Sand and Sun ~ Trip Number Ten Was Lots of Fun! Clearwater Beach & YC, August 2013

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Lots of heat and lines and waiting this day for you guys!

I am still shocked at how much the boys have grown. They are just so much bigger than last December!!! I guess I shouldn't be surprised--- D is now taller than my 5'7" height. I'm having to look up to him now. Anyway== seeing your guys with Mater it hit me again how big they are and it shocked me. I still think of them as little peanuts!

I've seen LMA once and it was fun but dang I bet it was hot there with all the action sequences, and the same with the backlot tour when the tanker blows. geez.... I bet a shower sounded wonderful to you guys!

That lemonade did look good but I'm the same way-- when I'm just hot, nothing with any sugar sounds good at all. But I bet it cooled you off really good!


Hoping for Carsland in five or six years......

Oh and Happy 100 Days!!!!

Yes, it was a hot one that's for sure.

I know. They really have grown since our December trip. Especially DS14. Shortly after that was when he passed me up in height too.

It was miserably hot during LMA and on the Backlot Tour.

Yeah, maybe before our little ones are adults Carsland will be done!!

Yay for 100 days!!


It must have been really hot that day. And not much shade in the park, especially at LMA. We were at the football game this past Saturday and it was brutally hot sitting in that stadium, so as I was reading, I was imagining how you felt that day. And I'll bet your August Florida day was hotter than my October Louisiana day!

When DD and I were in DL this summer, we didn't get to ride Cars. As soon as we got into the park, we went straight to Soarin', and by the time we got out, the line for Cars FP's was unbelievably long, with a return of late afternoon. We said "No Thanks" and gave it up. But later when I read how awesome it was, I was kinda kicking myself for not going straight to Cars for FP's and doing Soarin' later. Maybe I'll have a chance one day to ride it at DW, since I doubt seriously I will ever be back at DL. Have you heard much about the ride itself?

Those shakes and frozen lemonade look so good! It would be hard to pick which one I'd want!

Cute pics of the boys! Every year you can get them to pose with characters is a bonus!

It was so hot and it's hard to find a lot of shade at DHS. There's a lot of pavement.

Radiator Springs Racers is supposed to be awesome!!! Like, better than TT. I can't wait to ride it. We will definitely go straight to it (if we go to DL next year). Too bad you missed it.

Yeah, it gets harder and harder to get character pics these days!!

Yay for 100 days!!

I think I'm at 70 days today.

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Thanks!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow! I would not have survived that kind of heat! I felt bad for you just reading about it! I hope you have cooler weather next year. You probably will for sure in January!

Can you believe that we have never been on the BLT? Every year we try to ride it and something happens and we don't make it... or it's closed. I'm really hoping we make it this time. I don't even have a clue what it's about.

We might have to do LMA this time too since it's leaving. I'm very excited about Carsland though! I've watched videos of it in California and it looks awesome!

5 more days for us!!!! We are getting so excited!!!!

It was rough!! Yeah, I don't think we will have that kind of heat down there in January!

The Backlot Tour is about movies and props and such. I really like it, but I guess back in the day it used to be much better. I can't believe you haven't been on it! Better do that this time!

Yes, Carsland will be a great addition to DHS I think. Although who knows when it will actually happen. Especially now with the announcement of Avatarland at AK.

WOW 5 DAYS!!! Awesome!

YES for double digits for you today!!!

Thanks!

I think by next month all resorts will be included.

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Yep!

100 days...already?!! LOL!! Way to go!! That's the way to plan sister!!! Have a countdown as soon as you get back so you don't get depressed!

That's the plan - to always have a countdown going!!!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

What resorts are considered testing resorts?

I think every one except for the campground is testing until the end of the month. My guess would be either a full roll out to all guest between December and the start of next year should be likely.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I think every one except for the campground is testing until the end of the month. My guess would be either a full roll out to all guest between December and the start of next year should be likely.

Yep, that's pretty much my understanding as well at this point.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Yep, that's pretty much my understanding as well at this point.

Also with some of the problems I have herd that AP holders are having I wouldn't want to link one to it yet.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Also with some of the problems I have herd that AP holders are having I wouldn't want to link one to it yet.

What problems have you heard? We are hoping to link our APs after our January 2014 trip to our May 2014 reservations.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

What problems have you heard? We are hoping to link our APs after our January 2014 trip to our May 2014 reservations.

