It's ALL about the FOOD! An October 2012 PTR! - Trip Report Started.

[smile4stamps]

Day 9 begins bright and early after what was hopefully a relaxing Day 8!

I have planned for us to attend EMH at DHS this morning! I've never been to EMH as an adult! I think we did on my first trip to WDW with my family but that was FOREVER ago!!

The plan is the TSM mad dash... or slow dash if they aren't doing an official rope drop! I will likely speedwalk for FP and then meet up with hubby for stand-by. I would love to ride it a couple times that morning but we will have to see how the lines are! After TSM and maybe Rock n Roller Coaster we will see if there are any shows we want to see that we may have missed the first DHS day.

Now... you may remember my waffling back and forth about Hollywood Brown Derby and 50's Prime-Time right.... Well I'm still not sure about it either so I made an ADR for 50's on this day. However, the thing I want most is the fried chicken... Um, dinner the night before it HDDR with fried chicken! I'm thinking it might not be such a great idea!!

So we will see if that ADR sticks or if we end up eating somewhere else. It will also depend on what time we are done with things at DHS to decide what to do next. I originally had us going over to Epcot for an Italy Food & Wine pairing but I changes my mind on this and did not try to book it. Plus now they are all sold out!

Sometime during the day we will head back to the resort for a rest. The night is going to be filled with what I am hoping is a WONDERFUL time at Party for the Senses! I was able to book Reserved Seats! I was originally going to do Wine View but at $100 more per person I think for our first try there the Reserved will be fine for us!!

So that is day number 9!

 

[smile4stamps]

Sunday, October 21, 2012

I'm actually unsure of where to start the day today!!

I will tell you what I have scheduled and then run by some options and let me know if any sounds better to you.

The first thing Scheduled for today is The Discovery of Grand Marnier® at 2:45pm. What is this you may ask?!?

During this spirited tasting event, Grand Marnier, the No. 1 French Liqueur, invites you to:

•Indulge in a glass of Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial, the first Champagne to be served on ice
•Sample Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, Grand Marnier 100th Anniversary and Grand Marnier 150th Anniversary
•Savor 2 decadent desserts
•Learn mixing tips and techniques during a mixology lesson
(copied from F&W page)

This replaces our doing a Sweet Sunday (since none of the Pastry chefs appealed to me! Plus it was a little cheaper! )

The only other thing scheduled is Dinner at Artist Point at 7:55pm. After dinner I was thinking of checking out the Territory Lounge or we can just head back to our Villa and relax or hit the Hot Tub!

So.... Things I am thinking of that day. We can either start at MK or Epcot, or DHS I guess if we want TSM again lol. We should probably eat something before hand.... Hubby isn't much into breakfasts so I don't want to schedule too many but he will get cranky if we don't have anything to eat soon after getting going either...

I've been contemplating a few more of the character meals... Cape May, 'Ohana, and 1900 Park Fare... Would any of them have more choices for someone who doesn't love breakfast?

Depending on the crowds we may munch around some of the F&W booths.

I guess we will see what and where we feel like we should spend more time!

Here are some pics from our first time at Artist Point. This was our official 5 year Anniversary dinner!

Venison Pot Stickers!

Butter Poached Wild Boar Tenderloin (His was definitely the better app!)

I got a Mickey straw!!

Delicious Scallops! (I am going to try hard this trip to not order seafood since my hubby cannot have it but a few times I may just break down and get it!)

Grilled Beef Tenderloin (with Pork Belly! The Pork Belly normally came on one of the seafood dishes but since he couldn't have the seafood the chef put it on his steak!)

Hubby picked an '04 wine. Aged the same amount as we were!

And I won't post our desserts because they were just disappointing!

We did get a free Champagne toast to go with them though!

 

[marDgreen88]

Aww, that is my birthday! Sigh, I'm still jealous.

I don't know anything about F&W stuff, nor have I been to any of those places for breakfast. BUT, I've heard that 'Ohana just has regular breakfast stuff and you don't even get to pick. They just bring it to you like they'd do at dinner, and as far as I know it's just waffles and eggs and stuff like that. But I'd imagine that the others would be pretty good since they're buffets!

Artist Point looks like a great spot!

 

[sushi candy]

Those scallops look massive and tasty! I wish I had a free slot to book Artist Point. I have read so many great reviews including yours.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I love Artist Point and hope you have a great meal there!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Personally I would vote for Ohana OR Kouzzina (I know it wasn't on your list, I just like making things MORE complicated! ), I've never been to Ohana, but the menu seems pretty standard. Kouzzina doesn't have characters, but their breakfast menu is really really different than the rest of the Disney places, and it isn't filled with traditional breakfast items, which is nice.

Mmmmm Grand Marnier! That sounds like an awesome seminar!

