets for Disney at dinner time; we don't like them (over-salted, lukewarm, yuk)

2) I ate at Tony's last month with the girls for lunch and was not impressed (Mama Melrose much better in my opinion)

3) We've never done Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner because I am not a "big Thanksgiving meal" type person; we've done lunch and like it (and we'll be there next month)

4) The Plaza is our "last meal" of the trip on most occasions when it is just Mark and I. After all the "heavy" meals we eat during the week, this is a nice change of pace and they have THE best french fries in all of Disney.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

You started that update out with my favorite nap attraction--COP. Then went to a favorite, Pooh and Philharmagic. That cinammon roll does look huge.

COP isn't a must-do for me at all, but since I had done mostly everything else already, I was close to it and it was my last day I had no reason not to. And the cinnamon roll is huge. I was shocked really.

As for your question on dining at MK in the evening. Here are my thoughts:

1) We do NOT do buffets for Disney at dinner time; we don't like them (over-salted, lukewarm, yuk)

I've liked some of the buffets I've done at WDW. Biergarten was good, and Trails End was ok. Did not like Hollywood & Vine.

2) I ate at Tony's last month with the girls for lunch and was not impressed (Mama Melrose much better in my opinion)

I ate there when I was I believe 13, but I know it gets bad reviews. Plus I have Via Napoli the next night and Mama Melrose for lunch later that week, so don't really need more Italian anyway!

3) We've never done Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner because I am not a "big Thanksgiving meal" type person; we've done lunch and like it (and we'll be there next month)

The food actually looks good to me and this may be what I wind up switching to. I know Steve likes the food they have too.

4) The Plaza is our "last meal" of the trip on most occasions when it is just Mark and I. After all the "heavy" meals we eat during the week, this is a nice change of pace and they have THE best french fries in all of Disney.

I knew you would advise The Plaza! None of the sandwiches really appeal to me though. If it was the end of the trip I might consider The Plaza, but it's actually our first park day!

If I could just get a BOG ressie I wouldn't need to worry about this!

Other responses in red above.

 

[mickeystoontown]

How neat that ya'll were allowed to take pictures on COP! As far as a table service meal in the Magic Kingdom, we like The Plaza and Crystal Palace. It's our tradition to our last meal at Crystal Palace. The fireroasted corn spoonbread is absolutely delicious. What about a table service meal at either Contemporary, Grand Floridian or Polynesian? Those are just a monorail ride away.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

How neat that ya'll were allowed to take pictures on COP! As far as a table service meal in the Magic Kingdom, we like The Plaza and Crystal Palace. It's our tradition to our last meal at Crystal Palace. The fireroasted corn spoonbread is absolutely delicious. What about a table service meal at either Contemporary, Grand Floridian or Polynesian? Those are just a monorail ride away.

I was shocked the CM said it was fine as long as it was ok with everyone.

I will probably wait until Steve says yes to the trip (being optimistic) and ask his opinion. I know he won't care about the food as he isn't picky, but I'm not sure how he will feel about the characters.

I thought about the resort TS option, but I'd like to have as much time to do attractions as possible since this is his first visit and we only have one day per park. They are open til midnight that night but I don't know if he will last that long! I'll check availability at their TS restaurants though just in case. And that would be cool since he could do the monorail for the first time that way.

 

[SAT887]

I have not been on COP in ages..... I just don't think my little ones could sit through it. I love the night time pictures Did you basically go from park opening to close everyday?

Good luck on your ADR and you never know BOG might show up!

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I have not been on COP in ages..... I just don't think my little ones could sit through it. I love the night time pictures Did you basically go from park opening to close everyday?

Good luck on your ADR and you never know BOG might show up!

I could see how COP could be too long and not have enough going on to entertain younger kids.

Yes, I got there at rope drop every day except the last and stayed until close to closing if not until closing.

I keep trying for BOG, checking every morning and evening, and sometime in between! I'd love to get one, but if I don't we can try for lunch instead.

Great pics!

Thanks!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

So, thanks to Lisa's suggestion of one of the monorail resorts for dinner the MK day I decided it wouldn't hurt to look at the availability to see if there were any possibilities. Of course there were several open at almost every restaurant, so after looking at the menus again I am now booked at Kona Cafe! I haven't cancelled the Crystal Palace one yet as I want to talk to Steve first, but I'm thinking we will eat at Kona, if we do in fact go. The more I think about it the happier I am to eat there. I'd get to introduce Steve to the Monorail and he can see the Monorail resorts and another resort in the Polynesian. I've also only seen a very little bit of the Polynesian, only the lobby area of the decorations last trip. And I've heard lots of good things about Kona and their menu looks good to me!

So, thanks Lisa for putting the idea back in my head.

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