Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Cruise, Oct 30th,2010 Magical Western NewTR link 4/10

[JKSWonder]

I had this same drink at Palo!

Ok, I had two.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

You did beat out the chef for wearing the best hat in the house!

 

[podsnel]

Our server asked if we'd like him to take our picture. I LOVE when I don't have to ask!!

Pods was having a veal special for his dinner, I believe-

Our server, Ciao Romano- he was very sweet and very attentive! And he brought birthday wishes!

After allllllll that, we were stuffed! (I'm sure you are shocked!! ). But we HAD to get the souffles....so we brought them back for the boys (I think I saw Jen doing this and followed her lead). But we still had this-

Of course, Pods had to say, "It's Not her BIRTHDAY!!!", but too bad!! My birthday in NJ would NEVER be as good as this was less than a month before. We were given the MOST YUMMY and refreshing limoncello with sorbet drink, it was FABULOUS!!!

A wonderful night, what a great time with my Hubby (and several others!).

Returning to the cabin, we saw the Adult Costume Competition was in full swing-

I believe the Flinstones took the prize.

Back at the cabin, our Fish extender was OVERFLOWING with goodies- I have to say, there were many, many creative gifts we received that week! On Halloween night, we received this one- isn't it the CUTEST??!!!!

We were also greeted by a spooky ghost-

We went to Rockin Bar D for a bit to check out Kevin Johnson the ventriloquist, before calling it a night. It had been a great, but loooong day!!

Up next...a relaxing day at sea...ahhhhhhhhhh.......

 

[podsnel]

I hope you aren't waiting on me...

Nope! Just bein lazy after working like a NUT for Christmas!

Yum!

I had this same drink at Palo!

Ok, I had two.

I don't blame you! We had a bottle of wine with dinner- or else I would have had another, too! It was the PERFECT martini!!

You did beat out the chef for wearing the best hat in the house!

Well THANK-YOU!!!!!

 

[burly]

Hi! Back from life being too busy and catching up on all my TR's that i attempt to follow.
I finished up your last one and followed you over to this one.
thank thank thank you for the links.
Great Job on the TOt stuff. How awesome is Jen.
Cruising looks to be so much fun! One day....


KIM

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow! Palo looks so fabulous! We haven't tried it yet. It is on the list for our next one.

Love the hat. You and Jen posing with the headless chef is so Did he share any recipes? How fun that you were seated near friends so you could just party on!

 

[dizneeat]

P A L O !!! yummyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Somehow I really don't like being 6 hours ahead of time and mostly asleep when you guys post something!

I love your Palo update! Isn't it just wonderful? And we had a lot of the same dishes you had!
Did you taste the souffle? I hope so! It is sooooooooooo good! Your boys were lucky you took it back to them!

Thanks for the update! I LOVE reading them first thing in the morning! Now I am off to breakfast!

See ya later!

 

[Flossbolna]

What a wonderful adult dinner! Looks like the perfect ending to your adult only day at Key West! Those breads look so wonderful! I would have a hard time not to eat the whole basket.

But I would hope that they also have seafood free dishes there? I don't eat any shellfish (allergic to it, but never liked it, so I was really glad when I was tested and found out that now I have a valid excuse not to eat it ).

 

[KristiMc]

Just found your TR and read through it this morning. We are on the Eastern in March and I am so looking forward to our Palo night.

 

[podsnel]

Hi! Back from life being too busy and catching up on all my TR's that i attempt to follow.
I finished up your last one and followed you over to this one.
thank thank thank you for the links.
Great Job on the TOt stuff. How awesome is Jen.
Cruising looks to be so much fun! One day....


KIM

Hi Kim!! I'm so happy you found me! Hope your life has been busy with all GOOD things....

Cruising is a great thing- you actually (as a Mom) get a vacation, too! DCL seems expensive, but when you add up everything you are getting, it is actually an excellent value.

Wow! Palo looks so fabulous! We haven't tried it yet. It is on the list for our next one.

Love the hat. You and Jen posing with the headless chef is so Did he share any recipes? How fun that you were seated near friends so you could just party on!

Well, I hope you will try it on your Vancouver repo! It really is a nice night out- the service there is excellent. And the food is very good.

Thanks for liking my hat- I was so excited to wear it!!! It's so frou frou!

P A L O !!! yummyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Somehow I really don't like being 6 hours ahead of time and mostly asleep when you guys post something!

