If I say it out loud, will my wish come true.. PTR May 2011(Link to TR pg41)

[pinkxray]

I think you have some good ideas for your AK day. It is certainly harder to plan than Magic Kingdom or Epcot. I agree that Festival of the Lion King is a must see. We haven't seen Nemo yet either. I find the length a little intimidating.

I would probably switch to the lunch at Rainforest, too. I think by mid-day you will want a break in the air conditioning.

Now, for Epcot dining - I liked the food at Biergarten, but didn't love it. There were some "American standards" in addition to the German foods. My problem is that I love German food and some of my favorite German dishes weren't there.

I adore Tutto and agree that you should only do it if you are on the dining plan.

I haven't tried Chefs or Garden Grill, so I can't comment on those.

If I was on DDP, among these choices I would certainly go with Tutto. Without the DDP, I would go with Chefs so you could get the onion soup and dessert and wouldn't feel the need to get anything else just because you already paid for it.

Thanks for the input. It really helped You are right about Chefs, I should leave it for a trip when we have no dining plan. You made so easy!

RFC is up in the air. I would rather do lunch, but right now I still have that pesky 'Ohana dinner ressie at 6:10pm. Part of me wants to cancel, but part of me really wants to go. If I cancel it I will probably change to lunch, if I keep it we will probably have breakfast there and a light cs lunch. I don't know why but I am having a hard time canceling the 'Ohana ressie. Eating dinner there just screams Disney vacation to me, plus it is at 6:10 and Wishes goes off at 9. Maybe we could catch it on the Poly beach. Maybe if you can give me a good reason I won't feel bad canceling, you made dropping some of my EPOCT choices pretty easy.

 

[Queila]

Please make sure you see the Nemo show at AK. It was jaw dropping for me. I say forget about Flights of Wonder and just do Nemo. You will not regret it.

And don't forget to add It is Tough to be a Bug. It is very entertaining! This time around I will make an effort to make it to Raffiki's area. Apparently the petting zoo over there is really cute but that is very time consuming.

We also enjoyes doing the Pangani trail. You get to see some great animals from up close and you can take as much or as little time as you want over there.

As for CS I am a huge fan of Flame Tree. Just go down the little path and get a table close to the water. It is very relaxing!

Can't wait to see what you decide about your TS at Epcot. It is so hard to pick, isn't it?
Q

 

[pinkxray]

Please make sure you see the Nemo show at AK. It was jaw dropping for me. I say forget about Flights of Wonder and just do Nemo. You will not regret it.

And don't forget to add It is Tough to be a Bug. It is very entertaining! This time around I will make an effort to make it to Raffiki's area. Apparently the petting zoo over there is really cute but that is very time consuming.

We also enjoyes doing the Pangani trail. You get to see some great animals from up close and you can take as much or as little time as you want over there.

As for CS I am a huge fan of Flame Tree. Just go down the little path and get a table close to the water. It is very relaxing!

Can't wait to see what you decide about your TS at Epcot. It is so hard to pick, isn't it?
Q

I hope we are able to see the Nemo show. I have heard it is tough to fit in both shows though. Did you get to see Lion King too?

I definitely want to do the trail and try to make it over to the petting zoo. We'll see what time allows I guess.

Flame Tree looks very good. I hope I don't end up at Pizzafari again. I am always outvoted.

I will probably change my EPCOT choice 100 times. It is so tough to pick. I would love to try Nine Dragons, Rose and Crown, San Angel, Via Napoli... The list goes on. I tried to narrow it down to things DH and DD will like though. Tutto looks very good but Biergarten looks fun. I guess it will all depend on others who book adrs and what I can get into the last time I change it.

 

[Queila]

Yes we did both on the same day and that day even included an impromptu trip to the hospital

Q

 

[pinkxray]

Yes we did both on the same day and that day even included an impromptu trip to the hospital

Q

I think I'll try to fit in the show, but leave out the trip to the hospital

 

[KatMark]

Diane, sorry I've been missing in action.

