Making Good on a Very Merry Promise! COMPLETE!

[DisneyJo]

Just read your TR, thanks for the handy links Your condo looked great and how nice to spend a park day with your Mum. Your kids are so sweet

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

UPDATE HERE!!!

Epcot Continued…

Finally we could head over and ride Soarin! The Land was still packed with people! I don’t even want to know what it looks like there during peak times!

We were right at the beginning of our FP window and we were a little bit hungry. We had a 3:00 ADR for the Garden Grill but it was only a little past noon. We considered getting something to snack on in Sunshine Seasons but then I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask if we could get an earlier seating at GG.

I approached the counter all cheery-like! There was a woman in front of me who was so not cheery-like! She was asking if she could get a table. The CM asked her if she had a ressie. No she did not. The CM apologized that they could not take walk-ups. The woman then asked quite loudly where in the world she could sit down to eat and have a glass of wine?!?! Sadly the CM tried to give her some suggestions but the woman was not having it. She just stormed off.

Great… I’m up and this CM has just been through the ringer! I greeted her with the best look of compassion on my face that I could muster up! Before I could say anything else she asked if I had a ressie. I said that yes, indeed we did, but that it was for 3:00. Since we were in the vicinity now and were hungry, could we possibly get seated earlier? She said, “I can seat you right now!” Wow! I was not expecting that. See, we had FP’s for Soarin for right then.

She said to go ride and come back and we could get seated then.

I asked are you sure? Do you need my name?

Nope, she said, I promise. Go ride and come back.

I reluctantly walked back to Tom and the kids and told him what she said. He then asked if I was sure… shouldn’t they take my name or something? I said I asked the same thing and she assured me it would be alright. Okay, cool beans! Back down the escalator to Soarin.

We used the restrooms right outside the ride before we got in line. As we were finishing up a huge herd of folks were just coming off of Soarin and they were all sporting dream fast passes! GRRRRRRR…. Have you noticed I have not mentioned the dream team at all?!? That is because we never saw them! Not even once. I was beginning to think that they were taking the week off! Nope, they were there and we had just missed them!

Oh well, I’m about to ride Soarin!

So we got in the FP line and went all the way down the hall and around the corner and down another hall and stopped and waited and waited and waited. Then we were let through there and directed to the right. Down the hall and wait, wait, wait some more.

While we were waiting I noticed the warning that you should not ride if you are afraid of heights. Have I mentioned Evan’s fear of heights? I point it out to Tom. He asks what do I think we should do? I decided that we would sit him next to me so that I could talk to him through it and hold his hand, etc. and said a little silent prayer that he would be okay and not freak out!

Finally! Through some doors and into the first room on the right and wait, wait, wait. GEEZ!!! There sure is a lot of waiting for this ride… even with FP.

We finally got let into the “theater” and were seated in the front row! Abby started worrying that her crocs were going to fall off her feet. She asked about it and the CM assured her she wouldn’t loose her shoes.

The ride got underway. Up, up, up we went over California! I looked over at Evan and he was looking a little nervous. I whispered, “You know we aren’t really flying over this stuff, right?” He said, “It’s a movie, right?” I assured him that it was and he was fine after that. Whew.

Meanwhile, Abby has her legs straight out in front of her with her feet pulled back toward her knees as far as they could humanly go as she is convinced she is going to loose her crocs in the Pacific Ocean!

Even with all that going on, I fell head over heels in love with this ride! I could ride it all day long! As we walked out of the ride we were all gushing about how cool that was. I cannot wait to ride it again!

Okay… so now we were all getting very hungry. Back upstairs we go and there is a huge mob of folks waiting outside of GG. That had me very worried. I went up to the podium and the same CM was there. She asked if I had a ressie. I reminded her of our earlier conversation and she apologized for not recognizing me and assured me we could get seated in about 20 minutes. Whew, I was thinking this was going to go very wrong. So we took and buzzer and found a place to sit and wait.

Sure enough, about 20 minutes went by and then we were seated. Our waitress was great and I’m bummed I don’t remember her name. She took our drink orders and explained how the family style dining worked. We would get platters full of food to share. For adults: flank steak, turkey w/ cranberry relish, fried catfish, potato casserole and green beans. For kids: chicken strips, mac and cheese, fries and a veggie that I can’t remember. She said she would bring enough so that Abby could eat either the adult or child food. I thought that was nice and Abby really appreciated being able to choose.

