Meryll83's SBP/Citrico's/Morocco TR - And they lived happily ever after...

[shippedtosea]

wow wow! Beautiful!! (I stole a few more photos of your hair for my hair dress because I LOVE it ) More more!

 

[Chilly]

Your photos are fab Hun. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[meryll83]

wow wow! Beautiful!! (I stole a few more photos of your hair for my hair dress because I LOVE it ) More more!

Steal away!!

Your photos are fab Hun. Can't wait to hear more!

On I go, without further ado...

 

[meryll83]

Everyone was just chilling out on the sofas and big chairs in the main lobby when we got back inside and had been taking some of their own photos on the main stairs and around the lobby whilst they were waiting.

My mum, meanwhile, had spied the landau coach and a vintage car outside, so grabbed me and Simon to take a quick few piccies before we went to eat:

She also asked the doorman if he wouldn't mind having his photo taken too, apparently he was really thrilled to have been asked!

When we returned to the gang I was told there was a little girl who was really excited because she just loves brides, and would I mind stopping a moment to meet her. She was such a cute little thing, and even had me sign her autograph book, “Meryll, the Disney Bride”. I felt like such a celebrity - my moment of being a real Disney Princess! Her dad said she was obsessed with weddings and already knew what she wanted for hers!

Finally, we made away upstairs via the elevator and headed for Citricos and the Chef's Domaine...

 

[meryll83]

The staff here were so friendly and helpful, and the room was just the perfect size for us, I was so pleased with our choice for our wedding meal. Not to mention the food was delicious!! We had personalised menus and ended up with 2 surprise courses being brought out – a salmon and cavier dish, and later a sorbet - it really was an outstanding experience. I had been toying with adding a sorbet course on to our menu, but decided it against it seeing as we would be going on to desserts at Epcot and we probably didn’t really need it, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I got my wish anyway!!

We ordered from the normal restaurant menu (our choice to do this) but I'd aksed for our menus to have the prices removed from them. I had the Arancini starter, skipped on a salad course and had the beef filet which was scrumptious - toss up between Le Cellier and here for this course for me, although everyone else rated Citricos their top meal of the trip! We didn't have dessert on our menus, seeing as we would be shortly making our way over to Epcot for our Dessert Party.

A mini-review from my Dad:
"Citricos was quite probably the best restaurant meal I've ever had, the short ribs were just so tender (they cook them for 5 hours the server said). Mum was equally impressed with the veal. For starter I had shrimps (prawns to me) in garlic I think, Mum's not certain but it was excellent. There was a sorbet as well I think and we were all impressed with the head waiter (if that's his title), all the staff and the whole place in general. Couldn't have been better and fitted in perfectly with the day."

We were brought over a Disney Anniversary pin by Melissa, the manager there, with a 42 written on it. She told us it was from a couple out in the main restaurant who had seen us come in, and were there tonight celebrating their 42nd anniversary! We decided to go out and thank them and had a little chat with them, they were a lovely American couple, but I forget where they came from.

I really really wish we had taken more photos here and at Epcot, perhaps in hindsight we should have kept Randy longer and paid for the dessert party photo package from Disney, but we thought everyone would take their own and we wouldn’t need it. Nonetheless, a few snaps were taken and here is what we got:

Tim ordered a most manly cocktail!

We were able to use our Tables In Wonderland card against the bill, and the best part was, it came in significantally less than we anticipated - good times!

 

[meryll83]

On to our next destination, we had 2 luxury vans to take us to our Dessert Party at Morocco. I was so excited to see backstage at Disney, even though it was almost pitch black outside, that didn’t stop me peering through the window, trying to take it all in - I was almost out of my seat most of the time! We jumped out of the vans and were escorted through some large wooden gates from which we went from a dark backlot, to the bright lights of Morocco, and people cheered and congratulated us as we walked through the park to our Dessert Party location. Another amazing experience!

Kathleen stopped by briefly to check everything had gone and was going okay which was nice of her, as I know with Escape weddings they don't really have to be there past the ceremony and cake reception.
Again, wish I had more photos, but here is what we got, which may or may not convince you to book the $300 photo package through DPS:

My dad showing off the back of another chair!!!

We had the centrepieces from Citricos moved here, and instead of the candles on top, we had LED cubes put into them. There were other decorations on the main food table that we didn't have to pay for, plants, gold coins etc. presumably to keep with the Moroccan theme, which was a nice touch for free!

I was glad I’d remembered the good ole ziplock bags (think this was one of Carrie's top tips! ) coz there were plenty of desserts and everyone got a doggy bag to take home! The fruit punch was yummy and my favourite dessert had to be the key lime pie! Another surprise as I’d specifically requested the chocolate peanut butter marshmallow squares (which were no longer on the menu) and they didn’t even end up being the best thing on the menu for me!

Yes the trees on the islands in the centre of the lagoon were slightly in the way, no it really didn’t matter in the end. It was a great finish to the day, and although I think we were all ready for bed, the Dessert Party did go by waaaay too quickly.

