PNO4TE
I used to be the DIS Musician and a Jamborini...
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2001
- Messages
- 31,531
This is a redux of a pre-trip report started many months ago. We have had a few changes, many brought about because of airline issues. So, some things have changed and some have stayed the same. We are celebrating our 35th anniversary on this trip, albeit a couple of months after the fact. We were at DL last year for our 34th and just could not get away to Florida this year in July. We dont really WANT to be in Florida in July, but that is another story
With that in mind we have set ourselves the task of finding 35 new food and/or drink items at the kiosks; one for each year of our marriage.
When and Where: We usually go during the Food & Wine Festival because we like FoodAndWineAndBeer... This will be our 10th visit during this wonderful time. Originally we were staying at AKL but in April my DH asked to stay at the Poly instead. Since he never, ever asks anything of our trips I booked Lagoon View as a surprise to him. I also added a night at All Star Sports because of the above-mentioned airline problems. Our dates are now September 26-October 1, 2008.
The Eaters and Drinkers: DH (Bob): 58, Disney Veteran because we drafted him and he has no pre-existing conditions that allow him to be exempt. WDW is not his favorite place to be (or so he claims), but he knows it is mine and over the years has found delight in being allowed to spend time alone in the resort reading and downing a few mugs of suds.
Me (Elin): 57, Lover of all Disney Parks and resorts, but especially WDW and all it has to offer.
We are AP holders. I have been to WDW more than 50 times. Bob and our DDs, ages 29 and 22 (who are not going this trip), have been more than 30 times.
The Story: I had originally booked a package with the DlxDP. I rapidly came to the realization that we would be better served to use our DDE (or Tables in Wonderland as it is now called) instead. We have many favorite restaurants and love all the food kiosks too. So, I booked a lot of TS meals knowing that we may cancel some of the lunches and instead spend time eating and drinking around the World Showcase.
Our original flight was to get us into MCO at 9:40 a.m. Delta has changed the flight from non-stop to a flight with a layover and has changed our departure time and flight numbers and layover times 9 times since May. I finally called and asked if we would be permitted to change our flight to the night before, and after a very long wait and a very helpful agent we were able to make that happen. This is why I have booked the extra night at All Star Sports. We wont land at MCO until 10:45 p.m. so there is no need to pay for the Poly for that night! We will sleep at Sports and check into the Poly first thing Saturday morning.
Since this trip is more about the gastronomic pleasures of WDW restaurants and festivals we will probably be spending more time on the eating and drinking part than on the thrill ride aspect. We are not planning any special events at the F&W Festival. I have done many of them in the past but there is no Party for the Senseless this year on our Saturday and any of the few other events that do exist during our trip this year would not make Bob happy. I had hoped that possibly the Beermaker's Dinner would happen to be the weekend we are there. I would probably have booked that for him as a surprise. But nope! If there is something in the free events that just jumps out at me when we get there I will do it by myself and Bob will happily stay at the Poly and drink another beer... er... I mean read another book.
For those of you who read my initial brainstorming, we have kept most of the same reservations. They are listed below.
The Plan: Breakfast for Bob every morning. We both love breakfast. For goodness sake, 35 years ago we were married at 10:00 a.m. so we could have a sit down breakfast for our reception! We will either eat at Kona Café or Captain Cooks each morning. Early. We are also planning to meet up with friends, old and new, for drinks throughout our trip.
SIGNATURE DINNERS
We have never eaten at Citricos or Narcoossees. Christmas Eve 2006 was spent with a spectacular meal at Yachtsman and we are looking forward to that. That brings us to California Grill. This used to be our favorite restaurant. But 5 years ago we had such a bad experience there that we vowed it would be a very long time before we came back. We know that the wait time for a table will still be long (hopefully NOT 3 hours past our reservation time like in December 2002) and the offending server is probably not there anymore. A wonderful and knowledgeable DISer (ehagerty) has suggested a server to request so that should help too. So, we decided to put it on the list this trip and give it another try.
TABLE SERVICE LUNCHES
We have eaten both lunch and dinner at Coral Reef numerous times and have had good/bad service and wait times but always a good meal. It has been 11 or 12 years since we last ate at Chefs de France and we both enjoyed that meal, but our DDs did not, hence the lagtime between visits. Bobs two favorite Epcot restaurants are Biergarten and Le Cellier, so those round out our list.
