Is it a bad sign for the vacation when you faint on the plane? COMPLETED!

[MRYPPNS]

I'm so sorry to hear that your meal at Chef Mickeys went so badly. For what you pay that's just terrible.

Glad to hear the new baby is doing well though!

I read a lot of food review here on the DIS and I always find that the worst reviews of the food come when the reviewer had something wrong happen at the meal that didn't really have to with the food. I think that's the case here as well because none of the food I had was bad....but nothing was memorable. When I go to a buffet I don't over load my plate because I plan to go back up over and over again. So my first plate was basically salad and rolls. The second was meat and potatoes. And that's about all I had time for except my little plate of desserts.

Our character buffets in June are going to be all breakfasts -- Cape May Cafe, Crystal Palace (maybe), and Tusker House (maybe again).

Part of me wants to go Lara's route and do the quick service meal plan with just a couple of table services -- I think Charles would mutiny on me though.

I was thinking the same thing myself as I've been sitting here thinking about our Disney Dinning from the last trip.

I'm so upset that Liam had a bad experience at Chef Mickey's! Poor guy! And I love the idea of bringing along the disposable place mats!

I love those disposable mats.....they go everywhere with us. I'm not a germ aphobe but it I can't smell bleach I don't trust that a table have really been cleaned.

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh, hon.

It pains me to read that. I feel so badly for you, because I now know what it's like when your child wants none of those characters.

I must say that Chef Mickey's was quite a bummer for you guys! I have to tell you, though, I've had success there. If you would ever consider it again, the best time we've found to go, is for the last breakfast seating (also cheaper) of the day. At this time, that little room you were in, isn't as crowded, because people are finishing up. I noticed more care with our characters, so that could just have been the day.

I hope you had at least one nice meal on this trip!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm sorry that Chef Mickey's was so disappointing. I hope that your meals and character experiences get better.

Happy New Year!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Sorry to hear CMs was so disappointing! I'll have to give our seating some thought before we go... I didn't realize there was a small room upstairs? At first I was thinking the smaller area might be good for my boys, but then when you talked about the character visits being a distraction for the whole time they are in the room, I re-thought that idea... Hmmm... I'm thinking up against a wall in the main dining area would be best for us??

I hope Liam warmed up to the characters and you guys found yourselves a good meal at some point.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Oh, hon.

It pains me to read that. I feel so badly for you, because I now know what it's like when your child wants none of those characters.

I must say that Chef Mickey's was quite a bummer for you guys! I have to tell you, though, I've had success there. If you would ever consider it again, the best time we've found to go, is for the last breakfast seating (also cheaper) of the day. At this time, that little room you were in, isn't as crowded, because people are finishing up. I noticed more care with our characters, so that could just have been the day.

I hope you had at least one nice meal on this trip!

I was prepared for Liam to not like the characters....what I wasn't prepared for was that he couldn't be in the same room as them!

I actually care for breakfast buffets even less. I find them to be a waste of money/not great dinning credit value. I guess I'm a greasy small diner kinda gal for breakfast! We had a place in college that you had to wait outside in line to get a table for breakfast and it was the best food!

I'm sorry that Chef Mickey's was so disappointing. I hope that your meals and character experiences get better.

Happy New Year!

I'll just say that there were so more surprises (good and bad) when it comes to meals.

Sorry to hear CMs was so disappointing! I'll have to give our seating some thought before we go... I didn't realize there was a small room upstairs? At first I was thinking the smaller area might be good for my boys, but then when you talked about the character visits being a distraction for the whole time they are in the room, I re-thought that idea... Hmmm... I'm thinking up against a wall in the main dining area would be best for us??

I hope Liam warmed up to the characters and you guys found yourselves a good meal at some point.

The calmest place in Chef Mickey's seemed to be the row of booths/tables along the wall and next to the left side buffet line (not in the big room). That's where I wish we would have been.

I know there are rehabbing Chef Mickey's, just don't know when.

 

[DisMomAmy]

We had a place in college that you had to wait outside in line to get a table for breakfast and it was the best food!

What was the name of that place? Are you talking about that tiny place in Dover? That place was so good!

The calmest place in Chef Mickey's seemed to be the row of booths/tables along the wall and next to the left side buffet line (not in the big room). That's where I wish we would have been.

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

I know there are rehabbing Chef Mickey's, just don't know when.

Hmmm... it must be after we are there in April - I haven't heard anything about that yet.

 

[TarzansKat]

I was prepared for Liam to not like the characters....what I wasn't prepared for was that he couldn't be in the same room as them!

So frustrating!

I actually care for breakfast buffets even less. I find them to be a waste of money/not great dinning credit value. I guess I'm a greasy small diner kinda gal for breakfast! We had a place in college that you had to wait outside in line to get a table for breakfast and it was the best food!

That's so funny! When I'm on vacation, I LOVE a good breakfast buffet. And this is most likely due to the fact that we're not big breakfast eaters at home, you know? So I love a good breakfast buffet. Plus, my son eats so well at buffets, because there are so many choices. It's nice to not have to worry about what carp we have to order for him off the kids menu.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hmmm... it must be after we are there in April - I haven't heard anything about that yet.

Wasn't the place in Dover called Jake's???? Can you all tell that Amy and I went to the same college!!

So frustrating!



That's so funny! When I'm on vacation, I LOVE a good breakfast buffet. And this is most likely due to the fact that we're not big breakfast eaters at home, you know? So I love a good breakfast buffet. Plus, my son eats so well at buffets, because there are so many choices. It's nice to not have to worry about what carp we have to order for him off the kids menu.

I did like not having to paid for Liam to eat at the buffets....that was nice.

