No zombies here, 13 years of trip reports!!!

[AirGoofy]

7:35 Reservation at California Grill = Watch Wishes from your window table for the 9:00 PM show. Then, down to balcony at 10 for Ilkuminations. We have achieved a new level of Disneytopia.

Let's discuss the food. I think Cali Grill has best steak on property, except that I haven't tried V&A or Shulas yet. Here are the pics of tonight's meal. My favorite signatures are Narcoosee's for lobster, Fulton's for King Crab Claws, and Cali Grill and Jiko tie for filet, Jiko has better atmosphere, but Cali Grill has access to Wishes. Even if you eat earlier than 7:35, you may return for a view from the terrace at Cali Grill with your receipt.

We split a bottle of wine. I got to eat some remaining mussels dd didn't want. A great start to the vacation.

 

[Rest&Relax]

Glad you made it safely! I can't imagine driving straight through. We always had to stop atleast at the 12 hr mark when we drove. We only fly now.

Thanks for updating! Glad I can follow along, so I can get my disney fix. Sounds like a wonderful start so far. Enjoy another Yuengling Draft for me.

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[AirGoofy]

I can tell by the pic, this is the Madhatter that can perfectly cross his eyes, my son thinks he's creepy
Did you have any strawberry soup

You got to be one tired pup, after the drive and all day of touring

DW had th strawberry soup. She said it was almost strawberry ice cream melted. Still worth the trip, just not as good as before.

Glad you made it safely! I can't imagine driving straight through. We always had to stop atleast at the 12 hr mark when we drove. We only fly now.

Thanks for updating! Glad I can follow along, so I can get my disney fix. Sounds like a wonderful start so far. Enjoy another Yuengling Draft for me.

Have a wonderful vacation!

Thanks. Usually, DW drives a few hours and lets me sleep. A few hour nap will keep me going. For whatever reason, maybe that I made better time by leaving an hour earlier than normal, that didn't happen. I am going to bed now. Good night all.

 

[AirGoofy]

While we could see Illuminations fireworks (not the globe), it was still far enough away. The Wishes show from Cali Grill or TOTWL is spectacular, especially as y miss main street madness exodus. Still, we were able to see two fireworks shows, and the electric water pageant has started again. It sure is loud over at BLT. If I had a complaint, it would be that.

But, overall, a spectular day to start a Disney week. I'll keep the live report throughout the week. Thanks for playing along.

 

[KY*Figment]

Airgoofy & both dd must have been exhausted. They are still sleeping. Rarely do I beat Airgoofy out of bed at WDW!

 

[cj9200]

Airgoofy & both dd must have been exhausted. They are still sleeping. Rarely do I beat Airgoofy out of bed at WDW!

I got this...WAKE UP! YOU ARE AT DISNEY WORLD!

Have a great day guys.

 

[Wherem I Now]

Following along. Looks like it's going to be a great trip!

Driving straight through overnight to make breakfast?

Great views from your room!

 

[AirGoofy]

Finally awake. Went to bed at 10:30 PM after Illuminations and up at 8:30 AM. I don't think you really can make up for missing a night of sleep, and while I am a normal 8 or 9 hour sleeper, that extra hour or to of sleep has me ready to go. I did manage to find DHS next to th Swan & Dolphin this AM, so that tells you how tired I really was. S&D really dominates the southern skyline, with Epcot to the left, DHS to the right, and AK way further right.

We ate breakfast in the room this AM and are off to Mass. Today is a day at the pool, followed by Fulton's and DTD shopping. Think I'll get some more pins (but don't tell DW).

 

[twokids0204]

Think I'll get some more pins (but don't tell DW).

I don't think you have to worry about that... she left ours ago...

 

[AirGoofy]

Mary, Queen of Universe Church

 

[AirGoofy]

Lunch at Contempo.

I forgot about the new order system. Order, receipt, pay, pager, get food.

I had the mahi sandwich, DW had cold turkey sandwich, and dds had chicken nuggets. The sandwich was good, but after the fact, I noticed the carry out sushi and Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich. I'll get those next time.

