Hold my umbrella while I find your poncho! A May 2012 TR-- NEW-FINALLY! 1/17; pg. 29

[SoonerGirl]

Glad you enjoyed the dessert party! I did it a couple of years ago and pretty much came away with the same opinion as you. The desserts were good, I especially liked the creme brulee and the strawberries (those mango shooters where nasty though! ) but it was just so much! I also loved that Tink flew right over us and that we didn't have to fight for a spot to watch, but the fireworks didn't have quite as big of an impact as watching them from Main Street where they appear to be going off right behind the castle.

 

[Nermel9]

Looks like you guys got a great table for the party!

I agree, they really have to figure out a way to make the buffet a little less congested, when we went a few years ago, it was crazy!

Your plate of desserts looks so good, I loved that creme brulee!

I kind of feel the same way about the party that you do, I'm glad we did it, it was a fun, new thing to experience and the desserts were really good, but I'm not sure we need to do it again anytime soon!

 

[amazingact21]

All those desserts at the party look good, but it kind of stinks that the view of the fireworks weren't spectacular. I guess you're right when you say you're paying to avoid the Main Street madness. That can be so stressful, and reading how relaxed the viewing experience was for you all makes me think it'd be worth doing once.


I agree with you on the nighttime boat rides. Seeing all the resorts lit up makes for a great ride!

 

[PixieMama]

You've done the dessert party, haven't you Shannon? I think it was your pictures I looked at? I looked at so many-it's hard to remember!

Yep, we booked it as a birthday surprise for my mom during our trip last summer!

I agree with your assessment of the party. It was fun but not something I'd want to do on every trip to WDW.

It was a great surprise for Mom, she was so happy! The desserts were good, but not mind-blowing or anything like that. Our table was right next to the railing, too, so we had a great view. Plus, about an hour or so before we were due to check in, it POURED. It stopped raining before the fireworks but every place to sit would have been drenched. Having a dry, covered place to sit to watch the fireworks (and on an actual seat, not on the ground!)... that alone was worth the price of admission to me! I would like to try for the party when we go next year... we've invited Mom to go with us, and she'd like to do it again. Plus I know my dessert-loving DDs would enjoy the sweets!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I'm glad you enjoyed the Dessert Party, Michelle! Your pictures are making me hungry, it all looks so good! It's kind of pricey, but I feel the need to do it, so I can mark it off my To-Do List, eating sweets and avoiding the crazy mad firework crowds- sounds good to me

 

[MHTeacher]

The desserts really do look wonderful. I have never done the party, but, you're right, its all about adding experiences. I have always been afraid I won't quite be hungry for the desserts after eating a big dinner. Probably need to come up with a new strategy, like a really early dinner and no dessert.

We had the big breakfast at 'Ohana that morning, and then we ate counter service at CHH around 5 or 5:30 that evening. I knew we would not want a big sit-down dinner before all that dessert!

You had awesome seats!! I'm so jealous!

I'm hoping to convince my husband that it's worth the extra expense. However, I'm having a tough time with it.

I really want to do it!! LOL!!

Love the fireworks and Tink!
Really love your update!!

Thanks!

It was an extra expense, but it was a new experience. Something fun to do-not something to do necessarily for every trip, but nice to do every once in a while.

Love the update, Michelle. Great seats, great shot of Tink. I'm glad you enjoyed the Memories show (I cried the first time I saw it). I thought of surprising Mark with the dessert party, but the cost turned me off since I don't really eat a lot of that stuff (plus I'm dieting for the wedding); and we do have a special place we watch the fireworks. If you had said the desserts were outstanding, I may have considered it.

Looking forward to the next update.

Thanks, Kathy!

It would be a nice surprise for Mark, but you're right--It's definitely not conducive to a diet!

Too late. We officially started Thursday. Unofficially, I worked in my classroom Monday and Tuesday. I didn't go in on Wednesday, since it was truly my last free day. I will enjoy my weekends and holidays now until the end of May.

