The 5 trips of My "Disney Free Year" - A Mermaid, A Buzz, A Boat and A Steak - 7/8

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Welcome back -- I would love to hear about your recent cruise! So jealous!!!

Stay tuned, I will be doing a little mini-TR Joanna and Panic on the High Seas at the end of this report!

I love cruises, they're my 2nd favorite vacation after Disney!

You all look so nice, all dressed up!

I'm very attached to Christmas at my parents' house. But I dunno...as the years go by and the family gets bigger and there's more travel involved, it all starts to feel a bit more stressful...

I guess what I'm saying here is: Christmas at Disney looks NICE!

Just takes a lot of scrubbing to get us there

We really loved it. Just the other day, my mom was still talking about Disney at Christmas time and how nice it was. I don't think I could get them to do it every year, but I doubt this will be our last Christmas with the Mouse. There is something liberating about leaving all the stress of the holidays behind!

OK caught up. Reading your report makes me actually consider 2 things...#1-doing Christmas at Disney can be fun! And, #2(dare I say it) it might be fun with the whole family?? You have a great fun family!

We had a ton of fun! Something about the magic of the holiday being combined with the magic of Disney is just wonderful.

I think the best thing we did was have the vacation before Christmas. By Christmas Eve we could tell it was getting much more crowded and by our last day it was just nuts.

As crazy as they make me, I love my family. They're crazy just like me!

I recommend it to anyone. I love traveling with my family.

Love the picture of you and DH by the tree. Makes me wish for Christmas. No, never mind. I am ready for April and our family vacation!

Thanks, that picture was one of my favorites too! Christmas at Disney was awesome, but April and the F&G festival are even better because it's so close. I'm mad jealous!

I think I'm all caught up.

Loved the pictures of the rare characters at International Gateway. I think I might have braved that long line to see Rabbit since he's so rare to come by and I haven't seen him in years.

Hey Meeko! I thought about what a dream the rare characters would be for some people - but we were on a serious margarita mission.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

We checked into Victoria and Albert’s a little early, so we went to Mizner’s lounge for a drink first.

Then we were seated and met our waitress. Who happened to be from the Milwaukee area too, and her in-laws live less than a block from my in-laws. Crazy.

I apologize for the poorly lit pictures to follow. I just couldn’t bring myself to use the flash in such a nice resturant.

So they brought out the amuse bouche. It was lobster 4 ways. Delish.

Course 1

Queenie went vegetarian and got the Beet Carpaccio.

Applewood Smoked Buffalo Waldorf

Tuna and Octopus

Course 2

Sake-Soy-marinated Alaskan King Salmon (DH, Grumpy, Panic)

Vegetable Ash-Crusted Halibut with Butter Clams (Me, Queenie)

Course 3

Duck Breast, Duck Sausage and Confit with gooseberries

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Tortellini

Course 4

Poulet Rouget with Yellow Chantrelles, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, and Truffle Gnocchi

Marcho Farms Veal Tenderloin with Marble Potatoes and Sauce Soubise

Krubuta Port Tenderloin and Belly with Cannelini Bean Sauce

Course 5

Cheese Plate. No idea what kinds of cheese these are. But we’re from Wisconsin so we like cheese – right?

Fancy coffee contraption

Course 6

Meyer Lemon and Blood Orange Purse with Blackberry-Violet Sherbet

Caramelized Banana Gateau

Tanzanie Chocolate Pyramid with a Champangne-Chambord Truffle

Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Soufflé

So while we were eating dessert the rest of the restaurant cleared out. Completely. We were the last people there. So Queenie asks Grumpy “what time is it?”

“Actually, It’s exactly midnight”

“Well, I just have one thing to say to everyone..”

