Practically Perfect in Every Way - UPDATE-3/1 -- LINK TO TRIP REPORT!!!!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

So you know, and I'm not sure what the deal with this is, and how long it will last, DHS seems to be unofficially opening at 8:30 now, instead of 9, and TSM is (theoretically in our case) open! (The ride was down for a few minutes at the very beginning of our day). I had had NO idea, and we just strolled right in at around 8:40 (I was like "DID I MISS EMH???"). But pretty much everything else isn't open at that point (we had to wait until 9 for the Muppets).

 

[tinacaplan]

I've been thinking the same thing for years .... a DHS-themed resort would be awesome!

And carrot cake cookie sounds like my kind of breakfast! (Only, no carrot cake ... maybe chocolate chips instead. DH loves the carrot cake cookie though!!!)

Wouldn't it, though?

You said earlier that Max is listening to the muppets a lot these days, so yes, you'll definitely have to hit the muppet theater. Has he seen it before?

Regarding California Grill, I haven't made it there yet. And it's not in the cards for this next trip either.

I don't think my parents would be into it. But I know Judy and I and the kids would....so it'll make the list on some future, yet-to-be-identified trip.

He's seen Muppetvision before, but not sure he really got it. I'm sure he'll enjoy it quite a bit this time. California Grill is great. I hope that it lives up to my memories.

Sounds like yet another great planned day!

I was thinking of trying California Grill on our next trip. But, then I saw on the CR thread that it will be closing later this year for some refurb work that has to be done at CR. So say they're going to re-theme it & re-open it as something new. But, who knows for sure. I'm going to keep an eye on it & maybe we'll get to try it.

I think the Neverland Club sounds like a wonderful idea for Max. I've read great things about it on here. He'll have so much fun!

I'm glad we're getting to go there before its changed (possibly!) I think Max will really like the Neverland Club and I've heard nothing but positive reviews on here.

I haven't made it to Cali either, but I have a feeling that could change in Oct I don't know why but every time I look at the menu I can't get all that excited but I think that I need to give it a try!

I think if you are trying to do it with just the 2 of you, your chances of making it just went up a bunch!

I hope you get to go in October! Do you all have dates yet? I'm going to be there very briefly in October, too.

The menu is great, very eclectic. I thought I wouldn't be into some of the combinations they've got going on, but I really was.

And yes, I think dinner for the two of us is the way to go when it comes to any signature dining.

Your picture in the lobby of the CR... you would look not look out of place in a DHS themed hotel! No wonder you would like it! Personally, while I am not so sure I would fit in... I too think it would be an awesome hotel.

This literally made me laugh out loud. Slightly crazily, I might add. I was going through this again and then I realized that I had posted a GIANT picture of myself. Ridiculous.

So you know, and I'm not sure what the deal with this is, and how long it will last, DHS seems to be unofficially opening at 8:30 now, instead of 9, and TSM is (theoretically in our case) open! (The ride was down for a few minutes at the very beginning of our day). I had had NO idea, and we just strolled right in at around 8:40 (I was like "DID I MISS EMH???"). But pretty much everything else isn't open at that point (we had to wait until 9 for the Muppets).

Thanks for the tip! We'll have to keep it in mind. That's why I love the Dis and all my Disboard friends.

 

[KatMark]

Great plans! I can't think of a better place to stop for a quick breakfast at DHS than the Writer's Shop.

I just read a review somewhere of California Grill...can't remember where...and it got a stellar review. We've never been...Mark's not into dressing up on vacation.

 

[annmarieda]

This literally made me laugh out loud. Slightly crazily, I might add. I was going through this again and then I realized that I had posted a GIANT picture of myself. Ridiculous.

I meant it in the best way though.. you look very glamorous! Big picture or not... very stunning.

 

[tinacaplan]

Great plans! I can't think of a better place to stop for a quick breakfast at DHS than the Writer's Shop.

I just read a review somewhere of California Grill...can't remember where...and it got a stellar review. We've never been...Mark's not into dressing up on vacation.

I Writer's Stop!!!! So glad I discovered it on our last trip.

We actually didn't get all that dressed up for Cali Grill. When we went in 2010 we looked OK but I think Mark wore a Hawaiian shirt and regular (not dress) khakis. We went to MK for EMHs afterwards, so we couldn't have been THAT dressed up.

I meant it in the best way though.. you look very glamorous! Big picture or not... very stunning.

Oh, I know you did...it just struck me as hillarious as I looked at it and then saw your comment.

 

[tinacaplan]

Sadly, this will be our last full day at Disney. The way that this trip evolved, we just ended up with a shorter trip than I might have liked. However, we were able to get cheaper airfare, avoid the worst of the Pres. Week crowds, and stay at the Poly. So I suppose the trade-off is worth it.

Look...empty MK!

This morning there are EMHs at MK, which I plan on taking full advantage of. We seem to have few problems getting up and hitting the ground running early in the morning while at Disney. However, I’ve never done morning EMHs. I would love to hear from anyone who’s experienced this already.

I really have no set plan for what we’ll do while we’re here. I’ll have to see where the morning takes us....oh...actually...by 10:30, it will be taking us right back to the Poly for breakfast at Kona!
There’s just no way I could stay at the Poly and not do breakfast here. For as much as people love dinner here, they RAVE about breakfast even more.

After I’m full of Tonga Toast and Kona coffee, we’ll have to assess where our little group is. We can just hop back on the monorail. We could also take a ride down to AK, the one park I haven’t scheduled time for. Mark isn’t a huge fan and we didn’t have a great experience there last time, but I have a feeling Max might ask to go there. Or we could head to DHS, too.