This is why I would have a hard time paying for this, even as fun as I know it is. I can only eat a small amount of sugar at once. It would take me like three days to eat all of this. It all looks scrumptious, and I know I would like all of it, but I can only stomach a few bites of sweet stuff at a time, and then I can't even enjoy the sight of it. I don't know what the problem is. I can eat salty stuff by the tons, but not sweets.

Ice cream is my weakness! I would have indulged in that.


I think we will try the Dessert Party someday. Jill will be in line for the strawberries, for sure. That's one of her favorite Disney treats.

Hope you have a good year! Hope you have a great group of kids. I know you'll be a blessing to their lives!

I kind of think it's like most meals at Disney, especially the buffets. There's no way to eat "your money's worth" at very few of those places.

I like the sweets and the salty!

 

[MHTeacher]

I would have to say that I completely agree with all your comments about the dessert party....very expensive but worth it once!

We are chocolate covered stawberry fanatics too so when I read about you staking them out it made me laugh out loud!

Sounds like a really great evening! It's nice to do something new every trip isn't it?

That's really what is was all about! It's not something I'd want to do on each and every trip, but nice to do something different!

I'm a little embarrassed to tell you how many strawberries I actually ate.

I did the dessert party on a girls only trip. It was great fun to splurge but I'm not sure I could easily pay for the whole family to go. You are right, the desserts are yummy but you pay as much for the experience and convenience as for the desserts!

Your change in teaching assignment would have me in a panic! Since I am high school, the worst I deal with is switching between science topics, I can't even imagine dealing with a change from math to LA!!

MeMom, I can't believe you are back to work already!! I actually start next week which is exceptionally early because I have to go through training for my new job (not sure if you saw on FB...I will be starting this year working for an online school. I will be in charge of 6-12 science so a really big range but I don't have to create any of the lessons or assessments, they are already done. My role will be more as facilitator and coach. Will be very different that's for sure!)

Good luck to all my fellow teachers this upcoming year and if you still have summer break left, enjoy!!

Katie-When I was team teaching 6th grade, I taught the math and language arts, but it is a new thing for me to teach it to the 7th and 8th graders! I'm trying not to panic too much!

Saw about your change in jobs on FB. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Do you think you're going to be happy with it?

Yum! The desserts look awesome! But I think I know what you mean. There is just too much there. After not too long, I think you risk sugar-shock.

Sounds like you scored on your table location! I agree with the others. The dessert is nice, but I think the real value is having a spot to watch the castle show and fireworks.

Did you book as soon as it was available, or sometime later? I wonder if that matters.

I booked the day Disney opened up booking for May. I kept my eye on a dessert party ADR thread, and as soon as I saw it had opened up, I called in!

I read that the tables were assigned by how quickly you booked, but then some guys in front of me during check-in, said they'd done the party several times, and that they thought it was all random where you got your table! So, who really knows?

If you are like me, the thought of having to do grammar and no lit for an entire grading period sounds horrific. I can only take so much of it. When we had both combined, I would do a lot of the grammar piece of it in the DOL at the beginning of class. That helped some. Also, I tended to alternate grammar and literature in units instead of grading periods.

EXACTLY! I can't stand the thought of doing grammar for an entire nine weeks! I do like your idea of alternating units-I think I may try that one!

 

[MHTeacher]

So nice to read about your experience with the dessert party. My DH just told me it's something he would like to do next time. I love how you are guaranteed a good spot for Wishes--that alone is practically worth the price to me!!

That was probably the best part!

Oh my goodness, all those YUMMY looking deserts!!!! wow! I think I would have been flying right up there with Tink with all that sugar but it looks like such a GREAT experience to try once for sure

Well, remember after the big sugar rush, there's the big bottom out! I'm glad we tried it!

Glad you enjoyed the dessert party! I did it a couple of years ago and pretty much came away with the same opinion as you. The desserts were good, I especially liked the creme brulee and the strawberries (those mango shooters where nasty though! ) but it was just so much! I also loved that Tink flew right over us and that we didn't have to fight for a spot to watch, but the fireworks didn't have quite as big of an impact as watching them from Main Street where they appear to be going off right behind the castle.

Seems like we share the same opinion, in addition to a name!

I totally agree-that mango shooter was nasty!!

