Here's to a DRAMA-FREE vacation! A Sept. 2013 PTR, FINAL UPDATE, 9/1!!

[Mrs T 2009]

I'm here!!!!!

Have a great trip next week!!!!! DQ it's fun! Bunch of different floors filled with old arcade games and other fun stuff!

Yachtsman it's my all time favorite!!!!! I have switched our sides before, so you shouldn't have a problem!
Those onion rings with the garlic are so very delicious!!!!!!I can't remember the stream I've had there. If I remember, I'll let us know!

So excited to hear all about your trip next week and your up coming one in September!!!!!

 

[wiigirl]

In for your PTR...

 

[princess_momma]

Hello!! I'm here!! So excited for you!! I am going to be obsessively stalking your fb come September...heaven knows I'll be dying with anticipation for my trip then! Too bad we are just missing each other by a month!

Your ADR's sound delicious! I've always, always, always wanted to try Rose & Crown and Raglan Road. I'm contemplating canceling Captain's Grille for one of them BUT we are obsessed with crab legs and hardly ever get them and so we booked there just for that. But then again, we get crab legs more than we get authentic Irish or English food. I'M SO TORN!! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY DELICIOUS RESTAURANTS DISNEY?! And to make matters worse, we'll be there during the F&W Festival, so I'm trying not to even book TOO MUCH. But of course I do. I love adrs.

Also, I'll be so curious to read about Yachtsman. We have a signature night and I wanted Cali Grill but of course, that's not open for adr's yet during my trip and so my next choices were Jiko, Yachtsman and Artist Point. I currently went with Artist Point. So I'll be pestering you to text me.

I wasn't much help with your choices. HAHA. I am just as torn as you about the whole BoG/R&C thing. It's so hard to break from tradition! But...BoG! I think I might lean towards that one. How early is the ADR? Could you still have time to hit up Epcot for dessert?

 

[klacey1]

I hope you have a mishap free trip this time!

I too am dying to try that shrimp and scallops puff pastry dish at BOG, but since our last minute trip in less than 10 days was planned quickly, there are no openings there. I will have to wait until our next trip!

Hey Rachel! I am happy to have gotten a BOG reservation at all, especially during free dining, but I really wish it was on a better day at a better time. I can't imagine eating at 4:25!!

I'm here!!!!!

Have a great trip next week!!!!! DQ it's fun! Bunch of different floors filled with old arcade games and other fun stuff!

Yachtsman it's my all time favorite!!!!! I have switched our sides before, so you shouldn't have a problem!
Those onion rings with the garlic are so very delicious!!!!!!I can't remember the stream I've had there. If I remember, I'll let us know!

So excited to hear all about your trip next week and your up coming one in September!!!!!

Hi Mary!! Thanks-- and thanks for the info on DQ! Good to know about Yachtsman!

In for your PTR...

Thanks for joining!!

Hello!! I'm here!! So excited for you!! I am going to be obsessively stalking your fb come September...heaven knows I'll be dying with anticipation for my trip then! Too bad we are just missing each other by a month!

Your ADR's sound delicious! I've always, always, always wanted to try Rose & Crown and Raglan Road. I'm contemplating canceling Captain's Grille for one of them BUT we are obsessed with crab legs and hardly ever get them and so we booked there just for that. But then again, we get crab legs more than we get authentic Irish or English food. I'M SO TORN!! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY DELICIOUS RESTAURANTS DISNEY?! And to make matters worse, we'll be there during the F&W Festival, so I'm trying not to even book TOO MUCH. But of course I do. I love adrs.

Also, I'll be so curious to read about Yachtsman. We have a signature night and I wanted Cali Grill but of course, that's not open for adr's yet during my trip and so my next choices were Jiko, Yachtsman and Artist Point. I currently went with Artist Point. So I'll be pestering you to text me.

I wasn't much help with your choices. HAHA. I am just as torn as you about the whole BoG/R&C thing. It's so hard to break from tradition! But...BoG! I think I might lean towards that one. How early is the ADR? Could you still have time to hit up Epcot for dessert?

Kimmy!! Glad you're here!! I knowwww, none of my trips ever line up where I can meet any DIS friends!
Gah, I've been to Epcot for F&W, but just for a day. It's hard not to make ADRs, but the food of the festival is sooo good.
I did love Artist Point last trip, so I think you made a good choice!


Hello everyone! So in less than 24 hours, I'll be boarding a plane to go to Orlando!! My flight leaves at 6:30 a.m. Fortunately, the airport is only about a half hour away. I'll still be getting up at 3:50, though, eek! I'm usually not a great sleeper on planes, but I'm hoping I'll snooze a little bit. I have to be "on" for the conference at 7:00 a.m. everyday! This will be a very, very tiring week.