We have nothing set in stone until our 7:30 ADR at Via Napoli. I have not stopped thinking about the carciofi pizza and the love of truffle oil it has inspired in me. So, yes, I already know what I will order.

I know we’ll want to head over early to do SE and Nemo again before dinner. I’m hoping that after dinner we’ll be able to make it to Illuminations, but we’ll see. Illuminations might not happen this trip and that’s OK...because it definitely will in April! Oh, wait, but then again...I could hang around just take the monorail back a bit later.

I like ending our trips with lots of unscheduled time so we can make up for things we might have missed. Plus, it seems that with every trip we take we find new things that enchant us that we want to do over and over and over again.

 

[amandaw]

I think you have a great trip planned for y'all! I am dying to try Kona Cafe for breakfast on our next trip. In fact, it's the only place I'm set on. I want to try the Macadamia pancakes.

That pizza looks delicious! What all is on it?

 

[that's nice]

Tina- your plans look great! Love the Lapu Lapu pic! Kona breakfast is our favorite!!! We eat there every trip!

So you know, and I'm not sure what the deal with this is, and how long it will last, DHS seems to be unofficially opening at 8:30 now, instead of 9, and TSM is (theoretically in our case) open! (The ride was down for a few minutes at the very beginning of our day). I had had NO idea, and we just strolled right in at around 8:40 (I was like "DID I MISS EMH???"). But pretty much everything else isn't open at that point (we had to wait until 9 for the Muppets).

I have heard this too and it is supposed to be a 'trial' to see if they can tone down the TSM FP RD rush. I'm not sure how long it will last.

 

[tinacaplan]

I think you have a great trip planned for y'all! I am dying to try Kona Cafe for breakfast on our next trip. In fact, it's the only place I'm set on. I want to try the Macadamia pancakes.

That pizza looks delicious! What all is on it?

The pizza has artichokes on it and its drizzled with truffle oil. SOOOO delicious.

Tina- your plans look great! Love the Lapu Lapu pic! Kona breakfast is our favorite!!! We eat there every trip!

I have heard this too and it is supposed to be a 'trial' to see if they can tone down the TSM FP RD rush. I'm not sure how long it will last.

Gee...wonder where I got the idea that Kona is so great for breakfast? OK, you and a ton of other people, but still...

I'll have to keep that in mind when we're there. So, we'll be a little early.

 

[that's nice]

Gee...wonder where I got the idea that Kona is so great for breakfast? OK, you and a ton of other people, but still...

Here ya go!

 

[amandaw]

The pizza has artichokes on it and its drizzled with truffle oil. SOOOO delicious.

Hmmm...the truffle oil sounds delicious....but I don't do artichokes. I'll have to see if they have other pizzas with truffle oil.

 

[amandaw]

Here ya go!

Is that the Tonga Toast at top? That's what my DH wants to try.

I want to try the macadamia pancakes - is that them at the bottom?

This looks sooooooo yummy!!!

 

[eandesmom]

This looks like a lovely lovely day!

I've never made it to actual rope drop with my family. Close, when it was just the E's and I and it was EMH (so I guess technically pre-RD but not right when EMH started). Morning EMH was pretty stinking amazing at MK and at DHS, we LOVED it even with not on time arrival. Hit the big hitters and then had a lazy CS breakfast while folks were running in. It was wonderful.

I did make RD on my girls trip, twice. But...have yet to see an actual "show" as once was when we did the Trek (let us in, pre RD) and the other, I was on the WS side of Epcot so you don't see the show.

Not much help am I

 

[that's nice]

Is that the Tonga Toast at top? That's what my DH wants to try.

I want to try the macadamia pancakes - is that them at the bottom?

This looks sooooooo yummy!!!

You got it! And if you can't decide between the two, order the tonga toast then order the Big Kahuna and split.

 

[amandaw]

You got it! And if you can't decide between the two, order the tonga toast then order the Big Kahuna and split.

Ooohhh....ahhh....that looks delicious! I like that suggestion!

 

[dizneeat]

Hm, you have done most of your planning and NO mention of meeting with us .......







but I am sure we'll find a way!

 

[annmarieda]

breakfast photos look yummy!!! I think one thing I really liked this last trip was doing the occasional ts breakfast. Just kinda sets the tone for the day.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Since Tim shared some delicious-looking Kona breakfast pics, here's another great menu item, the Samoan. Basically their take on eggs Benedict, with eggs, Hollandaise, and pulled pork.



Also, don't forget, they have the Lilikoi juice here! (AKA frunch, jungle juice, POG juice...etc...)

 

[natebenma]

I have to say, your plan for that final day is Practically, if not totally, Perfect! We did this very thing on our trip in 2010. Early EMH at MK, breakfast at Kona at 11 am (ish). This is the first time we have done a late breakfast and we loved it!!!

Here is the post from my TR (and it has pictures, too):

I promise the boys 3 Mountains and an Island. By 11 am. Can I deliver? And still make breakfast at Kona? http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39137362&postcount=346
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39137570&postcount=347


Kona is my favorite breakfast on property and the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes may be my favorite thing to eat in the world. Not WDW. The planet, world!

I am a huge proponent of early EMH! It is amazing how much you can get done in those first couple of hours, before the masses start to arrive. We enjoy the attractions with little wait, while we collect FP for use later in the day.

 

[MEK]

I'm behind on all your park plans. You have so many trips planned now that I can't keep it all straight. But you already knew that!

I love CP breakfast. Its the one group ADR I did with my brother's family in June. Otherwise, I do not want to be tied down to ADRs with a group of 9. It's just too chaotic. But I figured if we were going to do one character breakfast, it had to be that one!

I love Cali Grill. The sushi and the flat bread alone make it such a wonderful meal and both times I have eaten there the wait staff have been exemplary.

Great plans!