Looks like you guys got a great table for the party!

I agree, they really have to figure out a way to make the buffet a little less congested, when we went a few years ago, it was crazy!

Your plate of desserts looks so good, I loved that creme brulee!

I kind of feel the same way about the party that you do, I'm glad we did it, it was a fun, new thing to experience and the desserts were really good, but I'm not sure we need to do it again anytime soon!

Seems as if everyone who's gone to the party shares the same opinion---glad you did it, but not something you feel the need to do again and again!

Glad to know it just wasn't me who thought the traffic flow was horrible!

 

[MHTeacher]

All those desserts at the party look good, but it kind of stinks that the view of the fireworks weren't spectacular. I guess you're right when you say you're paying to avoid the Main Street madness. That can be so stressful, and reading how relaxed the viewing experience was for you all makes me think it'd be worth doing once.


I agree with you on the nighttime boat rides. Seeing all the resorts lit up makes for a great ride!

We knew we would be at MK another night and could watch the fireworks from another, better spot!

Yep, we booked it as a birthday surprise for my mom during our trip last summer!

I agree with your assessment of the party. It was fun but not something I'd want to do on every trip to WDW.

It was a great surprise for Mom, she was so happy! The desserts were good, but not mind-blowing or anything like that. Our table was right next to the railing, too, so we had a great view. Plus, about an hour or so before we were due to check in, it POURED. It stopped raining before the fireworks but every place to sit would have been drenched. Having a dry, covered place to sit to watch the fireworks (and on an actual seat, not on the ground!)... that alone was worth the price of admission to me! I would like to try for the party when we go next year... we've invited Mom to go with us, and she'd like to do it again. Plus I know my dessert-loving DDs would enjoy the sweets!

That would be a great place to sit if it had poured down rain. That's another advantage I didn't think of, just because it didn't happen to rain that night.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Dessert Party, Michelle! Your pictures are making me hungry, it all looks so good! It's kind of pricey, but I feel the need to do it, so I can mark it off my To-Do List, eating sweets and avoiding the crazy mad firework crowds- sounds good to me

Most of it was pretty good, Sarah!

You'll have to talk your family into it on an upcoming trip!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Back before the dessert party, we used to watch the fireworks from Tomorrowland Terrace. Not many people would go there so we considered it "our spot". While I agree with you that it's not "the best" place to watch Wishes (or the parade), it is nice not to have to stake out a spot an hour ahead of time.

Now, to the desserts...everything on your plate looks good but I am like you and have pretty simple taste. It sounds like, even though the price was pretty high, you all still had a great "new" experience.

 

[MHTeacher]

Back before the dessert party, we used to watch the fireworks from Tomorrowland Terrace. Not many people would go there so we considered it "our spot". While I agree with you that it's not "the best" place to watch Wishes (or the parade), it is nice not to have to stake out a spot an hour ahead of time.

Now, to the desserts...everything on your plate looks good but I am like you and have pretty simple taste. It sounds like, even though the price was pretty high, you all still had a great "new" experience.

Not having to get there so early was definitely one of the best parts!

So you think you would have liked the rice-krispy the best too?

No regrets, even though it was a pricey dessert! It was just like you said-a new experience!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Yummy dessert party treats! We did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. My parents still rave about it, but we are big dessert lovers, and they hate being jostled in crowds, so it really was perfect for us. I think we'll probably do it again on another big family trip.

So sorry Reid was disappointed about missing Peter Pan that night, its funny how kids think. Glad to hear you made it to Neverland later in the week!

 

[mindystar]

I'm way behind on my TR reading, so catching up now

WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE OPENING SHOW OF MK!

I remember seeing this at least one time, that I can actually remember. And tilting my head back and silently urging the tears on the brink to blink back in and not pop out. That never works for me

By the time we did that, and walked right over to Space Mountain, it was almost 9:15.

Wouldn't you know I have been there 2 or 3x since it was redone and still haven't rode it (at this time of the day we were either getting Minnie's first haircut or making our way to main st bakery for breakfast )

Afterwards, we headed over to the new Fantasy Land. We all wanted to ride the new Dumbo. I think the water feature is so pretty. I loved the “peanuts” in the pavement, and the impressions of elephants walking in the concrete.