Your AK day sounds great.

As for Biergarten, you will find plenty of stuff to eat--German and American. And if you don't fill up on the food, the desserts are heavenly.

Your hubby and your daughter will love the band, etc. We have eaten there four or five times over the years and have never had a bad table...we've always had really fun people.

 

[pinkxray]

Diane, sorry I've been missing in action.

Your AK day sounds great.

As for Biergarten, you will find plenty of stuff to eat--German and American. And if you don't fill up on the food, the desserts are heavenly.

Your hubby and your daughter will love the band, etc. We have eaten there four or five times over the years and have never had a bad table...we've always had really fun people.

So glad real life has calmed down enough for you to come back to the Dis!

I am leaning towards Biergarten or Tutto for our EPCOT dinner. Tutto looks so good, but Biergarten is something we don't have around her. I think I will show DH and Caitlin some pictures of each place and what food they have and let them pick. I just have to wait a few days since I asked DH to solve my RFC dilemma.

Anyway, it's good to have you back!

 

[pinkxray]

Magic Kingdom Plans

Ah…. Magic Kingdom, the most magical place on Earth. This is the day I look forward to the most and last year I had a really bad cold with the worst of it on our MK day. I wasn’t going to book Crystal Palace again so that we could try the Plaza for lunch but I figure I need sort of a do over. The Plaza will have to wait for our next trip.

We have an 8:10 Adr.

This year there will be no tummy space wasted on eggs or paper like bacon. This time I’m going straight for the puffed French toast, raspberry crumb cake and the fruit.

This picture has nothing to do with Crystal Palace, I just like it. No BBB or CRT this year.

Last year we had an ADR at the same time and we finished up at CP around 9:10. This year I am going to settle the bill as soon as possible so that we can be out before 9.
Caitlin’s #1 must do at MK is meet Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. We’ll probably head to the meet and greet area first thing. Maybe someone can run over to Fantasyland and grab a fast pass for something?

After using all of our arriving early, no crowds time at a meet and greet we will probably head for Fantasyland.

Must do’s in Fantasyland include:
Peter Pan

Philharmagic

Snow White- Caitlin didn’t want to do it last year, but since it is closing soon I want to ride it one last time

And Winnie the Pooh

Where to next? Tomorrow land or Liberty Square?
Must dos for Tomorrow land include
Astro Orbiter- (Couldn’t find a good picture) Caitlin saw this either on the planning dvd or one of the books and she asked to go on it. Since she doesn’t ask for much I’m sure DH will take her on.
Monster’s Inc- I’ve never seen it and it looks pretty cute

The ??? People mover (didn’t it just get another name change?) I love this ride, it’s a nice way to relax for a few minutes and you get a nice view

That’s pretty much it here. Caitlin might want to do Space Mountain or Buzz, but we’ll see when we get there. I would also like to do Carousel of Progress with the whole family since I went by myself last time, but that depends on how we are doing on time.

Liberty Square
My #1 Must Do for Mk is the Haunted Mansion. My two favorites in Mk our Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain, but Caitlin was too scared to try Haunted Mansion last year. This year I’ll try to bribe her to get her to try it or I’ll just go alone. I refuse to miss it this year.

I would also like to see the Hall of Presidents. Caitlin had learned about the presidents this year so I think she’ll enjoy it.

Other rides:

Other than Splash Mountain I don’t have too many other rides that we have to do. We’ll just wing it in the other lands depending on what Caitlin wants to do.

Lunch will depend on where we are in the park.
The 3 choices I have are:
Columbia Harbor House

Pecos Bills

Or Pinocchio’s

We tried Cosmic Rays last year and I don’t like having to split up to get our food.

Of course somewhere along the way we’ll have to get a Dole Whip Float. I tried the pineapple with the pineapple juice last year and it was yummy. DH and Caitlin missed out b/c they were riding the carpets. This time they’ll have to enjoy some Dole Whips too. Maybe a turkey leg too.