Now I know you’re thinking that something sweet is forthcoming. You know like Merry Christmas, or this is a great meal. Because heck, I was so swept up in the moment even I was expecting that. But truthfully you should know my family by now… So she actually said

“Black Raspberry Sherbet. Seriously guys, this stuff is awesome”

We all bust out laughing, and she had no idea why. Grumpy said “glad it’s good, we would have gone with Merry Christmas, but that’s another way to go”

So after shutting the place down, and being so stuffed we could hardly move, we posed for one last photo.

You can actually see how full we are

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

So while we were eating dessert the rest of the restaurant cleared out. Completely. We were the last people there. So Queenie asks Grumpy “what time is it?”

“Actually, It’s exactly midnight”

“Well, I just have one thing to say to everyone..”

Now I know you’re thinking that something sweet is forthcoming. You know like Merry Christmas, or this is a great meal. Because heck, I was so swept up in the moment even I was expecting that. But truthfully you should know my family by now… So she actually said

“Black Raspberry Sherbet. Seriously guys, this stuff is awesome”

We all bust out laughing, and she had no idea why. Grumpy said “glad it’s good, we would have gone with Merry Christmas, but that’s another way to go”

That souffle looks seriously awesome!! Well your whole meal looks seriously awesome, but I can't stop eying up that chocolate!

Too funny about the "toast"!! And technically, sherbet is sweet...so there's a nice sweet sentiment to end your Christmas dinner with!

 

[Princess_K]

That meal looks wonderful! Too funny about your mom's big statement.

I'm excited for your mini cruise TR

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

That souffle looks seriously awesome!! Well your whole meal looks seriously awesome, but I can't stop eying up that chocolate!

Too funny about the "toast"!! And technically, sherbet is sweet...so there's a nice sweet sentiment to end your Christmas dinner with!

The souffle is really good! That's what I had when we went in January. So warm and delicious.

I like your logic. I just think that my mom is crazy!

That meal looks wonderful! Too funny about your mom's big statement.

I'm excited for your mini cruise TR

Victoria & Albert's is always a great meal. It was a perfect choice for Christmas Eve!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

So it’s Christmas morning after a fabulous 6 course meal that ended at midnight the night before. What’s a girl to do? Well make a big breakfast in the room of course!

You can see our V&A roses on this one…

It actually was kind of nice, we hooked up the ipod and had a holiday play list going and just chilled and had a relaxing morning with eggs, bacon and pancakes. Yum!

After a nice relaxing morning, we bundled up and headed out to the bus.

Yup. I know. Sacrilege I know. Going to a park ON Christmas day… and Epcot none the less. We live life on the edge.

Meanwhile, Panic called Greg… and took a few moments to wish him Merry Christmas. We miss you Greggy-pooh!

This was promising, the bus was practically empty.

We got to Epcot, and as usual, we got through no problem, but had to wait for Queenie who had to go through Bag Check.

I’m with Goofy.

We started walking into the park.

It was really cold that day, so we ducked in Innoventions. I tried to get anyone to make a Velcro frog with me. But I had no takers, so I settled for a picture.

I think I’ll be going with my friend and her 8 year old later this year. So maybe he’ll make a frog with me!

We slowly meandered. It was definitely crowded, and we really had no where to be, so we kept wandering looking for a wait time under an hour.

Hmmm…. We’re getting close to the imagination Pavilion…

The wait for Figment was 40 minutes…. But…. There was no wait for Greg’s favorite… too bad he wasn’t there to join us.

Yep. This is our kind of crowd.

We arrived when the lights turned off, and I was with Queenie and Panic, and we thought that DH and Grumpy were right behind us…. But when I turned around they were gone.

We watched the glorious pre-show. But I couldn’t find them anywhere.

IMG]http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i410/not_joanna_eggs/December%202010/IMG_1983.jpg[/IMG]

We were pretty convinced they’d ducked out and would be waiting for us on the other side….

But once we entered the theater, we able to find them, and we all settled in for 15 minutes of George Lucas / Michael Jackson fun!

I can’t believe you made me sit through that again!

This is true love.

