Lard Wrestling and Sleep Deprivation – A Dec. 08 TR

[TPCShauna]

I've really been reconsidering Chef's also. And where might I want to go instead, you ask? None other than Raglan Road! How funny! Everything at Chef's looks rather wet. Too much sauce!

Ohh, that IS funny! Yes, french food is saucy. And not in a Lumiere sort of way if you catch my meaning. It's the same with California cuisine - take a perfectly good piece of meat and drown it with some sauce.

I just read two harrowing CDF reviews over on the dining review board which helped me clinch my decision. Check these links out if you're looking for ammo in making a change:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=27867598&postcount=38

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=27914287&postcount=13

I read them and promptly called to change my ressie. I feel better now!

 

[New England Eeyore]

I ate at both France and Raglan Road on last year's trip. I was glad we were on the dining plan because I would have been majorly annoyed if I had paid out of pocket for France. Everything was well-prepared and tasty, but nothing knocked my socks off. But my entree was shrimp and scallops. When it came out, I had 3 shrimp and 2 scallops. Now, they were exquisitely prepared and probably the tastiest scallops I had ever had (shrimp is shrimp), but still 2 scallops. For something like $28. I know that portion size is probably more authentic to a "fancy" restaurant, but we're not gourmet eaters.

We liked Raglan Road. I got the "It's not bleeding chowder" which was EXCELLENT.

 

[TPCShauna]

I ate at both France and Raglan Road on last year's trip. I was glad we were on the dining plan because I would have been majorly annoyed if I had paid out of pocket for France. Everything was well-prepared and tasty, but nothing knocked my socks off. But my entree was shrimp and scallops. When it came out, I had 3 shrimp and 2 scallops. Now, they were exquisitely prepared and probably the tastiest scallops I had ever had (shrimp is shrimp), but still 2 scallops. For something like $28. I know that portion size is probably more authentic to a "fancy" restaurant, but we're not gourmet eaters.

We liked Raglan Road. I got the "It's not bleeding chowder" which was EXCELLENT.

Yes, from what I have seen in photos, the serving sizes at CDF are very close to French servings - except a bit bigger as you would normally get 2 shrimp and 1 scallop. It's good that your food was good.

Honestly, I was kind of "convincing" DH to try this place anyway so he's excited that we are going somewhere else. I think he would prefer somewhere besides Raglan Road but oh well. I've been looking at the "It's not bleeding chowder" also as it looks TASTY!

What apps/desserts did you have?

 

[New England Eeyore]

For appetizer we shared the Calamari City. I think Dad got Paddy's Pork? except I don't remember it being called that. It was some kind of pork or ham on top of mashed potatoes (For some reason I didn't take my typical notes last year so I can't be sure) and he liked it, but wished he had gotten my chowder. For dessert he got creme brule (he almost ALWAYS gets creme brule at Disney) and I got the Dundon's Delight, which I did not really enjoy - too soupy.

 

[xoktenox]

Thank you sooooo much for all the advice you left me on my attempted PTR! lol It is muuuuch appreciated, I'm always up for comments and suggestions So BF and I had finally settled on where our reservations were going to be made, Coral Reef (thanks to your suggestion) and Mama Melrose for the Fantasmic package...but not that I read your advice I'm really reconsidering the Mama Melrose. We aren't park hopping and we're not on the dining plan (unless by some great luck between now and then free dining come out) and we also didn't want to have alot of reservations. Actually I'm planning on making ressies at 50's Prime Time, Plaza Restaurant and Tusker House too and then we could just play it by ear and cancel them if we see that we didn't want to do them. So back to the Fantasmic package, the seats are that bad? I had heard that they weren't the perfect seats but that they weren't too bad...the main thing is I dont want to have to show up 90 mins early to get a seat for the show. And Mama Melrose, is it good Italian food I mean like real Italian food? Not Ragu can sauce...because my grandma is 100% Italian so I'm pretty picky when it comes to my pasta haha I'm not expecting perfection but you know waht I mean. Ahhh I'm all confused now!! Let me know what you think, please I value your expert advice highly Sorry for taking up so much room in YOUR PTR to rant about MY dining problems lol can't wait to read more of your own stuff though

Oh one last thing, I purchased our tickets through AAA seperately from our room reservation...if free dining came along do you know if I would be able to get it?

