Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Jan. 30-Feb. 8, '09

[MRYPPNS]

Restaurant I have eaten at:
LeCellier ---always have a excellent meal here.
Chef Mickey's -----had a good time and liked the food in 2002
Crystal Palace ----Breakfast ---didn't think it was worth the money/credits
Cali Grill --- Very nice dinner, the most adult meal we had that vacation because we were sat in the wine room (we weren't impressed with the fireworks from way up there thou)
Cinderella's Table --we went for dinner before it was changed to 2 credits. I wouldn't go again for 2 credits unless I had a daughter that was into Princesses
Boma --- It was good. Give yourself time to explore the AKL and look at the animals.
'Ohana's --- we love love love 'Ohana's.....it's a must do every trip.

ADR's for this trip:
1900 Park Fare --dinner
The Plaza ---dinner
Chef Mickey's ----dinner
Kona ----dinner
'Ohana's ----dinner

Didn't make the cut because I don't want to waste my park time eating:
LLT and Yak & Yeti (we may try the Yak & Yeti cs)

Too many bad reviews/don't like the menu:
Akershus
Tony's
Coral Reef
Sci-Fi

 

[Sarilas]

I just love all the Disney clothes you have bought! I love the Jack Skellington tshirt, I love Jack!

You must start buying your own Disney wardrobe!!

Kyle loved the Jack shirt too- and I couldn't believe how quickly everything arrived this time!

Did you already get an AP discount for your hotel in January?

YEP! Here's the deal: My TA found the AP rate for ASMusic. I called reservations myself when I was knee deep in trying to figure out a split stay or something and the reservationist insisted there were NO AP rates out yet. I made her check and there WERE a couple (I think Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian), and she was kind of shocked. So there are some out, but I don't know what kind of pattern they follow (and apparently neither does reservations!).

Thanks for the AAA info----has me thinking!!?!?!?!?!?!?! Good scoop!

Love the Disney items!!! You MUST go order something for yourself right this instant!!! I insist!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

I really DO need to do some shopping for me!

Restaurant I have eaten at:
LeCellier ---always have a excellent meal here.
Chef Mickey's -----had a good time and liked the food in 2002
Crystal Palace ----Breakfast ---didn't think it was worth the money/credits
Cali Grill --- Very nice dinner, the most adult meal we had that vacation because we were sat in the wine room (we weren't impressed with the fireworks from way up there thou)
Cinderella's Table --we went for dinner before it was changed to 2 credits. I wouldn't go again for 2 credits unless I had a daughter that was into Princesses
Boma --- It was good. Give yourself time to explore the AKL and look at the animals.
'Ohana's --- we love love love 'Ohana's.....it's a must do every trip.

ADR's for this trip:
1900 Park Fare --dinner
The Plaza ---dinner
Chef Mickey's ----dinner
Kona ----dinner
'Ohana's ----dinner

Didn't make the cut because I don't want to waste my park time eating:
LLT and Yak & Yeti (we may try the Yak & Yeti cs)

Too many bad reviews/don't like the menu:
Akershus
Tony's
Coral Reef
Sci-Fi

Good info! With our never having been before AND having to satisfy adults, teens and toddlers, we've got a wide range of options set out. We HAVE to set aside time in the parks for sitting down to eat or the kids won't eat a bite - we're forcing them to SIT! (And we do have 8 days for roaming...) I've got three HUGE princess fans, so princess meet and greets are a necessity... and I'm eastern European so the Akershus meal is like normal food to me. Places like Sci Fi and Coral Reef... I think those are just must do's for us, at least ONCE. After that we can reevaluate but the ambiance has everyone so excited!

We cannot WAIT!

 

[Sarilas]

I am incredibly sad this morning...

My hero, my celebrity crush, my idol is gone.

Paul Newman has passed away and I am heartbroken.

RIP, Paul.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I saw that -- it makes me sad, too.

 

[TarzansKat]

Love the updates, hon! Looks like you're making some exciting changes, and by all means, get YOURSELF some Disney clothes, girl! Moms always forget about themselves!

I was very sad to hear about Paul Newman as well. What an icon.

 

[Sarilas]

I saw that -- it makes me sad, too.

Love the updates, hon! Looks like you're making some exciting changes, and by all means, get YOURSELF some Disney clothes, girl! Moms always forget about themselves!

I was very sad to hear about Paul Newman as well. What an icon.

