Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

Hello! and welcome to our first-ever trip report! Since the DISboards were so helpful to our family in planning our first trip to WDW, we wanted to make sure to give back by sharing our trip with other readers. Hope you enjoy!

First, let's meet the cast:

That's me, the tall bald one (I'm Alan, but you can call me Clark for the purpose of this review)
DW (We'll call her Ellen)
DS11 (We'll call him Rusty)
DD8 (and we'll call her Audrey)

We booked our trip in early February for late May, 2008 and we were in agony waiting until that great day came! Fortunately, we found the DISboards and felt like we did our proper homework. :thumbsup2

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

In this trip report, we will be reviewing all of the restaurants we ate at while at Disney. We were on the Deluxe Dining Plan, and I swear I will never be hungry again! :rotfl2:

Our reservations included:
California Grill
Liberty Tree Tavern
Cinderella's Royal Table
Tony's Town Square
Le Cellier
Narcoossee's
Boma
Pepper Market
Spirit of Aloha
Yak & Yeti
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Ohana
Teppan Edo
Tutto Italia
50s Prime Time Cafe
Kona Cafe

We took LOTS of pictures....so stay tuned!

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

Day 1 was part travel/part entertainment. We didn't leave until afternoon, so that we could drive to Alpharetta, Georgia to see THE EAGLES in concert at the new Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

Both my DS11 and DD8 have enjoyed listening to the Eagles' latest album, "Long Road Out Of Eden," and I have introduced them to some of the classics as well. Our tickets were lawn seats and I thought that would be a wonderful way to start our vacation! The concert was Friday, May 16th.

To our surprise, it was really COLD that evening! We had to bundle up!

The show was wonderful! The Eagles actually sound better live than on their records. I've seen a lot of concerts, but this was the best musicianship I've ever seen! DW, DS11, and I all decided to spend some of our souvenir money on concert t-shirts!

Following the show, we were caught in downtown Atlanta traffic for an hour and a half. :headache:

Because of the heavy traffic, we made it as far as Macon and had to get a room for the night. It was about 1:00am when we checked in. (I took this picture the next morning.)

irky416 · May 30, 2008

I'm in!

I love your kids poses in front of the car. I never would have been that cooperative for a picture when I was younger!

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

We were all too excited to sleep, so we were up and checked out of the motel in Macon, GA by 7am.

We got our day started by having a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

irky416 said:
I'm in!

I love your kids poses in front of the car. I never would have been that cooperative for a picture when I was younger!

Thanks very much. Stay tuned! These two kids LOVE the camera!

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

After filling up with gas, we headed south on I-75.

We arrive at the Florida state line a little after 10am.

Getting closer.....

Could it be? We've made it! The Griswolds...er, Renfroes have made it! :cool1:

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

After months and months of planning and anticipating, we finally made it to the Coronado Springs Resort - our home for the next 7 days.

We were starving for lunch, but decided to go ahead and register first.

Because we knew we would be having a HUGE dinner at California Grill, we went for some fast food.

COMING UP....we finally get checked into the room, and later - dinner at California Grill.

seacrestpromo · May 30, 2008

Hey AR! Great TR so far! Awesome Pics! Another terrific Mayer family!

BTW...I am listening to "life in the fast lane" while reading your TR!

Seacrest

NewCrew42 · May 30, 2008

Lovin' it!

DH and I saw the Eagles a couple of years ago. Hands down the best concert we have ever been to. I would love to see them again!

The NewCrews love some BK and CB. You guys are our kind of people! :thumbsup2

Can't wait to read and see more! popcorn::

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

seacrestpromo said:
Hey AR! Great TR so far! Awesome Pics! Another terrific Mayer family!

BTW...I am listening to "life in the fast lane" while reading your TR!

Seacrest

Rock on! Us MAYers have to stick together!

JoBird · May 30, 2008

WOO Freakin' HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Gators, come on Gators, Let's Get up and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Sorry- I just had to - thanks for the shout out to Gainesville.

Great start, btw- beautiful MAYer family, too. :yay:

Jo

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

NewCrew42 said:
Lovin' it!

DH and I saw the Eagles a couple of years ago. Hands down the best concert we have ever been to. I would love to see them again!

The NewCrews love some BK and CB. You guys are our kind of people!

Can't wait to read and see more!

Hahaha!! I spared everyone the Subway pictures prior to the Eagles concert!

The concert was absolutely incredible. We did end up leaving before it was over though....it was really cold and the atmosphere surrounding us was not condusive to kids, if you get my drift. They can handle PG13, but it was moving into R territory. It was still an AWESOME experience!

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

WOO Freakin' HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Gators, come on Gators, Let's Get up and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Sorry- I just had to - thanks for the shout out to Gainesville.

Great start, btw- beautiful MAYer family, too. :yay:

Jo[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Jo. You'll have to forgive my son's Auburn cap! We are actually Jacksonville State University people! GO GAMECOCKS!

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

Okay....so we get lunch behind us and head back towards Coronado Springs to check into our room. On the way, DS11 informs us that he has left his cap at the BK. Now we've got to turn around and go get it....but there's absolutely NO WHERE to turn around! Going back to get that cap took about 30 minutes! Anyway, no worries.....we get back to the BK and his cap was right where he left it.

Finally, we get to our room at the Coronado Springs Resort.

The view from our front door:

Team Renfroe vacations usually have a routine. I bring in the bags and DW puts things away. To get out of her way, I took the kids to the dig site pool.
I took these pics on the way:

Next up, dinner at California Grill. ::yes::

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

Getting ready for dinner:

Our room was VERY close to bus stop #3 at Coronado Springs...so we took the Disney buses most places.

We took the bus to Magic Kingdom, then took the Monorail to the Contemporary.

(Sorry this one is a little blurry. We didn't have something set up right on our camera this evening. Fortunately, all other days' pictures are much better.)

TigerKat · May 30, 2008

I'm signing on for this one!!! :thumbsup2

alan_renfroe · May 30, 2008

The view from the 15th floor of the Contemporary is stunning...

We requested a window seat at California Grill, and they were able to grant our request!

(You can see Epcot on the horizon to the left, and the Dolphin just over DW's head.)

(You can see the Polynesian to the right of DD8.)

RachelNinja · May 30, 2008

Great pics! It's so great to hear that your kids love the camera. That way your family will have plenty of pictures for the years to come

seacrestpromo · May 30, 2008

Thanks for the gravy shot...it made my day! :rotfl2:

Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

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