I do plan to live Tweet and post photos on Facebook and Instagram, so if you want to friend/follow me, my FB is here: http://goo.gl/KJHb5 and my Twitter handle is @klacey11. My tweets for Sunday-Wednesday morning will be pretty much all work related, but the rest of the week will be all about Disney! (So unless you like to hear about higher education products/best practices, you might not want to tune in until Wednesday afternoon!

There's been a small change to my trip. For awhile there, it looked like I might have to come back to NY on Thursday afternoon to be back in the office on Friday. Augh! So just in case, I cancelled my Thursday night reservation at Pop and extended my stay at the Dolphin. I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to ride ME and see the AoA, but I didn't want to be stuck with penalties if I had to come home early. (My company would have covered the Dolphin's fees if I had to leave on Thursday.) Fortunately now, I will still get to come home Friday night as planned. Ultimately, I think it's the right decision. Moving for one night would have been kind of a hassle.

I hope everyone has a great week and I'll be back Friday night or Saturday morning to check in!!

 

[RachelNinja]

Stinks that the end of your trip plans had to change, but you're right about it being better in the long run. You might have been stressing about the possible fees during these next few days instead of enjoying the free time you had there!

 

[princess_momma]

I hope you are having the best time! I'm loving the pictures on fb already! Have a grand trip!

 

[Disneyluvr81]

I totally missed you asking about the POR Royal Rooms in your first post. We were in a river view Royal Room in January and loved it. We picked the room specifically for the location and whenever we return to POR again, that would be our first choice for a room. We loved the short walk to the Mill and the buses and such. I don't know if I would pay the extra for a river view again just because we really couldn't see it from the room.

I hope you are having a great time on your work trip in Florida.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hi there! Joining in! I have been loving your updates on FB...especially Raglan Road the other night and the terrifying ladder this morning.

I sent you a FB message, but I restarted my TR from last September. Come on over when you get a chance!

 

[glaserjm]

Sorry you don't get to do POP and ME, but you're probably right, changing for one night would have been a hassle and would have wasted valuable park time in transfering over.

Also, you'll probably be so tired by Thursday you wouldn't want the headache of transfering!

 

[klacey1]

Stinks that the end of your trip plans had to change, but you're right about it being better in the long run. You might have been stressing about the possible fees during these next few days instead of enjoying the free time you had there!

I really was soooo glad I didn't switch to Pop. The stress of having to pack and move would have been such a pain. I really loved the Dolphin and staying there the whole time was definitely worth it!

I hope you are having the best time! I'm loving the pictures on fb already! Have a grand trip!

Hey lady! A lot of these pictures in the updates to follow will look familiar-- I did post the best ones on FB! I ended up having a great trip

I totally missed you asking about the POR Royal Rooms in your first post. We were in a river view Royal Room in January and loved it. We picked the room specifically for the location and whenever we return to POR again, that would be our first choice for a room. We loved the short walk to the Mill and the buses and such. I don't know if I would pay the extra for a river view again just because we really couldn't see it from the room.

I hope you are having a great time on your work trip in Florida.

Thanks for the tip on the Royal Rooms. That's exactly what we were thinking-- the location sounds ideal! Hmmm, definitely something to consider.

Hi there! Joining in! I have been loving your updates on FB...especially Raglan Road the other night and the terrifying ladder this morning.

I sent you a FB message, but I restarted my TR from last September. Come on over when you get a chance!

Hi Meghan! I read your updates in the airport yesterday but didn't want to comment on my phone! I'm headed over there as soon as I post my first work trip update.

Raglan Road was great! Apparently one of my coworkers saw someone ON the ladder I cannot imagine!

Sorry you don't get to do POP and ME, but you're probably right, changing for one night would have been a hassle and would have wasted valuable park time in transfering over.

Also, you'll probably be so tired by Thursday you wouldn't want the headache of transfering!

Um, you are exactly right! I was (and still am) EXHAUSTED! I am very happy I stuck with the Dolphin.

 

[klacey1]

So Im back! Wow, what a week! I am still exhausted-- I was running on about 5 hours of sleep a night and working from pretty much 8 a.m. until 7 or 8 at night. Then Id go get dinner and walk around with some of my coworkers, which was fun. Ill do a mini TR here!

