Max & Mommy Go Deluxe - Eat Like Pooh, Bounce Like Tigger, Lose a Pound! Lots-o-Pix!

[richard_andmel]

I've really enjoyed your dining reviews so far. Thanks so much for sharing them.

Mel

 

[Wendi2000]

I've really enjoyed your dining reviews so far. Thanks so much for sharing them.

Mel

Thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying them.

Time to get back to it... next up is our very first time at the Hoop Dee Doo Revue!!!

 

[Wendi2000]

Dinner – Hoop Dee Doo Revue
After our break we took the bus back to the Magic Kingdom and then hopped on the Resort Launch to the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds for our 7:15 Hoop Dee Doo Revue ADR. This was our first time to see the HDDR and I didn’t know what to expect. First of all, there was a huge crowd of people and I wasn’t sure if there was a check-in process – I found a CM at the photo area and asked him and he pointed me to a CM at a barrel up ahead where we could check in for the show. Once we were checked in, which was quick and easy – there wasn’t actually a line there – everyone was just crowded around the area, we got our pictures taken and then were directed to the left side of the building to wait for our admission to the restaurant. There were a lot of things for the kids to do while we waited – Max played horseshoes, hula hooped, played checkers and had a good time before the show.

Soon, they opened the doors and we were taken upstairs to our table (tier 3). I thought it was very odd that the seats were all facing away from the stage, so you ate at the table facing away from the show and then turned around the other way to watch over the railing. I guess if they put the tables against the railing there might be too much distance over the table to see well enough. It actually worked out just fine the way it was.

We were fed very well. First up was a basic Salad with Italian Dressing and a big slab of Cornbread. Unlimited beverages are included in the price of the dinner show and I had Sangria (three of them actually… but I only drank about 2-1/4… I was tipsy after 1-1/2 though)! Max had Chocolate Milk, but he never got a refill. I don’t know why I didn’t take a picture of the Sangria… maybe because they didn’t really leave my hand??? LOL! I’ve never had cold sangria before, this was served with ice – I’ve always had it room temperature, just like red wine normally is… this was good though!

Then dinner buckets came around… Fried Chicken, Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, and Beans.

Strawberry Shortcake was brought out for dessert, it was very good. I thought I had taken a picture of it… but I guess not!

We had a lot of fun at the show, the performers were very funny and we got into it – we sang along, played the washboard and had a good time.

 

[Wendi2000]

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Looks like we may have skipped breakfast this morning, probably because I had planned on an early lunch!

Lunch – The Mara
During an afternoon hotel break from the Animal Kingdom we went down to the Mara and got some lunch. Again, I was able to order two adult meals. Max had the Pepperoni Pizza, Root Beer, and Watermelon.

I had the Chef’s Salad, Coke, and Sliced Apples with Caramel.

Lunch was good, but I really wanted Pizzafari, Max was having a meltdown so we had to take a hotel break instead. I missed that wonderful Italian sandwich – the salad was good, but it just wasn’t the same, ya know?

I saved the apples for later and ate them while watching the Jingle Jungle Parade. I just hate it when we sit down for a parade or fireworks or something and then we’re kind of stuck there and everyone around us has someone from their group who brings back food! Hahaha… this time I was prepared (and they were GOOD)!

Stay tuned if you'd like to know what we thought of dinner at California Grill... our reviews are coming to an end... so sad!

 

[Wendi2000]

Dinner – California Grill
We left the Animal Kingdom around 5:00 for our 5:45 ADR at California Grill. We arrived a little bit late – the Contemporary and Polynesian share a bus and made a pit stop along the way at Blizzard Beach. But we had a great bus driver who had us all singing “The Wheels On The Bus” and then when we got to our stop he invited two kids (Max was one of them) to sit in the driver’s seat and take a picture. Fun!

We checked in and received a pager, which went off immediately… not sure why they bother to hand them out, but oh well. We were told we could come back at 9:00 for Fireworks on the Balcony if we wanted to return. Our waiter was Saad. He was very nice and helpful. We were started out with bread and goldfish crackers… I wonder why they don’t use the Mickey crackers… probably too expensive!!! Hehehe

I ordered the Winter Greens with Pears, Yoshi’s Sushi Sampler, Iced Tea, and the “Year of a Million Dreams” dessert.

Max had the kid’s Romaine Salad, Roasted Salmon with Basmati Rice and Broccoli, Chocolate Milk, and Rice Crispy Sushi.

Sorry the salad picture was taken too late, he got to cut it up and put it all together himself. He ate EVERYTHING… I couldn’t believe it!!! Our waiter took us over to the doors to see the Hidden Mickey and our meal was very nice. One of the other waitresses who was working at a table behind us stopped and talked to us a few times too. She then came over and asked me if I ever drank alcohol and if I liked sweet wines. I told her that I did and she told me that the gentleman at the table behind us wanted to buy me a glass of dessert wine because he could see that it was just me and my son and that I hadn’t had anything to drink and he thought I might like a drink. Very sweet!!! I had a very sweet dessert Reisling, but I don’t remember the vintner. It was nice even though I didn’t plan on having any alcohol.

After dinner, we took the bus to Downtown Disney… just as I’d promised Max. We went to Goofy’s Candy Company and made a custom Gingerbread Mickey for my mom – it took quite a while and I was so disgusted by the smell and the sights of all of the sweets in that place, it was truly revolting to me and I was dying to hurry up and get out. I really hope she liked the cookie… it was certainly worth the snack credit!

The picture of it wasn’t taken until we got home, so it’s a little messed up, but this is pretty much what it looked like. It was dipped in White Chocolate, rolled in Pecans, and Drizzled with Caramel.