Seriously - I idolized that man. I couldn't be sadder than to lose my own family member. I know it's wacky, but I just LOVE HIM.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Good info! With our never having been before AND having to satisfy adults, teens and toddlers, we've got a wide range of options set out. We HAVE to set aside time in the parks for sitting down to eat or the kids won't eat a bite - we're forcing them to SIT! (And we do have 8 days for roaming...) I've got three HUGE princess fans, so princess meet and greets are a necessity... and I'm eastern European so the Akershus meal is like normal food to me. Places like Sci Fi and Coral Reef... I think those are just must do's for us, at least ONCE. After that we can reevaluate but the ambiance has everyone so excited!

We cannot WAIT!

For a first visit it's great that you are trying so many different places. Dinning reviews are so subjective. Since I know the places that I love it makes it easier when reading others reviews. If they liked most of the places that I liked I know that I can pretty much "trust" their reviews of places I haven't been yet. But I take everything with a grain of salt. Little things can make or break any experience. Like our Crystal Palace breakfast. Our bus was wicked late.....which made me missed our "empty" time on Main st...and then Piglet never stopped by!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Hi! I checked out your ADR's and I must say, they are all restaurants that I want to go to or already have been to!

Great choices, esp. Akershus. The food was so-so, but the Princess interaction was awesome!

Le Cellier is great - the mushroom filet is TDF!

Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace - prepare your memory card(s)! You will take hundreds of photos! Don't forget your autograph books and pens for these places.

Tony's is good, and not so expensive during lunch.

Coral Reef is unique, but try to get a table as close to the aquarium glass as possible so you can experience the "full" effect.

I also recommend Spoodles at the Boardwalk, if you have the time. The bread is so good, and the entrees quite tasty!

And ASMU is very nice! There are so many things to do there, I specifically like the movies by the guitar pool at night. I love the cleanliness of the place. It is a good value for the money, IMHO.

 

[Sarilas]

For a first visit it's great that you are trying so many different places. Dinning reviews are so subjective. Since I know the places that I love it makes it easier when reading others reviews. If they liked most of the places that I liked I know that I can pretty much "trust" their reviews of places I haven't been yet. But I take everything with a grain of salt. Little things can make or break any experience. Like our Crystal Palace breakfast. Our bus was wicked late.....which made me missed our "empty" time on Main st...and then Piglet never stopped by!

I totally get that... I can kind of gauge someone else's review based on the kind of places they review in general, how many outside experiences may have lessened their experiences, etc. I mean I don't expect to have a glorious experience at every meal for eight days straight but darn it we're going to have a heck of a time trying!

Hi! I checked out your ADR's and I must say, they are all restaurants that I want to go to or already have been to!

Great choices, esp. Akershus. The food was so-so, but the Princess interaction was awesome!

Le Cellier is great - the mushroom filet is TDF!

Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace - prepare your memory card(s)! You will take hundreds of photos! Don't forget your autograph books and pens for these places.

Tony's is good, and not so expensive during lunch.

Coral Reef is unique, but try to get a table as close to the aquarium glass as possible so you can experience the "full" effect.

I also recommend Spoodles at the Boardwalk, if you have the time. The bread is so good, and the entrees quite tasty!

And ASMU is very nice! There are so many things to do there, I specifically like the movies by the guitar pool at night. I love the cleanliness of the place. It is a good value for the money, IMHO.

Hey, Jen! Glad to 'see' you! (Read you?!) I cannot WAIT for Le Cellier... that's one that just seems like the kind of place DH and I frequent anyway but on a grander, more Disneyfied scale!

And I would love to try Spoodles - frankly I'm afraid I'm going to get confused about how to get from point A to point B and I haven't yet taken the initiative to find out how to get to the Boardwalk from ASMu!

 

[jake&samsmom]

And I would love to try Spoodles - frankly I'm afraid I'm going to get confused about how to get from point A to point B and I haven't yet taken the initiative to find out how to get to the Boardwalk from ASMu!

If you do decide to try Spoodles, getting there from ASMU is not too difficult: grab the bus to DHS, then take the short walk to the boat dock to the right of DHS's entrance, get on the boat (its cooler/nicer if you're seated outside), the boat then makes a stop right at the Boardwalk pier.

To get back home, just do the reverse. We love the boat ride part, the views of the EPCOT resorts are really breathtaking esp. at night!

Anyhow, if you have some time, try walking around the Boardwalk even if you don't have an ADR there. There's plenty to do/see (more so after dark). Wait 'til I tell you more about it in my TR (Shameless plug! LOL!)

 

[MRYPPNS]

If you do decide to try Spoodles, getting there from ASMU is not too difficult: grab the bus to DHS, then take the short walk to the boat dock to the right of DHS's entrance, get on the boat (its cooler/nicer if you're seated outside), the boat then makes a stop right at the Boardwalk pier.