Rats, we also didn't get to ride Dumbo. . .my niece, Ariel, talks almost daily about not getting to ride that (and other things she didn't get to do/characters she didn't get to meet) and says she needs her papa to make her some monies so she can go back and do all those things. Super cute That water fountain is very pretty, and the pics of it in the dark are even more mesmerizing!

I quickly made my way to the left, only to realize that they had moved the check-in desk for ‘Ohana over to the right side.

That threw me at first too!!!

I always like to book a late breakfast, and let it serve as lunch as well. That’s always worked for us, even at ‘Ohana, in times past, but this time I was not happy with how that worked. I don’t know it if was just our server, but I felt rushed—like she was in a hurry for us to get finished, so she could get her tables cleaned and set up for dinner.

We haven't done a breakfast there in a long time! It was still Minnie and Friends at that time too. Snow had to do the parade and she was SO not having it at that time. Probably didn't help to walk by and see your older sisters giggling at you
But sorry you had stinky service It definitely can make or break a dining experience, especially at WDW.

While we were having our meal, it began to rain. I mean RAIN! The sky was dark, the thunder was rumbling, and the lightening was flashing.

Yep we were at MK still (well minus PC and Minnie) and had ran over to CHH to eat lunch before the big BBB for Ariel! Some of us had made it before the over half, and once again people in our group were soaked!!!

My big girls had discovered the joy of an afternoon nap at Disney!

Those are quite nice! I think I enjoy relaxing more now since we've been able to go down quite a lot and know there will be a trip in the future as well!

UP NEXT: A MELTDOWN IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Uh oh! I better go read that now

 

[mindystar]

Sorry, but I have to respond to each day

Here’s the shot I get every trip---my girls walking up Main Street toward the castle.

Awww. . I love that one, remember the other shot from your PTR

We got our FPs for Peter Pan. Kevin pulled these, and I didn’t even pay any attention to the return time (They were for 8:50)---some foreshadowing here! Uh, oh!! We got surprise FPs for Mickey’s Philharmagic, so we walked right over there, and of course, really didn’t even need the FP.
Mmmmm I love the smells from this show. I wish they would sell candles/room sprays from at least this ride and Soarin'. I'd totally buy a couple of each!!!

We did not go through the new part of the line-the cemetery-because the line was so much longer. We were inside in less than ten minutes, where as the cemetery route would have added on about 20 more minutes-It was packed with people. I kind of hate that we missed the new interactive stuff in the line, but we’ll get it during another trip.
This is the one ride that I missed not doing this trip, and so this and Space Mtn are for sure the ones we want to ride in Feb


When we finished, we were getting a little hungry, and we were near a place I’d been wanting to try-Columbia Harbor House!
LOL, that's where we had lunch that day, first time for me too!!!
YUM! I will definitely eat here again. Agreed!

When we finished, it was around 6:30. We decided that we definitely needed to ride Snow White, because it was being closed the next day.

We decided against it, especially with Ariel, who probably would've been scared of the witch scenes! Cool that you all rode it for it's last day!!!

We crossed back over to Tomorrow Land and enjoyed a ride back through the years on Carousel of Progress.
I LOVE this ride/attraction!!! When they were doing it seasonally and we'd miss it, I was bummmmmmed!!

I told them that I had a surprise and to follow me. Unfortunately, they were not satisfied with my lack of an answer, and they griped and grumbled the entire walk over to the Tomorrow land Terrace.
Darn Kids!!! Oh wait, I probably would have reacted the same way


It’s all worth it then, isn’t it? Definitely!!!

UP NEXT: WISHES DESSERT PARTY
I'll have to see if you got a pic of me/my family in any of your shots unknowingly

 

[mindystar]

That's my mom in the striped shirt. The first pic looks like she has that guy who is ahead of her's head--crazy!!!

When I left you, we were in line at the Wishes dessert party for our check-in.
Somehow I forgot to get a pic of the signage for the party---doh!

I had also read that some of the desserts-namely those chocolate covered strawberries-get all taken quite quickly. Well, I had no intention of letting that happen!