Seems like a busy day already, doesn’t it. I would also like to see the 3pm parade, but since I must see the nighttime parade and Wished we will probably miss it.

We will probably take break midday to swim/ nap and then head back to Mk after dinner to catch the parade and Wishes from Main Street. It will be a long day but that’s what you get when you only have 1 day in MK.

Oh, and before heading back to VWL I have to get Caitlin a balloon. She really wanted one last year but we never felt like carrying it around. You’re only a kid once so I want to make sure I get her one this year.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Your plans sounds great! A full day but with some time planned in there for relaxation.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Those plans sound great!! I still need to figure out how to best arrange the Tangled meet and greet.
We do the same thing for lunches--grab whatever is close that we enjoy! CHH is probably our favorite, as is Cosmic Ray's (but we don't split up--I just run around a lot while they hold the table).
And CP breakfast is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[crostorfer]

Your plans are looking great Diane! I am planning a Pecos Bill's lunch too. Can't go wrong with a picky eater and hamburgers with a fixins bar.

I decided to ditch my dining plan, and it saved me roughly $700. Money is way more of an issue than I was hoping it would be. Its really rough trying to pay for this all on your own, LOL. So some of my dining ressies are going down the tubes but it's ok. I'm holding on to my Ohana for dear life, but we'll see what happens.

I'm sticking with the Beach Club for the moment, still planning on the husband coming with us. We won't know until the middle of next month if he will be able to go or not. If he isn't joining us, we may downgrade our resort to the Carribean Beach or the AKL to save even more money. Location and bus transportation times aren't as big of an issue if it's just us girls, we don't care as much. The husband is the whiney one, LOL. I'll keep you updated as to if we will be running into one another at SAB!

 

[KatMark]

Plans at the MK sound great. As much as I know you'll love The Plaza (it's a must do for us), I am happy that you are going back to Crystal Palace for a redo. It's a great place for an early breakfast--and no people on Main Street!

 

[pinkxray]

Your plans sounds great! A full day but with some time planned in there for relaxation.

If it were up to me we wouldn't take a break in the afternoon, but apparently DH wants to relax on vacation

Those plans sound great!! I still need to figure out how to best arrange the Tangled meet and greet.
We do the same thing for lunches--grab whatever is close that we enjoy! CHH is probably our favorite, as is Cosmic Ray's (but we don't split up--I just run around a lot while they hold the table).
And CP breakfast is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really wish the Tangled meet and greet was a normal character line instead of whatever it is that they do. I think meeting Rapunzel is the thing Caitlin wants to do most though so we'll do it first thing to make sure we see it.

I am so excited to be going back to CP. Walking in the empty park is such a magical way to start the day.

Your plans are looking great Diane! I am planning a Pecos Bill's lunch too. Can't go wrong with a picky eater and hamburgers with a fixins bar.

I decided to ditch my dining plan, and it saved me roughly $700. Money is way more of an issue than I was hoping it would be. Its really rough trying to pay for this all on your own, LOL. So some of my dining ressies are going down the tubes but it's ok. I'm holding on to my Ohana for dear life, but we'll see what happens.

I'm sticking with the Beach Club for the moment, still planning on the husband coming with us. We won't know until the middle of next month if he will be able to go or not. If he isn't joining us, we may downgrade our resort to the Carribean Beach or the AKL to save even more money. Location and bus transportation times aren't as big of an issue if it's just us girls, we don't care as much. The husband is the whiney one, LOL. I'll keep you updated as to if we will be running into one another at SAB!

Oh, I didn't know that DH might not be going you . I really hope he get to go.

I couldn't let Ohana go either. I don't know why. Every time I think of canceling I imagine myself with a pina colada with some wings and bread pudding and I can't do it. Plus DH actually wants to go and him wanting to go to dinner is a rare thing.

