I'm not a foodie, but I play one at WDW. A Trip Report from Christmas 2010

[unclescrooge_0707]

Here it is the end of April, and I’m starting my Christmas week trip report.
Well, I’m not saying it was worth the wait, but, it’s taken me this long to get photobucket to work. and I don't ALWAYS get along...

First: The Why.
Last Christmas (Dec. 09) My wife (DW) decided that we would finally repay my parents for a trip we took to WDW in 2000. We would tell them about the trip for Christmas ‘09 that we would take Dec 10. This would give Me-Maw and Maunypawpaw (aka Grandpa) a year to dream of this vacation, and we’d get 2 years worth of presents out of one. Christmas ’09 arrives, and we make them cry with this plan. They are super-excited, as are the 3 boys (6,5,2 at the time of the announcement). I bring this up now b/c on January 3rd, 2010, I returned from a camping trip to the news my DW was pregnant! This joyous news was met by Grandpa with the phrase, “So, we’re *not* going to Disney? *tear” I respond to this saying, “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’M still going…”
When: Dec 27 2010 – Jan 1, 2011 Port Orleans – Riverside (POR).
The cast: Me – Disney (and Walt Disney World) fan of the family. This would be my 5th trip to WDW, and while trip 4 was “off”, it wasn’t enough to keep me from heading back.

DW – THE reason we went on the trip. She’s… AMAZING. I married WAY out of my league. Fortunately, she knows this, and still says I’m worth keeping around.

Mauny Pawpaw & Me-Maw– my folks. They were nicknamed by my DS7 when he was learning to talk. They’ve kept the names since.
Note: Since the names were originally pronounced by an 18 month old, the spelling changes all the time. (DS6 (potato) sitting on Pawpaw's lap)

My Brother (left) – MeMaw wanted a full family trip. Since they were only 2, they had space in their hotel room for my brother and his son, so they joined the fun as well!

The Boys –Nephew (Little Man) 3, DS’s 7(Big Brother), 3(Bean), 6(Potato).

Baby Girl (see above) – Born Sept 1, 2010. 4 months old on the trip. Having a 4 month old affected the trip, but I wouldn’t have not gone, if that makes sense. We’d gotten a Moby Wrap to carry her. Had it been warmer, we could have used the stroller more. But record cold meant she was carried & wrapped in a coat more than snoozing in a stroller.

Day Negative 1: Christmas Day 2010. The plan is to start driving by 3 pm. The Van was packed up with the majority of our needs the night before, but as always, there are odds & ends. We wake up, have presents, breakfast, birthday cake, and family fun at home and w/ the DW’s family. After everything is said and done, we finish packing up the car and are driving by 3:30 (3:00 was the plan). When packing, it started to snow in St. Louis. I threw on my winter coat (which I’d planned to leave at home), and got in the car while wearing it. I figured it could stay in the car once we got to Florida, so I wasn’t too upset.

With babies and the kids as young as they are, we chose the path of the overnight drive. The weather was snowy and slick for about 12 of the 16 hours, though. By leaving STL at 3 in the afternoon, we get to Atlanta around midnight, but, it was snowing. I thought Atlanta drivers were bad in traffic ! In ¼ inch of snow, you’d have thought they were in Canada! 11 MPH on I-75 makes for SLOW-going. I may have preferred rush hour traffic! However, we arrived at Downtown Disney Hotel plaza just after 7 a.m. (local time). We had a breakfast at IHOP, and discovered that it was FREEZING in FLORIDA! I did NOT sign up for cold! Cool, maybe. Brisk? Sure. But cold? Absolutely NOT! But, we’re going to make the best of it regardless.

Day 0: Here we are on Boxing Day in Down Town Disney. Our park days start on the 27th, but we have a 1 night stay at… Shucks, I don’t remember the name, (Googling…Lake Buena Vista Hotel & Spa.) We walked around to the Lego store, and checked into our hotel early. DW and I tried to lay down while the boys played w/ Legos. MeMaw et.al. called to say they were en route, and had just entered Disney Property, and according to their GPS, they were at the hotel, but according to them, they were in the La Nuba parking lot. I guided them into the hotel, and they found their room. At around 5, we met up to walk to DTD for dinner & shopping. While deciding where to go, I said House of Blues was good, and we said we’d go there. Wonderful.
After jaywalking across E. Buena Vista drive, Grandpa said, “Remember eating at Rainforest Café last time? Let’s go there!” Um… remember the House of Blues plan? No? Okay. It’s vacation, I’m easy. Rainforest Café it is. We had a WONDERFUL meal, (VOLCANO!)

