The One Where I Go To Disney World for the Tenth Time: Aug '14 TR - COMPLETE 5/21 LIFE U/D 7/7

[heathsf]

Yes I have an annual pass and have had it for years. I grew up with a cousin who was a castmember and who used to take me all the time with her. Now I go at least once a week. It may be overkill, but I can't stop myself. Particularly when I've had a long day at work I like to head to the parks for a sweet treat and fireworks. Everything always looks better from there!

I wouldn't be able to stop myself either! I would be there ALL the time! Going after a long day of work for a treat and fireworks is perfect That's the way to live!

 

[heathsf]

SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!!!!!!!!!!!
9 Days!

9 Years Ago in Disney History:
-The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered
-Soarin' opened at Epcot
-Lights, Motors, Action opened at Disney-MGM Studios (It took me so long to get used to calling it Hollywood Studios)
-Disneyland's 50th Anniversary!

 

[heathsf]

The One with the ADRs​

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ADRs got shuffled a little bit as the trip got closer but here is the final list. These are all dinners.

Friday, Aug 8 - Chef Mickey*
Saturday, Aug 9 - Ohana
Sunday, Aug 10 - Teppan Edo
Monday, Aug 11 - Le Cellier
Tuesday, Aug 12 - Hoop Dee Doo*
Wednesday, Aug 13 - Be Our Guest*
Thursday, Aug 14 - Via Napoli*

Restaurants with a * are new for me (or I was so young the last time I was there I don't remember it at all) so if you have recommendations I'd love to hear them!

We also have a lunch FP+ for BOG on Saturday, but that is a surprise for M and S! I'm so proud of myself for keeping it secret. I can keep a secret when it's important but when I try to plan a surprise for someone (especially when it's Disney related) I usually get too excited and can't contain myself and spoil it.

I can't believe that two weeks from tonight I'll be eating at BOG! I've been waiting for this for sooooooooooo long!

 

[heathsf]

8 Days
One week from tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Lisa Kudrow and Rock'n Roller Coaster!

8 Years ago in Disney History:
-High School Musical and Hannah Montana premiered on the Disney Channel
-Expedition Everest opened at Animal Kingdom
-Disney acquired Pixar

 

[ariane37]

I hope you're right! If it doesn't happen on this trip, we'll just have to keep taking more until it does!



I'm so excited for both of us too!! We're both so close!!



I can't wait to reach my 20-something-ith trip! That's such an accomplishment My past few trips have been at the very end of August (right around your dates), so I'm a little nervous to go at the beginning because I think it will be a lot more crowded. Are you going to write a TR?

Sorry, I don't know how to just quote part of a quote lol! First off, I'm a *smidge* older than you, so I'm sure by the time you're my age you'll have had your 20th trip or be well beyond that Second, I LOVE reading others PTR's and TR's, but don't think I'd be good at writing my own! I'll leave it to the creative types

Just looked at your ADR's, I've been to a couple of those you're trying for the first time. We really enjoy Via Napoli and we've eaten dinner at BOG 4x. After the first time, my DS 6 at the time declared it his favorite restaurant in all of WDW.....lol so he keeps requesting it. There are many reports on here of people who have bad service or are let down by the food, but we've had good experiences every time and think the food is very good. It's not the best food we've ever eaten-it's still a theme park restaurant-but it's always been delicious and the ambiance can't be beat We had lunch there once and much prefer dinner. I hope you and your group enjoy it as much as we do!!!

We are doing HDDR for the first time next month, also! I've been wanting to do it for ages so I'm really looking forward to it. What seating category did you book?

 

[heathsf]

ONE WEEK!

Happy Birthday BJ Novak!

If you haven't seen him in Saving Mr. Banks, GO DO THAT RIGHT NOW! Leave work, forget your children, stop whatever you are doing, and watch this movie.