One minibus headed straight back to Pop, the other came via the Boardwalk to drop us off, and to allow the girls to pick up their belongings before also heading back to Pop.

Simon and I enjoyed some fresh air on a balcony, whilst we reminisced the day, and prepared for our 4am encounter with Ana the next morning….

 

[meryll83]

Feeling surprisingly bright and bushy-tailed, Simon and I awoke to our first morning as husband and wife. Ana arrived promptly, alone this time, and humoured our requests to tell us about the celebrities she’d worked on, whilst getting me ready. Simon watched poker on the TV whilst we chatted, and Ana told us all about Vegas (somewhere we want to go on our next big holiday). Ana helped Simon with my dress, actually I’m not sure if Simon did much at all to be honest, and then we got a call from reception, Amy from DPS was early. I'd requested Amy or Ty as our photographer, so this was good news!

As soon as we were ready, we went down to meet Amy, and hopped in her car to head to the Magic Kingdom.

More backstage goodness for me, and I loved driving through the park and ending up at the hub on Main Street! There were so many people working in the MK!!! There were floodlights everywhere and people hosing the streets down and painting railings, it was so bizarre, you don’t really think about what goes on outside of the public hours until you really see it.

Again, I won't post every single picture, but will filter out the better ones for you all - I think you can tell we look sleepier in these photos than we did in Randy's the day before!! Also, I wore my "bridal trainers" (some pretty floral Skechers) today, and was soooo glad I did, but it probably lost me a bit of height!
We did looooooooooads of outdoor castle shots first:

One of my favourites:

Then we checked out the castle archway:

 

[meryll83]

We then ventured up and inside the castle:

Then out through the other side of the castle into Fantasyland (think this could be where my flowers started to get wet!):

Incidentally, I forgot to provide you all with an update, but because I complained to Kathleen and Rosie about the flowers staining my dress, after a couple of weeks of investigations, they refunded me with $350! Result!
They'll get it all back from me anyway as it will be spends for our September trip, but ssssh, don't tell them that!

Whilst I’d originally asked for some carousel pictures, Amy was told it was doing test runs, so we headed over to the Haunted Mansion instead. A Princess and the Frog rehearsal was taking place on the Riverboat, all the dancers were in their casual clothes and a guy was shouting instructions through a megaphone.

We did a few quick shots inside and outside of the Mansion, then jumped back in Amy’s car to head for our next destination...

 

[meryll83]

Epcot was our next stop, and we hit Morocco, Italy and China. It was quite strange being in the park when it was so quiet, but in a good way!

Here are some of our favourite shots:

 

[meryll83]

There was some filming going on out front in the main forecourt at China, so we snuck around and got some alternative photos here:

By the time we got back to the Boardwalk, we had to get changed into our civvies and check on back out of the resort, and took a taxi back to Pop. Our deluxe resort experience was over. For now….

 

[Chilly]

Your MK and Epcot photos are soooooooo good!!!

 

[rachy]

Wow what amazing photos. You must be over the moon!

Where abouts was the stain on your wedding dress from the flowers? Or did you manage to get it out? Sorry if you have mentioned this before.

Rachel
x

 

[meryll83]

Your MK and Epcot photos are soooooooo good!!!

Wow what amazing photos. You must be over the moon!

Where abouts was the stain on your wedding dress from the flowers? Or did you manage to get it out? Sorry if you have mentioned this before.

Rachel
x

We got some really great photos!

The staining is on the front panel of my dress, just below the bust. You can't see it on these photos but in person it's quite noticeable. I had it cleaned 3 times and it still won't come out and it made me conscious of it at our at home reception. Unfortunately as it won't come out it means I don't have the option to sell my dress on now and even in keeping it, that's not going to make the stain go away.
A girl I work with who works in costume is currently taking a look at it for me to see whether the material will dye, with a view to dying it black and shortening it to make it into a special occasion dress Simon isn't keen on this idea, but I don't really see what else I can do with it and I think this idea is kinda cool and quirky!

 

[meryll83]

Think it's about time for another update if anyone's still following?
Off I go to upload some more photos!!....

 

[disneybarbie]

Lol I'm still here!! looking forward to more pictures and updates!

Emma xx

 

[Lorelei528]

Ok, wait!! How the heck did I miss all these posts?!?!?!

I have subbed but I don't remember getting any e-mails!!

OMG!!! Your pics are sooooo good! I wanted to comment and say stuff, but there are so many and they're all so beautiful that I'm actually speechless!!!

Ok, here's a word.....


WOW.

 

[Brit_Jude]

Your park photos are awesome!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

Just read your report from start to fnish. All I can say is how fantastic! you look like you had such a magical time.

Randy looks like such fun to work with. So glad i booked him for our wedding.

Would you recommend Morocco as a DP venue? I am thinking of having one here.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

What beautiful pictures!!! You and your husband are such a beautiful couple, and the pics are just gorgeous!

 

[NYPrincess422]

you two look stunning in your pictures!