TheNeverEndingPTR! Sept2010...no, November...WAIT! January?Ugh. maybe September 2011!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

ok, so tell me your favorite TS restaurants and what you think of these as well:

Biergarten: This is a favorite of ours and absolutely a MUST do in Rey's book. I enjoyed it too and Dallas said it was his favorite. There was plenty of non-meat food for me, which was surprising!

Crystal Palace: PLEASE don't ask me why I'm wasting a perfectly good TS on this. It's REY. Yes, my husband said he wanted to go back for breakfast to the place with pooh and piglet. Maybe this is why?

I guess I should be happy, right???

Ohana: Dylan LOVED Ohana, still talks about it (which is a big deal for a 16 year old, IMO) Too bad for Dallas, b/c he didn't like it at all! He said he didn't like the way the food was served? I'm looking forward to Chef TJ. I had a nice vegan meal, but I wished he had been there, I have heard he really makes an extra special meal for vegans!!!

Tusker House: I love this place, but I go out of necessity. Out of all the parks, AK has nothing for me to eat unless I eat here. I really wanted to try some new places, but I feel like I'm stuck going here b/c it's the only place I can get anything to eat at AK! I guess they give all the greens and fruits to the animals!

Boma: Savannah & I are the only ones that have been to Boma, on our first trip. LOVED IT! I really think Rey and the boys will like it, and Savannah remembers the desserts. It seems pretty similar to Tusker House, but again, nothing to eat at AK, so TH is not really something I can take off the list?

Chef's of France: None of us have been and I've seen mixed reviews??? They have vegetarian lasagna and I might break down and deal with the aftermath of eating cheese if it's really good?

Via Napoli: Not sure anyone reading this has even been there yet? It's the new Italian restaurant in Epcot. There aren't a ton of reviews yet, but I have a year. The reason I considered it is b/c I think the kids might enjoy the authentic pizza and Rey LOVES tirimasu...LOVES it...enough to pick this place as one of our TS.

Rose & Crown: I'll be honest, the only reason is b/c I want to have dinner and then be able to sit and watch Illuminations from our table. Anyone been there and have an opinion on the food???

Planet Hollywood: I'm looking at POR for our resort, so I was thinking TS at DTD would be nice. Rey scoffed at the idea and said we could just drive to STL for Planet Hollywood and it is a waste of a TS at WDW. ???

any suggestions for a vegan or vegetarian would be great as well. Savannah is a vegetarian, but will probably live on cheese pizza and mac-n-cheese at WDW anyway, she's not real adventurous.

 

[DrMomof3]

Thanks Amanda! I see you are planning a trip for next year as well! Did you do a TR yet for the trip you just made? I haven't been on the boards as much as usual, just wondering if I missed it!

I did start a trip report. Come find me!
I need to add a link to my signature...

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Well, I have no opinions about food since I haven't actually been to any of these places. BUT I know you want CP for the photo ops! A nearly empty MS before rope drop.

It still baffles me that the only thing to eat at ANIMAL Kingdom is animals.

I have to agree with Rey about Planet Hollywood. Some other TS meals @ DTD included on the DDP: Cap'n Jack's, Raglan Road and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. If it were me I'd probably choose one of those over PH.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I did start a trip report. Come find me!
I need to add a link to my signature...

Amanda

I found you and I'm reading!!!!!!!

Well, I have no opinions about food since I haven't actually been to any of these places. BUT I know you want CP for the photo ops! A nearly empty MS before rope drop.

It still baffles me that the only thing to eat at ANIMAL Kingdom is animals.

I have to agree with Rey about Planet Hollywood. Some other TS meals @ DTD included on the DDP: Cap'n Jack's, Raglan Road and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. If it were me I'd probably choose one of those over PH.

It's Savannah & I that cause the problem here...Raglan Road has NOTHING for Savannah. Every single child meal has meat. They have minimal for me, a few salads I might get them to alter and take the meat out of.

Wolfgang is already on our list for CS, we will definitely go there!

Not sure about Cap'n Jack's. It is an option, for sure, I'm hoping there is enough soup/salad stuff that I could eat.

I just know that staying at POR, I will want to go to DTD a few times, I already have two times for sure, but Rey wanting to eat every single meal at Epcot is pushing me to get a hopper and I want to try and find a way to do it without one!

 

[-Hope-]

Won't Savannah be a Disney adult when you go? Does that change anything at Raglan Road?

Are the menus the same for the CS and TS at Wolfgang Pucks? Could you do both?