Just kidding... ... kind of

7 Years ago in Disney History:
-The Wonders of Life Pavilion closed

Body Wars scared the @#$! out of me as a little kid
-The Living Seas became The Seas with Nemo & Friends

-Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor opened

-Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros opened

 

[heathsf]

Sorry, I don't know how to just quote part of a quote lol! First off, I'm a *smidge* older than you, so I'm sure by the time you're my age you'll have had your 20th trip or be well beyond that Second, I LOVE reading others PTR's and TR's, but don't think I'd be good at writing my own! I'll leave it to the creative types

Just looked at your ADR's, I've been to a couple of those you're trying for the first time. We really enjoy Via Napoli and we've eaten dinner at BOG 4x. After the first time, my DS 6 at the time declared it his favorite restaurant in all of WDW.....lol so he keeps requesting it. There are many reports on here of people who have bad service or are let down by the food, but we've had good experiences every time and think the food is very good. It's not the best food we've ever eaten-it's still a theme park restaurant-but it's always been delicious and the ambiance can't be beat We had lunch there once and much prefer dinner. I hope you and your group enjoy it as much as we do!!!

We are doing HDDR for the first time next month, also! I've been wanting to do it for ages so I'm really looking forward to it. What seating category did you book?

I love that your DS declared it to be his favorite restaurant. It's so official
I'm so excited to eat there. I'm sure we'll enjoy it as your family has. I know it won't be a 5 star restaurant, but we're pretty easy to please Do you have any food recommendations for lunch or dinner?

For HDDR we booked the 8:30 show so that we could use the dining plan for Category 1. From what I've read, it's a great time no matter where you sit! I'm so excited. What category did you book?

And FYI, when you're quoting, you can just delete the text you want to take out of the quote. At least that's what I do. It's possible there's a better way I don't know about.

 

[Leshaface]

I'm here! Oh yay so excited!

I'll be back to read later. Off to lunch!

 

[Leshaface]

Oh my gosh your GIF's made me laugh! Whos is that lady anyway?

I love easyWDW. I think it was you who gave me that link a while back so thank you!

I LOL'ed at the excited Croc!

OMG LOVE THE CRAZINESS! Can we please be 3D friends so I can get emails like this from you!? PLEASE!

I thoroughly enjoyed Saving Mr. Banks. Such a great movie and so creative. They did such a fantastic job!

Your ADR's look wonderful! Excited to see what you think about BoG and VN!! And so cool that you got a BoG lunch FP!!

I'm so excited for you!

 

[Bebella]

I'm following along (and subscribed!)...I really enjoyed your last trip report from 2011...makes me wish my husband and I had gone to Disney before we had kids (now we'll just have to make sure to bring the grandparents along so we can act like kids ourselves!

 

[Luv0fDisney]

i have only eaten at two of your chosen ADRs which are Via Napoli and Le Celliur. I did not have a good experience with Le Celliur (spelling?) because it was my bday and our service sucked.

But Via Napoli was good. I love their Zappoli's for dessert!!! You HAVE to get those!!!

 

[heathsf]

Oh my gosh your GIF's made me laugh! Whos is that lady anyway?

I love easyWDW. I think it was you who gave me that link a while back so thank you!

I LOL'ed at the excited Croc!

OMG LOVE THE CRAZINESS! Can we please be 3D friends so I can get emails like this from you!? PLEASE!

I thoroughly enjoyed Saving Mr. Banks. Such a great movie and so creative. They did such a fantastic job!

Your ADR's look wonderful! Excited to see what you think about BoG and VN!! And so cool that you got a BoG lunch FP!!

I'm so excited for you!

Alicia! I'm so happy you're here! YES we can be 3D friends! I need more Disney people in my real life. I will send you super ridiculous emails anytime you want

When I wrote about Saving Mr. Banks a few days ago it was my third time seeing it. I've watched it two more times since then. I'm obsessed with it. I have a problem Have you seen "The Boys" documentary about the Sherman Brothers? I highly, highly recommend it if you haven't.

You were my inspiration for using animated gifs in the TR btw. Yours was the first report where I saw them used. Brilliant. And the lady who rolls her eyes like Bobby is Lucille from Arrested Development.

Thank you for being so excited for me. You've had to listen to me complain about missing WDW for years through all of your TRs It's really been 3 whole years since my last trip. Too long!

I'm following along (and subscribed!)...I really enjoyed your last trip report from 2011...makes me wish my husband and I had gone to Disney before we had kids (now we'll just have to make sure to bring the grandparents along so we can act like kids ourselves!