Now, how about some characters???

First up, Chip or Dale? Dale, I believe.

Yep, Dale. And see Mickey behind him? He did a drive-by!

Then Pluto!

Then Chip about to give Evan a great big hug!

Chip with the whole brood.

Mickey’s back! He snuck up on Abby! It was really cute and she was genuinely surprised. One of those “Awwwww” moments for sure.

Mickey with his other two pals.

Then Dale was back again.

Then Pluto again and he tried to swallow Evan whole! He also had Abby in quite the headlock. It was very funny!

Okay, now Pluto will pose nice.

But not for long… then he started sniffing the boys and gesturing that they smelled. Silly Pluto!

I have to say that the character interaction here was great! We had a really good time. The food was delicious too. We tried everything… even the catfish! It was okay… but not something I’ll eat again probably. The flank steak was very good as was the turkey. The potato casserole was devine, I am telling you! The kids gave all of the stuff they ate 2 thumbs up as well. We enjoyed the family style dining and will definitely do it again.

Tom and I also took the liberty to enjoy an adult beverage too. He had a Heineken and I had a yummy glass of Pinot Grigio.

When the kids were finished eating our waitress said she’d be back with dessert. I was a little worried because I didn’t know if Abby would get the kid dessert or not since she’s technically an “adult” at Disney. But never fear…

And Evan’s creation:

And lastly, Owen’s:

The adult dessert was a warm apple cobbler with ice cream. It was just okay.

We finally rolled our stuffed selves out of there a little over an hour after we were seated. We hopped on the escalator and went downstairs and DOH! You exit upstairs! We got back on the UP-a-lator laughing at our silliness.

Up next… this family takes on the World for the very first time!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Just read your TR, thanks for the handy links Your condo looked great and how nice to spend a park day with your Mum. Your kids are so sweet

Hi Jo! I am honored to have you as I know you are famous!

I'm glad my links are handy... I kinda thought so too!

 

[beckanoah]

How great is Soarin? I LOVE THAT RIDE!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Sounds like your meal at the Garden Grill was excellent, I am always reading such wonderful things about the character interaction there.

 

[Hedy]

Gosh, I don't know why you bought Abby that HSM2 shirt-she barely even wore it.

 

[snowbell]

Great update. The last time I was at garden grill I was a freshman in college 1995. For some reason I remember fried chicken.. now I am not so sure. sorry you just missed the dream team.. next time! i just LOVE soarin...

 

[mkluvsmickey]

This whole thing makes me want to go to the world so I can come back and do a TR!!!!

Great idea Uncle John! I'd love to read your TR.

I think I've officially gone off the deep end... seeing hidden mickey's in tree fungus!

Love the hidden mickey Nicole!


Great update! I always take my shoes off during Soarin' (unless I'm wearing tennis shoes) and keep them in the basket or even on the floor. Love that ride! Glad you finally got to experience it.

We just love Garden Grill too. How awesome that you could get in early!

 

[Trentmom]

Love the hidden mickey in the fungus

Great update!!!

Stinks you just missed the dream team

Soarin is awesome and can;t wait to ride it again!!!!

Cute pics at Garden Grill. Looks like you all had a blast there

 

[Poohtigeey]

Glad you had such a positive experience at Garden Grill. I've heard several times that the character interaction is good there. I wonder how they could fit you in really early, but not take walk-ins. Doesn't make much sense.

And on Soarin! Abby's so funny!

Can't wait to hear about your "Worldly" experience!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

How great is Soarin? I LOVE THAT RIDE!

IT! I think it is my favorite ride!

Sounds like your meal at the Garden Grill was excellent, I am always reading such wonderful things about the character interaction there.

It was a real highlight of the trip for us... the characters really spend a lot of time with you. Except for Mickey that first time we saw him ~ but we are pretty sure he was taking a cheese break, if ya KWIM!

Gosh, I don't know why you bought Abby that HSM2 shirt-she barely even wore it.