 

[TPCShauna]

For appetizer we shared the Calamari City. I think Dad got Paddy's Pork? except I don't remember it being called that. It was some kind of pork or ham on top of mashed potatoes (For some reason I didn't take my typical notes last year so I can't be sure) and he liked it, but wished he had gotten my chowder. For dessert he got creme brule (he almost ALWAYS gets creme brule at Disney) and I got the Dundon's Delight, which I did not really enjoy - too soupy.

How was the Calamari City? DH thinks that one sounds really good but calamari has to be REALLY good before I'll eat it? Also, is it suckers or tentacles? I really hate tentacles.

DH likes the sound of the Paddy's Pork the best but he might try Kevin's Heavenly Ham. He is much happier about the food choices at RR than CDF. He's also thinking about the Dundon's Delight so it's good to know that it might not be the best choice.

Thanks!

 

[TPCShauna]

Thank you sooooo much for all the advice you left me on my attempted PTR! lol It is muuuuch appreciated, I'm always up for comments and suggestions So BF and I had finally settled on where our reservations were going to be made, Coral Reef (thanks to your suggestion) and Mama Melrose for the Fantasmic package...but not that I read your advice I'm really reconsidering the Mama Melrose. We aren't park hopping and we're not on the dining plan (unless by some great luck between now and then free dining come out) and we also didn't want to have alot of reservations. Actually I'm planning on making ressies at 50's Prime Time, Plaza Restaurant and Tusker House too and then we could just play it by ear and cancel them if we see that we didn't want to do them. So back to the Fantasmic package, the seats are that bad? I had heard that they weren't the perfect seats but that they weren't too bad...the main thing is I dont want to have to show up 90 mins early to get a seat for the show. And Mama Melrose, is it good Italian food I mean like real Italian food? Not Ragu can sauce...because my grandma is 100% Italian so I'm pretty picky when it comes to my pasta haha I'm not expecting perfection but you know waht I mean. Ahhh I'm all confused now!! Let me know what you think, please I value your expert advice highly Sorry for taking up so much room in YOUR PTR to rant about MY dining problems lol can't wait to read more of your own stuff though

Oh one last thing, I purchased our tickets through AAA seperately from our room reservation...if free dining came along do you know if I would be able to get it?

Please remember that these are all my opinions. Take them with a grain of salt as others may feel completely differently.

Fantasmic Package seating - First off, let me preface my seating info with my overall opinion that Fantasmic at WDW is awful. Fantasmic was designed for the Rivers of America in DL and is shown with the audience sitting on the banks in Frontierland and New Orleans Square. The audience is super close to the action and the show is wonderful. At WDW, Fantasmic is shown in a 10,000 seat arena. The show is across a wide "river" from the stage area so all the action appears small and impersonal.

The package seating is a section down front but it is pretty far off to the right side of the arena as you are looking at the stage. I was extremely disappointed in the location when we did the package and DH and I will never do it again. If we decide to watch the show, we'll just do what we do at DL and wait for 1 to 1.5 hours for our seat. It is worth it to me to wait for the better seat rather than pay for a mediocre dinner and get a crappy one with no wait. If you really don't want to wait, the Fantasmic Dinner Package might be a good option for you. Just be prepared that the seats might not be as good as you hoped.

Mama Melrose's - I've never eaten here but I've read MANY bad reviews and many that just cited inconsistent food and service. I have seen the food described as "Americanized Italian" many times. I've never had Ragu so can't speak to the quality (or lack thereof) but someone did say the sauce reminded them of Prego. At the same time, I've seen many people say that their food there was quite good so you may luck out. You might be better off posting a question on the Dining board and see what you get.

If it were MY decision, I'd not book the package, eat at 50's Prime Time and stand in line.

Dining - You can only book the dining plan if you have a "package" which Disney defines as room and tickets. You could, in theory, convert your Room-only reservation to a package by adding on 1-day park tickets for each of you and then you would be able to get dining for the length of your hotel stay. I would just make sure that the cost of your room won't go up if you are able to book free dining. Do you have a code on your room now?

 

[New England Eeyore]

How was the Calamari City? DH thinks that one sounds really good but calamari has to be REALLY good before I'll eat it? Also, is it suckers or tentacles? I really hate tentacles.

DH likes the sound of the Paddy's Pork the best but he might try Kevin's Heavenly Ham. He is much happier about the food choices at RR than CDF. He's also thinking about the Dundon's Delight so it's good to know that it might not be the best choice.

Thanks!

We love calamari in general, so I know it was good, but probably not REALLY good. I remember how good it was at Spoodles and don't remember much about Raglan Road, so that probably tells you something.

I can dig up the pictures if you'd like. I know the Dundon's Delight picture is rubbish though - the restaurant was too dark to get one without the flash but with the flash I was too close.