I hope your meal at AP is better this time around! We LOVED it there!

 

[jenny105]

Cute picture of you and the Mickey straw! I have to get to Artist Point one day. I want to visit WL just to show my boyfriend the hotel. It's my favorite (so far).

Your days are looking good!

 

[smile4stamps]

Aww, that is my birthday! Sigh, I'm still jealous.

I don't know anything about F&W stuff, nor have I been to any of those places for breakfast. BUT, I've heard that 'Ohana just has regular breakfast stuff and you don't even get to pick. They just bring it to you like they'd do at dinner, and as far as I know it's just waffles and eggs and stuff like that. But I'd imagine that the others would be pretty good since they're buffets!

Artist Point looks like a great spot!

You should plan a trip! LOL! I went to DL for my Birthday last year and while the week prior with my best friend was AWESOME, after she left it was a little depressing to be there by myself on my Birthday. I did meet up with someone for the morning but then the afternoon/evening alone I was SO sad! So I will never plan to be SOLO on my birthday again. Even if it means no Disney for it

Those scallops look massive and tasty! I wish I had a free slot to book Artist Point. I have read so many great reviews including yours.

Yes, the scallops were wonderful! It wasn't a huge meal but that is what I love about signatures! Great tastes and flavors without feeling like a beached whale when the meal is over!

I love Artist Point and hope you have a great meal there!

Thanks! If its like the one in '09 it will be fabulous. The only thing that could have improved out meal was better desserts!

Personally I would vote for Ohana OR Kouzzina (I know it wasn't on your list, I just like making things MORE complicated! ), I've never been to Ohana, but the menu seems pretty standard. Kouzzina doesn't have characters, but their breakfast menu is really really different than the rest of the Disney places, and it isn't filled with traditional breakfast items, which is nice.

Mmmmm Grand Marnier! That sounds like an awesome seminar!

I hope your meal at AP is better this time around! We LOVED it there!

Thanks for the opinions on Kouzzina. I've read some reviews lately that is wasn't great but I will take a look at it again. The thing I have issue there is the sweet potato hash. It would be fine for me but hubby who is usually a fan of breakfast potatoes does not DO sweet potatoes so I'm not sure how that would go over. Boma might be a better option if I decide to stay away from character meals!

Yes, Grand Marnier sound awesome! Can't wait for it!

Our meal was awesome at AP! It was just the desserts that failed to thrill!

Cute picture of you and the Mickey straw! I have to get to Artist Point one day. I want to visit WL just to show my boyfriend the hotel. It's my favorite (so far).

Your days are looking good!

It's a BAD angle on the Mickey straw low but I still love it!

AP is a wonderful meal. But there are so many options at WDW its hard to fit everything in!

 

[smile4stamps]

Monday, October 22, 2012

Wow the days are going by fast! Can we slow down time while in WDW?

I'm sure we will be getting a little tired by this point so you would think I wouldn't plan another early morning right? Um, no. Lets have us get up super early and book a tour that begins at 7:30 in the morning! Now I haven't actually booked said tour yet but hopefully I will get around to it in the next week or so and there will still be room!

What tour would I want to book? The Magic Behind the Steam Trains. Hubby is a HUGE train fan so I figured this would be a tour he would enjoy! We SHOULD be able to take the boat from WL to MK so hopefully that will go smoothly at that time of day!

The tour takes several hours and from there I am thinking we will head to Epcot for some more noshing around the World. I'm not sure I have given us enough time to try all the F&W samplings! So we will enjoy a leisurely afternoon there and while I am not making an official ADR for this day I am thinking we can either go to Kona or the Wave for some dinner, if we are even hungry after F&W offerings! I've also got this day as going back to MK for Wishes and the Electrical Parade. The WDW posted Park Hours DO NOT have this as a PM EMH day. However the TA site does! If it is a EMH day we will hang out in MK till we are ready to pass out. Otherwise if its not we will head on back to our resort.

And that is day 11!

 

[smile4stamps]

Officially booked my Hoop Dee Doo Reservations!! I had wanted to use a Gift Card so I had to call. I was glad I did though as they were also able to note the TiW discount right away so I didn't have to worry about figuring out how to get my credit!!

I did book Category 3. I have heard that it may not fill up and then they don't use the balcony but we actually really liked the balcony so I hope we are up there!

 

[smile4stamps]

I started Pin Trading on my birthday trip at DL in June last year. I find its a lot of fun so I wanted some more pins to trade with! I ordered a 100 pin lot from eBay (all pins were pictured and listed) I think they were a person's personal collection. They arrived today! They all look authentic (to me) and are from 2004-2007. Hopefully this means it will be easy to trade as the CM's shouldn't have them on their lanyards already!! I'm excited I have so many to trade away now!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

The Behind the Steam Trains tour sounds awesome! Definitely double-check what time the WL boat starts running - I know that the boats between MK and the GF and Poly don't start until 8.