 

[MaMudduck]

I just got home at 2am this morning.
I feel like "the adventure continues..." if I follow your trip seeing as you arrived the day I left.
Last week it rain every day for at least 1 hr starting at 5 pm. On thrus. night they even closed MNSSHP at 9pm,(cancelled parades etc.) people were so ticked.
Be prepared...rain gear etc! but hopefully it won't be as bad (with rain) for you this week.

 

[AirGoofy]

I just got home at 2am this morning.
I feel like "the adventure continues..." if I follow your trip seeing as you arrived the day I left.
Last week it rain every day for at least 1 hr starting at 5 pm. On thrus. night they even closed MNSSHP at 9pm,(cancelled parades etc.) people were so ticked.
Be prepared...rain gear etc! but hopefully it won't be as bad (with rain) for you this week.

I remembered that we missed each other arriving and departing. So far, no problems other than two dds who just want to fight with each other all the time. I was hoping the sleep would have made things better, but not yet. If they continue much longer, I may post my kidney on eBay and see how much all day babysitting costs .

The only strong rain we had was last night when we came into to get ready to go to Cali Grill. We saw the lightening outside, but no rain. The fireworks continued.

 

[AirGoofy]

We went to the CR pool today. DW tried the quiet pool and said it was a lot colder their feature pool. We swam and did the water slide. I forgot about all the sprinklers/ fountains in their feature pool. One thing for sure - the CR pool is A LOT LESS CROWDED than the Bay Cove pool. I am not really sure why, but I think we just may head back over their on our next pool day on Thursday.

They were doing pool games and playing Disney ride/ attraction songs and the children had to list them. Some of the other kids started asking their parents, so I guess mine wanted to compete as well, so they walked over and asked. They had songs from Splash Mountain, Wishes, Captain EO, and some others you could figure out from the characters - Carpets, Hatter Tea Cups, etc. I, er um, they were the only one who got the obscure song from the movie in France. The prize was an inflatable frog, which turned out to be just one more thing to fight about.

We are going to Fulton's for dinner tonite.

 

[KY*Figment]

Instead of selling the kidney we will mail them to their paternal grandparents. We will scalp their MNSSHP to pay for part of shipping and we will break even from what we would have spent on Epcot tickets, food, & souvenirs. I have been putting a lot of thought into this.

 

[AirGoofy]

Waiting 15 minutes CR bus stop stinks, but I did get to see Avengers monorail. Too fast and bad angle for picture, but still cool.

 

[AirGoofy]

From my observations on the bus, 4 men and 1 young adult male sitting while 3 women and 1 young female (maybe teen) standing. First encounter this trip. I kept to the code.

 

[MaMudduck]

When my sister-law & went with our "only" children (dd 8 & dN 11)- when the fighting got too much, we split up and took them to different parks, sometimes SIL took my DD & I took my nephew. When we would meet back up they were usually really excited to share what the had done when they were apart.

"Kept to the code"- meaning up gave up your seat or the Commando code of not telling "non-disney" types the rules of proper conduct at WDW-

I was actually very surprised by an older man (20yrs my senior, that's really old) INSISTING I take his seat instead of standing...I made it a point to thank him and his wife for restoring my faith that there are still gentleman in this day & age.

 

[Rest&Relax]

Sounds like a nice relaxing day to catch up on much needed rest. I agree the BLT pool is way overcrowded. Much rather spend my time at the CR pool area also. Love the frog! Our boys would be fighting over the frog also. Part of the reason we could never drive that much is because of boys would be fighting in the car all the ways down! We also would split up at times just to keep our sanity. Glad we are past that now!

The bus transportation at BLT/CR really needs to improve. It is one problem I have with the resort.

Enjoy Fulton's and the rest of the night. Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[Disney Commando]

Norm I have to ask, have you been to a park yet, you got some great eating in and it seems like you got some relaxation in

It's time to get down to business