As I had done a TON of pre-planning, I reviewed the week with them. Park days, dinner reservations, show times, the whole bit. We adjourned to the Hotel, and after 1 in the bar with Grandpa and my Brother (and baby girl), I went to bed.
Evening Came and Morning followed, the Zero Day.

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

Reserved for the Table of Contents.

Day 1

Day 2, Chapter 1: Chef Mickey's

Day 2 DHS / Epcot

Day 3 Animal Kingdom

Night 3 - ADR's & DHS

Additional Christmas Decoration Photos

Thursday 12/30 – Breakfast, Epcot, Downtime

12/30 - Luau Show & Evening Fireworks

Day 5 New Year's Eve Morning

New Year's Eve Afternoon. Most Crowded Afternoon EVER

 

[IamTrike]

Nice job so far. I'm in.

 

[middlepat]

Present and now accounted for. Great intro.

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

Day 1 Arrives! We woke up at 5:45, and were in the POR Lobby by 6:50 for our 7:00 a.m. check-in. By all accounts, this was going to be the busiest week of the year. I knew that, so I wanted to make sure we could get to the park as early as possible to get as much as possible out of the day. At 7:20, we were checked in, though only one of the two rooms was ready. (Soap box: I made reservations a YEAR in advance, and asked for adjoining, and preferred connecting, rooms. And, we had neither. A YEAR out, and b/c I didn’t call a week early or do on-line check in, I don’t get this small token? C’mon… )
We move our important things from the cars to the hotel room (important later) and head to the bus stop. Magic Kingdom bus arrives, and we climb on board. The reason we picked WDW at Christmastime, regardless of the crowds, were the decorations. I was about to find out if I was going to be disappointed.
Drumroll please….

I was NOT disappointed! How AMAZING! When it comes to doing something RIGHT, Disney has cornered that market, AND HOW!
We made our way to Main Street Bakery because “the kids” were hungry. (The grown-ups were hungry, but didn’t want to admit it) And we had our first experience with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan. We learned that on the DxDDP, one room card is enough, we don’t need to redeem meals per person, just per room. We ALSO learned that at a counter service, the Cast Members help you pick out if you’re using meal or snack credits. We spent 3 meal and 2 snack credits on breakfast, and 5 of us ate till we were full. THAT’s when we realized JUST how much food DxDDP was going to be. Following breakfast, it was divide & conquer time. Grandpa & DS7 went to Space Mountain. My Brother & his son went on their own, and Memaw, DW, baby girl, Potato, and Bean went to ride the MK Railroad. In 5 trips, this would be my first trip riding the Railroad, so I was excited.
While riding, it was COLD! (see photo). When you accidentally bring a coat to WDW, and use it, it’s Cold. The sling I was using to hold baby girl made me feel like the character Quato from Total Recall.

We rode the train and I saw 8 people on Big Thunder Mtn Railroad! EIGHT! Maybe the reports about crowds were wrong? Maybe it was b/c it was 42 degrees? Maybe b/c it was 8:30 in the morning. Any may be a reason. But, we stayed on the RR around to Toon Town station (before Fantasyland expansion closed it.) I walked with MeMaw and Baby Girl while DW, Potato, and Bean rode Barnstormer. Potato sat by himself (which is HUGE for him) and Bean sat w/ DW. Apparently, he sat, put his hands in the air and started saying “WEE” right away, not stopping till he was done. Sorry I missed that… :evilgrin: We considered waiting to see Mickey Mouse, but the line was out the door, so, we walked on. We made our way towards Peter Pan. Grandpa texted to say they finished Space Mtn with no wait, and were going to ride it again. Great! We’ll meet you at Peter Pan. Unfortunately, the 2nd ride caused Space Mtn to break down. PawPaw & DS7 wound up walking through the superstructure of the Mtn, and missed Peter Pan.