I love your Palo update! Isn't it just wonderful? And we had a lot of the same dishes you had!
Did you taste the souffle? I hope so! It is sooooooooooo good! Your boys were lucky you took it back to them!

Thanks for the update! I LOVE reading them first thing in the morning! Now I am off to breakfast!

See ya later!

Well, I often read yours right before bed, and I can't post until the next day- the typing in bed wakes Pods. So did you have that appetizer? Was it the Portobello Mushroom? The thing is, I think I know what we ate, but then when I go back and look at the menu descriptions it doesn't seem to match. Like Pods' dinner- maybe it was the veal on the Palo menu, but here's the decription for that-Veal Loin Scaloppini alla "Bari" Pecorino Cheese and Artichokes . Well, whatever...it was yummy!

And I am ashamed to say that I did not have the souffle- we were SO FULL! I did have it on the last cruise, though, and it is divine!

What a wonderful adult dinner! Looks like the perfect ending to your adult only day at Key West! Those breads look so wonderful! I would have a hard time not to eat the whole basket.

But I would hope that they also have seafood free dishes there? I don't eat any shellfish (allergic to it, but never liked it, so I was really glad when I was tested and found out that now I have a valid excuse not to eat it ).

Yes, it was a perfect adult day....actually, on this cruise, we saw a lot less of our kids than we did on our first one. They did have dinner with us every night (well, except for Palo) and I was able to drag them away from the Edge occasiionally...besides shore excursions...but they were sooooo happy to be independent and with all the other kids that Pods & I had a TON of alone time!

And Palo has LOTS of non-seafood (actually Pods' dinner was veal, so, not fish). They make EXCELLENT pizzas- we had those at brunch- and last time I had lamb chops, there are chicken dishes and lots of pasta, too. Don't worry, you would not go hungry!!

Just found your TR and read through it this morning. We are on the Eastern in March and I am so looking forward to our Palo night.

Hi there!! I think the Eastern Itinerary will be beautiful- that area of the caribbean is so lush and green and mountainous. We are doing a 9 day eastern this summer (but on RCCL) and while I am worried about the heat, I am looking forward to the eastern islands- they are gorgeous! Are you on the cruise with Kara??

 

[nenner1]

Hey I just realized you called me yesterday, I totally missed it I'm sorry!!! (I never took my phone out of my work laptop bag at all yesterday.)
Or were you butt dialing?

Ok, on to the Palo comments...first of all you have some really awesome photos there (yes I snagged a bunch of them), I really love some of the mask shots but some of the ones that really jumped out were the food shots, like of the bread, really neat perspective. Artsy fartsy, love it!!

How was it that they knew to sit all of us Dis troublemakers right together like that? Do we have a look to us? In fact it is like that is our assigned seat in Palo, in the 7 or so times now we've been there, we have always sat at either the table we were at that night or the table you were at that night. We've never even seen the other side of the room.

And did you know they did it again the next day, sat us at the exact same table right next to Joanie and Sam and Nicole and Bill.

I think that Halloween display at Palo was the only one onboard that managed to keep any chocolate in it, Ron pointed it out to me on the way out, yea like the thing I want to eat on my way into (or God forbid out of!!!) Palo is candy!!

The food at Palo this time was so delicious. I am not a fan of grilled seafood but the pics of Pods shrimp and your scallops are making me drool bigtime!!!

I'm so glad we got the opportunity to enjoy dinner quasi-together like that. One of the only regrets I have for the cruise is not jumping at the group brunch, especially when Judy told me you were trying to fill the room. I did really want someone to have the opportunity to go that might not have otherwise but I wish I had been selfish and just gone!

Oh and your hat was so stylin'!! It was *perfect* for a fancy Halloween dinner!!!

ETA: yes, the appetizer was the portobello mushroom, we had it too!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

That food looked incredible! I love the food on a cruise so did our kids.
When we did the family cruise the kids had the run of the ship while we did our thing. We ate dinner together, buut the rest of the ship time they hung out mostly at food venues. Those kids ate so much food on that cruise, they entered eating contests & were ordering room service all week!

 

[dallastxcpa]

Congrats on winning a trip, Dallastxcpa! I hope you get to enjoy that beautiful sunset!