Paying for a trip myself is much harder than I thought it would be. I have almost no hours next month and not many extra this month. As sad as I will be when our trip is over and not planning another for awhile, I will be happy that I don't have to contribute to the Disney fund for awhile. If I ever get DH to go again and I have to pay for it myself again we are staying at Pop or offsite and eating counter service the whole trip.

Plans at the MK sound great. As much as I know you'll love The Plaza (it's a must do for us), I am happy that you are going back to Crystal Palace for a redo. It's a great place for an early breakfast--and no people on Main Street!

I want to try the Plaza so bad but Crystal Palace won out this time. I am sure Caitlin will have no interest in characters by the time we go to Disney again so we'll try it then. There is nothing better than walking into an empty park

 

[pinkxray]

Since we are down to 2 months I have decided that DH is no longer safe from Disney questioning. I have been having such a tough time pinning down my dining choices I have decided to leave the undecided to Caitlin and DH.

I have been having a hard time picking where to eat so I made a little powerpoint with some food porn, menus and restaurant interiors for them to see. It included Biergarten(which I was sure they would pick), Chefs, Tutto, Captain's Grille and Via Napoli. Can you guess what they picked?































Via Napoli

They saw the pizza pictures and they were sold. I explained to DH that we are already eating at Mama Melrose and I might be adding Tutto too and said "Great, the more Italian food the better."

We are exactly 2 months out and I decided to add Via Napoli to our arrival night since we will be in EPCOT anyway.
Cant' wait to try the pepperoni pizza and zeppole

Since I added Via Napoli to our arrival night that still leaves our full EPCOT day dinner slot open. I have had Tutto booked so I have decided to stick with that. The food looks really good and DH didn't seem to like any of the other options.

Yes, I already know what I want to order there but I couldn't find a good picture on google. The thing that really sealed the deal was this yummy dessert.

We are not doing Biergarten which is surprising to me, but know that DH knows that the people in Germany can teach him some new words in German I am sure we will be spending some time in Germany. Are the people in the caramel shop German? That would kill two birds with one stone

 

[crostorfer]

Did you see that Via Napoli has pizza by the slice available at an outside window until Memorial Day weekend? I have a TS reservation there, but if they are selling it by the slice I am cancelling it to save some money and just treating it like a CS dinner.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think Via Napoli is a good choice, the food looks so yummy!

I had not heard that you could get pizza by the slice, may have to try that out too!

 

[pinkxray]

Did you see that Via Napoli has pizza by the slice available at an outside window until Memorial Day weekend? I have a TS reservation there, but if they are selling it by the slice I am cancelling it to save some money and just treating it like a CS dinner.

I did see that and totally forgot about it until you mentioned it. I brought it up to DH tonight and asked him if he would rather just grab a slice at the window and he said he wants the sit down dinner in a restaurant. Who is this person? The person who tells me he needs a months notice to go out to dinner wants a restaurant over a pizza window. I think he is trying to drive me crazy. He also wants a sit down breakfast in AK when he told me he doesn't want to wake up early. I will hold on to my adr for a bit and see what happens. I don't love cheese pizza so I would be happier going to the ts.

 

[pinkxray]

I think Via Napoli is a good choice, the food looks so yummy!

I had not heard that you could get pizza by the slice, may have to try that out too!

The food does look yummy. Although I have seen some pictures lately and the pepperoni pizza doesn't look as good as it did when Via Napoli first opened. It used to be covered in pepperoni and now it has a few slices.

They mention the pizza by the slice on the disney food blog. Over x-mas they had the window and it had just cheese pizza which I am not really a fan of. I am looking forward to hearing a review from someone who tries it soon. Maybe we'll just try that. Who knows?

 

[KatMark]

We are trying Via Napoli ourselves this trip. I think you made a great choice from all the reviews I've read.

 

[Jazzabelle508]

I'm in I enjoyed your TR from your last trip