To get back home, just do the reverse. We love the boat ride part, the views of the EPCOT resorts are really breathtaking esp. at night!

But remember that the boat won't go back to DHS from the Boardwalk once DHS is closed. And DHS closes early in Jan. At that point you would need to take a bus from either the Boardwalk Inn or BC/YC to DtD and then transfer to All-stars. OR take a taxi....or two.

 

[jake&samsmom]

But remember that the boat won't go back to DHS from the Boardwalk once DHS is closed. And DHS closes early in Jan. At that point you would need to take a bus from either the Boardwalk Inn or BC/YC to DtD and then transfer to All-stars. OR take a taxi....or two.

Actually, the boat service ends ~ 1 hour after the DHS closes, not at the exact time that DHS is scheduled to close. So you can plan your possible BW exploration with that in mind.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Here's a question for those who've flown Southwest - if you buy a ticket, and then they offer a less expensive ticket later, I've heard you can go for the cheaper option somehow... how does that work? Do you pay a second time and they refund the difference to you or do they refund you the difference, or how does that work?!

I don't think anyone answered your question, but I've done this before (as has TK, I think) and here's how it worked for me:

1.) It had to be the same exact flight, for everyone, just at the lower rate. Fees are incurred (I'mm 99.9% positive about this) if you change the actual flight to try to get the lower rate.
2.) You don't pay twice, the difference is refunded to you but ONLY as a Southwest credit, not as your original form of payment. In addition, those credits were only good for a year when I last did it. I'm not sure if that's still the case.
3.) I find it's really only worth doing for a large-ish amount of money AND if you're flying SW again in the near future. Our flights went down $10 each for this past trip and I didn't know that I'd really be able to use a $20 credit in the next year. Because of all the craziness I had going on, I decided to forego pursuing the credit and let sleeping dogs lie. Since you're such a large group, a $10/$20 credit per person might actually be worth it though.

And just some info on SW, since we flew it to and from - no complaints at all. We got in early and were only 5 minutes late coming home, despite leaving over 30 minutes behind schedule! Service was great! Not paying for luggage was great.

Great.
Great.
Great.

Even if it is the Wal-Mart of the airlines.

 

[GeminiAngel]

I had this situation with AirTran. The difference was $800!!!
So I recieved a credit. The only problem was, they don't go anyway I want to except Orlando.

I took my credit and transfered it to my friend Dawn, who is joing us for our Magical Gathering.

 

[Sarilas]

I've had so much going on in my 3D world that I haven't had time to update for weeks... I need to update today with our 99 day party, ADR changes and MORE!

 

[TarzansKat]

That's okay, hon. You've had a rough go, and we're all waiting patiently with our popcorn.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've had so much going on in my 3D world that I haven't had time to update for weeks... I need to update today with our 99 day party, ADR changes and MORE!

Oooooh!! I am so excited!!

 

[Sarilas]

Happy 83 days till Disney for me!!​

Thanks for hanging in with me, gang. When I say a lot has been going on, I do mean a LOT. I don't know if I posted about my Dad having to start dialysis emergently (while hospitalized for another reason), but between his going to that three times a week (for 4 hours at a time), homeschooling Kyle, keeping up with Tatiana's school work and just generally keeping Stasia and Lexi clean and alive on a daily basis, I have quite a bit on my plate. But to top it all off my DH was hospitalized for a solid week last week, leaving me to fend for everyone and everything, by my lonesome.

So when I say my cup runneth over, I MEAN my cup runneth the heck over!


But that's not to say we didn't have ANY fun recently...

Case in point: Our 99 day celebration!

Because our 100th day till Disney World fell on a Thursday and because that would leave NO appropriate time to par-tay, I threw us a 99 day celebration on Friday the 3rd!

Mary Poppins was the movie choice (yet another one my DH had never seen!) and the meal... oh, the meal! We enjoyed:

BLT Soup (a la Sci Fi Cafe)

Bread and Honey Butter (a la all over the parks, so I'm told)

Durban Chicken (a la Boma)

'Ohana Green Beans (self explanatory!)

The food was just yummy and kids had so much fun knowing we were now in double digits!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a great 99 Day Celebration!

All of that food looks sooooo yummy.

Skittle Hugs for everything that has been going on!



Hang in there, Lara!

 

[Sarilas]

What a great 99 Day Celebration!

All of that food looks sooooo yummy.

Skittle Hugs for everything that has been going on!



Hang in there, Lara!

Thank you! It's been a whirlwind of a last couple of months for sure. To say the next few will fly by is an understatement!