 

[granmaz]

Off topic, but I remembered that bus driver from the photo!!! He drove us to AK, and had the whole bus sinigng The Wheels on the Bus too, plus he did a quiz which had the bus in stitches. I wish more drivers were like him.

 

[Myhappythought5]

It looks like you all have had a great time. I love the little sushi dessert at the Callifornia Grill. My daughters would love this.

 

[TigerKat]

Off topic, but I remembered that bus driver from the photo!!! He drove us to AK, and had the whole bus sinigng The Wheels on the Bus too, plus he did a quiz which had the bus in stitches. I wish more drivers were like him.

We've never had a fun bus driver before, sounds like so much fun!

 

[skellingtonfreak]

Thank you so much for the review of the HDDR. That is one of our try-outs in September. I have thoroughly enoyed all of your reviews!

 

[WDWPrincess1208]

The rice crispy sushi is so creative! leave it to Disney to think of something like that!

 

[Wendi2000]

Off topic, but I remembered that bus driver from the photo!!! He drove us to AK, and had the whole bus sinigng The Wheels on the Bus too, plus he did a quiz which had the bus in stitches. I wish more drivers were like him.

Wasn't he wonderful??? He totally shares the Disney Magic!

It looks like you all have had a great time. I love the little sushi dessert at the Callifornia Grill. My daughters would love this.

It was very fun!

We've never had a fun bus driver before, sounds like so much fun!

He was really great.

Thank you so much for the review of the HDDR. That is one of our try-outs in September. I have thoroughly enoyed all of your reviews!

Thanks, glad you are enjoying them... I hope you have fun at HDDR!

The rice crispy sushi is so creative! leave it to Disney to think of something like that!

Yes, they are very cool. I was going to make some for my son's last birthday party just a few months before our trip but I ended up being too rushed to do it... it was great to see it on the menu and then to see how they actually looked was great... maybe someday I'll get around to making them!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

Great review! I love the rice crispy suishi! Very creative.

 

[BreTyPres87]

I've read the whole thread so far and i'm really liking it!! I'm a single mother too with 2 boys so I hope someone looks at me and thinks I need a drink too because i'm sure I will!! we're doing the deluxe ddp and going to a few of the restaurants you've listed so far- i'm worried about Ohana now though because I also dislike the strong ginger flavor
I know what you mean about too many sweet smells I get a stomachache in places like that ,its just too much!!

 

[SunnieRN]

Woo hoo, I just got caught up! How are your disneyland trip plans coming alomg??

 

[Disney_Mama]

Great reviews and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MadiMouse]

Yay! I loved the updates!

 

[Wendi2000]

Great review! I love the rice crispy suishi! Very creative.

Thanks! I wish I'd gotten a taste of the rice crispy sushi myself... but someone was a little stingy with it!!! hahaha

I've read the whole thread so far and i'm really liking it!! I'm a single mother too with 2 boys so I hope someone looks at me and thinks I need a drink too because i'm sure I will!! we're doing the deluxe ddp and going to a few of the restaurants you've listed so far- i'm worried about Ohana now though because I also dislike the strong ginger flavor
I know what you mean about too many sweet smells I get a stomachache in places like that ,its just too much!!

Wow, we must be long-lost twins!!! I hope someone buys you a drink too!

Woo hoo, I just got caught up! How are your disneyland trip plans coming alomg??

Honestly, we go to Disneyland so much that there isn't much planning involved. I did make our priority seatings and I've got a general plan on what shows we're going to see, etc. I am really looking forward to the trip, we're taking my mom and my brother and my mom hasn't been to Disneyland in a long time with us.

Great reviews and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you!

Yay! I loved the updates!

Thanks, glad you are enjoying them!

 

[Wendi2000]

Monday, December 22, 2008

Breakfast – The Mara

We stopped in at the Mara this morning to grab a couple of bagels, bananas and drinks then took them out to the bus stop so I didn’t take pictures… just did the grab and run thing. We were trying to use up snack credits too so we wouldn’t be stuck with too many at the end of the day.

Lunch – The Mara

Well, time for our very last meal at WDW. We had one meal credit left and a bunch of snack credits. I wanted to use the snack credits for snacks we could eat on our flights home. We split a Chicken Nugget meal with French Fries with a slice of Cheesecake and a Strawberry Milk (for Max). I used up snack credits with a Root Beer, Carrot & Celery Sticks w/Ranch Dip, two huge Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a Coke – I figured we could have the veggies and coke at the airport and eat the cookies & cheetos on our flights. I’m such a dolt that I totally forgot that I put the whole bottle of coke in my backpack and never drank it. Guess what triggered my memory? The airport security agent who asked if the backpack was mine and if she could open it. Still I was a little confused and asked if I forgot about a liquid… then she pulled out the coke! Hahaha… I got a little slap on the wrist for that one, but we were both laughing about it.

I hope those photos work… Flickr just changed their whole format and it took me forever to find the links that can be embedded…

I’m a little bit sad to be done with my dining reviews. We had such a great trip and had so many wonderful meals. I hope we can go again this year, but ya never know! At least we’ll be in Disneyland in two weeks so maybe I’ll do a dining review then to give me more food to think about and take pictures of!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed our reviews and I really hope it helps with the trip planning ahead for everyone. I know that I always get a lot of information when I read reviews and especially when I see pictures of meals – it is really helpful in the planning process and it’s nice to see how good (or not-so-good) the food looks before deciding what to order or what restaurants to make ADRs for.

Ciao for now everyone!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

Very nice report! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Uncle Remus]

I certainly enjoyed it, thanks for all the info and great pics.