Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

[havinfun]

Alan,

Did you go to Universal or Islands of Adventure on this trip? I thought I saw your picture on another trip report. If it wasn't you you have a clone some where on this earth.

 

[jjk]

another excellent installment
you couldnt send some of that heat here to England could you, its summer here and the weather today is cold and windy

 

[englishrose47]

If you ask them to sub the greens or whatever for corn or green beans they will happily do that. My ex sil did that and that way you won't make mom unhappy by not eating your veggies.

Oh that's good to know !! I will put 50's on my list of to try restaurants!! I am thinking about my next solo trip doing the deluxe, but think it might be too much food !!

 

[englishrose47]

Loving your last day report as usual Alan.Ireally think you need to immediately start a PTR . So we all can continue reading you amazing story/ writing skills !!

 

[Shazzie B]

I think it's great that so many of the posters on this thread are from the U.K.! You guys rock!

I did a bit of marketing on the UK board on your behalf-hope you don't mind , just wanted to share you fantastic TR with all those that have helped me on the UK boards.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Thanks for hanging with us throughout!

You're welcome-how the heck could i not-this is one awesome trip report+i am sad to see it coming to an end.x.

 

[caresy]

What a fabulous trip report Alan! I really applaud you for taking so much time and effort to share your wonderful family's trip with all of us!! BTW your family is beautiful and you are very lucky!!!

I can hardly wait for our trip in August to CSR!!

And I love the Griswold theme - we always make reservations as the Bumpuses (from A Christmas Story for those who don't get it!)

 

[Bibbidi]

So Alan, have you said when your next trip is planned for? I just loved every minute of your trip report. The photos tell so much of the story, along with your comments. I'm so sad to see it coming to an end soon. Do you think you'd try a new hotel next time, or stick with CSR? Also, do you think you'd do the DDP again, or just do the regular dining plan? Sounds like you had tons of snack credits to utilize at the end.

 

[stepdisney]

Did you also have a hopper attached to your tickets? We usually hop by using the water parks option,(more bang for the buck) but I thought about getting a hopper also, just in case we decide we want 2 regular parks. Would that have been too much or did you have a hopper too? I can't believe you are almost finished!! Quick.....you have to start your next report. The pictures and commentary really give us a feel for your trip! I felt like I was there with you guys.

 

[irky416]

Thanks for the review of Prime Time Cafe! It looks fun. I'm trying to convince everyone to go there with me!

I hope you tried the Make Your Own Rice Krispies at Goofy's. They were so good!

 

[CHEK]

Well those photogenic Renfroe's are back.... , you do all take lovely photo's, you'll hardly see me on any pics as I take charge of the camera , the pic of you and your DS is lovely. We ate at Sci Fi last year and we found it to be very poor , it was as if the server couldn't wait to get rid of us she was sooo rude , maybe just an off day but we won't be trying it again!. So Alan have you decided on dates for your next trip?

 

[MAJ RN]

Awesome update!! Can't wait to see what you have to say about Kona. This is another place that we are also having dinner. Can't wait for more.


Melissa

 

[pmama]

50's Prime Time looks like so much fun. I have this booked for our next trip. However, I am considering not going. I have a very shy 3 year old. I've read some reports of young children actually starting to cry because they do not understand that the waitress is scolding in humor.

 

[MichelleVW]

I can't wait until the Kona dinner review!!!! We're going there in September!!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Oh wow, your sons appetizer looked awesome!!! Yummm! I was hoping that one of you had ordered the pot roast as I have heard it is so good, I was hoping to see a good picture!!
Your meal looked great and Aunt Sara seemed perfect!!
Loved the pictures of downtown disney and the lego family! Too cool! The dogs are awesome. How much time must it have taken to build all of those? I know I don't have the patience! Were they made out of all small legos? That's what it looked like in the picture?
34 snack credits left, that's great! Yummm! Did you get any of the build your own treats? Those look really yummy!!
Looking forward to your dinner review!

I've heard the pot roast is supposed to be good, also. Meatloaf is one of those things that I just love, but I rarely ever have. So it was a treat!

Our kids really got a kick out of the Lego family! Best I could tell, everything appeared to be made with the basic size legos, which is amazing.

Oh, we definitely did the "build your own" treats! We got pretzel sticks, fudge, and all kinds of goodies. We felt like gluttons ordering all of those snacks!

Alan, the heat you were describing sounds like what we're going through here in South FL right about now! I'm sure it's just as bad in Alabama. Can't wait for the review on Kona, I have always wanted to dine there but haven't made it quite yet!

Yep, it has definitely been hot here. However, we had a little milder break today...we only got up to 87!

My Kona review is on the way. You GOTTA try Kona...we loved it!