I'm with you on that!!! My sis had those strawberries done up in the bridal gown and tuxes at her reception (at WDW) and so I knew just how good they were and that I had to have at least one!!!! and they did not disappoint!!!

We were at one of the first tables when you walked into the area, and the good news was that our table was right next to the railing.
And there we were all the way on the opposite side!

I could hear the music, and I must admit-I missed my Spectro music. “On this magic night…” Me too, me too

Disney definitely needs to figure out a better way to set up this self-serve buffet of sweets. People were walking every direction around the carts, and it was really congested. Amen sister!!! I was confused at where to start, and had to wait a bit before figuring out to just jump in line to get my lemonade!

Danaile, aka mindystar here on the DIS, was supposed to be at the party, so I was on the lookout for her, as well as those strawberries. She and her entire family were seated right near the dessert tables. We saw each other at the same time, and stopped and talked for a little while. I was a bad DISer and didn’t get a picture, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
I confirm this meeting took place Uh, and I'm a really bad DISer seeing that my camera was right in front of me on the table!!!

Now here is the embarrassing part---I didn’t take any pictures of the desserts on the carts. I didn't get those pics either, plus with how crowded it was anyways I don't think anyone would have wanted to wait for us to even quickly snap a pic of the food they were waiting for


This is my first plate---yes--I went back. I pretty much tried everything the first go around. I would have gone back again too, esp for another strawberry if we hadn't just finished dinner basically before we got there, I really didn't want to be sick at WDW though for those strawberries, it might have been worth it!

The Magic, Memories, and Me show was next, and this was new for us! WOW! This show is amazing. That was really cool!!!

Because our table was right at the rail, Rachel and Reid turned their chairs around to watch the show. Then no one could come and stand in front of us during either show. One funny story here though. . . “Well, those people have chairs at the rail.” "You people" and your chairs!!! Just who do you think you are I stood up by the railing over where the dessert area was since no one was going through and I wouldn't be blocking anyone. And do I have a "tail" to tell you on mine

The firework shots didn’t turn out so great, just because of our location. The fireworks actually looked as if they were to the right of the castle, instead of seeing them behind the castle, like they appear from Main Street. A guy from my job was done here at the same time we were (crazy right?!?) and he booked the party the night before we were there. He was worried that the fireworks would look horrible from where we were and he'd have to take all the little ones in his group to main st anyways to get the perfect view. I asked him how it was once I was back at work and he said it was awesome, he'd gladly book that party every MK night just to not have to wait around for a spot, even if it wasn't lined up perfectly with the castle. I was very amazed at his answer. I'd thought for sure he wouldn't have liked how they were off a little. We usually went here to watch the fireworks anyways, so it didn't bother me for location. Except now if I want that area I got to pay for it

We finally made our way out of the park around 10:35 (I know this because I wrote it in my trip journal) to a crazy madhouse line for the monorail. Oh my gosh, yes it was!!! We just stuck to the monorail though because for the smaller resort launch we would have had to "pack up" the double stroller--ugh no thanks.

By the time we caught the fourth launch, made the stop at the Grand Floridian, and got back to the Poly, it was 11:30. It had taken an hour to get back to our resort! After everyone had showered, it was 12:30 when the last of us crawled into the bed. It was already decided that tomorrow would be a sleep-in day. (lucky for us it was already a designated "rest day" the following day , but we still had some drama that night that lead to an even later end time for us adults and a two and four year old

The strawberries were dipped in dark chocolate-good, but nowhere as good and sweet as milk chocolate! Now the berries themselves were delicious—very sweet and juicy. I LOVE me some dark chocolate, so those strawberries were sinfully delicious to me I think also when it's that hot it's a little harder to enjoy rich sweets, or at least it is for me.

The nice part was having a location to watch Wishes, without being jammed right up next to someone I’ve never met in the center of Main Street. I liked that I didn’t have to stake out a spot hours in advance. That was probably the best part. Having the view of Tink was pretty sweet too. Agreed! Esp from someone who is claustrophobic and could really do w/o the main street "togetherness".