 

[TPCShauna]

We love calamari in general, so I know it was good, but probably not REALLY good. I remember how good it was at Spoodles and don't remember much about Raglan Road, so that probably tells you something.

I can dig up the pictures if you'd like. I know the Dundon's Delight picture is rubbish though - the restaurant was too dark to get one without the flash but with the flash I was too close.

I think this is the only place we have the option of calamari as an app. so it we'll probably choose it even if it is OK. I tend to be pretty picky about calamari because we have really good stuff out here on the Pacific. Still, DH likes it so we'll probably try it.

Thanks for offering up the pics. I think I'll be OK though.

 

[TPCShauna]

I just realized I haven't visited my poor PTR in days. I've just been totally pooped. I don't know if I've mentioned before that I am a Girl Scout leader. No, DH and I don't have kids, but I do have a troop of 12 Junior Girl Scouts, ages 10, 11 and 12. I also volunteer with GS on a community level as a mentor for new troop leaders. Normally, all of my activities don't fall in the same week - that is until this week.

I spent the weekend getting the troop's paperwork up to date. I had to go through everything to figure out what has been or needs to be signed by each parent. In addition, we are going on an overnight to our local Council lodge this weekend for a badge workshop and I had to get all of the paperwork ready for that. AND, since I lost my assistant leader this year, I had to do all of the rest of the yearly paperwork we hand out such as calendars and rosters. Sadly, it took me most of the day on Sunday to get it all done.

Monday was our troop meeting and the girls were in fine form and high spirits. I was wiped out after.

Last night and tonight I have recruiting events for new leaders. Council sets these up and runs them but it always helps to have an active leader present to answer real questions. There is a big diff. between the Council line on things and reality and I like to provide that so people truly know what they are getting into.

Tomorrow night will be spent getting each girl's paperwork packet together for the overnighter and the driver packets ready. I also need to get myself packed and ready to go as I won't have time to come home between work on Friday and leaving for the overnighter.

Friday night is our Overnighter up in the Foothills. We are meeting at 3:45pm and will drive 2 hours to get to the Lodge. The girls are working on their Astronomy badge so we'll be up late looking at the stars. I don't get tons of sleep when I am on these things because I always have half an ear out for the girls. I'm hoping I'll do OK.

Saturday, I am co-hosting a scrapbooking crop with a friend so I will get home from the GS trip at 2:00 and have to be at the crop at 4:00.

Have a mentioned I am exhausted?

 

[TPCShauna]

I've not really been working on the actual trip but I have been working on some pre-trip planning. Namely, I've been making appointments for stuff that needs to get done before we leave.

The first part of our trip will be DBIL's wedding and we've already been warned that there will be a fair amount of photos. I also want to make sure that my hair looks good for all of the pics we'll be taking at the World so I went ahead and booked a hairdresser appointment for November 14. That will give my hair 3 weeks to figure out what to do with it's new cut before I have to appear in pictures.

I also booked my pre-trip pedicure for Sat. Nov. 29. My shoes for the wedding are open-toe AND I'll be wearing open-toed shoes at the World so I must have a good pedi. My nail lady has even agreed to put Mickey heads on my toes!

We are planning to have the bulk of our packing done by Sunday night, November 30, with the last minute stuff happening Monday night. Tuesday night, we will get off work at our regular time, pick up Gracie from home and drive her 1.5 hours to her breeder where she will be staying while we are gone. I'm sure I'll cry the whole way home.

If we get to the breeder around 7:30 and take 1/2 an hour there, we will be back home by 9:30pm. We need to be at the airport by 10:45pm so we'll have enough time to say good-bye to the kitties, get our luggage and get to the airport. I still haven't worked out HOW we will be getting to the airport but it will probably be a friend or taxi. We refuse to do Super Shuttle when the cost is almost the same as a taxi. The airport is really close by so we just need to be out of the house by 10:15pm and everything should be gravy!

Obviously, this will be refined as we get closer to our departure date.

57 days until we leave!​

 

[xoktenox]

An update yay! Wow, you definitely have alot going on I can definitely see why you're exhausted. I used to be in Girl Scouts (5 yrs old-9 yrs old) and my mom was the leader. I remember all the paperwork, planning, meetings etc that she had to do and it's definitely alot so kudos to you for handling it all! Good luck with the overnight, try to have fun As far as the planning for the trip goes I already started planning out some things that will need to get done before it...well mostly just the highlights I get done to my hair, its important! I get them every 3 months or so, so I'm trying to make sure that will coordinate with vaca. You're lucky that you live so close to the airport too. We're hoping to be able to fly into a local (about 25 mins away) airport on the way back but the way there we have to fly out of JFK in NYC due to the credit we have with Delta, they don't fly out of the local airport. Well good luck this weekend again and try and get some sleep!!

