My Fourth Solo Trip - Just Believe and Your Dreams Will Come True

[disneyfav4ever]

Hello everyone. I have decided to start my 2008 dining reviews early, even though my trip is not for just over another month. But I feel that anticipation is almost as enjoyable as the trip and meals itself, so who would like to come and anticipate my meals with me?

I booked this trip last year with the bounce back promo, but decided to upgrade to the deluxe dining plan, since that way I could eat at the two-credit table service locations without running out of locations, as well as fitting in my quota of character meals, and my favorite one-credit table service locations. I also like many of the appetizers the restaurants offer, and I know they were not going to be included on the basic plan this year, so the deluxe plan just made sense for me, so I'll be eating a lot!

I am eating at just about every type of restaurant there is, from character meals and buffets to the signature restaurants, from steakhouses to seafood restaurants, as well as everything in between.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I started planning where I wanted to eat as soon as I got home from my last trip, which was almost a year ago. There were so many times when I was sure I had my whole intinerary planned out, but then I always decided to change something, and that was before the park hours were even released!

Once the park hours were released, I realized that the plan I had made would never work. I use Tour Guide Mike, (who I highly recommend, especially if you have time to really read all of his articles and tips,) and usually follow his advice, so even though the restaurants were still good, my whole park touring plan would be no good. So I changed my whole intinerary again, switching out a few restaurants for more convienant ones, so I would be able to spend more time in the parks. I had my "perfect" plan. Then I was ready to call, and make my ADRs.

I ended up calling Disney dining several times throughout the past few months, and ultimatly I realized my "perfect" plan, wasn't so perfect. I worried about missing the night shows, so called a few times just to get earlier or later ADRs, then I decided that I would rather eat at restaurants that I had originally decided against, and once again found myself calling. In the end I changed about a third of my "perfect" plan to make my trip even more enjoyable.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Hello everyone! I wasn't going to do a pre-trip report this year, since I have a hard enough time writing and keeping up with a trip report after my trip, (I never got past day two of last year's trip report,) but I am just so anxious for my trip to get started, that I thought that starting a pre-trip report, would be a good way to chanel my anticipation.

This trip will be my longest one yet, and will last almost two weeks. I'll be staying at one of the value resorts, and will be on the deluxe dining plan. I am very excited about that, and have started a pre-trip dining review, which you can read if you follow the link in my signature.

I have a lot of meals planned, as well as a lot of days that I am pretty much in the parks from opening to closing, only taking breaks for my meals, but even on the days I have three meals, my breakfasts are before park opening, and my dinners are usually after park closing, so my only break on those days is when I stop for lunch.

Does that sound exhausting to you? Spending all day in a park for days on end? I could see how it would be for some people, especially people with little kids, but I rarely, if ever, need a break. People always say I'm going to hit a wall and just collapse halfway through my vacation, but I don't I just keep going and going, but if for any reason I do get tired, I can always just go back to my room for a rest. A great thing about being solo is being able to do whatever I want when I want to, without worrying about anyone else's wants.

Trust me, last year I had a ten-day trip with my mom, and while that was nice and all, I prefer being solo. A lot of people think it's crazy that I enjoy vacationing by myself, and even more so that I don't have a problem eating by myself, and don't I get lonely? But I really don't.

I'm sure if I had longer trips, and was there for a month or so I might start to get a little lonely, and I do miss my pets, but other then that I am always glad to leave work and my family behind for a few weeks, and just do whatever I want with no worries or responsibility.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm on board! I use TGM too and had to do some re-arranging when the hours FINALLY came out.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm on board! I use TGM too and had to do some re-arranging when the hours FINALLY came out.

It made me scramble, since when the hours were released I only had a few days to fix my whole schedule, but I am very happy with it right now. Happy enough to say I won't be calling Disney dining again, but I say that every time I change something, and still end up calling again. I really think I have it the way it's going to stay though.

I did have to make a few changes again a week or so ago, because my ADR for the night I bought MNSSHP tickets was bothering me, since I didn't think two hours would be enough to eat and get to the Magic Kingdom, but I switched that to an earlier ADR to a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom area, so I could just hop on the monorail, and get straight to the party after dinner.

