Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

[bigbabyblues]

Great report!!! I loved the pictures behind the car when you were getting ready to leave, we may have to do that this year!

 

[peightonmom]

What a beautiful family! Great trip report. Can't wait to read more!

 

[gr8tdame]

Subscribing. You are truly blessed with a beautiful family.
I am so jealous...I absolutely love the Eagles. They are my all time favorite band.

 

[Sherrkel]

Subscribing to Team Renfroe

When I saw the Coronado Springs Resort sign I definitely knew I'd have to keep reading - it's our favorite resort

And your review of the CG - we've never tried it and want to make an ADR for our trip next year - lots of sushi lovers in our family. We're planning our return Grand Gathering and are up to 23 people now. We managed with 21 people last time, so no worries. I'm sure they can fit us all in the restaurant - now the deck, I'm not so sure ?

Can't wait to read your next installment !!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Great trip report! Your family looks like they are having the time of their lives I remember how much fun it was taking my kids to DL when they were younger (we are in Northern CA so DL is much more do-able for us). Now they are 24, 22, and 17. I want to take the 17 year old after he graduates next year for a graduation trip, and maybe one of the other boys can come with us.

Can't wait to read more!

I would love to make it to DL some day! That's always been a dream of mine. I hope you get to take your boys next year!

Great trip report! I can't wait to read more.

Thanks, Jeanine3kids...welcome aboard!

Hey AR! Another great installment! Keep it going! - Seacrest

Thanks, seacrest! I'll keep 'em coming.

Great report!!! I loved the pictures behind the car when you were getting ready to leave, we may have to do that this year!

It's funny...because we always do those kinds of pictures on the day we leave. They end of being some of our favorites, because you can see the enthusiasm in everyone's faces!

What a beautiful family! Great trip report. Can't wait to read more!

Thanks, Teri!

Subscribing. You are truly blessed with a beautiful family.
I am so jealous...I absolutely love the Eagles. They are my all time favorite band.

Welcome aboard! I've always been a big fan of the Eagles since I was a kid. I think their new album is phenomenal...a lot of fans are critical, saying that it is no "Hotel California", but what is? "Hotel" is probably one of the top 5 best albums of all time IMO. Anyway, I am a guitar player and a lifelong music fan....and the Eagles are the standard by which I compare every other band. Anyway, sorry to get off topic!

Subscribing to Team Renfroe

When I saw the Coronado Springs Resort sign I definitely knew I'd have to keep reading - it's our favorite resort

And your review of the CG - we've never tried it and want to make an ADR for our trip next year - lots of sushi lovers in our family. We're planning our return Grand Gathering and are up to 23 people now. We managed with 21 people last time, so no worries. I'm sure they can fit us all in the restaurant - now the deck, I'm not so sure ?

Can't wait to read your next installment !!

Welcome, Sherrkel! If you've got sushi lovers, California Grill is a MUST! Their sushi chef is supposedly one of the best on the planet. My sushi experience is somewhat limited, but it was BY FAR the best I've ever had.

Now, on the next installment...

 

[alan_renfroe]

Okay, so DS11 was thrilled with Space Mountain, as was I. I couldn't believe how light the crowds were! It was Sunday morning and it took us less than 10 minutes to ride pretty much anything!

We headed over to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and met the girls. LOVED it! We ended up riding it twice.

Next, we headed to the opposite side of the park to do the other two mountains. Look how empty it was in Frontierland!

We went to Splash Mountain first...

DD8 LOVED Splash Mountain! She begged to do it again!

 

[alan_renfroe]

After Splash Mountain, we went to Big Thunder Mountain. It started to rain a little, but that was no problem for us. We had purchased lightweight rainslickers at the Dollar General back home and brought them with us just in case. Besides, we just got off Splash Mountain!

DD8 was a little scared at first, but by the time we got off, she wanted to do it again! SO, we went back to Splash Mountain and rode for a 2nd time, then back to Big Thunder Mountain and rode for a 2nd time. No fastpasses....just walked right on!

Next, we rode Pirates of the Caribbean.

So, just to review....we were at MK for rope drop at 9am. By 11:15am, we had ridden Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear twice, Splash Mountain twice, Big Thunder Mountain twice, and Pirates of the Caribbean! Oh, and it stopped raining about 10 minutes after it started...and the weather was beautiful for the rest of the day.

Next up....lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern

 

[disneyhockeymad]

wow it's alright for some, a queue free day... yes please!!
I've never ever known a day like that!! Lucky you!!

 

[englishrose47]

Loving your review and TR all in one !!Buzz is my fav. at MK followed closely by POTC !! I don't do roller coaster rides ! I kept going on Buzz with aFP without a FP and also POTC a coupleof times !! We ate at LTT last year charcter interaction was great and there is MINNIE!! Family didn't like family style meals for some reason though!! Getting back to Pepper Market, did you get the steak that is only a cs It was wonderful!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

wow it's alright for some, a queue free day... yes please!!
I've never ever known a day like that!! Lucky you!!