 

[wdwgirl03]

So behind on your TR! But what a nice way to spend Christmas, in Disney.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

What an awesome way to spend Christmas!!! (Although, I'm not sure that a second spin on Captain EO would have been on my Christmas list...)

And I would have totally made a velcro frog with you!! (I really want to make one of those World Showcase masks, but am afraid I'll look way too silly doing so! )

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

So behind on your TR! But what a nice way to spend Christmas, in Disney.

It's okay. I'm so behind on everyone's TRs too, I totally understand! Disney on Christmas was nice, and not nearly as stressful as I thought it would be.

What an awesome way to spend Christmas!!! (Although, I'm not sure that a second spin on Captain EO would have been on my Christmas list...)

And I would have totally made a velcro frog with you!! (I really want to make one of those World Showcase masks, but am afraid I'll look way too silly doing so! )

Somehow, I managed to do Captain EO 3 times 2010. I'm not sure how I handled that It is "special." the day was weird, because the day didn't really feel like Christmas day until the CLP later. But it was really nice.

I know what you mean. I can't wait to go in September because there's so much that I want to do, but I'm afraid I'll look silly with out a kid. I told DH we had to start trying to have kids so we could take them to Disney. He told me my priorities were messed up

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After Captain EO we wandered around the WS for a bit.

We stopped in England and excitedly had a beer

Where’s my Black Raspberry Sherbet?

What are you lookin’ at Mister?

Hmm… the view from here is pretty nice…

We kept wandering and found our old friends British Invasion

Mop Tops with Santa Hats? Sign me up!

Once their set was done, we kept wandering, and took in the sights along the way…

Duffy!

Creepy tree!

What’s this?

More Beer? Sign us up!

Merry Christmas!

 

[Caretames1]

Love the excited fan in the bottom of your picture

 

[portobello_rd]

Thats my kind of Christmas. Lots of drinking.

 

[norybell]

This Christmas of yours is just looking better and better as it goes along.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Love the excited fan in the bottom of your picture

OMG I didn't even notice that. That's hilarious! I feel ashamed that I missed that prime caption opportunity!

I hope someone told her that those weren't actually the Beatles - shocker I know!

Thats my kind of Christmas. Lots of drinking.

Amen to that! We are from Milwaukee - Beer makes everything better! Right?

This Christmas of yours is just looking better and better as it goes along.

Muhahahahaha...my (evil? genius? completely unintentional?) plan is working

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After about an hour of meandering, it was almost time for our ADR, so we headed to China.

Due to some “this could only happen to me” circumstances, I booked our Candle Light Processional package a little too late and there weren’t many options open. I would have loved to go with our old favorite Coral Reef, but Queenie has a strict “No aquariums while eating fish” rule, so of my remaining options – Biergarten, Restaurant Marakesh, 9 Dragons, and Teppen Edo. None of them really screamed “Christmas” to me. When I learned that the only time we could get in was 4:00, that kind of sealed our fate – 9 dragons it was. Chinese food was the right kind of food for that time frame.

I was worried because it’s not an oft-mentioned restaurant – and the old reviews were uniformly bad. But as soon as we were seated and given crayons, I knew it was the perfect choice for us!

Since we had the Candle Light Dinner Package, we got appetizers, which we shared for the table.

Walnut Shrimp toast and Pot Stickers.

Honey Sesame Chicken

Sweet and Sour Pork

Nine Dragons Fried Rice

Red Bean and Rice Pudding (bleh!)

Strawberry and red bean ice cream

Ginger cake

Overall, I was impressed with 9 Dragons. We will be back.

Now, will we be back for the candle light package? Probably not. The price was waaaay too much for what we got. I think we could have stood in the stand by line and gotten similar seats.

But anyway, back to what actually happened.

Once we were done with our yummy dinner, we had about an hour until the CLP. We were going to explore the store in Japan, but when we got there CLP line was already stretching to Japan, so we decided to just hop in and wait.