 

[Becx N Gav]

Hey there Just caught up on your TR - can't believe I've not read it sooner, I love to read about others going when we are

Your plans sound good, I don't think we'll be in any of the same places as you at the same times but I'll keep an eye out

Hope your trip away was ok, sounds super busy - I don't know how you cram it all in

Have you posted pics of any of your scrap book pages, I've been meaning to scrap some pics (so far I've only done one and that was for my Mum) I keep buying and collecting things to scrap but never seem to get around to it I'd love to see some of your work

You live so close to an airport - we're looking at 2 hours each way if the traffic is good Not my favourite part of the trip

 

[TPCShauna]

An update yay! Wow, you definitely have alot going on I can definitely see why you're exhausted. I used to be in Girl Scouts (5 yrs old-9 yrs old) and my mom was the leader. I remember all the paperwork, planning, meetings etc that she had to do and it's definitely alot so kudos to you for handling it all! Good luck with the overnight, try to have fun As far as the planning for the trip goes I already started planning out some things that will need to get done before it...well mostly just the highlights I get done to my hair, its important! I get them every 3 months or so, so I'm trying to make sure that will coordinate with vaca. You're lucky that you live so close to the airport too. We're hoping to be able to fly into a local (about 25 mins away) airport on the way back but the way there we have to fly out of JFK in NYC due to the credit we have with Delta, they don't fly out of the local airport. Well good luck this weekend again and try and get some sleep!!

Yes, I too am coordinating the hair appointment so as to have optimum hair during the trip. Crazy, huh? Honestly, Sacramento is such a small city that no point is terribly far from the airport. We are closer than most though. Yuck on having to drive to JFK!

Hey there Just caught up on your TR - can't believe I've not read it sooner, I love to read about others going when we are

Your plans sound good, I don't think we'll be in any of the same places as you at the same times but I'll keep an eye out

Hope your trip away was ok, sounds super busy - I don't know how you cram it all in

Have you posted pics of any of your scrap book pages, I've been meaning to scrap some pics (so far I've only done one and that was for my Mum) I keep buying and collecting things to scrap but never seem to get around to it I'd love to see some of your work

You live so close to an airport - we're looking at 2 hours each way if the traffic is good Not my favourite part of the trip

to my PTR and thanks for reading!

The trip was good except for the part where I am now sick. Usually my life isn't quite so busy. It's just that everything ended up happening this week so it just looks insane. I'm happy it's over. Yes, I've posted some of my stuff around here and on my blog (which hasn't been updated in a million years.) Here's my Photobucket album with my pages - http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z318/scrappygirl_photos/My Pages/ Keep in mind that I've not uploaded pics in a bagillion years so most of these are from January/March. Sorry your airport is so far away. See above comments about the podunky place I live.

 

[TPCShauna]

So, as I posted above, I'm sick. I have strep and an upper respiratory infection. I felt pretty yucky all last week and had a really sore throat. It was 33 degrees while I was outside for 45 minutes at the GS overnighter and I came home feeling totally gross. I went to the doctor Monday morning and he confirmed that I have strep and probably have for quite a while So, I probably made lots of other people sick, too!

I'm on antibiotics now and have been home from work for the past two days which totally sucks since I don't get sick pay. I'm feeling a smidge better (emphasis on smidge) so I'm at work today. I figure I can be miserable here just as well as at home and I'll get paid for it.

Nothing is really happening on the trip front since I feel so miserable. However, over the past three days when I've been doing nothing but sleeping, I've noticed that I'm having a lot of dreams about Disney. One of them was centered around our DxDP credits. I was dreaming that we were on Day 4 of our trip and had only used something like 3 credits because DH kept cancelling our plans. I was totally freaking out about it in my dream. I wonder what my subconcious is trying to tell me?

 

[TPCShauna]

DH and I FINALLY made a decision regarding where to do our photo shoot. We chose the Wilderness Lodge because it just seems so much easier since we are staying there and can do it on our free day. Plus, all of the photos I've seen from the WL shoots are lovely and they should be even prettier at Christmastime.