You made my day with your comment, I can't believe you remember reading my TR 3 years ago! Bringing the grandparents along is a great idea! I'm sure that going to Disney with kids is the most amazing experience. Do you have a trip planned?

i have only eaten at two of your chosen ADRs which are Via Napoli and Le Celliur. I did not have a good experience with Le Celliur (spelling?) because it was my bday and our service sucked.

But Via Napoli was good. I love their Zappoli's for dessert!!! You HAVE to get those!!!

That's too bad about Le Cellier. When I ate there 3 years ago I LOVED it! But to be honest, I've read some not great things about it over the past few years after it transitioned to a full time signature restaurant. I'm hoping our experience is just as good this time. Thank you for the tip about VN. Zeppolis for dessert sounds amazing!

 

[Leshaface]

Alicia! I'm so happy you're here! YES we can be 3D friends! I need more Disney people in my real life. I will send you super ridiculous emails anytime you want

Woot woot!

When I wrote about Saving Mr. Banks a few days ago it was my third time seeing it. I've watched it two more times since then. I'm obsessed with it. I have a problem Have you seen "The Boys" documentary about the Sherman Brothers? I highly, highly recommend it if you haven't.

I haven't! I'll have to look for that. Those Sherman brothers were/are pretty amazing

You were my inspiration for using animated gifs in the TR btw. Yours was the first report where I saw them used. Brilliant. And the lady who rolls her eyes like Bobby is Lucille from Arrested Development.

Aren't gifs so much fun!? And the gifs are like, EXACTLY, how I feel and look when I put them up

Okay, I haven't seen that show. I've heard funny things about it though!

Thank you for being so excited for me. You've had to listen to me complain about missing WDW for years through all of your TRs It's really been 3 whole years since my last trip. Too long!

Seriously though, that is so long. I would be complaining the whole time too, so i'll always be here to listen, just in case you can't get back for another 3 years.

I know this is too far to probably even think about, but if you guys do have a child in the near future, would you ever consider taking him/her to WDW as a baby?

 

[heathsf]

Woot woot!

I haven't! I'll have to look for that. Those Sherman brothers were/are pretty amazing

Aren't gifs so much fun!? And the gifs are like, EXACTLY, how I feel and look when I put them up

Okay, I haven't seen that show. I've heard funny things about it though!

Seriously though, that is so long. I would be complaining the whole time too, so i'll always be here to listen, just in case you can't get back for another 3 years.

I know this is too far to probably even think about, but if you guys do have a child in the near future, would you ever consider taking him/her to WDW as a baby?

The Shermans are amazing. Their talent is just unreal. The documentary made me appreciate that even more.

Arrested Development is SO funny! To be honest, Bobby and I never even finished the fourth season that was added on Netflix. It was different than the first three. I think we need to just start it over and give it another chance. I'm pretty sure all the seasons are on Netflix if you want to check it out.

Thanks for volunteering to always listen to me complain As for a trip with a baby, I've thought about that a lot. I told Bobby we will definitely be taking at least one trip while future baby is free. He says he would want the baby to be old enough to enjoy it, and as evidenced by your TRs that's pretty early! So who knows, but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Our plan is to TTC in September (which is officially next month! ) and we'll just have to see what the future brings. I'm excited for the next step and going into this trip planning on it being the last of its kind...

 

[ariane37]

I love that your DS declared it to be his favorite restaurant. It's so official
I'm so excited to eat there. I'm sure we'll enjoy it as your family has. I know it won't be a 5 star restaurant, but we're pretty easy to please Do you have any food recommendations for lunch or dinner?

Well if you like mussels, order the mussel app. I don't eat them but DH and both DS's LOVE them and always get 2 orders! Also the steak has always been delicious, I've gotten it 3x and both DH and younger DS have had it also.
There's a chicken dish on the menu and I can't remember the name of it. I meant to look before I responded and forgot But it has marinara sauce on it and kalamata olives. It was really tasty, just salty which I don't mind but some people would. I can't remember what else DH has eaten but I think the puffed pastry with seafood in it? If that was it, he said it was really good. The other things my DS's have had were on kids menu. As for desserts, my fave is the strawberry cupcake But the chocolate is also delish and DH had whatever the no sugar added dessert is and enjoyed that. The "grey stuff" is ok. At dinner (at least in Feb) they didn't have the Masters cupcake (which we had at lunch and loved) but like a brownie bar w/ the grey stuff on top. Good, but not as good as Master's cupcake!