Overall, it was a fun thing to do. It was very fun, and I'm very thankful that my mom treated us to it as well

UP NEXT: DOWNTOWN DISNEY-NIGHTMARE? OR PLEASANT DREAM?
Oh no! (not again!)

 

[teekathepony]

Hello! I'm late to the party, but I just found your TR and am all caught up.
I was excited to read about your Fireworks Party experience, my DH and I are doing that for the first time this year! Looks like fun!

 

[Elleshoodat]

Thanks for your honest review of the dessert party. It's one of those on my bucket list, but not necessarily my must-do-next-trip list. Though the chocolate-covered strawberries look delicious!

 

[MHTeacher]

Yummy dessert party treats! We did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. My parents still rave about it, but we are big dessert lovers, and they hate being jostled in crowds, so it really was perfect for us. I think we'll probably do it again on another big family trip.

We are sweet eaters at our house, so we enjoyed it!

Hello! I'm late to the party, but I just found your TR and am all caught up.
I was excited to read about your Fireworks Party experience, my DH and I are doing that for the first time this year! Looks like fun!

I'm glad you enjoyed the dessert party update. It's a fun first experience!

Thanks for your honest review of the dessert party. It's one of those on my bucket list, but not necessarily my must-do-next-trip list. Though the chocolate-covered strawberries look delicious!

Chocolate-covered strawberries=

 

[MHTeacher]

That's my mom in the striped shirt. The first pic looks like she has that guy who is ahead of her's head--crazy!!!

That's so funny that I got your mom...well part of your mom... in my picture! I always think it would be so funny to see me or my family in someone else's vacation pictures!

 

[MHTeacher]

Day 5, Part 1

Thursday, May 31

First let me apologize for the lack of pictures in this update. I’m not even sure we carried the camera with us during our morning/afternoon.

After a long day at the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, finished off with the Wishes dessert party, Thursday was our first sleep-in day. We didn’t set any alarms, and DH and I were both awake by a little after nine. Reid has some crazy internal clock, so he was awake on his own too. That boy wakes up without fail around 6:30 every morning! Drives me crazy! Of course the girls could have slept until lunch with no problem, but we woke them up around 9:30.

After getting dressed and eating our gourmet breakfasts of cereal, pop-tarts, or muffins, we were ready to head out. Where, you ask? Downtown Disney! Now, I must tell you that I have a love-hate relationship with DTD. I love the shopping, but I hate the crowds. We were on a bus by 10:45, but didn’t get to DTD until 11:15. We had the SLOWEST driver EVER! He drove like a grandpa out for a Sunday drive!

We shopped first at the Pin Traders shop, and got three or four pins. Then it was decided to have some lunch. There was somewhere I had never eaten at, but I really wanted to try. It was Earl of Sandwich. The line was so long when we walked in, but we decided to try it anyway. Glad we did, because the line moved fairly quickly, and we loved it! Rachel admitted later that after reading the menu, she was prepared not to like it very much, but after eating it, she changed her mind. That bread---DELICIOUS!!

The Lego store was next. They had the cutest displays outside the store. The Snow White one was my favorite.

Reid got a Ninjago lego set. I don’t like the kids to buy things they could buy at home, but he was determined that he wanted to spend his money on this.

We did most of our shopping at World of Disney. We wound up with some magnets, chip clips, a Christmas ornament, Pluto pillow pet, a cap, and a shirt or two. This was the most pleasant trip I’ve ever made to WoD---DTD even. Going in the morning/early afternoon is the way to go. It’s so less crowded, and shopping is not so much a headache!

On the way back toward the bus stops, we stopped at Goofy’s Candy Company. We got one of the create your own candy apples. Can I just say how delicious these are! The sour green granny apple, mixed with the sweet caramel, chocolate, and candy…YUM!

Here are two of the three pics in this update!

After waiting on a bus, would you believe that we got the same, slow driver again? We couldn’t believe our luck, but we laughed-what else could we do? We were back at the Poly, just a 45-minute trip from DTD! We found this little fellow waiting for us in our room.

UP NEXT: TOWER OF TERROR BECOMES THE TOWER OF THROW-UP