We had 11:50 lunch reservations at Le Cellier, so we made our way onto the Monorail to head towards Epcot.

The monorail express wasn’t running, so we went to Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC), switched monorails, THEN rode to Epcot. We rushed to Le Cellier, and arrived just at our scheduled time (11:50). Now we were seated about 25 min AFTER our ADR, so, there was that. ALSO, the meal lasted 2 and ½ hrs. To ME, that seemed, well, FAR too long. The FOOD, however, was a different type of story altogether
(it’s a different type of story altogether).

For as long as I’ve been a DISdad, I’ve been reading about the amazing Le Cellier. The Cheddar Cheese Soup, the filet, the “mousse” they serve. All of it. Can it REALLY be that good?

Now, I’m not a foodie, so, I don’t have a TON of food pictures. HOWEVER, Le Cellier did NOT disappoint. The pretzel bread was NOT expected, so that was a Plus (+2, really).
Then the soup was EVERYTHING I was hoping for…. I’m drooling as I’m typing, remembering how good it was.
The filet was great (as was my Moleson, eh!), and dessert was as good as promised.
Lunch finished, we go outside where we meet Cast Member Hannah! Before we left, DW bought all 4 boys matching Fleece jackets. You see 4 jackets, you have all 4 kids. Great plan to keep an eye on all the Boys. The jackets, however, were the same style as the uniform of the Canadian Cast Members! How GREAT was that!

Thank you to Hannah for posing for this picture.
MeMaw, Brother, and Little Man headed back to the Hotel room that WAS ready in order to nap.
DW & I, our 4, and PawPaw stayed at Epcot. We walked the world showcase, and decided that maybe we were too full for our 4:50 Biergarten Reservation (DxDDP is SO much food.)
Living seas was a HIT with Fisherman PawPaw, and we stayed there for over an hour walking around.
We caught a bus from Epcot to POR, to unload the vans and get ready for an evening at Magic Kingdom.
The dinner plans for Biergarten missed, we looked to quick service for dinner. I was excited to get a Casey’s Corner Hot Dog. However, by 7 p.m., the weather had warmed and the crowds had moved in. Hot dogs were backlogged, and I wasn’t ready to wait to eat. My fam went to Buzz Lightyear while Grandpa’s room stayed in line for dinner. We all met up to do Monsters Inc. Laugh floor. The Nephew got to participate in the festivities. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he looked and said, “I want to be bigger.” We got trapped by the parade, and couldn’t get to Pirates of the Carribbean until it ended. However, once it WAS over, we walked straight onto the ride. I had read Kingdom Keepers just before this trip, so I was looking and feeling for evidence of Malificant. I didn’t notice any, but, I’m not ruling it out.

We got onto our POR bus as the Fireworks were starting, so there was no crowd for the bus. I got the kids into BED, and DW got Baby Girl a bottle & pajamas. I was hungry and wanted to write in my journal before forgetting anything. I went to the Cafeteria at POR (name…?) and got some pasta. The chef behind the pasta grill (Genevive) was extrodinary. There were boxes of ingredients and orders and friends talking and getting things everywhere. Flames are shooting up, and she’s slinging cookware and spices & oils and there is no stopping her. I’m generally a complimentary guy, but I made sure to seek out the manager on duty to say, “THAT is someone that needs an official Guest Compliment from me, because she is amazing over there.”
I finished my pasta (half, the other half for the DW in the room), and walked to my resort hotel room (in alligator bayou, so, heck & gone from the dining hall). And frankly, when you type it all out like this, it was a BUSY peanut-butter-ing day! (disdads MAN LAW reference).
Evening came and morning followed, the first day of my vacation.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Very good so far....

 

[dvczerfs]

there goes your trip report, im in! great start!! nice job.

 

[MEK]

Great trip report so far. Love the title. Your family is quite handsome. 3 boys and a girl - nice. Love the boys lumber jack coats. Too cute.

and I can't believe you did that drive with 4 kids. I am totally impressed.

 

[afwdwfan]

Great start! Really enjoying your TR and I look forward to seeing more.

 

[trennr]

 

[BigTex71]

I'm in!

