"I Want to walk where Walt walked." WDW Nut makes a Pilgrimage-TR Wrap-Up 5/14

[onelilspark]

My daughter is the same way about the Mickey pancakes in the park. To her it isn't a trip unless she has it. Every trip we have breakfast at the Riverbelle at least once per trip.

It wasn't until the last day that I learned it's the place where Walt used to have breakfast when he was in the Park! I wish I knew it sooner, I would have made it a point to check it out!!


For my brother, he needs to ride the train around the MK before he feels on vacation

 

[kaoden39]

It wasn't until the last day that I learned it's the place where Walt used to have breakfast when he was in the Park! I wish I knew it sooner, I would have made it a point to check it out!!


For my brother, he needs to ride the train around the MK before he feels on vacation

Everybody has their little quirks about what makes the trip for them.

 

[jwwi]

When you mentioned the banana french toast I automatically thought "Tonga Toast", so yummy. I can say it doesn't look as good, but maybe it tasted better than it looked. Your Mickey waffle looks really good, and very fresh looking fruit too.

Thank you so much for all the great replies, I really have to think about the choices, my son wants a nice pool, so GCH may win out. Unless someone is aware of a close property with a good pool.

I love your pictures with the characters, so cute and fun.

 

[franandaj]

Now you've got me all excited! ! ! ! ! The signs are up already! Less than three weeks now!

 

[kaoden39]

When you mentioned the banana french toast I automatically thought "Tonga Toast", so yummy. I can say it doesn't look as good, but maybe it tasted better than it looked. Your Mickey waffle looks really good, and very fresh looking fruit too.

Thank you so much for all the great replies, I really have to think about the choices, my son wants a nice pool, so GCH may win out. Unless someone is aware of a close property with a good pool.

I love your pictures with the characters, so cute and fun.

Your welcome. The pool at Hojo's is a pirate pool. I know there are picture in one of the threads. There might be in this thread, I do know there are pictures of the different hotels to give you an idea. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1745747

 

[onelilspark]

Everybody has their little quirks about what makes the trip for them.

True!

When you mentioned the banana french toast I automatically thought "Tonga Toast", so yummy. I can say it doesn't look as good, but maybe it tasted better than it looked. Your Mickey waffle looks really good, and very fresh looking fruit too.

Thank you so much for all the great replies, I really have to think about the choices, my son wants a nice pool, so GCH may win out. Unless someone is aware of a close property with a good pool.

I love your pictures with the characters, so cute and fun.

It was better than it looked, I mean, it just really looks like French Toast in the picture. My boyfriend has decided that we can attempt to make this version!

I think I remember reading that out of all the hotels on Harbor Blvd, Hojo's has the best pool.

Now you've got me all excited! ! ! ! ! The signs are up already! Less than three weeks now!

Your welcome. The pool at Hojo's is a pirate pool. I know there are picture in one of the threads. There might be in this thread, I do know there are pictures of the different hotels to give you an idea. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1745747

I do remember seeing pictures of it. It does look pretty neat! But I'm not really a water person, so we didn't check it out.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

I did it for the 1st time last October!! Always wanted to go to the place that started it all!! loved it loved it loved it!!!

going back to WDW this year, but not as excited as had been before

going back to DL next year!!!

Hope you have a great time!

x

 

[New England Eeyore]

Love the pictures from Storytellers! Although my family isn't wild about character meals, I'm really leaning toward doing this one as the characters aren't ones we see easily in WDW. And the menu looks good! I think Tonga Toast is a bit *too* intense with all the sugar on the outside - definitely more like dessert than breakfast. This version looks quite yummy and suitably breakfast-y!

What time did you make your breakfast reservation for? I'm thinking of booking it for our first day due to the time difference - I might as well take advantage of the one day I can pretty much guarantee my family will get up without complaining!

 

[that's nice]

Nice update!!!

Looks like 'Disney' food!!!

How nice of you to 'drag' your BF to a character breakfast!!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My boyfriend got the banana stuffed French Toast. He's a big fan of Tonga Toast at Kona in the Poly at WDW, so it was close enough!

Yay for BSFT! I'm glad you enjoyed StoryTellers.

 

[onelilspark]

I did it for the 1st time last October!! Always wanted to go to the place that started it all!! loved it loved it loved it!!!

going back to WDW this year, but not as excited as had been before

going back to DL next year!!!