Yes, it is definitely not what we expected. We were going to be happy to try to get in Space Mountain, Buzz, and Big Thunder Mountain before lunch!

Loving your review and TR all in one !!Buzz is my fav. at MK followed closely by POTC !! I don't do roller coaster rides ! I kept going on Buzz with aFP without a FP and also POTC a coupleof times !! We ate at LTT last year charcter interaction was great and there is MINNIE!! Family didn't like family style meals for some reason though!! Getting back to Pepper Market, did you get the steak that is only a cs It was wonderful!!

We didn't get to eat steak at the Pepper Market. Since we were on the Deluxe Dining Plan, we didn't have to worry about CS or TS, so we almost always had TS. It was SOOO much food, though!

 

[Snowy-girls]

Great update .How excellent to have them walk ons-lucky you.Pics are great by the way.x.

 

[alan_renfroe]

After Pirates of the Caribbean, we decided to head on over to the Liberty Tree Tavern a little early. Our reservations were for 11:30am, and we got there about 11:15 or so. I took these pictures along the way:

We checked in and were given a buzzer. We had a seat and within a few minutes a cast member came over to me and said, "are you Mr. Renfroe?" I said, "yes." She said, "You and your family come with me! We have a treat for you! You are going to be our Family of the Day!" She led us up some stairs and gave DD8 a bell to ring. DD8 got to ring the bell from the rafter in the picture below, while DW, DS11, and I declared, "Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Let Freedom Ring!" Then, the cast member announced to all lookers on below that the Liberty Tree Tavern was now open for lunch and she asked that the crowd give the Renfroe family a big applause for being the Family of the Day!
How cool is that?

Next up, review of Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[alan_renfroe]

DW, DS11, and I all had the Maryland Crab Cake appetizer. It was absolutely delicious and very filling. If we had not been on the DxDDp, I could have just eaten the appetizer as a meal.

DD8 had the cheese pizza meal with veggie sticks and cinnamon apples.

DS11 had the Salmon Club Sandwich with Applewood Bacon. He gave me about half of it, and it was great!

DW had the William Penn Chicken Pasta. She liked it a lot, but couldn't eat it all.

I had the Tri-Corner Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwich with Liberty Slaw & Horseradish Creme. It was SOOO good. I ended up taking half of it with me in a to-go box and ate it for breakfast the following morning.

Next post....desserts.

 

[Snowy-girls]

That food looks simply gorgeous,especially the pasta .How cool to be Family of the Day+open the Liberty Tree Tavern-lucky you again . Can't wait for dessert pics-those are always the best pics for me(and steak pics).x.

 

[jellyd]

I'm a late joiner, but you and your family are eating in all the same restaurants we are and can not wait to hear your thoughts. Great report so far and keep up the great effort.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

I am a little late joining you on here but am so glad that I found you. It is great to see someone with kids about the age of ours so I can see what they can eat at all these places that we are planning on going also. I am so jealous of your son's pallet though, I can not believe he ordered scallops, and crab cake and samon! Can't wait for more!

 

[tink6137130]

Subscribing! Thanks for sharing!

 

[objan]

Just subscribing. I don't want to miss the rest of your report. I love all the pictures.

 

[alan_renfroe]

That food looks simply gorgeous,especially the pasta .How cool to be Family of the Day+open the Liberty Tree Tavern-lucky you again . Can't wait for dessert pics-those are always the best pics for me(and steak pics).x.

Thanks, x! It was a neat experience...our DD especially got a kick out of it!

I'm a late joiner, but you and your family are eating in all the same restaurants we are and can not wait to hear your thoughts. Great report so far and keep up the great effort.

Thanks,
Rick

Thanks, Rick, and welcome! I will do my best to represent our experiences as best I can. I learned SO much from reading the trip reports of others prior to our trip. Of the two restaurants I've reviewed so far, I would give the California Grill a 9.8 out of 10...and I would give the Liberty Tree Tavern a 9.0 based on the value of the meal. I will tell you that we saw many people without reservations get turned away at Liberty Tree Tavern...so make sure you have your reservations if you plan to eat there.

I am a little late joining you on here but am so glad that I found you. It is great to see someone with kids about the age of ours so I can see what they can eat at all these places that we are planning on going also. I am so jealous of your son's pallet though, I can not believe he ordered scallops, and crab cake and samon! Can't wait for more!

Welcome, M&A. I'm not quite sure why, but scallops are our son's favorite food of all! He absolutely LOVES them! I don't know if his pallet for good food will turn out to be a blessing or a curse!

Subscribing! Thanks for sharing!

Welcome aboard! Murfreesboro, TN in the house!

Just subscribing. I don't want to miss the rest of your report. I love all the pictures.

Thanks, and welcome. You're not too late...I'm just getting started!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Okay, I'm back from my 'gig' tonight, and I'm ready to post the next installment.

As I've stated earlier, I am not a big dessert eater....so, since DD didn't really get a dessert for this meal, I decided to let her have mine. She and DS11 both wanted the Three Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream. They both devoured it!

DW had the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake - vanilla cake with toffee filling and caramel sauce: