our non-rushing (sorta) disney anniversary w/ PICS & VIDEO! new TR link - p. 136

[VandyFan10]

did you even know that you could still buy monchichi's???

wow.......those shoulder exercises are really working!!!

What a great pic! That dress is SO cute!!

We are definitely going to have to get one of those slushes on our trip!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Great update, can't believe Ray suggested Epcot!

I laughed at your monchichi comment. There is a store up here that sells them, I didn't realize they were rare until people started commenting on them in trip reports.

 

[punkin413]

What a great pic! That dress is SO cute!!

thanks! $30 at marshall's, baby!

We are definitely going to have to get one of those slushes on our trip!!

only one??????? um......i plan to get much more than one, just FYI.

Great update, can't believe Ray suggested Epcot!

I laughed at your monchichi comment. There is a store up here that sells them, I didn't realize they were rare until people started commenting on them in trip reports.

thanks! i know...i was in shock for a little while, too!

the last time i saw a monchichi before going to epcot this year was when i was like 7 years old! they may be around and i just don't notice them or something.

 

[MeMom]

there were so many cool things in this store! i loved the dinner ware and the tea sets and things! i didn't think to take a picture........sorry memom!!! i know how you love your shopping pics!

we also went into the tin toy museum or whatever it is. ray LOVED this too! he made me take TONS of pictures from in there to show his nephew. here's one of them.....


ray's got the whole......um......spaceship earth.....in his hands!

and this roof is just unbelievable.

a very cute lady and the tramp topiary we passed somewhere along the way out of the park.....

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Don't you know that lady underneath SSE is hoping Ray's not going to drop it on her head?!?!

I have that roof picture, too. It is beautiful and just so massive when you are standing underneath it.

 

[MeMom]

there were so many cool things in this store! i loved the dinner ware and the tea sets and things! i didn't think to take a picture........sorry memom!!! i know how you love your shopping pics!

we also went into the tin toy museum or whatever it is. ray LOVED this too! he made me take TONS of pictures from in there to show his nephew. here's one of them.....


ray's got the whole......um......spaceship earth.....in his hands!

and this roof is just unbelievable.

a very cute lady and the tramp topiary we passed somewhere along the way out of the park.....

[/SIZE][/COLOR]

Don't you know that lady underneath SSE is hoping Ray's not going to drop it on her head?!?!

I have that roof picture, too. It is beautiful and just so massive when you are standing underneath it.

The Lady and the Tramp topiaries are very cute!

I don't know why this went through twice. Oh, never mind, yes I do. I remember the computer doing something weird as I was writing that last sentence. Okay, that's kind of weird, so sorry for the (kind of) double post.

 

[princessjv]

peek- a - boo, I see you!

I'l be back when I'm all caught up kiddo!

 

[daisy_77]

Great update!
That is awesome that Ray wanted to stop at Epcot. That is a good sign!
We bought a Monchhichi on our last trip. I had one when I was a kid. I was so happy to see them there. They are so cute!

Beautiful dress, BTW. I really love it!

 

[Wonders10]

Hey Dawn...mostly lurking but loving this report! Glad you were able to make it to Epcot, even for just a little bit. How are the orange slushies from France - I had the Lemon one on my last trip and it was awesome. Except it melted in like 2 seconds so I was chugging it .

I have a question about some of the shirts you've gotten from disneystore online. How is the sizing on them? Do you find they run big or small? There a lot that I like, especially now that I'm heading back to Disney in a couple weeks.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[snowbell]

Yeah -- another update -- I am so glad that I am all caught up. You know I never noticed those monchichi's in Japan. They used to call me a monchichi in grammar school... I have no idea why.. So did Ray have a good time in Epcot?? I so love it there... I cannot wiat for the next installment.

 

[punkin413]

Don't you know that lady underneath SSE is hoping Ray's not going to drop it on her head?!?!

I have that roof picture, too. It is beautiful and just so massive when you are standing underneath it.

i want to spend more time in here!

The Lady and the Tramp topiaries are very cute!

I don't know why this went through twice. Oh, never mind, yes I do. I remember the computer doing something weird as I was writing that last sentence. Okay, that's kind of weird, so sorry for the (kind of) double post.

no problems......i'd rather you post double than not at all!

peek- a - boo, I see you!

I'l be back when I'm all caught up kiddo!

glad to see you here!

Great update!
That is awesome that Ray wanted to stop at Epcot. That is a good sign!
We bought a Monchhichi on our last trip. I had one when I was a kid. I was so happy to see them there. They are so cute!

Beautiful dress, BTW. I really love it!

thank you! it was comfy, too!

i know - i couldn't believe he wanted to go there. the disney-ness is rubbing off.....slowly but surely!

Hey Dawn...mostly lurking but loving this report! Glad you were able to make it to Epcot, even for just a little bit. How are the orange slushies from France - I had the Lemon one on my last trip and it was awesome. Except it melted in like 2 seconds so I was chugging it .

I have a question about some of the shirts you've gotten from disneystore online. How is the sizing on them? Do you find they run big or small? There a lot that I like, especially now that I'm heading back to Disney in a couple weeks.

Can't wait to read more!

hi, shannon! the shirts run big. i got a medium in the two shirts i bought and they were both ginormous on me. i usually wear a medium or sometimes a small (in shirts - not in pants!). anyway, i washed/dried them and they shrunk b/c they were 100% cotton, which is a good thing!

Yeah -- another update -- I am so glad that I am all caught up. You know I never noticed those monchichi's in Japan. They used to call me a monchichi in grammar school... I have no idea why.. So did Ray have a good time in Epcot?? I so love it there... I cannot wiat for the next installment.

maybe because you were so cute??? yeah, i think ray actually enjoyed himself, surprisingly enough. there was no stipulation this time for our december trip of "no hellcot"!

 

[princessjv]

All caught up and ohh so proud. You two are about he cutest darn couple out there! I hope to one day cross paths for a real meet. I bet you are just a cute little bubble! Your smile is so darn infectious.

You have converted Ray into a believer. I love the Mon chi chi's. Can't you just hear the commercial... Mon Chi Chi, Mon Chi Chi, oh soft adn cuddly, Mon Chi Chi, Mon Chi Chi...

I am thinking of doing a no children allowed dinner at Kona. We could check our kidlets into the childcare. I have always eaten breakfast...LOVE THE MACADAMIAN PANCAKES. Do you think Kona Warrants a date night?

 

[DisCanCan]

Hi Dawn Just subscribing. Loved your previous trip reports. I am so in loved with BASIN I can't wait to go back there when I go in October. I am in love with the Warm Vanilla Bath Bombs I am so get like 10. I live in Canada so I can't even go on the website to order more cuz the won't deliver here.

 

[punkin413]

All caught up and ohh so proud. You two are about he cutest darn couple out there! I hope to one day cross paths for a real meet. I bet you are just a cute little bubble! Your smile is so darn infectious.

awwwww......thanks! you're so sweet to me! and no, you're not a stalker because i wanna meet you too!

You have converted Ray into a believer. I love the Mon chi chi's. Can't you just hear the commercial... Mon Chi Chi, Mon Chi Chi, oh soft adn cuddly, Mon Chi Chi, Mon Chi Chi...

my friend anna sang the entire song to me when she saw that picture!

I am thinking of doing a no children allowed dinner at Kona. We could check our kidlets into the childcare. I have always eaten breakfast...LOVE THE MACADAMIAN PANCAKES. Do you think Kona Warrants a date night?

i hear the neverland club at the poly is really cool for kids. kona is not what i'd call the most romantic restaurant at WDW, but the food is just SO GOOD - it can't be beat for the price. i think the reason i don't consider it romantic is because there's not really a great view of anything except the inside of the poly lobby. don't get me wrong - it's a must-do for us and we absolutely love it - it's definitely worth going! i just didn't want you to get the impression that it's a really romantic setting. oh, i just reread what you wrote and you've been there for breakfast - duh! so you know what the setting is. so anyway, the food is definitely worth a date night!

Hi Dawn Just subscribing. Loved your previous trip reports. I am so in loved with BASIN I can't wait to go back there when I go in October. I am in love with the Warm Vanilla Bath Bombs I am so get like 10. I live in Canada so I can't even go on the website to order more cuz the won't deliver here.

thanks for coming over! yeah, basin was great! i wanna go there again and spend more time. bummer that you can't order it online!

 

[End_User-X]

*edited to avoid double post*

 

[End_User-X]

"i'm thinking i want to try the tangerine cafe. can you get the morrocan coffee there?"