 

[DisDadDoc]

Gotta wait until I get home to see the photos, but I'm in!

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

Nice job so far. I'm in.

Present and now accounted for. Great intro.

there goes your trip report, im in! great start!! nice job.

Thanks, everyone! I'll try to make it worth-while!

Great trip report so far. Love the title. Your family is quite handsome. 3 boys and a girl - nice. Love the boys lumber jack coats. Too cute.

and I can't believe you did that drive with 4 kids. I am totally impressed.

The fleece jackets were a fortunate happenstance.
and the 4 kids were... Fine. Having one adult to every one child helped a lot.

This TR would not exist (with pictures) without your help. Thank you.

I'm in!

There are gifted story tellers, and then there's me. But I plan to do a good job.

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

Day 2:
What has 2 thumbs and a 7:30 a.m. Chef Mickey Reservation?

We get up bright & early to start our day, to make sure we hit this ressie. We get out to our van, (in the dark, still) just as Grandpa’s room gets to theirs. And what do we find? FROST! Frost on windows in Florida! I did NOT sign up for this! But, St.Louis GETS winter weather, so we have ice scrapers in the cars. We clean off the windows and press on. (Though we did toy with the idea of selling our window scrapers to those from NOT cold weather states…)
Arrivals at the Contemporary Resort bring a mixed bag. All I can picture are the guys on your shoulders “I wanna stay HERE” and my other shoulder saying “For what they charge, you could get a new car.” The guard at the gate stopped us. I told him we were looking for Chef Mickey’s. He pointed us along, and was rather surly for a Disney CM. The DW pointed out that he likely will answer that question another 700 times today, so be nice. Agreed.
We enter the A-Frame of the Contemporary, and check in at Chef Mickey’s. I see the monorails overhead, and again, “I Wanna Stay here!!!” I’m young. I’ll go back to WDW, what’s the rush, really? We check in, and are ushered to our Mickey Mouse Photo…. With a STATUE of Mickey Mouse.
[rant] A Statue? Wow… you guys went all out here. Oh, and now you’re going to CHARGE for the pic with the STATUE? We’ll get back to you on that. [/rant]

The Character Breakfasts were, for us, (with 4 boys under 8) the BEST way to see characters, here’s why:

We are seated, and per usual with buffets, DW gets the kids’ plates while I wait with them at the table, then we switch. While we start eating, here comes our first Character. And, he walks to OUR table. We’re not waiting in line, chasing them down, elbowing other parents for a better photo, we just sit & wait.
Goofy shows up, and Bean’s eyes get HUGE! The smile creeps across his face, and he jumps out of his chair, runs over and gives the character the biggest hug I’ve ever seen a kid give a character. At THAT moment, I thought, “Perfect Vacation.”

I bust out the Autograph book (um, you know…for the kids…) and Goofy signs, poses for pictures, and moves on. Although, as you can see, not all dads have read MAN LAW #6 regarding their electronic devices)

Now, the reason I was so excited for Chef Mickey’s was a Mickey Head Waffle! I wanted a Belgium Waffle the size of a plate, that I could cover in strawberries and devour. Disney, it seems, disagreed with my plan, serving the ¼ size waffles instead. However, like Rom told Flynn, “You don’t realize how good the power is until you find a pure source.” Followed by, “Put a cork in it!”

Potato was LOVING the characters as well. However, he kept messing with his hands. We asked him what was wrong, he said “When I petted Pluto, he ate my hands off!” That’s Potato….

The breakfast itself was great. Now, as stated, I’m not a “foodie.” I'm just as happy with a pop tart as I am with a sun-dried tomato & mozzarella omlet. I’ve been blessed with a DW that not only LOVES to cook and bake, but is good at both. When I DO have crap-tastic food, I admit it. This, however, was NOT one of those times. There was this bacon & cheddar & shoestring potato stuff on the buffet that I went back for about 4 times. The only thing that they advertised that was missing were the Cheese Blintz.
We saw 5 of the 6 Primary Characters (no Daisy Duck), and got photos with them all, and didn’t stand in line at all. GREAT use of the DxDDP on this one.

