Our "Grand" Portofino" Trip of a Lifetime -August 2010 (TR Link added)

[disneylovin24]

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[disneybarbie]

Subscribing!

I'm planning on going to the Grand Floridian for my Honeymoon (in 2011!) so I can't wait to see how your trip goes!

Emma x

 

[ladybugmom]

I know what you mean about Orlando being cold!! My best friend and one of my DIS friends have been here since last week--record lows--Brrrrr!!! Not sure if that's better or worse than the record rainfall we had last May?!?!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Got really bored at work today and as it was such a miserable day I thought I would work on my Itinerary in preparation for booking our ADR’s in …. 44 days! I keep trying to pin DH and DD into making definite choices and I think they are just happy with whatever I choose – until we get a horrible meal of course! Then I guess its all my fault!!! DH has said that he didn’t want to do too many character meals so it works out well if I just do a couple of breakfasts with DD while he plays golf. Also with free dining I want to make the most of it and eat on-property quite often.

As we will be at Universal for the first 4 nights it makes sense to do the restaurants I like over “that side” while we are there. Hopefully we will do Tony Romas; The Cheesecake Factory (I already know I am having the Red Velvet Cheesecake!! Red Velvet Cupcakes are my absolute fave and have become my signature recipe!!!); Charlies Steakhouse (DH’s choice!) and a new one for us Bubba Gumps.

As for Disney – I think I am going to book the following for starters!! …

26th August - Crystal Palace Dinner
28th August - Chef Mickeys This is DD’s 9th Birthday
29th August - Kona Café
30th August - If Fantasmic on – want to book Mama Melrose for the dinner package
31st August - Early Breakfast at Akershus (Princess Storybook)
4th September - Prime Time Café – Lunch
5th September - Early breakfast at Crystal Palace (just me and DD)
6th September - Early Breakfast at Tusker House and Dinner at Corel Reef
9th September - 1900 Park Fare Dinner
10th September - Chef Mickeys Breakfast (just DD and me)

I think that will do for a start! There are lots of places we want to try but at the same time want them to be fun for DD. We are planning to book the Wishes Dessert Party if it comes up again, get tickets for MNSSHP (very excited about that) and also book DD into the Pirate Cruise which leaves from the GF. I think me and DD will do the afternoon tea at the GF but I might see how things pan out when we get there before I book that.

As much as I didn’t want to be tied to things this trip I also don’t want to get there and realise there are no dining reservations left! Hopefully by booking the ones we know will really sell out we will get the best of both worlds.

The one I am quite worried about is the Princess storybook breakfast. DD still really likes the princesses and loved CRT when we did it for breakfast in 2007. Trouble is I wonder whether at 9 years old she will be too old to dress up and I did find at CRT that all the little girls did. I’m not at all bothered if she does want to – if I could keep her a little princess forever I would – I just wouldn’t want her to feel uncomfortable or even if they do the dresses in that size (however she is very petite).

I would be really grateful for any views on this or on the dining options we have chosen – particularly if someone has had a really great experience elsewhere and thinks we should give it a go!

 

[disneybarbie]

Ooh yay - ADR choices.. decisions decisions!!

We had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare last month, it was excellent - they have the 'English' characters there for breakfasts: Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice etc, then I think for dinner it is Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine and the Ugly Step Sisters

Just wondered if you'd looked at the Grand Floridian Cafe too?
http://allears.net/menu/men_gfcd.htm
My parents ate there for lunch on their last trip in October & really enjoyed it.

Tusker House breakfast is also great - with the Fab Five in safari gear! It's so much fun being in AK before opening too

Not sure if you like Indian food - but Sanaa is an amazing restaurant, over at AKL Kidani Village - I also really love Teppan Edo in Japan, it's like a show as well as a meal as you have a private chef at each table.. it's stirfry/terriyaki food.. not all sushi!
http://allears.net/menu/menu_teppan.htm

Btw I'm pretty sure Disney Store does princess costumes up to age 11-12.. if DD does want to dress up for Akershus

Happy Planning! Not long til ADR day now

Emma xx

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Thanks Emma. We had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare last trip. Bit of a story there - we had got so fed up in the In-Laws that DH insisted we had a little while on our own so booked there for us. It turned out to be lovely. We walked over early in the morning from the Poly which was so lovely and peaceful in itself. We also had a really funny experience with the Ugly Stepmothers and Lady Tremaine whilst in Magic Kingdom and swore that next time we would have to try the dinner.

I love Indian food and funnily enough we had also said that we would like to go over and have a look at AKL as a possible for another trip - this would kill 2 birds with one stone!

We love Japanese - especially Teppenyaki - it is DD's absolute favourite. I think we are gong to go to Benihana in the Hilton for our Japanese fix and combine it with a walk around the Disney Village afterwards.

Still really in two minds about the Princess costume - I may go ove to the Restaurants Board and see if anyone over there has gone without dressng up. Just spoke to DH about it and he is adament she is too old to "dress up". Trouble is - I don't want to let go! She is still my baby! Nice to see they still do the costumes in the upper age group

 

[disneylovin24]

Sounds like some good choices for food!

I understand that the dinner at Chef Mickey's is for your daughter's birthday, but last time i ate there it was horrible! The characters were great and all but the food selection wasn't much. Also, a few things were cold Just throwing my two cents in

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Sounds like some good choices for food!

I understand that the dinner at Chef Mickey's is for your daughter's birthday, but last time i ate there it was horrible! The characters were great and all but the food selection wasn't much. Also, a few things were cold Just throwing my two cents in

Oh dear! That doesn't sound good. We have only been for breakfast before which was fine - I think I will get DD to re-consider??