Yes... and I also don't know why I made the girl shirts either! She liked them at first but when it came time to wear them they seemed too babyish to her to wear in public!

Oh well... at least we are getting our money out of the HSM2 shirt!

Great update. The last time I was at garden grill I was a freshman in college 1995. For some reason I remember fried chicken.. now I am not so sure. sorry you just missed the dream team.. next time! i just LOVE soarin...

They change the menu around a bit I think. The dessert that is on the menu right now is different than when we were there.

Eh, dream or no dream... we had a fabulous vacation!

Great idea Uncle John! I'd love to read your TR.

See... I'm not the only one!

Love the hidden mickey Nicole!

Why thank you... thank you very much!

Great update! I always take my shoes off during Soarin' (unless I'm wearing tennis shoes) and keep them in the basket or even on the floor. Love that ride! Glad you finally got to experience it.

We just love Garden Grill too. How awesome that you could get in early!

She thought about putting them in the basket... not sure why she didn't.

Garden Grill rocks, doesn't it Michelle?

Love the hidden mickey in the fungus

Great update!!!

Stinks you just missed the dream team

Soarin is awesome and can;t wait to ride it again!!!!

Cute pics at Garden Grill. Looks like you all had a blast there

Aw, thanks Sharky! We really did have a great time! And we went thanks to YOU!

Glad you had such a positive experience at Garden Grill. I've heard several times that the character interaction is good there. I wonder how they could fit you in really early, but not take walk-ins. Doesn't make much sense.

And on Soarin! Abby's so funny!

Can't wait to hear about your "Worldly" experience!

I thought the same thing... but I kept that little thought to myself in case they hadn't thought of it! I was hungry!

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

Hey - a hidden Mickey is a hidden Mickey! But only a diser would find that

I don't think that I realized garden grill was a character meal? We stopped by there once and once I looked at the menu we weren't really interested, but we might have to reconsider.

I think Soarin was our fave this time too! It's a fabulous ride!

Can I just mention that you are starting to freak me out about the preteen girl years! Don't forget that I have to go through 2 of them! Just lie to me and tell me that Abby is a peach and that she adores her mom!

 

[1gr8mouse]

UNCLE JOHN SAYS:

Great update.......Love the photos!!! (your sis looked at them with me)
Can we borrow the kids and take them to the world??? Lisa and Abby can go off shopping on their own, I will take the boys...We would rock that place!!! The yahoos we have at home are too cool to go to Disney anymore......In fact they are too cool to bring in the garbage cans........arrrrgggg!!! I'm gonna start kickin some boo-tay around here.....Hey, if your kids dont like Disney anymore, what good are they???

WARNING WARNING WARNING.......Those of you with girls hitting the teen years.......HANG ON!! It will be the most difficult years of your life.....I know, I'm living it right now....I heard a lady comedian the other day "Save the pain killers from childberth and use them when your kid is a teen" OK back to DIS.....

Love the hidden Mickey.......See you are starting to get there.....totally
messed up!!! Only when you sit through a green traffic light thinking about Disney are you really messed up!!!!! (I'm there)

We (OK me) loved Garden Grill......only been there once....Your sis felt nauseous afterwards......I said it was because we were moving....she said she felt sick before, and the moving didnt help.....whatever!!!
I think the 2 best Character meals we had were GG and Crystal Palace.....
You get up close and personal with the characters....I think that's the way to go so you dont spend your day waiting in line for autographs...(hmmmmm!)..they come to you.....while you eat......what could be better???

I never told you about the time we went to the Backyard BBQ....We got to the campgrounds early and walked around.....Mickey and Minnie appeared out of the blue......nobody was with them..I got some great photos with the kids (sorry long ago....film)...I told Minnie I thought she was a hottie.....I thought Mickey was gonna go mouse on my butt!!!It almost got ugly!!!!

Sorry to pimp your TR with my stories!!!

BTW, Soarin does rock.....but what the hey, the whole place rocks! I need to go back!!!! THIS SNOW SUCKS!!!!! 5 Snow days for kids so far this year....looks like the little tax deductions are going a litlle longer in school this summer!!!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

WARNING WARNING WARNING.......Those of you with girls hitting the teen years.......HANG ON!! It will be the most difficult years of your life.....I know, I'm living it right now....I heard a lady comedian the other day "Save the pain killers from childberth and use them when your kid is a teen" OK back to DIS.....