It's more just bugs in the system they are still working out you should be fine linking them in the new year as they should have everything worked out by then.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We got back to the YC around 3:15. We did pretty much nothing for the next few hours. We were just wiped out from all the heat.

Eventually DH and I started to get ready, we had an ADR at Il Mulino for dinner! I offered to take the kids down to the BC Marketplace and get some dinner before we left, but they had been snacking all afternoon and said they weren't ready for dinner and would get something after we got back. So, off we headed!

We walked down to the gazebo area and took the kids pic on the balcony and they took ours!

We checked in a bit early for our 6:00 ADR and were seated right away. The place was nearly empty when we got there, but filled up some throughout our dinner.

DH got the Gnocchi and I got the Pappardelle. Neither of us were really impressed. It wasn't bad, it was just okay. Very heavy. Maybe just too much since it was so hot out.

Some kind of drink they brought out to “cleanse the palate”...

It was pretty nasty!

Our experience here was a bit weird. The food was just okay. The restaurant was nice and elegant, but just almost seemed awkward. Not sure why. It was like they were trying to be fancy, when it really wasn't because of where it is. IDK. The staff was all dressed up and professional acting, but then some of the people that came in for dinner after us were in sweaty tank tops. So, it was just a weird atmosphere.


Total Bill: $48.99
Rating: 6 out of 10

Up Next: Pool time!

 

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We weren't that impressed with it either. I was really disappointed since I had high expectations. We had eaten at one in Atlantic City and it was phenomenal!!!

Your food did look good though.

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[Wood Nymph]

The Backlot Tour is about movies and props and such. I really like it, but I guess back in the day it used to be much better.

I remember when the Backlot Tour included the fake Hollywood houses they used for TV shows. The only ones I remember were the houses from The Brady Bunch and The Golden Girls. They also used this area for the Osborne Holiday lights and they decorated the houses with the lights. They even passed out three-D glasses that made angels appear when you stared at the lights through the glasses. I found a old pair when I was cleaning out the kids room recently.

Eventually DH and I started to get ready, we had an ADR at Il Mulino for dinner!

It is too bad that the dinner wasn't better. But your dress looked very nice.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update!

Thanks!

We weren't that impressed with it either. I was really disappointed since I had high expectations. We had eaten at one in Atlantic City and it was phenomenal!!!

Your food did look good though.

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I remember you telling me that before. Oh well. It's not like it was a horrible experience or anything. Just not great.

I remember when the Backlot Tour included the fake Hollywood houses they used for TV shows. The only ones I remember were the houses from The Brady Bunch and The Golden Girls. They also used this area for the Osborne Holiday lights and they decorated the houses with the lights. They even passed out three-D glasses that made angels appear when you stared at the lights through the glasses. I found a old pair when I was cleaning out the kids room recently.


That sounds really cool!

It is too bad that the dinner wasn't better. But your dress looked very nice.

Thank you!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Well it's a shame that things weren't great. The place looked nice, the food looked good... weird. I've been in places like that though where something just wasn't right. I always feel that way when a restaurant is empty too. It just feels weird if there aren't some other people in there.

We leave in the morning! I'm definitely having a 'trippin' out Tuesday'! I have been running around here like a mad woman. I wasn't able to pack early enough because we've still been wearing summer clothes! I think next year we are going in December! Then, just when I was starting to get things accomplished, I knocked over DD's hermit crab tank and sand, shells and crabs went flying! It's funny now, but at the moment I wanted to cry and scream! I'm 98% done now though...

I'm going to miss reading along while I'm gone. I hope I don't get too far behind. Talk to you soon!

 

[JoBird]

Have a great trip, Rinky!!!!




Okay now, let's see, oh yes. Il Mulino.

If it's that bad, (and your review is the only one I've read before- so I have no idea what the general consensus is)-- how do they stay open with their location? I mean, I can see if it was in a park bc honestly people will eat in the park and the restaurant survives just because of foot traffic.

But usually a hotel restaurant doesn't last long if it's bad. Maybe it's bc of the name and the other restaurants that are good??? IDK.



I hate when we go into restaurants and it feels that way- fancy, not fancy. Full, but empty. It's sort of eerie. Like, strange.

Well at least you tried it and know that you can cross it off your list. Pretty soon you're going to have to start the list over again bc you've been so many places!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Shelly- I have a question about Christmas at Epcot, Do you know if they do the storytelling in WS until New Years? we're not getting there until the 26th.