Any suggestions? Or anyone had a good experience. Thanks for the

 

[klacey1]

My thoughts on your dining choices:
Love the Cheesecake Factory, too! Ironically, my fav dessert isn't cheesecake. The Godiva brownie sundae is to die for. An entree reccomendation is definite the romano crusted chicken. Soooo good!
I've never been to the Bubba Gumps in Fl, but I've been to the one in NYC several times. It's pretty good!
The only Disney restaurant on your list that I've eaten at is the Coral Reef, which we loved. Request David E as your waiter-- super attentive! We loved the food, too. DBF had a steak every night of our trip and said the one at the Coral Reef was the best!!

 

[disneylovin24]

Oh dear! That doesn't sound good. We have only been for breakfast before which was fine - I think I will get DD to re-consider??

Any suggestions? Or anyone had a good experience. Thanks for the

I would suggest Crystal Palace but since your doing it early in the trip I guess not I'm sure your DD will still enjoy the atmosphere and the characters. Who knows? I might have been there on a bad night!

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in!

We arrive in Orlando on the same day and have a Feb. 23rd ADR date. We're also staying at the GF. But, we can't stay 3 weeks. I wish! You're going to have such a fantastic vacation.

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Been an exciting couple of days!! Got an iphone! I've downloaded Eticket and the Disney Dining apps so I have been checking them out - it is soooo cool! Now I can check out menus etc wherever I am! Its also coming up to the 7 month mark

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi! You're so lucky it's nearly 7 months away to your trip.. that must mean only 1 month til ADR day !

On Sunday DF and I booked our flights for December trip!! 3 nights in NYC then to Orlando for 6 nights with Mickey.. sooo excited! Then yesterday my Dad phoned DVC for me and booked us a studio at the Boardwalk.. and he upgraded us to Boardwalk View as a treat, amazing!

Very jealous of the iPhone.. I'd like to get one but waiting til Apple bring out a pink one lol

Disney UK has released a free iphone app for Princess & the Frog!

http://www2.disney.co.uk/the-princess-and-the-frog/games/ipodapp.jsp?ex_cmp=PATFDOLUKMM001

Emma x

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Yeah - one month to go!! I have shown DH the menu to Sanaa and we are going to add it to our list. I am also debating on Ohana now as well??? Decisions Decisions. 3 weeks seemed like such a long time but its not long enough for all the restaurants we want to visit.

Thanks for the link to the Princess and the Frog app - I will definately download it tonight.

I wish I could have waited for a pink iphone - I am making do with a pink case

How lovely - a Boardwalk view! That will be amazing! I love that area and when Amber is older we are definately going to stay there again. Have you been to NYC before?

 

[disneylovin24]

Ohana's is great, somewhere I would recommand for sure!! The view is great and the food is excellent. It's one of my favorite restaurants in WDW!

 

[disneybarbie]

How lovely - a Boardwalk view! That will be amazing! I love that area and when Amber is older we are definately going to stay there again. Have you been to NYC before?

Nope.. will be our first time to New York!! I can't wait.. I've watched so many films in NYC and S&theCity episodes that I feel like I need to go there!!

Hoping to keep our packing to a minimum so we can do lots of xmas shopping there & in Disney!

Glad you decided to add Sanaa to the list!! My ADR there was a sudden decision when on the phone to WDW-DINE last year.. I couldn't get Mama Melroses for one night, as planned, and had just heard about Sanaa on a podcast.. I knew DBF's family all like Indian food.. and it was probably our best meal of the whole trip!

I really want to try 'Ohana too - my sister and I had planned to go there before MVMCP in December but there wasn't a single ADR available .. so we went to The Wave instead, which was fantastic.. but I'd still like to try 'Ohanas! maybe this year..

Emma x x

 

[gallmcduck]

Joining in also. Looking fab so far. I'm kind of the same with chef mickey very much about character experience food not that hot. We have started our ADRs at the weekend only staying on site for 7 days this year, so couldn't get them all booked at same time, got a few more to do for our last 7 days when we are at the Hilton, not classed at disney hotel for ADRs but you get the EMH which is good.

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Well ... 4 weeks today and I should be booking the ADR's - how exciting! Wish DH would stop saying he will leave it up to me!! I don't want to be blamed if some choices are bad!!!

I'm in a dilemma at the moment. When we have been in the past we have tended to eat offsite most of the time? I'm not really sure why that has happened. Obviously with the free dining it would work out better financially to eat on-site where we can? We have a few favourite restaurants we like which we can do whilst staying up at Universal such as Charlies Steakhouse and the Cheesecake Factory and I also want to try Bubba Gumps.

Also ... In the past we have tended to have our Magic Kingdom "Day" and our Epcot "Day" and not really park hopped as such. We did it a couple of times whilst staying at the Poly and I did really enjoy it so I am planning on Park Hopping a lot more this time.

Anyway enough rabbling ... The ADR's I have added to the list so far are:

Paridiso 37 (I know this isn't on the DP)
Ohana
Rose and Crown Dining Room

These are all new ones for us so any opinions would be great.

Sara xx

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY for ADRs!!!! I LOVE O'hana!! It was my absolute favorite place we ate last May!! Sooo yummy!!! Their bread pudding is TDF!!

 

[Charlefours]

Hello!

New subscriber here! I am all caught up. Love the choices you picked out for your ADRs--we love Rose and Crown but we are not from England 1900 Park Faire is where we have picked for my DD's birthday celebration--we are really looking forward to it!!

I am getting into digital scrapbooking--I have done traditional scrapbooking now for about 10 years or so. I have so much supplies built up that I won't be doing digital exclusively that's for sure! I am also trying my hand at sewing. I want to try the pillowcase dresses--they look so adorable! I have been doing doll clothes for my daughter but they are so small to work with, that it is much more difficult.

Looking forward to following along with you on your journey.