ruvidu
SC Traveler --- I have spent most of my life fishi
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2001
- Messages
- 806
Good Evening,
I just wanted to take a few minutes and tell all about our Pre Christmas trip to Disney World this week.
We are a young couple in our Mid 60s traveling with no children.
We arrived on Tuesday, 12/13 and departed on Saturday, 12/17.
We flew on Southwest Airlines.
We used The Magical Express.
We stayed at Port Orleans, The French Quarter.
We had the free dinning plan.
We had a late lunch at Kona Cafe upon arrival and it was excellent with a 4 star rating .
We attended the Mickey Christmas Party on Tuesday night. We were not impressed at all. This was our second party and really thought it had lost a lot of appeal. There were only a few T-shirts available and none in adult sizes. Several cast members told us that marketing blew it on this one. We had planned to get the Rib dinner as a counter service at The Lunching Pad. Wrong. They closed that bay and only had sandwiches and burgers. Nasty.
Day two found us at Epcot all day long. We scored an early ride on Soaring and then got a Fast Pass to ride it again later in the day. No real crowds to speak of. We spent the afternoon walking around and listening to the world showcase Santas or whatever they had tell about traditions in their country. Canada and Great Britain were our favorites. Of course the US Santa did not say anything. He and Mrs Santa came out and just started talking to kids and making photos.
We had a counter service lunch in Norway's Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. Food here was OK but not really fresh. Even the desserts seemed old.
That night we had dinner at Tutto Italia Ristorante. Excellent food and service. You have to pay extra for coffee here. After dinner we strolled over to the theater to see and hear the Candlelight Processional. WOW. We were sitting on the third row near center and watching the conductor was a highlight. She rocked the show and the orchastra and choir performed like professionals intead of volunteers. The performance was worth every penny we spent on this trip. Of course we stayed for the fireworks since we had prefered seating near the entrance to The World Showcase. Great show.
On Thursday we were at Hollywood Studios when it opened. Kudos to Disney Cast Members and management for making the opening of the park safe. They led us, we were in the first row, across the park and down to Toy Story Mania and all the way to where you get the 3D glasses. If they had not there would have been trouble. People who push and shove and run to get on a pretend ride need to get a life. One young girl almost pushed me down going into the entrance and I told her I would push back and harder than she could. I don't think an adult had ever spoken to her like that.
Lunch at Starring Rolls Cafe. This is what walk up counter service should be. The sandwich and cupcakes were memorable.
Thursday night we took a trip over to The Grand Floridian for dinner at The Grand Floridian Cafe. While waiting for our dinner time we heard a hand bell choir and then a band and singer. Families were sitting on the floor together and it looked like a Christmas card photo. Of course the huge Christmas tree and Life Size gingerbread house helped make it a great place to wait. Dinner was so good. We will return there. Bone In Ribeye with garlic grits and veggies. Melt in your mouth.
On Friday morning we were back at The Kona Cafe for breakfast. It was a great meal and kept us going most of the day. We then wandered around The Magic Kingdom where we rode Splash Mountain and the train. We took our purchases back to our room and rested for a bit, rode the shuttle boat over to DT Disney for lunch at Wolfgan Puck Express. Best Pizza we have ever had anywhere. BTW - Disney needs some type patrols to handle the people who decide to smoke anywhere they want. DTD and Epcot were bad. I even saw this obese woman driving a motorized scoot down the walkway smoking a 6" long cigarette. Nobody said a thing. Several people were walking and smoking. Back to POFQ and then jumped back on the bus to go over to Epcot. Wow, where did the people come from. The difference in attendance was unreal. It was so crowded we could not walk. We had dinner at San Angel Inn. $28 for Carne Assada? Tough steak and cheese sauce. Thank goodness for free dinning. Will not go back there.
The room at POFQ was really nice. The mattress as superlative or we were just bone tired. Nice cold refrigerator for our water and cokes.
Over the years we have stayed at Wilderness Lodge, Carribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs, The Grand Floridian, and Port Orleans, French Quarter. For the money we will keep going to POFQ.