It was really a no-brainer for us to choose to do the shoot. Since Photopass is honoring the $25 price on the bottom of the pre-purchase confirmations, we still get the good deal. Plus, practically everyone is reporting back that they have been receiving their photos on a PP card so we might even be able to add the photo enhancements to them. Enhancements or not, this is a great deal. Semi-pro photos at Disney for $25. What a bargain!

ETA my dates for booking the photo session:
30 days before arrival: Nov. 8
30 days before session: Nov. 12

 

[askelton]

Awesome!

 

[Becx N Gav]

podunky

That's such a cool word

So, as I posted above, I'm sick. I have strep and an upper respiratory infection. I felt pretty yucky all last week and had a really sore throat. It was 33 degrees while I was outside for 45 minutes at the GS overnighter and I came home feeling totally gross. I went to the doctor Monday morning and he confirmed that I have strep and probably have for quite a while So, I probably made lots of other people sick, too!

I'm on antibiotics now and have been home from work for the past two days which totally sucks since I don't get sick pay. I'm feeling a smidge better (emphasis on smidge) so I'm at work today. I figure I can be miserable here just as well as at home and I'll get paid for it.

Nothing is really happening on the trip front since I feel so miserable. However, over the past three days when I've been doing nothing but sleeping, I've noticed that I'm having a lot of dreams about Disney. One of them was centered around our DxDP credits. I was dreaming that we were on Day 4 of our trip and had only used something like 3 credits because DH kept cancelling our plans. I was totally freaking out about it in my dream. I wonder what my subconcious is trying to tell me?

So sorry to hear you are sick sending and get well soon thoughts your way....

I do hope the dream wasn't prophetic (sp?) I have those anxiety type dreams all the time

The worst dream had to be where I thought we were in Epcot I dreamt we had gone on a ride (no ride in particular that I've ever been on) and there was a bed which we then got in and went to sleep, I woke up and the bedroom was so dark I was looking around and it didn't seem familiar I sat up and DH must have woken up to see what I was doing and all I said was 'are we in Epcot' he seemed just as confused and then assured me we were home
Then the next year DH fell asleep in the afternoon (darn jetlag ) and woke up staring at the curtains - he said 'why are the curtains that colour aren't we at the Boardwalk?' he was convinced we were still there in the hotel bless him

Thanks for the info on the PP CD and resort photo shoot DH just checked our e-mail (we pre-booked in Aug) and it says we can get the PS at GF (although I would prefere the Poly) So I'm gonna call and see if we can have it done at the Poly, but GF is fine. I certainly wouldn't pay the new higher price not when you can't be guarenteed a certain number of pics and the quality. We were married at WL and got some gorgeous pics (don't want to highjack your thread but let me know if you'd like me to post any )

Roll on Dec............

 

[TPCShauna]

Awesome!

Hi there! Long time no see!

That's such a cool word


So sorry to hear you are sick sending and get well soon thoughts your way....

I do hope the dream wasn't prophetic (sp?) I have those anxiety type dreams all the time

The worst dream had to be where I thought we were in Epcot I dreamt we had gone on a ride (no ride in particular that I've ever been on) and there was a bed which we then got in and went to sleep, I woke up and the bedroom was so dark I was looking around and it didn't seem familiar I sat up and DH must have woken up to see what I was doing and all I said was 'are we in Epcot' he seemed just as confused and then assured me we were home
Then the next year DH fell asleep in the afternoon (darn jetlag ) and woke up staring at the curtains - he said 'why are the curtains that colour aren't we at the Boardwalk?' he was convinced we were still there in the hotel bless him

Thanks for the info on the PP CD and resort photo shoot DH just checked our e-mail (we pre-booked in Aug) and it says we can get the PS at GF (although I would prefere the Poly) So I'm gonna call and see if we can have it done at the Poly, but GF is fine. I certainly wouldn't pay the new higher price not when you can't be guarenteed a certain number of pics and the quality. We were married at WL and got some gorgeous pics (don't want to highjack your thread but let me know if you'd like me to post any )

Roll on Dec............

Well, when you grow up in Texas, you learn fun words like podunky. Descriptive, no?

I can save you an overseas call. The Resort Photopass people are allowing those with the confirmation to book at ANY existing location for $25, so YES, you can book yours at the Poly. I was going to settle for GF also, especially since it's so pretty at Christmas, but I'm happy we can do WL.

I would LOVE to see your pics. Please feel free to post away!

I'm partially through your PTR but I don't like to post until I get caught up. I would be reading faster but I have to pretend like I'm actually working.

 

[xoktenox]

Aww WL is so nice looking your pics are going to come out great