Alan,

Did you go to Universal or Islands of Adventure on this trip? I thought I saw your picture on another trip report. If it wasn't you you have a clone some where on this earth.

Oh that is TOO scary!! A clone of me walking around?

I've never been to Universal, but we hope to go when the kids are a little older. Since DS is now a graduated thrill junkie, he may want to do Universal sometime in the next few years.

another excellent installment
you couldnt send some of that heat here to England could you, its summer here and the weather today is cold and windy

Thanks, Rachel! I do love England, but I prefer the warmer climates for sure.

Here ya go.... (that was me blowing some sunshine your way!)

Loving your last day report as usual Alan.Ireally think you need to immediately start a PTR . So we all can continue reading you amazing story/ writing skills !!

Wow...thank you VERY much for your wonderful comments, englishrose47! Pardon me for asking, but does PTR stand for Pre-Trip Report?

You may have just inspired me to start writing a novel!

I did a bit of marketing on the UK board on your behalf-hope you don't mind , just wanted to share you fantastic TR with all those that have helped me on the UK boards.

Well, that explains a lot! Thanks, Shazzie B! I've always been some what of an Anglofile: HUGE Beatles fan, LOVE Monte Python, fish & chips rock, Def Leppard is the one of my top 10 favs of all time, New Castle is my favorite all-time beer....you get the drift.

My last name, Renfroe, is Irish...and my mother was a Simpson, (also Irish.)

 

[alan_renfroe]

You're welcome-how the heck could i not-this is one awesome trip report+i am sad to see it coming to an end.x.

That is such a nice thing to say! Thanks, x.

What a fabulous trip report Alan! I really applaud you for taking so much time and effort to share your wonderful family's trip with all of us!! BTW your family is beautiful and you are very lucky!!!

I can hardly wait for our trip in August to CSR!!

And I love the Griswold theme - we always make reservations as the Bumpuses (from A Christmas Story for those who don't get it!)

Aww...thank you SO much, caresy! I hope your August trip to CSR is wonderful!

The Bumpuses!!! I LOVE IT!!! That is classic! One of my favorite movies...and I LOVE The Bumpuses reference with their smelly hounds!

So Alan, have you said when your next trip is planned for? I just loved every minute of your trip report. The photos tell so much of the story, along with your comments. I'm so sad to see it coming to an end soon. Do you think you'd try a new hotel next time, or stick with CSR? Also, do you think you'd do the DDP again, or just do the regular dining plan? Sounds like you had tons of snack credits to utilize at the end.

DW and I are discussing going back in May, 2009. We really loved being there in May...and the crowds were really low most of the time. I would like to try Port Orleans, but it would be VERY, VERY hard to not go back to Coronado Springs! It just feels like home!

On the Deluxe Dining Plan, it would depend on our budget. If the budget will allow, I would DEFINITELY do the Deluxe plan again....even though it really is WAY too much food. To me, the regular dining plan is not quite enough food. We would end up still paying out of pocket for some meals. If I can afford deluxe, I am going with deluxe. But if not, I would go with the regular dining plan. I feel like we now know how to get the most for our money.

Did you also have a hopper attached to your tickets? We usually hop by using the water parks option,(more bang for the buck) but I thought about getting a hopper also, just in case we decide we want 2 regular parks. Would that have been too much or did you have a hopper too? I can't believe you are almost finished!! Quick.....you have to start your next report. The pictures and commentary really give us a feel for your trip! I felt like I was there with you guys.

We did exactly what you do....we didn't buy the hopper, but we did get the waterparks package. That way, we figured we could hop to the waterparks or DisneyQuest if we wanted to. There was once or twice when the hopper would have been nice, but I don't think it would be worth an extra $180 for my family.

Thanks for the review of Prime Time Cafe! It looks fun. I'm trying to convince everyone to go there with me!

I hope you tried the Make Your Own Rice Krispies at Goofy's. They were so good!

You are most welcome! Tell your gang that 50s Prime Time Cafe is a really good time!

I can't remember if we had the Rice Krispies at Goofy's or not. I mostly got things to bring back home to friends, but the kids went nuts!

Well those photogenic Renfroe's are back.... , you do all take lovely photo's, you'll hardly see me on any pics as I take charge of the camera , the pic of you and your DS is lovely. We ate at Sci Fi last year and we found it to be very poor , it was as if the server couldn't wait to get rid of us she was sooo rude , maybe just an off day but we won't be trying it again!. So Alan have you decided on dates for your next trip?

Aww...thanks, Karen! If you notice, I am definitely in by far the fewest photos...because I usually take them!

I have read some pretty negative things about Sci-Fi. Some people love it, and some hate it.