As always, thanks for reading!
When and Where: We usually go during the Food & Wine Festival because we like FoodAndWineAndBeer... This will be our 10th visit during this wonderful time. Originally we were staying at AKL but in April my DH asked to stay at the Poly instead. Since he never, ever asks anything of our trips I booked Lagoon View as a surprise to him. I also added a night at All Star Sports because of the above-mentioned airline problems. Our dates are now September 26-October 1, 2008.
The Eaters and Drinkers: DH (Bob): 58, Disney Veteran because we drafted him and he has no pre-existing conditions that allow him to be exempt. WDW is not his favorite place to be (or so he claims), but he knows it is mine and over the years has found delight in being allowed to spend time alone in the resort reading and downing a few mugs of suds.
Me (Elin): 57, Lover of all Disney Parks and resorts, but especially WDW and all it has to offer.
We are AP holders. I have been to WDW more than 50 times. Bob and our DDs, ages 29 and 22 (who are not going this trip), have been more than 30 times.
The Story: I had originally booked a package with the DlxDP. I rapidly came to the realization that we would be better served to use our DDE (or Tables in Wonderland as it is now called) instead. We have many favorite restaurants and love all the food kiosks too. So, I booked a lot of TS meals knowing that we may cancel some of the lunches and instead spend time eating and drinking around the World Showcase.
Our original flight was to get us into MCO at 9:40 a.m. Delta has changed the flight from non-stop to a flight with a layover and has changed our departure time and flight numbers and layover times 9 times since May. I finally called and asked if we would be permitted to change our flight to the night before, and after a very long wait and a very helpful agent we were able to make that happen. This is why I have booked the extra night at All Star Sports. We wont land at MCO until 10:45 p.m. so there is no need to pay for the Poly for that night! We will sleep at Sports and check into the Poly first thing Saturday morning.
Since this trip is more about the gastronomic pleasures of WDW restaurants and festivals we will probably be spending more time on the eating and drinking part than on the thrill ride aspect. We are not planning any special events at the F&W Festival. I have done many of them in the past but there is no Party for the Senseless this year on our Saturday and any of the few other events that do exist during our trip this year would not make Bob happy. I had hoped that possibly the Beermaker's Dinner would happen to be the weekend we are there. I would probably have booked that for him as a surprise. But nope! If there is something in the free events that just jumps out at me when we get there I will do it by myself and Bob will happily stay at the Poly and drink another beer... er... I mean read another book.
For those of you who read my initial brainstorming, we have kept most of the same reservations. They are listed below.
The Plan: Breakfast for Bob every morning. We both love breakfast. For goodness sake, 35 years ago we were married at 10:00 a.m. so we could have a sit down breakfast for our reception! We will either eat at Kona Café or Captain Cooks each morning. Early. We are also planning to meet up with friends, old and new, for drinks throughout our trip.
SIGNATURE DINNERS
Citricos
California Grill
Narcoossees
Yachtsman Steakhouse
California Grill
Narcoossees
Yachtsman Steakhouse
We have never eaten at Citricos or Narcoossees. Christmas Eve 2006 was spent with a spectacular meal at Yachtsman and we are looking forward to that. That brings us to California Grill. This used to be our favorite restaurant. But 5 years ago we had such a bad experience there that we vowed it would be a very long time before we came back. We know that the wait time for a table will still be long (hopefully NOT 3 hours past our reservation time like in December 2002) and the offending server is probably not there anymore. A wonderful and knowledgeable DISer (ehagerty) has suggested a server to request so that should help too. So, we decided to put it on the list this trip and give it another try.
TABLE SERVICE LUNCHES
Chefs de France
Coral Reef
Le Cellier
Biergarten
Coral Reef
Le Cellier
Biergarten
We have eaten both lunch and dinner at Coral Reef numerous times and have had good/bad service and wait times but always a good meal. It has been 11 or 12 years since we last ate at Chefs de France and we both enjoyed that meal, but our DDs did not, hence the lagtime between visits. Bobs two favorite Epcot restaurants are Biergarten and Le Cellier, so those round out our list.
As always, thanks for reading!
I'll have to find your other PTR. 
I think this is the 8th time we have gone together and the 12th time for me. I CANNOT WAIT!!!! 
. I can't wait to read your TR
. Can't wait to see and hear about it when you return