We are home and ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas all. We hope some of you find a Disney World Trip in your stocking this year.
I just wanted to take a few minutes and tell all about our Pre Christmas trip to Disney World this week.
We are a young couple in our Mid 60s traveling with no children.
We arrived on Tuesday, 12/13 and departed on Saturday, 12/17.
We flew on Southwest Airlines.
We used The Magical Express.
We stayed at Port Orleans, The French Quarter.
We had the free dinning plan.
We had a late lunch at Kona Cafe upon arrival and it was excellent with a 4 star rating .
We attended the Mickey Christmas Party on Tuesday night. We were not impressed at all. This was our second party and really thought it had lost a lot of appeal. There were only a few T-shirts available and none in adult sizes. Several cast members told us that marketing blew it on this one. We had planned to get the Rib dinner as a counter service at The Lunching Pad. Wrong. They closed that bay and only had sandwiches and burgers. Nasty.
Day two found us at Epcot all day long. We scored an early ride on Soaring and then got a Fast Pass to ride it again later in the day. No real crowds to speak of. We spent the afternoon walking around and listening to the world showcase Santas or whatever they had tell about traditions in their country. Canada and Great Britain were our favorites. Of course the US Santa did not say anything. He and Mrs Santa came out and just started talking to kids and making photos.
We had a counter service lunch in Norway's Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. Food here was OK but not really fresh. Even the desserts seemed old.
That night we had dinner at Tutto Italia Ristorante. Excellent food and service. You have to pay extra for coffee here. After dinner we strolled over to the theater to see and hear the Candlelight Processional. WOW. We were sitting on the third row near center and watching the conductor was a highlight. She rocked the show and the orchastra and choir performed like professionals intead of volunteers. The performance was worth every penny we spent on this trip. Of course we stayed for the fireworks since we had prefered seating near the entrance to The World Showcase. Great show.
On Thursday we were at Hollywood Studios when it opened. Kudos to Disney Cast Members and management for making the opening of the park safe. They led us, we were in the first row, across the park and down to Toy Story Mania and all the way to where you get the 3D glasses. If they had not there would have been trouble. People who push and shove and run to get on a pretend ride need to get a life. One young girl almost pushed me down going into the entrance and I told her I would push back and harder than she could. I don't think an adult had ever spoken to her like that.
Lunch at Starring Rolls Cafe. This is what walk up counter service should be. The sandwich and cupcakes were memorable.
Thursday night we took a trip over to The Grand Floridian for dinner at The Grand Floridian Cafe. While waiting for our dinner time we heard a hand bell choir and then a band and singer. Families were sitting on the floor together and it looked like a Christmas card photo. Of course the huge Christmas tree and Life Size gingerbread house helped make it a great place to wait. Dinner was so good. We will return there. Bone In Ribeye with garlic grits and veggies. Melt in your mouth.
On Friday morning we were back at The Kona Cafe for breakfast. It was a great meal and kept us going most of the day. We then wandered around The Magic Kingdom where we rode Splash Mountain and the train. We took our purchases back to our room and rested for a bit, rode the shuttle boat over to DT Disney for lunch at Wolfgan Puck Express. Best Pizza we have ever had anywhere. BTW - Disney needs some type patrols to handle the people who decide to smoke anywhere they want. DTD and Epcot were bad. I even saw this obese woman driving a motorized scoot down the walkway smoking a 6" long cigarette. Nobody said a thing. Several people were walking and smoking. Back to POFQ and then jumped back on the bus to go over to Epcot. Wow, where did the people come from. The difference in attendance was unreal. It was so crowded we could not walk. We had dinner at San Angel Inn. $28 for Carne Assada? Tough steak and cheese sauce. Thank goodness for free dinning. Will not go back there.
The room at POFQ was really nice. The mattress as superlative or we were just bone tired. Nice cold refrigerator for our water and cokes.
Over the years we have stayed at Wilderness Lodge, Carribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs, The Grand Floridian, and Port Orleans, French Quarter. For the money we will keep going to POFQ.
We are home and ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas all. We hope some of you find a Disney World Trip in your stocking this year.