Hope you have a great time!

x

We had a great time! It was awesome to see the original!

Love the pictures from Storytellers! Although my family isn't wild about character meals, I'm really leaning toward doing this one as the characters aren't ones we see easily in WDW. And the menu looks good! I think Tonga Toast is a bit *too* intense with all the sugar on the outside - definitely more like dessert than breakfast. This version looks quite yummy and suitably breakfast-y!

What time did you make your breakfast reservation for? I'm thinking of booking it for our first day due to the time difference - I might as well take advantage of the one day I can pretty much guarantee my family will get up without complaining!

The restaurant opened at 7, I made the reservation for 730. My thinking was that if we were up super early, we'd probably be okay showing up at 7. They were rather empty, so I probably could have just walked up! I think we got there at 720. So a little early, but not super early. We were seated right away! My thinking on scheduling the breakfast for the morning after we arrived was the same, I figured we'd still be mostly on Eastern time!

Nice update!!!

Looks like 'Disney' food!!!

How nice of you to 'drag' your BF to a character breakfast!!!

The deal was that he didn't have to wear his ears if he went

Yay for BSFT! I'm glad you enjoyed StoryTellers.

I really highly recommend Story Tellers! It was much quieter than most other Character Breakfasts that I've done, which I thought was a real plus for 2 adults!

 

[onelilspark]

We had 45 minutes to kill until DCA opened for the day. The thing was, we could see the entrance to DCA and it didn't look that crowded, so we decided to kill some time over at DL! ...yes, that's how close the parks are together!

We didn't really have a goal in mind, so strolled down Main Street and eventually we found ourselves at Tomorrowland.

We quick hopped on Buzz, where my boyfriend killed my score.

The thing is, I know some of the "secret" spots at WDW, but they weren't the same at DL! *sigh*

After riding, we strolled a bit more...debated doing the Tea Cups, but decided our stomachs weren't that strong!

We finally moseyed over to DCA and were entering the park at 845.

I had read that sometimes Soarin' opens before the park does, so we headed over that way. Sure enough, it was open and we were able to get in line!

I must say that I liked DCA's version a little better. Shocking, because it's the same ride! I liked the aviation history in the line and then once on the ride (front and center! WOO!) the scents were so much stronger. Big thumbs up to that.

By the time we were done, the park had officially opened, so we made our way back to Toy Story Mania on Paradise Pier.

The line was already 40 minutes! So we decided to pass on that. We have it home for the Wii, so I mean really, we can play anytime! ...actually, we're just planning on hitting it at WDW in October!

The roller coaster, California 'Screamin, was down, we were told to check back later. So that was out. Then my boyfriend declared that he wanted to go on Mickey's Fun Wheel. (It's in the picture above.) Not only did he want to go, he wanted to go on the swinging gondolas! ...this is a man who calls roller coasters "death machines" and refuses to go on Tower of Terror! We debated a bit because I thought he was absolutely crazy and had completely lost his mind. The thing is, I don't mind heights, but those swinging ones looked terrifying. Here, I took a video to explain my point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ik07nYQpnw

After much deliberation, I finally agreed to go on...since he was being a good sport about Roller Coasters (still won't go on ToT though!) I was right. It was terrifying. There was another guy who wound up riding with us. I squealed the first time we moved (I was doing my best not to scream, but it came out!) Of course they both laughed and the guy riding with us noticed how I was white knuckling the seat...because there ARE NO SAFETY FEATURES. WTH?! Crazy freaking ride that I will never do again (unless it's a non-swinging gondola, that I'm fine with.)

Since neither of us knew the park that well, we just started wandering and looking around. We wound up by Grizzly River Run (I think that's the name of the ride?) and took some pictures...there was no way I was going on that. I hate water in my face. I've also never done Kali River Rapids at DAK (same kind of ride.) Besides, neither of us wanted to be soaked!

That area was really pretty! We enjoyed just people watching for a bit. What was nice about this trip is since we had a lot of time allotted, we didn't feel the need to run around and get everything in (okay...I didn't feel the need!) So I think this trip was a lot more laid back and go with the flow.

We eventually came back around to "Condor Flats" (the area that Soarin' is in.)

And then the front of the park!

Thus concludes the first couple hours of Day 2! Where would we meander to next?