LOL - that is great Uncle John! But now I'm really scared!

 

[DisneyJo]

She said, “I can seat you right now!” Wow! I was not expecting that. See, we had FP’s for Soarin for right then.

Woohooo that was great

She said to go ride and come back and we could get seated then.

As we were finishing up a huge herd of folks were just coming off of Soarin and they were all sporting dream fast passes! GRRRRRRR…. Have you noticed I have not mentioned the dream team at all?!? That is because we never saw them! Not even once. I was beginning to think that they were taking the week off! Nope, they were there and we had just missed them!

Oh no but as you say you had a magical trip without them

GEEZ!!! There sure is a lot of waiting for this ride… even with FP.

So agree!!!

I fell head over heels in love with this ride! I could ride it all day long!

Me too it's so relaxing

First up, Chip or Dale? Dale, I believe.

Chip has a brown nose like a chocolate chip

Hi Jo! I am honored to have you as I know you are famous!

I'm glad my links are handy... I kinda thought so too!

Oh you're so kind you made my day, I wouldn't say famous though just that I spend way too much time on these boards

 

[earthfaries]

I loved the update! Great pics
I LOVE Soarin' too~ we always request the first row
Glad there was no issue with crocs falling off or heights!
GG looks nice with fun characters and a good variety of food.

I'm looking forward to your next update ​

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Can I just mention that you are starting to freak me out about the preteen girl years! Don't forget that I have to go through 2 of them! Just lie to me and tell me that Abby is a peach and that she adores her mom!

LOL - that is great Uncle John! But now I'm really scared!

Run for your lives girls!!!

No, I am just kidding! Have I painted my daughter entirely in a negative light? I didn't mean to! She is a really great kid, she really is! And she does love her mama! Immensely! BUT... I am just no longer allowed to draw attention to myself or her!

 

[scottny]

Great update and pics.

It was my first time on Soarin this trip.

GG was on our schedule also.

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

UNCLE JOHN SAYS:

Great update.......Love the photos!!! (your sis looked at them with me)
Can we borrow the kids and take them to the world??? Lisa and Abby can go off shopping on their own, I will take the boys...We would rock that place!!! The yahoos we have at home are too cool to go to Disney anymore......In fact they are too cool to bring in the garbage cans........arrrrgggg!!! I'm gonna start kickin some boo-tay around here.....Hey, if your kids dont like Disney anymore, what good are they???

You can borrow them anytime... for a small fee.

Love the hidden Mickey.......See you are starting to get there.....totally
messed up!!! Only when you sit through a green traffic light thinking about Disney are you really messed up!!!!! (I'm there)

Sad, but true. True.

I told Minnie I thought she was a hottie.....I thought Mickey was gonna go mouse on my butt!!!It almost got ugly!!!!

I do believe that right there is tag-worthy!

Sorry to pimp your TR with my stories!!!

I think it is established that the people like it when you tell stories!

BTW, Soarin does rock.....but what the hey, the whole place rocks! I need to go back!!!! THIS SNOW SUCKS!!!!! 5 Snow days for kids so far this year....looks like the little tax deductions are going a litlle longer in school this summer!!!

I know it is snowing in Michigan when all my friends and family call just to tell me what the temperature is!

Come visit me!!! It is sunny and climbing to the high 60's today!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Oh you're so kind you made my day, I wouldn't say famous though just that I spend way too much time on these boards

You and me both sister... and Sharky!

I loved the update! Great pics
I LOVE Soarin' too~ we always request the first row
Glad there was no issue with crocs falling off or heights!
GG looks nice with fun characters and a good variety of food.

I'm looking forward to your next update ​

Thank you! GG was super... you should consider it for the "surprise" trip!

Great update and pics.

It was my first time on Soarin this trip.

GG was on our schedule also.

Look at you being all vague and mysterious about whether or not you ate at GG! Can't give those vital TR details away!

Did you love Soarin??? Wait! Don't tell me! I'll read it when you get to it!