For HDDR we booked the 8:30 show so that we could use the dining plan for Category 1. From what I've read, it's a great time no matter where you sit! I'm so excited. What category did you book?

I also booked Cat. 1 but we're not on the DDP-first time since 2006 we're going without it! I too have heard that Cat. 2 and 3 have good seats, but didn't want to hear my kids complain if they couldn't see lol

And FYI, when you're quoting, you can just delete the text you want to take out of the quote. At least that's what I do. It's possible there's a better way I don't know about.

THANK YOU for this!!

 

[ariane37]

OK do you see how I messed up that last post? I mixed in my comments with your comments?? Remember, I mentioned in an earlier post I'm a *smidge* older than you........... So FYI read all the yellow b/c it's not all your response lol!! That's what happens when you aren't in your 20's (or 30's) anymore!

 

[heathsf]

THANK YOU for this!!

OK do you see how I messed up that last post? I mixed in my comments with your comments?? Remember, I mentioned in an earlier post I'm a *smidge* older than you........... So FYI read all the yellow b/c it's not all your response lol!! That's what happens when you aren't in your 20's (or 30's) anymore!

You are so funny! Breaking them up like that is a bit more complicated! I have a hard time doing it too so I usually try avoiding it! I think you have to copy the code in the brackets at the beginning and end of each section you want quoted, if that makes sense.

I actually don’t like mussels, but I will pass the recommendation on to DH in case he’s in the mood. I was planning on getting the steak or the seafood in the puffed pastry. I think I’m leaning toward steak. (Cause, you know, I think about what entrée I’m going to want months ahead of time) It’s good to know the chicken dish is salty because I probably wouldn’t enjoy that. I’m already stressing over making sure I get to try both the strawberry cupcake and the grey stuff in either cupcake or brownie form. Based on your experience, it seems I should get the Master’s cupcake at lunch and the strawberry cupcake at dinner… (If you thought planning dinner ahead of time was important, planning dessert is WAY more important )

 

[heathsf]

6 Days!
139 Hours until Takeoff!

Today in Disney History:
Once Upon a Toy opens at Downtown Disney in 2002

Six Years Ago in Disney History:
-Bobby's favorite Pixar movie, Wall-E is released
-Disney-MGM Studios is renamed to Disney Hollywood Studios (it took me years but I'm finally used to the name change)
-Toy Story Midway Mania opens at Disney Hollywood Studios

 

[heathsf]

5 Days!
We are officially in the "Counting on One Hand" Zone!

Today in Disney History:
Nothing very interesting. We'll just skip this one today...

5 years ago in Disney history:
-Movie releases include:
MY FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY OF ALL TIME "The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story" , Up, and The Princess and the Frog
-American Idol Experience opens at Hollywood Studios (and I actually just read today that it will be closing next year - but I think this is old news and I'm just behind the times)
-The Walt Disney Co. buys Marvel Entertainment

Speaking of which, I saw Guardians of the Galaxy last night with DH, M, and S and it was very good! I really liked it, although I was surprised by some of the inappropriate language in the movie.

 

[heathsf]

I missed yesterday because I was down the shore for the day with DH's family.

We spent most of it indoors as it was pretty cloudy and cool out. At around 4:30 the sun peeked out a bit from behind the clouds and we ventured over to the beach. Here's my beach outfit:

Not very good practice for the sweltering heat we're going to experience in WDW

Anyway, countdown time!

Yesterday was 4 days! 4 Years ago in Disney History:
-Toy Story 3 and Tangled were released
-Captain EO replaced Honey I Shrunk the Audience at Epcot

And today is 3 DAYS!!!!
3 Years ago in Disney History:
-My last Disney trip and DH's first! (Yes, that's part of Disney history)
-Star Tours: The Adventure Continues opens at DHS
-Mickey's Toontown Fair closes to make way for New Fantasyland