 

[PrincessMommyLM]

Just wanted to say I am enjoying the read! We are heading to DL for the first time in the fall and I am loving your descriptions of everything!

 

[onelilspark]

Just wanted to say I am enjoying the read! We are heading to DL for the first time in the fall and I am loving your descriptions of everything!

Thanks for reading! You'll have a blast!

 

[kaoden39]

Okay what was this I was reading on twitter about a little thing like an AP for Disney World?

 

[onelilspark]

Okay what was this I was reading on twitter about a little thing like an AP for Disney World?

I was trying to be good and not mention WDW in my DL TR.

Soooo here's the deal: we're going in October for a week to do Food & Wine. My boyfriend is coming with me for this trip. We're staying with my parents in a condo/timeshare unit they own right off property. In February (2011) we're going back down, but only for a long weekend and we're going to do Harry Potter World and possibly the Backstage Magic tour. ...this means no Disney in 2011.

Well, I didn't really like that. And he has no interest in coming down again in 2011, but is encouraging me to go. So I was going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to go down on my own, etc. I finally decided that I would drive him nuts if I didn't go so I'm going down for a long weekend or two during 2011. I'm mainly looking at Memorial Day and/or Labor Day weekend since they're not too busy and then I only have to take 1 or 2 days off of work. I told this plan to my Mom (my parents live 45 minutes from WDW) and she decided that she'd come up for at least one weekend, we'd make it a girls weekend. They're not sure if they'll renew their APs, but they can at least get the FL Resident discounted tickets. And since I'm now looking at over 10 days in a year, an AP it is!!!

Funny story: I tried doing a solo trip back in 2007 for Food and Wine festival and it turned into a trip for my entire family (brother included!) I was just going to do a solo trip in 2011 and now my Mom's invited herself up (not that I'm complaining, it'll be fun!) ...At least I come by it honestly!

 

[kaoden39]

I think it's great. I bought myself an AP and I got everybody else the park hoppers. So far I have two more trips planned during the twelve months. Plus the discounts on food when there are going to be 9 of us on the trip. Be sure to put a link in this thread to the new planning thread for DW. I have never been, so I would love to follow you on your trip.

 

[that's nice]

Loved your last update!

Honestly it is like a WDW twilight zone!!!!

You know I have no clue about DL but your TR has really got me intrigued. I doubt it will be in the next few years, but I think I'd like to go there!

It seems like DL is less crowded.. I'm sure it has its moments though. When did you think about the crowds?

Keep 'em coming!!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Beautiful fotos! Looks like such fun!

 

[onelilspark]

I think it's great. I bought myself an AP and I got everybody else the park hoppers. So far I have two more trips planned during the twelve months. Plus the discounts on food when there are going to be 9 of us on the trip. Be sure to put a link in this thread to the new planning thread for DW. I have never been, so I would love to follow you on your trip.

I'm thinking about starting a PTR pretty soon. I can start making ADRs on 4/5, and there's a lot of me being indecisive, so it could be nice to have a place to write it all down!

Oh, and I forgot to mention with the above: my company is having a national meeting the week before I go down in October in Orlando! I don't know if it'll involve Disney yet or not (we're one of the corporate sponsors, so pixie dust and fingers crossed!) And of course if there's nothing planned in the evening, guess who will be activating her AP early? Best part is, I'll probably get a free round-trip flight out of the deal! At the very least one leg is paid for!

Loved your last update!

Honestly it is like a WDW twilight zone!!!!

You know I have no clue about DL but your TR has really got me intrigued. I doubt it will be in the next few years, but I think I'd like to go there!

It seems like DL is less crowded.. I'm sure it has its moments though. When did you think about the crowds?

Keep 'em coming!!!

I've always been a huge Disney fan...in HS I used to read Walt Disney Biographies whenever possible for book reports. For one class I compared and contrasted Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg So I've always wanted to go to DLR. I'm so glad I finally got the chance!

Crowds were interesting. In the morning there were none. But in the evening? Oh my goodness, it was so crowded. ...Granted we were there during the Spring Break Season, but still. I think what made it worse is that, especially in DL, the streets & paths are so narrow that it just can't handle the amount of people the parks at WDW can. We wound up not doing a ton at night, but it all worked out well for us.

Beautiful fotos! Looks like such fun!

It was a blast!