As we’re leaving, we take a trip to the restroom (with 4 boys under 8, and a baby, you go whenever you’re near one). The restroom is down a flight of stairs and kind of "away" from the restaurant. It's... oddly placed to me. Then, while waiting away from the “main” buffet line, What do I spy with my little eye? Yes! The Cheese Blintz that had been promised. But, I’d cleared my plate I AM on vacation... Should I be a St. Louis hoosier* and just eat it while standing there? It seems like I really shouldn’t eat food in line… :chomp:
MMMM… THAT was a good Cheese Blintz.

We adjourn from the Contemporary Resort (hopefully not for the last time in our lives), and drive to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

 

[dvczerfs]

always a good time at chef mickeys! you know, for the kids.

 

[DisDr.]

Great TR! Keep it up.

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

always a good time at chef mickeys! you know, for the kids.

Great TR! Keep it up.

Thanks, guys! I'm trying!

 

[unclescrooge_0707]

We get to DHS just in time for the park opening (just after? It was 4 months ago, cut me some slack on the details!), and went to Toy Story Midway Mania. We waited in the standby line. I warned everyone that the line was long, but it would only get longer. It was 9:30, and fastpasses said 4:45. Everyone enjoyed the queue, and waiting went well enough. For ME, the worst part was losing the point total to my older Brother (147,000 to 143,000) I chalk it up to the fact that he’s been single a while?

After TSMM, DS7, Grandpa, my brother, & I went to Rock & Roller Coaster and got a switch pass.
(switchpass: If you have a stroller or small kids, one parent waits in the standby line while the other waits with the kids. Then, when your ride is over, you take the kids in the stroller while the other parent rides the ride in the fastpass line)
Little Man, Potato, Bean, DW, and MeMaw went to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.

(Little Man and Bean)


As we’re waiting for the Rock & Roller Coaster, Grandpa asks, “Does this go upside down?” It was 2006 when I rode the ride, so, I didn’t remember, really.
“Um… I don’t THINK so, but there is a corkscrew, maybe…”
“Okay, I can do ONE corkscrew.”
So, sitting in the “limo” in the VERY first seat, we pull up and stop (right before you take off). I say to my dad, “um, dad, I think this DOES go upside down, so grab onto your glasses!”
“WHAT!?!”
*BURN OUT*

97 seconds later, he looks at me, checks his pulse (Pawpaw is 61 after all), and looks back and me and says, “I hate you…”
Love you too, dad!

So, we meet up and switch pass it up. DS7 rides with DW again, PawPaw… Well, pawpaw sat down for a while.

Baby Girl decided she needed a clean diaper, and without going into TOO much detail, I had just taken a clean diaper to the restroom with me, and I needed to text to have someone bring me the entire diaper bag.
At this point, it’s close to lunchtime, but we had breakfast at Chef Mickey, and have a 3:35 Mama Melrose reservation for Fantasmic!, so I’m not feeling food is necessary, really. MeMaw, brother, and nephew head back for nephew’s (and memaw & brother) to have a nap, and the remainder get the kids some pb&j at that food court area near the playground. We do the Studio Backlot tour, although, since it was 54 degrees, they chose NOT to have an audience member inside that water-logged boat at the beginning of the tour.
At Catastrophe Canyon, we stop, and DS7 was CONVINCED the water or earthquake or fire was going to get him. Baby Girl took a nap, and Potato & Bean just laughed & laughed…

Then, we went to Lights, Motors, ACTION. And, up till now, I had loved most of the attractions at DHS. This would be my first time for this one, and I had NO idea what to expect. I didn’t know WHAT it was, what was happening, what it was all about.

Well, wait-to-benefit ratio, this is THE BEST attraction at DHS. The cars, the speed, the comedy, absolutely fantastic! GREAT job stunt drivers! (bad job me… no photos!)
Then, the first of 2 times I was upset during the trip…
It’s 3:15, and we call/text MeMaw & Brother.
“Our dinner is at 3:30, and Fantasmic! starts at 5:30, so, get here and HOW!
At 3:30, we get the message… “We’re on our way”
Mama Melrose: “We can’t check you in until your entire party is here”
3:35….Text “There’s a parade, we can’t cross the street”
3:40.
3:45.
3:50 – we’re here!
3:50 – Mama Melrose, “we can check you in, but now, it’s 30 minutes”
4:15 – sit down… I’m REALLY steamed at this point, because I REALLY don’t want to miss FANTASMIC! because I really think everyone will love it. I keep thinking had the nap lasted till 3 instead of 3:15, we’d been ready to leave by now. However, I can’t cook food faster or anything, so, I sit & wait.