We are thinking about May '09 for our next trip. We've got a trip planned to Panama City Beach in July.

Awesome update!! Can't wait to see what you have to say about Kona. This is another place that we are also having dinner. Can't wait for more.


Melissa

Thanks, Melissa! You will LOVE Kona! Report on the way...

50's Prime Time looks like so much fun. I have this booked for our next trip. However, I am considering not going. I have a very shy 3 year old. I've read some reports of young children actually starting to cry because they do not understand that the waitress is scolding in humor.

You know, I had not thought about how smaller children would react to the 50s Prime Time Cafe. I think I would pass if I were you. We prepared our kids by letting them know what to expect, and so they played it up to the fullest! BUT, when my DD was 3, she probably would have freaked out. I'd pass.

I can't wait until the Kona dinner review!!!! We're going there in September!!!

Awesome, MichelleVW! We LOVED it! My report is coming up next.

 

[alan_renfroe]

We had dinner reservations at Kona Cafe at 5:20pm. We arrived about 10 minutes early and were seated immediately.

If you are looking for a quiet place to have dinner...this isn't it. If you are looking for GREAT, (and I do mean GREAT) food...this IS IT! Kona was one of my favorite meals of the entire trip.

For starters, the bread is wonderful. It is served with a Honey/Macadamia Nut butter that is INCREDIBLE!

DW & I started with the Sticky Wings. They were absolutely incredible...and SO much of it! I think my plate had about 10 wings on it! They are sweet and sticky, with a horseradish mustard drizzle for a little kick. The salad on the side was topped with a ginger dressing. If I were paying out of pocket, I would just order this....it is PLENTY enough for a meal on its on. In fact, we ended up getting most of them put in a to-go box, took them home with us, and ate them the next day!

DS had the crab cakes. Honestly, they were nothing to write home about...in fact, the crab cakes at Liberty Tree Tavern and Narcoossee's were MUCH better. DW & I won the battle of the appetizer on this night!

For his entree, DS ordered the Shrimp & Scallops. It was okay.

DW had the Beef Teriyaki. Wow! She said it was excellent!

I had the Prime Rib. Oh Dear God! Thank you! What a steak! It was cooked to perfection and so tender.

DD had the cheeseburger and fries, which she enjoyed very much!

For dessert, DW had the Chocolate Fondue with fresh fruits and hand-formed cookies. She said it was refreshing after having so many heavy desserts throughout the week.

I let DD order my dessert and gave it to her. Both DS & DD got the Kona Cone. DS said that it was his absolute favorite dessert of the entire trip.

NOTE TO SELF - Come back to Kona Cafe again!! I know when we come back that we want to try some different restaurants, but honestly this will be one of the first reservations I make. Next time, I want to eat at Kona early in our trip....perhaps even the first night. You can have a great meal, then stroll out to the beach at the Polynesian to catch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.

I thought that Kona was the best 1TS meal of our entire trip. Can't wait to eat their again! A+

Next up - Leaving the World...for now!

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

Oh no! Please say it isn't so. Our last meal with you at Disney for this trip. I am so sad to see it over.

 

[Dcanoli]

NOTE TO SELF - Come back to Kona Cafe again!! I know when we come back that we want to try some different restaurants, but honestly this will be one of the first reservations I make. Next time, I want to eat at Kona early in our trip....perhaps even the first night. You can have a great meal, then stroll out to the beach at the Polynesian to catch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.

Hi Alan! Great trip report so far! Hate to see it end though.

We are planning a quick trip to Orlando with my husband for business, and I'm trying to decide on the one Disney restaurant we'll go to--been tossing around Whispering Canyon and Chef Mickey's...never even thought about Kona....

Love the fireworks idea...

We did that one year...went to the Poly (not to eat though) to watch the Electrical Water Parade and the fireworks.

It was heaven sitting on that beach and watching the castle...

Thanks for the idea! Now, I'm off to check out prices!

 

[SunnieRN]

Oh wow! Konas is a must do on my list of places to eat. The menu sounds so wonderful! The prime rib was massive!! I am a teriyaki person though, so I know what I would get for sure!! Basically your wifes meal but skip desert as I don't think I could even finish dinner...lol
Thanks for your wonderful report! I can't wait until you go back so we can read another trip report!!
It was so much fun to see the kids meals also. There isn't a great selection of kids meals at counter service places, so in December it is DxDDP all the way!! I want my grandsons to have more than nuggets and they wont eat burgers yet.
Thank you for sharing all of your memories with us and please thank your family also as it was so much fun to see you all enjoying yourselves!!!
Oh and by the way...when are you starting a pre-trip report for your next trip? Let us know on this thread if you start one ok!!