Sunday morning, my flight left at 6:30 a.m., which meant than we had to leave our house around 4:30 a.m. Being that we had friends over the night before and I didnt go to bed until 2:00...yeah, I was sleepy all day! I took the same flight as four other coworkers and tried to sleep on the plane, but it didnt really work out.

We took a Mears van to the Dolphin. It was $70, which I thought was totally reasonable, especially when split between 5 for expenses sake!

Now, I love ME and the DDP, but wow. I was awestruck when we walked into the Dolphin. I think its just gorgeous. The fact that its much cheaper than regular Disney deluxe hotels and that its in walking distance of the Boardwalk, DHS, and Epcot are HUGE pluses! Also, as youll read about, I was super impressed with the food choices.

Heres a picture of the lobby:


My room was ready upon check in, which was awesome. Check out this view!

The size was great and the beds were super comfortable. My biggest complaint is probably the water pressure-- sometimes it was great and sometimes it was awful. Id start a shower with great pressure, then itd peter out, and then kick back in as Id be ready to leave the shower. Augh! Another perk is their green initiative. If you decline getting your towels washed and bed made, they give you a $5 gift card each night that can be used at any restaurant at the Swan or Dolphin. I thought this was a great deal! Housekeeping still pops in every night to give you new water bottles. I guess the water bottles were included in the resort fee (which is crazy high) and I loved having them handy for at night in the room or in the morning to bring to the parks.

After, I met up with two coworkers and we headed down to the pool. I wish I took photos, but my phone was freaking out due to the extreme heat and I couldnt get it to turn on. So frustrating! The pool area was gorgeous, with a beautiful waterfall, great slide, and lap pool. We sat at the bar to grab some lunch, but the seating area was plentiful and included tables under umbrellas and a seating area with comfy couches. I had a pina colada and ceasar salad, both of which were delicious.

The rest of Sunday was spent doing prep for our conference. They brought in pizza from somewhere in the Dolphin, which was gross. Sorry, being from New York, I have HIGH standards for pizza! After dinner, I went up to a coworkers room, where we were able to watch some of IllumiNations.

Apparently there are a lot of rooms with great views at the Dolphin!

Monday, I was in full conference mode. I had a quick break, during which a coworker and I walked over to the Swan and the Boardwalk. It was SO hot and wearing heels was not a smart decision! Here are some pics I took:
I definitely thought the Dolphin was much prettier than the Swan.




We did have an opening cocktail reception that evening, where I spoke with some exhibitors and had some appetizers. For anyone considering having a wedding or event at the Swan or Dolphin and using their catering services, theyre great! The veggie quesadilla cones, chicken marsala pot pies, and custom mac and cheese bar were soooo good!

As we were working, some of the girls I work with and I didnt really eat too much, so we were definitely hungry for dinner. I made an 8:30 reservation for bluezoo around 7:45. The restaurant seemed relatively busy, but maybe they hold some spots for the concierge to give away? Thats who I made it through.

Wow. That meal was one of the best I have ever had in a restaurant ever. I started with the smoking Sangria, which was sweet and refreshing:

Everyone at my table agreed on the deliciousness of the restaurant-- one had the lobster pasta special, one had the ahi tuna, and the other had swordfish. I definitely think I had the winningest dish, however. I got the scallop appetizer and had them double it. The original portion is two seared scallops on top of cauliflower puree and short ribs, so I had four scallops. I wasnt sure if that was going to be enough, so I also ordered the lobster baked potato side. Um, WOW.

The scallops had that incredible meaty sweetness and were the perfect consistency. The short ribs werent too fatty and just melted in my mouth. Im normally not a fan of purees (remind me too much of baby food!), but a bite of the short ribs dipped in the puree with an onion was perfection. The potato was rich and heavenly, with super high quality cheddar and perfectly cooked, huge chunks of lobster. I would order this exact meal time and time again. I really cannot recommend bluezoo enough-- its worth a special trip, even though its not on the dining plan.

We walked off our calories with a stroll on the Boardwalk, which is even prettier at night:

I love seeing the Yacht and Beach Club all lit up. Even though neither are my dream resorts, they look gorgeous at night. There was some movie on the beach playing, with quite the crowd watching. I do think this is a fun activity for the resorts to offer.

So I think Ill stop here-- Ive been soooo lazy since I got home! It was an exhausting week and Im happy to be home and relaxing. Leaving the World is never fun, but knowing Ill be back in less than three months (and not working!) did make it slightly easier!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Zach is working tonight-- the agency he works for does a ball/prom for the participants. Its a good OT opportunity, plus it does make him feel good to see the people he works with proud and happy to be attending a dance and getting all dressed up. Im happy to not have anywhere to go tonight as I recover from the week. My plans include the couch, a beer, and a movie. I really know how to party ;-)

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Sounds like a great, but exhausting first day of your work trip!!!