WON A TRIP????? How? That's so WONDERFUL!!!! I would definitely vote for staying in KW for the sunset- you need to watch it from Mallory Square...there is all kinds of stuff going on there to celebrate the sunset every day. How long is your trip for? It's winter, so wouldn't sunset be pretty early in the day?



I hope she does too!!!!

I think it is going to be an awesome trip. It is only four days but they have put us up in a fabulous hotel. The Epic by Kimpton in downtown Miami. They also have paid for the airfare and ground transfers.

I won the trip by entering a contest on the Disney website. I used to enter online contest every once in a while. And then a couple of years ago one of the DISers won the grand prize in the Year of a Million Dreams. 220 DVC points with the winners taxes paid and dues paid for the life of the contract. All for mailing in an entry form. Well, that motivated me. There is another website, Mouse Savers and they keep an updated list of contests that have Disney prizes.

A couple of weeks before I got the notification I was starting to think it was a waste and then one day I got an email saying I was the potential grand prize winner. I nearly deleted it thinking it was spam. And then I noticed the email came from @disney.com.

I know it is a long drive from Miami to Key West but, being from Texas you can't get anywhere without driving some distance. Also, Dave and I plan to retire to the Keys in the next ten years so I would like to go and take a quick peek until I can get down there for a longer vacation.

 

[dallastxcpa]

You are always dressed so cute and you and Pods make such a cute couple.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

That trip winning story is so awesome! You have inspired me to keep entering those sweeps! Every year I think I'm going to win the HGTV Dream home! I read a TR by the winner of that DVC package - such a sweet deserving lady, as I'm sure you are!

 

[dizneeat]

Well, I often read yours right before bed, and I can't post until the next day- the typing in bed wakes Pods. So did you have that appetizer? Was it the Portobello Mushroom? The thing is, I think I know what we ate, but then when I go back and look at the menu descriptions it doesn't seem to match. Like Pods' dinner- maybe it was the veal on the Palo menu, but here's the decription for that-Veal Loin Scaloppini alla "Bari" Pecorino Cheese and Artichokes . Well, whatever...it was yummy!

Yes, we did have the Portobello Mushroom appetizer! Our Michele, our Palo server in 2009, brought out a ton of extra stuff and this was one of them.
Same problem here with the descriptions! I am always sure I'll remember what we ate, but then the online descriptions never seem to match!
I thought that what your DH had was the same Tom had ordered, but when I went back it wasn't! So, unfortunately I can't help there.

Next time you take a dessert with you, just get an "extra" one! We eat at Palo so often, that once we get to know the server, they always bring out extra treats!

 

[dvc4life]

PALO looks awesome. Love going there. It is so yummy. And I love your hat! How cool.

 

[podsnel]

Hey I just realized you called me yesterday, I totally missed it I'm sorry!!! (I never took my phone out of my work laptop bag at all yesterday.)
Or were you butt dialing?

No....NOT butt dialing!! I was calling to say hello, and then when I didn't hear your voice, I wasn't sure if I was leaving a message for you or Ron, because I have both your cell #'s in my phone....so I hung up (sorry) and meant to try the other # but got distracted (can you imagine!).

Ok, on to the Palo comments...first of all you have some really awesome photos there (yes I snagged a bunch of them), I really love some of the mask shots but some of the ones that really jumped out were the food shots, like of the bread, really neat perspective. Artsy fartsy, love it!!

Thanks! Glad you found some to share!

How was it that they knew to sit all of us Dis troublemakers right together like that? Do we have a look to us? In fact it is like that is our assigned seat in Palo, in the 7 or so times now we've been there, we have always sat at either the table we were at that night or the table you were at that night. We've never even seen the other side of the room.


And did you know they did it again the next day, sat us at the exact same table right next to Joanie and Sam and Nicole and Bill.

That's weird! You've been SEVEN TIMES???? I've been 5 in two cruises- how many cruises have you been on?

I think that Halloween display at Palo was the only one onboard that managed to keep any chocolate in it, Ron pointed it out to me on the way out, yea like the thing I want to eat on my way into (or God forbid out of!!!) Palo is candy!!

I agree- I had NO desire to grab ANY candy on my way in or out!

The food at Palo this time was so delicious. I am not a fan of grilled seafood but the pics of Pods shrimp and your scallops are making me drool bigtime!!!

It was very good. The seafood was yummmmmm....