 

[TigerKat]

I hope everything works out well and you get to do everything you have planned.

 

[sandybobandy]

Signing on!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I hope everything works out well and you get to do everything you have planned.

So do I! I would hate to have it as planned as I do, and then have those plans fall apart.

Signing on!

Welcome.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Let me ask for some advice. I don't have anything planned for lunch on my arrival day. The simplest thing to do would be to just eat at my resort's food court, but I really don't want to kick off my deluxe dining trip there, since I don't really care for counter service food, with a few exceptions, (another reason I chose to use the deluxe plan instead of the basic one.)

I probably won't be going to a park the first day, and definatly won't if I don't get an annual pass, but that's a whole other topic. So I'll probably end up going to Downtown Disney. Any recommendations, or anything you'd especially like to see reviewed. I'm leaning towards Fulton's Crab House right now, even though I think I'm going to be getting a $15 voucher for Planet Hollywood. Then of course there is also Earl of Sandwich and Ghiradelli, both of which I missed the last two trips, and Wolfgang Puck Express, which I believe has been renovated recently, and I am skipping Wolfgang Puck Cafe this trip, as well as all the other Downtown Disney restaurants there are to choose from.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I started packing today. I know most people would probably think I'm crazy for doing this so soon, but I like to be prepared, and not worry about it right before I go, since I'm sure I'll be busy with plenty of other stuff before leaving.

Right now my room looks like a Disney clothing store exploded in it. I have three piles of clothes I want to take, as well as laundry I just did, with more clothes I want to take. I'm going to go through all my clothes, and decide what I want to wear each day, and put away the rest. I'll be wearing Disney clothes all week, and have lots of different character tops and tees to choose from.

I haven't even decided what shoes to take yet. I also have too many Crocs now to take them all with me. Last year I only three pairs of Crocs, so I took them all, but now I have six pairs, so I can't justify taking all of them. In addition to whichever Crocs I choose to take, I need to decide on which pair of my nice sandals I'm going to be taking for my signature dinners, even though the dress code at those restaurants are a joke. I really like the sandals I took last year, but they are worn out, but only on the heel, and not really noticeable, so I'm debating on wether or not to take them or leave them at home.

 

[TPCShauna]

WP Express might be a good option for CS with TS quality. I've heard it's quite good even though I've not eaten there.

I really like Earl of Sandwich. I find their offerings pretty imaginative and tasty so I don't mind the CS aspect so much.

Looking forward to your reviews. DH and I are doing DxDP on our December trip for many of the same reasons you listed.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

WP Express might be a good option for CS with TS quality. I've heard it's quite good even though I've not eaten there.

I really like Earl of Sandwich. I find their offerings pretty imaginative and tasty so I don't mind the CS aspect so much.

Looking forward to your reviews. DH and I are doing DxDP on our December trip for many of the same reasons you listed.

I've never been to the Express location either, only the Cafe, but I've heard that the quality of the food there is very good, and I've seen that they have foccacia bread on their menu, which hopefully is the same as the Cafe's, which then I'd have to get that. I could see Wolfgang Puck Express being added to my list of good counter service locations if I ever get around to eating there.

Earl of Sandwich is a favorite of mine too. I've only been there twice, but both times have has very good sandwiches, the first was a roast beef and blue cheese, which was great, and the second time I had a roast beef and horseradish, which was even better. I think the reason I like it so much is beacause of the wonderful bread they use, and the fact that the sandwiches are toasted.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't really care for counter service all that much. It's not that I think the food is bad, I think it's reasonably good, but I like to be seated and waited on, and not have to stand in line waiting for my food, only to then have to go searching for a table while juggling my tray of food around. Plus the table service restaurants provide a nice break from the theme parks during the day, and when I'm there, it'll still be quite warm.

That being said, I do enjoy certain items at certain locations, but most of those items I can get with snack credits, (which I'll have plenty of,) but with all my other meals, I don't know how I'm going to use them all without making myself sick.