Are we having fun yet?

Seriously, are we?

So then we spent the next 40 minutes waiting in line. Yup. The longest line we waited in was for the thing that we paid extra for so we wouldn’t have to wait in line. Something kind of poetic about that, no?

At least the scenery was nice

My desktop picture

OMG seriously are we there yet?

Can you handle the excitement?

This ride better be worth it!

 

[Purpleblanket]

Hey there,
I'm still here, following along!! I loved your mega course dinner!!!
Looked like so much fun!!!
I'd like to go back again so that this time... we can sit around world showcase and take in all the sights!! Although, we did get a lot done during the week between Christmas and New Years!!

Debbie

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Gorgeous picture!!!

It's too bad you didn't get your first choice of restaurants for the CP, but it's nice you enjoyed your meal otherwise! I have always wondered that about the CP - how you have to stand in line after reserving your spot. I'm more of a "wander up after it starts and stand in the back for a song or two" attendee .

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Hey there,
I'm still here, following along!! I loved your mega course dinner!!!
Looked like so much fun!!!
I'd like to go back again so that this time... we can sit around world showcase and take in all the sights!! Although, we did get a lot done during the week between Christmas and New Years!!

Debbie

Victoria & Albert's is AMAZING. We were lucky enough to do this "once in a decade" type meal twice last year. And it was unbelievable both times.

That is one of the pluses of going as often as we did last year, we didn't feel rushed or like we had to do everything - since we'd already done it It was nice and relaxing just to drink and people watch. I whole heatedly advocate that you plan another trip to do the same. I'm really good at spending other people's money, aren't I

Gorgeous picture!!!

It's too bad you didn't get your first choice of restaurants for the CP, but it's nice you enjoyed your meal otherwise! I have always wondered that about the CP - how you have to stand in line after reserving your spot. I'm more of a "wander up after it starts and stand in the back for a song or two" attendee .

I love how that picture is Epcot, but not in your face about it. It came out really nice!

It all worked out with the CLP. Our first choice would have been Chefs de France which would have been too much heavy food. Plus I'm not sure we would have tried Nine Dragons otherwise, and it was a really great meal.

Normally I wouldn't have booked the CLP package, but I was reading horror stories of the massive amounts of people that flock to the CLP on Christmas Eve and Day, so I thought it best to play it safe. But the whole process was stuooooooooooopid if you ask me (which I'm pretty sure you didn't, but hey!)

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

So finally, the line started moving and we were herded into the America Gardens Theater. We ended up scoring pretty good seats – 3rd row, on the left or “Japan” side.

Then we got to wait some more…

Is this the ride with the big drop?

Finally, the music started.

Yep. Get those scrollin figures ready, because you all know what happens when I’m not distracted by rides and things.

Our narrator was Edward James Olmos. Or as Panic referred to him “ the dude from Bladerunner”

He was really passionate about the story and got all teary-eyed. I suppose this is better than a narrator that gets bored with the story, or rushes through it. It was a little intense for us though – but we’re cynical. And frankly were paying way more attention to the choir members on our side that were dropping like flies. We saw about 5 people ushered off the risers during the show. Who needs the famous celebrity – we had gripping drama right in front of us!

Overall, The show was nice. I was glad I didn’t listen to the experts and stay away, because I think it was much more magical to see it on Christmas. TGM had me thinking that we were stepping into the second coming of our day at WWOHP, and I was going to have a nervous breakdown because I wouldn't have butter beer to distract me. But that wasn't the case at all. Yes, the theater was full, but it wasn't like there were hoards of people clamoring to get closer and buy a wand or anything. It was very nice, and it was really the piece that made the day feel Christmas-y at all. Well okay, the Beatles cover band wearing santa hats was pretty Christmas-y too.

 

[RachelNinja]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! There's so much to read and catch up on. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! Of course, we're going out to dinner now ...