I'm so glad we got the opportunity to enjoy dinner quasi-together like that. One of the only regrets I have for the cruise is not jumping at the group brunch, especially when Judy told me you were trying to fill the room. I did really want someone to have the opportunity to go that might not have otherwise but I wish I had been selfish and just gone!

THAT MAKES ME CRAZY!!!!! You belonged there more than ANYONE- especially ME! You did SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! I actually felt tremendously guilty at that brunch- I was the one supposed to make it happen, and the best i could do was get a table for the 6 of us that actually had reservations that morning. I was so surprised when we walked in and they sat us in that room with all those people- the last I had heard, no one was able to get a table. So glad there are people out there who figured it all out- but more than ANYONE you and Ron should have been sitting there!

Oh and your hat was so stylin'!! It was *perfect* for a fancy Halloween dinner!!!

ETA: yes, the appetizer was the portobello mushroom, we had it too!

Thanks and thanks-

That food looked incredible! I love the food on a cruise so did our kids.
When we did the family cruise the kids had the run of the ship while we did our thing. We ate dinner together, buut the rest of the ship time they hung out mostly at food venues. Those kids ate so much food on that cruise, they entered eating contests & were ordering room service all week!

My kids love ordering room service, too!! Timmy did it more on the last cruise than this one- I think he really loved Edge and just never came out other than to run up to Pluto's for a hot dog/chicken finger/pizza. Actually...I love it, too! And I love that it's included.

I think it is going to be an awesome trip. It is only four days but they have put us up in a fabulous hotel. The Epic by Kimpton in downtown Miami. They also have paid for the airfare and ground transfers.

I won the trip by entering a contest on the Disney website. I used to enter online contest every once in a while. And then a couple of years ago one of the DISers won the grand prize in the Year of a Million Dreams. 220 DVC points with the winners taxes paid and dues paid for the life of the contract. All for mailing in an entry form. Well, that motivated me. There is another website, Mouse Savers and they keep an updated list of contests that have Disney prizes.

A couple of weeks before I got the notification I was starting to think it was a waste and then one day I got an email saying I was the potential grand prize winner. I nearly deleted it thinking it was spam. And then I noticed the email came from @disney.com.

I know it is a long drive from Miami to Key West but, being from Texas you can't get anywhere without driving some distance. Also, Dave and I plan to retire to the Keys in the next ten years so I would like to go and take a quick peek until I can get down there for a longer vacation.

I just looked- it says it's a 3.5 hour drive. I think it's worth it- and WOW lucky YOU!!! I remember when that DISer won the YOAMD and the SSR points- she often writes TRs on the DVC Mousellaneous board. You have DEFINITELY motivated me to start sending out postcards to concerts. Uh-oh. There go the odds!

I have yet to go to Miami, but I have many friends who have loved it there- can't wait to hear what you think!! I hope you'll do a TR!!

You are always dressed so cute and you and Pods make such a cute couple.

Awww....thanks! that's so sweet of you to say!

 

[podsnel]

That trip winning story is so awesome! You have inspired me to keep entering those sweeps! Every year I think I'm going to win the HGTV Dream home! I read a TR by the winner of that DVC package - such a sweet deserving lady, as I'm sure you are!

Oh-oh! There go the odds some more!! BTW- I got a very nice Arbonne box in my mail on Tuesday- THANK-YOU!!!

Yes, we did have the Portobello Mushroom appetizer! Our Michele, our Palo server in 2009, brought out a ton of extra stuff and this was one of them.
Same problem here with the descriptions! I am always sure I'll remember what we ate, but then the online descriptions never seem to match!
I thought that what your DH had was the same Tom had ordered, but when I went back it wasn't! So, unfortunately I can't help there.

Next time you take a dessert with you, just get an "extra" one! We eat at Palo so often, that once we get to know the server, they always bring out extra treats!

I usually DO remember what everyone has ordered- for some reason, i was very "off" on this cruise- so when the menu descriptions look so different from what is on the plate, I am LOST!! Pods actually makes fun of me all the time about this- he says I can remember a great meal, including what everyone at the table ate, for YEARS. What can I say...we all need to be good at SOMETHING!

And I will ask for another one next time- you can never have too many souffles from Palo, I guess!

PALO looks awesome. Love going there. It is so yummy. And I love your hat! How cool.

I agree and Thanks!!

 

[bfosbenner]

Karen and I did Palo on Holloween eve at 6:30
Very awsome...

Ellen,
How much snow did you get? 16+ around here!