I look up, and see a picture. Is that… Lou Ferrigno? with…Mickey Mouse? Yes, yes it is.
*click*

I’m reading the menu, and see “flat bread pepperoni and mozzarella.” Sound great. Great sandwich.
The food arrives and?
Oh, wait… "Flatbread" just means "thin-crust pizza…"
Lesson Learned. It wasn’t BAD, but, it was just thin crust pizza.
MeMaw & Brother have the Tuna, and say it’s great.
5:15 – “Miss, can we go?”
Server: “Sure, take this to Fantasmic!, but not the main gate. (shows map) Go HERE." - got it!

We settle up (DxDDP!), leave the tip, and head to Fantasmic!. Now, we got there in time, but, my DW had taken DD back to the Hotel for her nap, and Bean (or Potato?) went with her. Those that stayed LOVED Fantasmic! (who doesn’t?) and I say “okay, it’s 7:30, and we have a 9:00 Teppan Edo reservation!”

Maunypawpaw, Memaw, brother all say, Um, we’re full… and tired...So… let’s resort it.
Okay, sounds fine.

We leave DHS and go to POR via bus. But, it’s only 8, and, I’m not ready to retire for the evening.
“DW, want to go to Teppan Edo? DS7 was looking forward to sushi”
“Well, Potato is playing Legos, and Bean is asleep."
I make a phone call…
“Mauny papa, want to keep an eye on Potato & Bean in our room, while we go to late dinner?”
“Sure”

Okay, load up the Van (yay for Free Parking for resort guests) and head to EPCOT!
After all, Free Parking is the best part of Zombieland...
We got remarkably close parking, considering we were arriving at Epcot at 8:45 at night, and walked briskly around the world showcase to Teppan Edo, where we checked in. We were excited for our DxDDP, and then realized from the menu that sushi was NOT included as an appetizer. Well, we promised, let’s get the kid a Spicy Tuna Roll (thanks, Drake & Josh)
Here’s him sucking down his ENTIRE sprite in one gulp after trying the cabbage from his plate. Spicy Tuna Roll was also not a hit.

Ken was our cook, and he was… tired. He made the onion volcano, and did the Mickey head, but, he was tired. And, I don’t know that it was JUST that it was 9:35, or if he was ready to be done being a hibachi chef. (He told us he’d been at WDW for almost 20 years)

They had a $90 bottle of Sake on the menu. I asked the other dad at our table if he wanted to split it. My DW says, "That's 30 bottles of Boone's Farm!"
I my DW!
I had the swordfish, and found it… dry. I asked, and MaunyPawPaw said that was kind of how swordfish was. Okay, doesn’t make it RIGHT, but, at least I understand.
We didn’t eat all of the sushi, which is fine. We know my brother is a fan, so, we grabbed a doggie bag for him. The real benefit of going BACK to Epcot was the lights. Remember me saying that the decorations at MK made the trip worth it? Well, the folks that decorate Epcot took that as me throwing down the Gauntlet, and they answered with a VENGENCE! The 65’ Christmas tree, the lights across the World Showcase Lagoon? BREATHTAKING… (not in a Seinfeld way).

To be fair, I think these lights are always there, but, it was still a good picture

I have lots of Epcot Christmas light photos. However, they are blurry or off or out of focus or the lights reflected odd. So, just trust me.

We get back to POR where Potato, Bean, and Grandpa are all asleep. We usher pawpaw back to his room, and retire from day TWO of our Vacation.

Um, I’m tired… HOW many more days are there?

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

What a full day! This is good reading.

I don't know how long the lights had been there, the girls sure loved them back in October...

 

[cj9200]

Um, I’m tired… HOW many more days are there?

Great update. The look on your son's face shows he was not a fan of the spicy tuna roll.

Bet by the end, you will be saying,"Is it over already?"