Not sure, never been there, only to the Marrakesh.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, I'm all caught up on your trip report! Love it love it love it! How cool that your man was into Epcot finally! You know, I never appreciated it as a child (er, um 15 year old actually at the time!) and now just love Epcot! Our 3 girls love it too, so much so that we're spending 2 days there in November

First off, you looked fabulous in that dress! Man, I soooo could not pull that off right now. Maybe soon (I'm on the South Beach diet and it sucks but it works!)

Ok, I laughed out loud when I saw the picture of the Monchici's in Japan!!! I had 2 of them when I was little and I still remember the song..."Monchichi monchichi, oh so soft and cuddly..." I loved how you could shove their thumbs in their mouths and they would stay in place Oh, the memories. Now if only I could find a Holly Hobbie stove...

 

[punkin413]

so we left epcot WS in order to make our 8:00 narcoosee's reservation. we considered taking the boat from the international gateway to the boardwalk, where we were parked, but figured walking would be just as quick, so that's what we did.

we made it to the GF at like 7:20, so we had PLENTY of time to walk around and enjoy the grandness that is the GRAND floridian. does anyone else ever feel the need to clean up your car really quickly when you valet it? i always panic as we're pulling up to valet and thinking, "oh, crap......my car's a mess!!!"

as we passed 1900 park fare i decided to take some pics for erica since we'd be dining here in september. here's the menu for ya!

looks yummy!!!

it was nice just sitting there in this beautiful place! one day when i win the lottery i'll do a split stay between here, the poly, the WL and AKL. someday......

after walking around a little and sitting in the lobby listening to the piano player and watching some kids play, we decided to head towards narcoosee's. we were still about 15 minutes early for our ADR, but we were both hungry.

as i was checking in at the hostess stand, this woman came in right behind us and was waiting behind me to check in, only she was RIGHT UP AGAINST ME while waiting. it was really annoying! i have a personal space issue and she definitely was violating it!!! there was no one else in the lobby with us, either. have no clue why she was standing that close to me. when the host looked up our ADR, he said, "oh, i see here you are a party of two. has that number changed?" then he looked at the lady behind me. i said, "no. it's just me and my husband. we're not with them, believe it or not." he kinda laughed as he gave us our buzzer.

the culinary genius that awaited us......

i got a glass of riesling while we waited for the table. that would be dawn's second drink of the night, if you're keeping a count.

we went out on the veranda and found a bench to sit on while we waited. so pretty!!!

see the castle over ray's shoulder?

while we were waiting, chris called me and said that he and anna were considering leaving earlier than they had thought on thursday. he was wondering if there was any way they could get a character breakfast for friday morning in case they did get here earlier. i gave him some suggestions and the number to disney dining and wished him luck!

we were buzzed right at 8:00 (our ADR time) and we got a window seat again!!! only this time we were at the opposite end of the restaurant as compared to last year. i was happy we had a window seat though!

some pics of the inside of the restaurant for ya......

when we got the menus they were personalized......again! they didn't have our names on them this time but they had the date and "happy anniversary" with a little mickey/minnie bride & groom.

if you read my TR from last year, you'll remember how mousekeeping at pop century decided to chuck our personalized menus from narcoosee's. well, this year our server gave them to us in a nice envelope at the end of the meal so i put them in the safe in the room so there would be none of that!

when our server showed up, she was carrying these......

complimentary champagne for our anniversary!!!

i don't drink champagne because i think it tastes like beer but when it's free, that's a different story! plus i already had a buzz from the grand marnier slushie and the wine.....and that strawberry helped with the flavor!
that's 3 adult beverages if you're keeping count.

we ordered appetizers and decided on the WONDERFUL crab cakes we had last year (of course these aren't the actual crab cakes we had last year....that would be really gross. )

crab cakes with sweet and spicy green papaya slaw and remoulade sauce......

these are just as good as they were last year!

we also decided to be adventurous and try the yellowfin tuna tartar - with wonton crisps, blood orange vinaigrette and citrus creme fraiche

i forgot to take a picture of the wonton crisps. we liked this. would we order it again? probably not. i liked it with the wonton crisps (sorta like the chips at ohana), but when i ate it without them it felt like a bunch of cold mush in my mouth. i'm a texture-based eater and if i don't like the texture of something, that's it for me. ray felt the same way. this wasn't BAD. just not that great, either. next time i'm gonna try the buttermilk fried shrimp. i saw someone order these and they looked delicious!