 

[myrsfmly]

So sorry Chef Mickey's was a bust! I remember not being overly impressed with it a few years ago...

I try to do most of my buffets at breakfast now but that has more to do with my picky eaters...

I was very fortunate and dodged the scared of characters bullet with DD4, for the most part, and can only imagine the upheaval it can add to your trip plans

 

[2xcited2sleep]

All caught up! So sorry Chef Mickey's was like lighting your money on fire. That stinks!

On a happier note, Liam is adorable in every single photo you take!

And I think you may have sold me on CBR!

 

[pixiefairy]

Coming out of lurkdom to say hello...loving your report. Your little guy is adorable..btw! And congrats on the new baby girl.

We did Chef Mickey's our last night there in June...I wasn't impressed either. From the check in to the check. The food was just ok....liked the desserts though. The character interaction was ok....but this was our last night there...and the kids had already had the first experiences earlier in the week. I'm sorry Liam was so scared.

 

[jmamom]

Enjoying your TR. You had me when you said diet coke was the exilir of life! Sorry about Chef Mickey's. When a meal goes bad with a two year old, it really goes bad. Can't wait for the next update!

 

[jordanyosh]

Here are the pictures I took while we waited for our room.

Any bets on what time it is before we get into our room????

I miss staying at the CBR.....You took some great pics.....

 

[jordanyosh]

I'm all caught up...if Chef's isn't the worst....yikes....

Travelling with a small one can be unpredictable when it comes to meals.....

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I'm finally caught up. Great pictures and updates. I felt so bad while I was reading about Chef Mickey's. I can't believe the other characters didn't realize how scared Liam was.

 

[mousescrapper]

sorry Heidi got a little behind there...

1st thanks for the props about my TR and toddler info

For your's glad you're keep it rolling along and putting in little updates about your "carrot"

Sorry you had some minor and major busts on Day 2....

Aldine my oldest DD is SO into horses...if she still is the next time we go, it may be worth a quick detour over to FWC to show her the barn and the picture display thanks for including that!

AHH not sitting on the bus, brings back memories of our trip

I'm so glad Liam loved the pool and sand, he even got his face wet...what fun!

I'm so sorry about CM that is such a shame, the table location, Liam hating the characters, and other stuff, man that must just leave a sour taste in your mouth for the upcoming dinning. I hope he warms up to them.

We've eaten there twice, back in 98 (no kids) and 05 w/ kids, but we had a great time each time, they were both bfasts. sorry

and thanks for the H & L lights of your day that is a great TR writing tip helps you remember everything too.

Looking forward to more as always, but must save all my CHrist mas cd's from Margaret

Scrappie

 

[mousescrapper]

Question for you...feel free to pm if easier or maybe there are others thinking like me....

The GPS. How accurate was it for you finding your way in and around WDW and such?

DH just got one for Christmas from my parents. One of the options we are toying w/ for our next WDW adventure is staying on property but using a rental van for some of our transportation and a stop to the grocery store, etc.

Plus how much extra did you have to budget in for parking and such?

thanks!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I was very fortunate and dodged the scared of characters bullet with DD4, for the most part, and can only imagine the upheaval it can add to your trip plans

Oh that wasn't even the worst of it.....

All caught up! So sorry Chef Mickey's was like lighting your money on fire. That stinks!

On a happier note, Liam is adorable in every single photo you take!

And I think you may have sold me on CBR!

Thank you about Liam.

I can imagine you relaxing on one of those CBR hammocks!

Coming out of lurkdom to say hello...loving your report. Your little guy is adorable..btw! And congrats on the new baby girl.

Thanks for de-lurking!

Enjoying your TR. You had me when you said diet coke was the exilir of life! Sorry about Chef Mickey's. When a meal goes bad with a two year old, it really goes bad. Can't wait for the next update!

I toast you with a bottle of Diet Coke for the new year!

I'm all caught up...if Chef's isn't the worst....yikes....

Travelling with a small one can be unpredictable when it comes to meals.....

Well Hello stranger.....how long you in town for???

I'm finally caught up. Great pictures and updates. I felt so bad while I was reading about Chef Mickey's. I can't believe the other characters didn't realize how scared Liam was.

Donald Duck won a place in my heart that night.....Goofy's on the you-know-what list with me!

Question for you...feel free to pm if easier or maybe there are others thinking like me....

The GPS. How accurate was it for you finding your way in and around WDW and such?

DH just got one for Christmas from my parents. One of the options we are toying w/ for our next WDW adventure is staying on property but using a rental van for some of our transportation and a stop to the grocery store, etc.

Plus how much extra did you have to budget in for parking and such?

thanks!

I thought the GSP did a great job of getting us around. It was very helpful getting us back to the airport because I could actually pick which Terminal (A or B) that I wanted. We did stop using it to get around Disney after a few days because the signage was enough to get us where we needed to go.

We didn't have to pay for parking at the theme parks because we were Disney resort guests....you get a parking pass at check-in. Valet parking is $10 a day at the deluxe resorts. Which I very much enjoyed and would do again.

We went thru a little less then a full tank of gas for the 10 days. Tolls are 75 cents each....I think there are two tolls from the airport to WDW property and of course more tolls if you travel around a bit.

 

[nat1234]

I'm loving your tr report so far. Your pictures are wonderful. And Liam is a doll. Thanks for the info about the GPS. We're thinking of driving down to Disney on our next trip and will be using a GPS to help us find our way. Unfortunately, I don't think the mouse ears are visible up here in Canada.

 

[jordanyosh]

H,

Hopefully I'll be around long enough to finish my TR ....