Team Renfroe - Pre-Trip Report for May 15-22, 2009 **Final Chapter**

[inkedupmomma]

Well...we are moving forward with all plans to open our own hot dog restaurant! We have secured a one-year lease in a good location and next week we'll be setting up our LLC. I am scared to death! But, it is a good kind of scared!! (Kind of like Tower of Terror maybe? hmm.)

Anyway, it looks like we'll be having a busy summer. We are putting everything on hold from May 15 - 23 to enjoy our time together as a family at WDW! When we get back, the plan will be to take control of the property on June 1st, and hopefully be ready for a "soft opening" by the first week of August. Since we live in a college town, I would like to have our Grand Opening right before Labor Day. Whew....I'm tired already!! Good thing I will have plenty of hot dogs to keep my energy levels up!!

Well folks....here it is! This is our vision for the ultimate hot dog joint in J'ville, Alabama! let me know what you think.

Wow, Alana, I am so sorry I missed this! Congrats!!! I think that was a super smart idea! College kids loveeee a yummy cheap eat! Hot dogs are perfect! I wish you and your fam much success! Make a facebook business page! I will add you! Start getting that business some free advertising!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I have to come out of lurkdom (I think I've posted on your TR and Dining Report before though) and say congratulations on your Dawg business! DH and I have also thought about this! We love hot dogs! We will be driving to Disney World in Sept. from TN and I know we go through Alabama! I will definitley have to look up your area to see if we'll hit it or not! If we are near, I promise you have 3 customers here!! The Dawg Challenge will be great for the college boys! My friends in college would have loved it! You'll probably have the lay the smackdown on some rowdy, intoxicated ones, once in a while though! Best of luck!!!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Alan! Best wishes for much success on your new business venture. Sounds like an awesome place. I LOVE the menu!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Hi Alan,

I havent been posting that often but have been reading along! Good luck with the new business - it looks absolutely fabulous. I would definitely put it on my food itinery if I was coming your way!

Just wanted to say have a great trip! We leave next week so will just miss you - I will try leave you some food but its unlikely!!! We are trying California Grill on your recommendation so will let you know how that goes!

Just a quick question - we are looking at possibly booking a Christmas trip in 2010 to see all the decorations (I'm a disser, I plan early!!) and were thinking of trying CSR. Would you recommend it? It looks lovely! Can all guests use the gym there, or is it just for convention guests?

Again, have a lovely trip, and I look forward to reading your report when we both get back

 

[englishrose47]

I think I already told you this !!! I am from Bury St Edmunds.My Dad grew up in Norwich!!! "Up the Canaries "

 

[clomahony]

Turns out I planned to be at Epcot that day so I'll stop by with my 2 kids. How fun to be included. I've always wanted to go to one of these get togethers. Down to under 20 days

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I think I already told you this !!! I am from Bury St Edmunds.My Dad grew up in Norwich!!! "Up the Canaries "

No way!! My husband is from very near there (Mildenhall). Its a small world!!Please don't mention the Canaries . . . we are teetering on the edge of relegation, yet again!!! Is your dad still in Norwich?

 

[alan_renfroe]

Wow, Alan, I am so sorry I missed this! Congrats!!! I think that was a super smart idea! College kids loveeee a yummy cheap eat! Hot dogs are perfect! I wish you and your fam much success! Make a facebook business page! I will add you! Start getting that business some free advertising!

Thank you VERY much. I will definitely be making a Facebook business page once everything is confirmed. You are right about that free advertising! Also, a good friend of mine is a web designer and has agreed to set up a web site for the restaurant for free!! Woohoo!!! YAY for having friends!

I have to come out of lurkdom (I think I've posted on your TR and Dining Report before though) and say congratulations on your Dawg business! DH and I have also thought about this! We love hot dogs! We will be driving to Disney World in Sept. from TN and I know we go through Alabama! I will definitley have to look up your area to see if we'll hit it or not! If we are near, I promise you have 3 customers here!! The Dawg Challenge will be great for the college boys! My friends in college would have loved it! You'll probably have the lay the smackdown on some rowdy, intoxicated ones, once in a while though! Best of luck!!!

Thanks so much for coming out of lurkdom and the congrats!! We are definitely excited/nervous/excited. I can just see these big macho jocks doing their best to tackle the Dawg Challenge!! That will be hilarious!! And...either way, I can't lose! If they win, all it costs me is a t-shirt and putting their picture on the wall. The pictures will give the place character and the t-shirt is good advertising!

I'm calling Adam Richman from the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food."

Hi Alan! Best wishes for much success on your new business venture. Sounds like an awesome place. I LOVE the menu!

Thanks very much! I think the menu gives hot dog lovers a variety of choices.

Hi Alan,

I havent been posting that often but have been reading along! Good luck with the new business - it looks absolutely fabulous. I would definitely put it on my food itinery if I was coming your way!

Just wanted to say have a great trip! We leave next week so will just miss you - I will try leave you some food but its unlikely!!! We are trying California Grill on your recommendation so will let you know how that goes!

Just a quick question - we are looking at possibly booking a Christmas trip in 2010 to see all the decorations (I'm a disser, I plan early!!) and were thinking of trying CSR. Would you recommend it? It looks lovely! Can all guests use the gym there, or is it just for convention guests?