Yay for Hoop De Doo!!! I can't wait to hear all about the awesome things you're doing on your trip!!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Your plans are looking great! Love that deal on those pins...I haven't gotten into that yet, the girls do it a little and it looks fun!
Good luck booking your Tour!

 

[marDgreen88]

The train tour sounds like a cool experience! I'm betting yall will have plenty of time to try F&W stuff!

Hooray for pin trading! That's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but I've just been collecting instead. Might have to try the eBay thing!

 

[sushi candy]

Sounds like a great deal n the lots for pin trading. I thought about doing pin trading for my trip but opted to do Vinylmations instead. I would still love to see what pins you ended up with in the end. Should be a ton of fun trading.

 

[jenny105]

I was never into pin trading and then I went to Disneyland on a travel agent trip. They gave us a lanyard and pins everyday so I have quite the collection now. I have to get pins off EBay because I am NOT trading my Disneyland pins. Those are souvenirs from my only trip there and some aren't sold in stores! Someone asked me to trade while I was there and I told them no LOL. If a child asks me I would feel bad saying no so I need some pins I don't care about!

 

[smile4stamps]

The Behind the Steam Trains tour sounds awesome! Definitely double-check what time the WL boat starts running - I know that the boats between MK and the GF and Poly don't start until 8.

Yay for Hoop De Doo!!! I can't wait to hear all about the awesome things you're doing on your trip!!

Yes... I will have to check the times. If the boats are not running hopefully the buses are as a taxi doesn't work very well for getting to the MK!

I just added another thing to the plans!! Oops!! LOL!

Your plans are looking great! Love that deal on those pins...I haven't gotten into that yet, the girls do it a little and it looks fun!
Good luck booking your Tour!

Thanks! The Pin trading is fun. It's fun just to see what others have. I only trade with CM. Of course if someone in line or something wants to trade I would.

The train tour sounds like a cool experience! I'm betting yall will have plenty of time to try F&W stuff!

Hooray for pin trading! That's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but I've just been collecting instead. Might have to try the eBay thing!

I had some help finding the lot from another DISer! So glad she found it!! Such a great deal, $1/pin?!? Can't beat that!

Sounds like a great deal n the lots for pin trading. I thought about doing pin trading for my trip but opted to do Vinylmations instead. I would still love to see what pins you ended up with in the end. Should be a ton of fun trading.

I'm not really into the Vinyl and the pins are a bit easier to carry. Just my opinion!!

I was never into pin trading and then I went to Disneyland on a travel agent trip. They gave us a lanyard and pins everyday so I have quite the collection now. I have to get pins off EBay because I am NOT trading my Disneyland pins. Those are souvenirs from my only trip there and some aren't sold in stores! Someone asked me to trade while I was there and I told them no LOL. If a child asks me I would feel bad saying no so I need some pins I don't care about!

I had looked at the pins on our '09 trip and thought it was a kid thing. I really liked doing it at DL so we will see how it goes this trip!

 

[smile4stamps]

Okay... you all can call me crazy!! I just added another event!!

I don't know how I missed it being posted yesterday but they added a Citrico's signature Lunch with Winemaker John Lasseter and his wife!! (also the head of PIXAR!!!)

It's at 12:30pm on October 19th... Lets see... Oh... That's the day we change resorts... only plans were Raglan Road for lunch and HDDR for dinner... HDDR isn't until 8:30pm... Raglan Road can be another day...

How much is it?!?! $130+tax...
Hmmm... That's not TOO bad...

Let me just call and see if there is availability...

12 minute hold time

Zip a Dee Doo Da... Zippity day!! Love Splash Mountain music... That must be a good sign right?!?!

I get the CM on the phone... She looks it up... Says yes it shows as available... I ask if they can make accommodations since my hubby is allergic to seafood... she said yes she can note it!!

Alright... I pay with my Disney Gift Cards!!

So... now my question is... Do I keep my Citrico's dinner for October 14th or change it to something else?!?!

 

[marDgreen88]

OH MY GOSH! John Lasseter?!?!?! That is the coolest thing ever! How awesome that you got reservations!!

I say you can change the ADR on the 14th... maybe to Raglan Road since that's what you changed out!

 

[smile4stamps]

OH MY GOSH! John Lasseter?!?!?! That is the coolest thing ever! How awesome that you got reservations!!

I say you can change the ADR on the 14th... maybe to Raglan Road since that's what you changed out!

I know its so awesome!! It has me confuzzled on my ADR's now lol!!

Raglan Road is actually in the plans 2 other times so I'm not so concerned about it being bumped lol!

I will think of something to put in it's place I am sure...