At the Magic Kingdom, I always have to get a Dole Whip float, and Figaro fries, and last year the peanut butter brownie from Pecos Bill's was added to my list of things to get every trip. I also like to stop at Main Street Bakery at least once every year, and get something, though I don't have one specific item that is a must do.

At Epcot I used to love the Fountainview Cafe, which is right near the Fountain of Nations, (I believe that's what it's called,) they used to have wonderful baked goods, but that is no longer a place I'll patronize since now they just serve Edy's ice cream, which I can get at home. Epcot is still a major snack spot for me, since I like to try different snacks from around the world, as well as drinks. Makes for some fun park touring.

MGM is the only park with nothing I have to get, though I really want to try Starring Rolls Bakery this year. I have two or three mornings planned for MGM this trip, so will hopefully get there at some point.

At Animal Kingdom I must always get the onion rings at Flame Tree BBQ, and I used to love Tusker House as well, but that is now a buffet, which I've heard is similar to Boma, so it would probably be something I like, but since I'm eating dinner at Boma, I didn't feel the need to eat lunch or dinner there as well.

I've always stayed at the value resorts, so I don't have access to fine dining while I'm taking a break back in my room, (rare, but I do that sometimes.) The chocolate chip pancakes at Pop Century are really good though.

 

[TigerKat]

We just recently decided on lunch at Fulton's on our arrival day. We haven't been there in 10 years and I've been reading some great reviews. We LOVE chilled seafood and a Bloody Mary so that is going to be our first meal of the trip!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We just recently decided on lunch at Fulton's on our arrival day. We haven't been there in 10 years and I've been reading some great reviews. We LOVE chilled seafood and a Bloody Mary so that is going to be our first meal of the trip!

Any links to the reviews? I've been having a hard time finding some, but I love seafood, especially crab, and they have a crab sandwich on the lunch menu that sounds really good.

 

[TigerKat]

Any links to the reviews? I've been having a hard time finding some, but I love seafood, especially crab, and they have a crab sandwich on the lunch menu that sounds really good.

I can't remember but I know I saw a crab sandwich and a crab cake sandwich too. A couple of my DIS friends have been there recently and just LOVED it! The pics should be on the categorized pic thread.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I can't remember but I know I saw a crab sandwich and a crab cake sandwich too. A couple of my DIS friends have been there recently and just LOVED it! The pics should be on the categorized pic thread.

Thanks, I'll have to look for them.

 

[TigerKat]

I just realized the pics I saw may have been on TR's not Dining Reviews and I don't think they put those pics on the categorized thread. If I run across them I'll post the links for you.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Oh lordy, I feel the exact same way.

I have as much as I can write already written for my reviews saved in a word document. I thought about posting a live dining review thread but I think it may have to wait until the day I return

I have a list of food and drinks that I need to consume because they looked so good and/or I had heard such great things about them.

Don't worry, I have a notebook that I can write down good descriptions of what I eat and drink so when I take the picture, I can give a full description and where to get it.

14 days of free dining and 3 day of Food and Wine Festival, yay! Can't wait!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I just realized the pics I saw may have been on TR's not Dining Reviews and I don't think they put those pics on the categorized thread. If I run across them I'll post the links for you.

Thank you.

Oh lordy, I feel the exact same way.

I have as much as I can write already written for my reviews saved in a word document. I thought about posting a live dining review thread but I think it may have to wait until the day I return

I have a list of food and drinks that I need to consume because they looked so good and/or I had heard such great things about them.

Don't worry, I have a notebook that I can write down good descriptions of what I eat and drink so when I take the picture, I can give a full description and where to get it.

14 days of free dining and 3 day of Food and Wine Festival, yay! Can't wait!

You and I are exactly alike! I too, have as much written already as I possibly can, except mine is saved as drafts in my e-mail instead of on Word. And I have a list of snacks and drinks I want to try as well. I also have a notebook, as well as a journal specifically for restaurant reviews, and I'm going to try and keep menus from each restaurant, hopefully they allow that.