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[Momof2Disneyboys]

Well it's a shame that things weren't great. The place looked nice, the food looked good... weird. I've been in places like that though where something just wasn't right. I always feel that way when a restaurant is empty too. It just feels weird if there aren't some other people in there.

We leave in the morning! I'm definitely having a 'trippin' out Tuesday'! I have been running around here like a mad woman. I wasn't able to pack early enough because we've still been wearing summer clothes! I think next year we are going in December! Then, just when I was starting to get things accomplished, I knocked over DD's hermit crab tank and sand, shells and crabs went flying! It's funny now, but at the moment I wanted to cry and scream! I'm 98% done now though...

I'm going to miss reading along while I'm gone. I hope I don't get too far behind. Talk to you soon!

Oh Rinky, I missed your sendoff!!! Well, maybe you'll read this at the airport or somewhere -- Have a safe and wonderful trip!!!! Check in when you can. I hope everything goes smoothly and you have a magical time.

'Trippin out Tuesday'!! Love it! I hope the hermit crabs survived!


Yes, there was just something weird about Il Mulino.... Hard to explain. The food was decent. The atmosphere was just a bit strange.

Have a great trip, Rinky!!!!


Okay now, let's see, oh yes. Il Mulino.

If it's that bad, (and your review is the only one I've read before- so I have no idea what the general consensus is)-- how do they stay open with their location? I mean, I can see if it was in a park bc honestly people will eat in the park and the restaurant survives just because of foot traffic.

But usually a hotel restaurant doesn't last long if it's bad. Maybe it's bc of the name and the other restaurants that are good??? IDK.



I hate when we go into restaurants and it feels that way- fancy, not fancy. Full, but empty. It's sort of eerie. Like, strange.

Well at least you tried it and know that you can cross it off your list. Pretty soon you're going to have to start the list over again bc you've been so many places!

I don't think I've read any reviews of the place either. Maybe it's busier later in the evening and has a different feel. IDK. Maybe they keep busy from all the Swan/Dolphin guests and conventioneers. But yeah, at least we tried it and we can cross it off our HUGE list and move on!

Shelly- I have a question about Christmas at Epcot, Do you know if they do the storytelling in WS until New Years? we're not getting there until the 26th.

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Hmm... I really don't know if they continue past Christmas Day. I would think they would continue through that week between Christmas & New Years, but I'm not sure. Sorry!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Thanks Shelly and Jo! We just made it to SC (we're driving). It's going to be a long day! I need an update to entertain me on this loooonnng drive!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks Shelly and Jo! We just made it to SC (we're driving). It's going to be a long day! I need an update to entertain me on this loooonnng drive!

YAY you're here!! Well, sort of!

I forgot you were driving. How's it going?? Will you drive straight through?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Oh Rinky, I missed your sendoff!!! Well, maybe you'll read this at the airport or somewhere -- Have a safe and wonderful trip!!!! Check in when you can. I hope everything goes smoothly and you have a magical time. 'Trippin out Tuesday'!! Love it! I hope the hermit crabs survived! Yes, there was just something weird about Il Mulino.... Hard to explain. The food was decent. The atmosphere was just a bit strange. I don't think I've read any reviews of the place either. Maybe it's busier later in the evening and has a different feel. IDK. Maybe they keep busy from all the Swan/Dolphin guests and conventioneers. But yeah, at least we tried it and we can cross it off our HUGE list and move on! Hmm... I really don't know if they continue past Christmas Day. I would think they would continue through that week between Christmas & New Years, but I'm not sure. Sorry!

i found out on allears they do do the storytelling until the 30th. Woohoo!!! I kinda figured they did.

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[RinkyTinkyTinky]

YAY you're here!! Well, sort of!

I forgot you were driving. How's it going?? Will you drive straight through?

It's going... typical! There's never a dull moment on a road trip! So far we had to call 911 because of a drunk driver (we assumed they were drunk anyway by the way they were driving). They almost ran us off the road twice and were just all over the place. It was crazy!! All at 70+ miles an hour on a road full of big rigs. Then we stopped in Savannah for dinner and I spilled ketchup all over myself, the seat of the car, and my camera! But other than that, everything is wonderful! We are almost to the Florida border though so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! We'll probably get to AoA around 9:00 tonight. We're switching to CSR tomorrow. Hope that goes well.