That dinner at bluezoo looks delicious!!!!!

 

[librarygeek]

Sounds like fun, even if it was a work trip! The Dolphin looks gorgeous, I would definitely like to stay there sometime. And I've heard really good things about the restaurants there... your meal at bluezoo sounds phenomenal! That lobster baked potato - I would love to try that!!

 

[cdhale]

Subscribing! I'll be in Sept, too (3-8). Yay free dining! Because I'm travelling with kids, 3 of our ADRs are character meals, then Kouzzina, and I have one more to make. Can't wait to read more

Cheryl

 

[leshunlenese]

Joining in! Sorry about the last trip! I would have cried too! Here's to your next drama free trip!!!!Loved the view from the dolphin.

 

[glaserjm]

Looks like a fun whirlwind trip to the World! I'm glad you enjoyed bluezoo...it's on my list for "must try" in the future!

 

[klacey1]

Sounds like a great, but exhausting first day of your work trip!!!

That dinner at bluezoo looks delicious!!!!!

Was definitely a tiring trip overall, but aren't all Disney trips?!

Sounds like fun, even if it was a work trip! The Dolphin looks gorgeous, I would definitely like to stay there sometime. And I've heard really good things about the restaurants there... your meal at bluezoo sounds phenomenal! That lobster baked potato - I would love to try that!!

The Dolphin is really spectacular-- and the fact that it costs as much as a moderate with all of the perks of a deluxe? Crazy!!
The baked potato was out of this world-- one of the best sides I've ever had. Huge chunks of fresh lobster-- drooling about it now!

Subscribing! I'll be in Sept, too (3-8). Yay free dining! Because I'm travelling with kids, 3 of our ADRs are character meals, then Kouzzina, and I have one more to make. Can't wait to read more

Cheryl

Our trips overlap!! Where are you staying? Definitely understand the need for many character meals with kids! Where are you thinking of for your last meal?

Joining in! Sorry about the last trip! I would have cried too! Here's to your next drama free trip!!!!Loved the view from the dolphin.

It was definitely an emotional trip-- hoping this one isn't emotional in an upsetting way!!
Thanks! I've never had a better view at a hotel!

Looks like a fun whirlwind trip to the World! I'm glad you enjoyed bluezoo...it's on my list for "must try" in the future!

I could not recommend bluezoo more! The quality of the found was just outstanding.

I'll be posting another update about my trip tonight, so stay tuned!!

 

[jenny105]

Hi Kylie! I'm here! Lucky you got to take a business trip to Disney. I applied for one in August and got wait listed. Fingers crossed someone cancels and I get to go. Looking forward to hearing all about your plans. I can't believe you even got into BOG. I've only managed to get one of my clients into that restaurant!

 

[cdhale]

Our trips overlap!! Where are you staying? Definitely understand the need for many character meals with kids! Where are you thinking of for your last meal?

We're staying at the BC (never been there before). And my daughters picked Sci-Fi for our last table meal, which we have been to a couple of times. But the food is very good. I thought they might be getting too old for character meals and autographs, but I guess I was wrong. If they had their way all of our meals would be with characters. I did a 7-night trip with deluxe dining when they were 7 and we had NINE character meals. It was a bit much.

 

[klacey1]

Hi Kylie! I'm here! Lucky you got to take a business trip to Disney. I applied for one in August and got wait listed. Fingers crossed someone cancels and I get to go. Looking forward to hearing all about your plans. I can't believe you even got into BOG. I've only managed to get one of my clients into that restaurant!

Hey Jenny! Ooo, I hope you get to go in August!! It was interesting being there for work, but fun!
I found the BOG on my phone in the app, but then got an error message when I tried to book. I frantically called the reservation phone line and fortunately it was still there! I'd hate to let it go, but I'm also not crazy about eating dinner at 4:30...decisions, decisions...

We're staying at the BC (never been there before). And my daughters picked Sci-Fi for our last table meal, which we have been to a couple of times. But the food is very good. I thought they might be getting too old for character meals and autographs, but I guess I was wrong. If they had their way all of our meals would be with characters. I did a 7-night trip with deluxe dining when they were 7 and we had NINE character meals. It was a bit much.

The Beach Club is gorgeous! I loved staying in the Epcot area this last trip! I've never been to Sci-Fi but heard good things!
I think there definitely needs to be a balance between character and non-character meals-- it's your vacation, too!