Again, have a lovely trip, and I look forward to reading your report when we both get back

Oh, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE CSR!!! You read all kinds of opinions....some good and some bad....but we absolutely love CSR. We were going to stay at Pop Century this time, but when we found out we could upgrade to CSR for under $400, we jumped on it.

All guests may use the gym. The Pepper Market is a really neat food court as well. Also, the rooms have been recently refurbished, and a standard room now has queen-sized beds!

I wish you the best of luck on your upcoming trip. Hope you all have a GREAT time! Enjoy Cali Grill!

Turns out I planned to be at Epcot that day so I'll stop by with my 2 kids. How fun to be included. I've always wanted to go to one of these get togethers. Down to under 20 days

YAY!!! The more, the merrier. Trust me....you can't miss us! Look for the lime green t-shirts and a LOT of laughter! We look forward to seeing you there.

No way!! My husband is from very near there (Mildenhall). Its a small world!!Please don't mention the Canaries . . . we are teetering on the edge of relegation, yet again!!! Is your dad still in Norwich?

How cool! It's a small world afterall.

 

[racefanof88]

Well folks....here it is! This is our vision for the ultimate hot dog joint in J'ville, Alabama! let me know what you think.

WOW how late am I to find this . I love it. I need a good hot dawg fix. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm know where I can find one?

 

[Cinderelly5507]

Thanks so much for coming out of lurkdom and the congrats!! We are definitely excited/nervous/excited. I can just see these big macho jocks doing their best to tackle the Dawg Challenge!! That will be hilarious!! And...either way, I can't lose! If they win, all it costs me is a t-shirt and putting their picture on the wall. The pictures will give the place character and the t-shirt is good advertising!

I'm calling Adam Richman from the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food."

That is exactly right about the advertising! And the guys (or gals) will wear the shirt proudly!! It'll be great for business! DH watches "Man vs. Food" all the time! You'll definitely have to contact him! I don't know how that guy does it! Keep us updated!

 

[alan_renfroe]

WOW how late am I to find this . I love it. I need a good hot dawg fix. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm know where I can find one?

Hahaha...Hi Dana! Hopefully by August, I can tell you EXACTLY where to find a good dawg!

That is exactly right about the advertising! And the guys (or gals) will wear the shirt proudly!! It'll be great for business! DH watches "Man vs. Food" all the time! You'll definitely have to contact him! I don't know how that guy does it! Keep us updated!

I would like to see a couple of local saps try it first....then I'm calling the Travel Channel producers! Jacksonville is a small college town with lots of local flavor...it would be a perfect show for Man vs. Food!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Okay, as of tomorrow morning, we will be down to the SINGLE DIGITS!!! (Dance the single digit dance, little banana....shake it like there are no consequences for your actions!)

I can't believe that this Pre-Trip report has almost come to an end!! Thanks to all of you who have followed along with our family (Team Renfroe) over the past 9 months or so. It is almost here! And, of course, we will be doing a Trip Report when we get back.

We've just got a couple more issues to work out as far as planning goes:

1 - We are on the Deluxe Dining Plan, and we still have 6TS credits after our ADRs that have already been made. We are considering adding a breakfast at Boma.

2 - I'm still not 100% sure that we want to do Mama Melrose for lunch on the last day of our trip. I am thinking I would like to leave DHS around lunchtime, head to DTD and eat lunch at Wolfgang Puck's. The menu has a much wider variety. Plus, we will need to go to Goofy's Candy Company on the last day anyway and spend what's left of our snack credits!

Just a few minor things....but we'll figure it all out! I can hardly wait to see Coronado Springs Resort again! I am hoping we will get one of the refurbished rooms with the queen-sized beds.

Counting down the last few days!!!

Alan

 

[bwmmfan]

Counting down....best wishes on the dawg cart. Enjoy your vacation! Sounds like you will be busy when you get home!

 

[englishrose47]

Well alan we are down to the wire now !! 10days for me tomorrow!! I am eating at Boma at 9:15am on May 22nd I am doing it oop as I just had too many must dos !! I was determined to try Boma for breakfast and had ro do SciFi for alunch oop just to have a Oreocookie milkshake !!Someone was talking to you about Mildenhall was that Mildenhall England !! If so it is very close to my home town. !!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

happy single digit dancing!!!!!​

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[TigerKat]

Alan - Can't believe your trip is almost here! I can definitely recommend both Boma and Wolfgang's. We did Boma for the first time last year and we're not big breakfast people, it blew us away! Haven't been to Wolfgang's in a while but we've always enjoyed the variety of dishes available.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Happy Single Digits!!!

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[Must C Mickey]

Since my hubby & his brother are both Chef's, Wolfgang Puck's was a must do for us. (there are 6 of us that have started going to WDW every yr. me and DH then my bro n law, his wife and 2 kids.) It was great and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved the Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla for an app and the Asian Hoisin BBQ Ribs for my entree. the bbq sauce is yummy, what can i say! I would def recommend this place!

 

[MaryAz]

Happy SIngle Digits!!

See ya next week!!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I am so excited for another Griswald/Team Renfroe TR and Dining Report! I think yours was one of the first I lurked on last year!