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25898027&postcount=778

 

[punkin413]

we noticed as we were eating our appetizers that an area right outside our window was being roped off by some "official-looking" people and a table was being sat up with a really pretty table cloth and place settings. i thought to myself that surely it was a table for a bride and groom or something.

we asked our server and she said that it was for some resort guests who had won a dream - dinner at narcoosee's with a private viewing of wishes. how cool would that be???????

here they are after they had arrived. LUCKIES!!!

our server also mentioned that it was good news for us because we wouldn't have to go outside to watch wishes, but could enjoy it from our table instead since no one would be standing up in front of us.

as our champagne starting running out we decided to order more drinks. ray decided on a cucumber collins......

i tried it. it was good if you like cucumbers and gin!

i got a raspberry mojito......

YUMMMMM............DOUBLE YUM YUM!!!! this was ALMOST as good as my beloved lapu lapu!

so now......are we keeping count..........THAT'S 4 ADULT BEVERAGES FOR DAWN!!!

then came the entrees! ray decided he wasn't in the mood for seafood after our appetizers, so he just got the filet.

grilled filet mignon with green peppercorn brandy sauce, potato gratin and broccoli (kinda blurry...sorry!) ......

he asked for extra green peppercorn brandy sauce. he LOVES this stuff! i asked for the recipe in an e-mail to disney last year but never got it. go figure! in fact, he asked me on the way to dinner that night if i thought they would let him just get a big bowl of that sauce, a side of potatoes and the key lime creme brulee for dinner!

i, of course, got the surf and turf.....

twin filet mignon medallions with green peppercorn brandy sauce, butter-poached lobster tail, potato gratin and broccoli.....

SO GOOD.

as we were finishing up dinner, wishes started. as i said before, we didn't go outside this time. just sat at our table holding hands and watching it........ i was in HEAVEN!!!! i love seeing wishes from here! i didn't take any pictures because they don't really turn out from inside the restaurant, plus i was just enjoying myself!

ray ordered his favorite dessert in all of disney world - the key lime brulee. he ate most of it because i was stuffed. plus i had a good bit of a buzz from all that alcohol i had consumed. okay....i'll admit it.....i was drunk!

our plan that night was to go to PI. well, let me explain a little something to you guys. i used to be quite the drinker. not that i was a lush or anything, but i could hold my alcohol. a pitcher of margaritas was nothing to me. that was before i lost 30+ pounds in 2007. now i can't hold my alcohol FOR NOTHING!!!! seriously. two margaritas and i'm drunk. tanked. and when i get drunk, i get SLEEPY!!!! especially after having toured 3 parks in the 2 days before. i had had 4 alcoholic beverages that night, so i was done for the night. i wasn't going anywhere but back to SSR and into my bed! what can i say....i'm a cheap date!

so no PI for us. no adventurer's club. nope. sorry. i hope to make it there one day. it's another one of those things - something to go back for!!! (maybe i subconsciously do that so i can have an excuse to go back! )

notice how there's no picture of the creme brulee? yeah.....your resident food porn expert was overserved, hence she forgot to take a picture.

we settled up our check and said goodbye to narcoosee's. we love this place!!!

as we were leaving, the electric water pagent was going by, so i snapped a drunken shot....

ray drove (ya think???) back to SSR and as i was getting ready for bed i decided to take some shots of DTD at night. the view from our building at night was just gorgeous! i so want to be there right now!!!

our building and our room at night......

i was in bed by 10:15 and, let me tell ya...i slept good that night!!!

i've decided to give you guys clues of what we'll be doing in the next installment by cropping a picture and letting you wonder. here's my first one! up next.......

next update: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25947955&postcount=838

 

[KatInHat]

Hey Dawn, It looks like y'all had a perfect anniversary.
Your dress is so cute.
I can't wait to try Narcoosees in Sept. I can't wait to have the surf and turf.. yum !! Our meal wont be quite as romantic with our party of 8

How lucky were those people who won the dream dinner and private viewing of wishes; and lucky for you that you didn't have to leave your seat.

Too bad you didn't make it to PI but like you said theres always next time.

Thanks for sharing.. can't wait to hear more.

 

[punkin413]

i don't know how many of you watch so you think you can dance, but i just LOVE that show! i'm not a big TV person so if i watch a show EVERY week it's a big deal for me. of course AI was one of those, too!

here's my two favorite numbers from last night. THEY'RE SO GOOD!!!

katee & joshua - samba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Cpi5t-YQI&feature=related

chelsie & mark - hip hop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5RVxE4jLD0

just thought i'd share.