Just throwing some ideas out- I haven't looked closely at the menus so I don't know what any of them have to offer.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yes, she'll be an adult, technically, but I'm guessing she'll still order from the kids menu...which is a bummer, but Disneys rules! She's pretty picky, so at WDW we just try to make sure they have cheese pizza, mac-n-cheese, or grilled cheese!

 

[donaldsgal]

I just wanted to say it never occurred to me that you were being irresponsible or wishy-washy. I had always assumed you couldn't afford it at time X, so you postponed in the hopes of affording it at time Y. I really think it's smart to have something to look forward to; vacations are my self-care as a counselor, and if I don't have one planned, all of life can tend to blur together. I'm glad you're keeping the dream alive. What's life without a little hope, after all? As a pretty awesome cricket says in my favorite thing about Disney World, "See what a little wishin' can do?"

 

[starann]

Karen,
I'm coming WAY late to the party (I hopped over from Hope's PTR). I completely understand money issues. DH and I both work FT (and I do some Pt stuff as well) and we still struggle. Some months are worse than others.

Do you do Mypoints? How about Sunshine Rewards? My points gives you points for online shopping, 'clicking' on emails (I already have 1000 points in about 2 months from just clicking emails) and other sign ups. They don't have Disney GC to redeem for, but they do have Landrys (as in Trex and Rain Forrest Cafe) as well as a lot of other places that are non Disney. Sunshine rewards give you a $ amount for shopping and doing surveys and the best part is they give you WDW Gift cards (which never expire, so you could 'save' that way for your trip). I have been a member with them for a little less than a year and just cashed out for $75 (I in no way shape or form do surveys every day, or even every week, some people do and cash out for $500 gift cards!!!!) They are both free to join.


Looks like I have some catching up to do, but it since it is 1:24 am and I have to be awake by 7 for work tomorrow, I better get to bed!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I just wanted to say it never occurred to me that you were being irresponsible or wishy-washy. I had always assumed you couldn't afford it at time X, so you postponed in the hopes of affording it at time Y. I really think it's smart to have something to look forward to; vacations are my self-care as a counselor, and if I don't have one planned, all of life can tend to blur together. I'm glad you're keeping the dream alive. What's life without a little hope, after all? As a pretty awesome cricket says in my favorite thing about Disney World, "See what a little wishin' can do?"

Thanks Jenny, I totally agree!

Do you do Mypoints? How about Sunshine Rewards? My points gives you points for online shopping, 'clicking' on emails (I already have 1000 points in about 2 months from just clicking emails) and other sign ups. They don't have Disney GC to redeem for, but they do have Landrys (as in Trex and Rain Forrest Cafe) as well as a lot of other places that are non Disney. Sunshine rewards give you a $ amount for shopping and doing surveys and the best part is they give you WDW Gift cards (which never expire, so you could 'save' that way for your trip). I have been a member with them for a little less than a year and just cashed out for $75 (I in no way shape or form do surveys every day, or even every week, some people do and cash out for $500 gift cards!!!!) They are both free to join.

Star, thank you for the info! I've never heard of them, but I'm off to look them up. Landrys would be actually a really perfect thing b/c one of Savannah's favorite places to go at DTD is RFC and it's not included in free dining, so we would have to pay OOP for it. Every little bit adds up and helps make a trip!

 

[lexmas]

Hi Karen! I'm glad you haven't given up and that you're planning another trip. I think everyone deserves to go to disney, and you are completely right, it's sometimes the people who NEED a vacation that can't take one! Life is completely unfair sometimes. So glad to hear that you're back!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Here's how my mind works lately:

Hmmmm, should I pay that bill or book our room?!?!?!?

Grrr, I'll pay the bill, but I would rather book the room and at least not worry that there won't be any rooms available when I finally book! I'm getting nervous b/c normally they don't release free dining for the following year like this and also b/c POR is the only mod we will fit in and I have read they book fast!

 

[-Hope-]

I'd have so much more fun if it weren't for those stinkin' bills. Do we really NEED electricity, food, gas in the car??

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm sorry! We've been doing Dave Ramsey since April and it's hard to say no to yourself sometimes.

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'll come up with it eventually, I'm sure I'll be able to book before 12-20 (when the offer expires on my pin I got) I'll make it my Christmas gift!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

GO KAREN, GO KAREN, GO KAREN!!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

You are not crazy!!! I haven't even gone on my trip yet and I'm thinking about when we will be going again.....

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh Ann, I AM crazy, but I digress...

I'm going to be doing some flashback TR's! This Friday will be the 2 year anniversary of our first trip to WDW with our friends (just Savannah & I went). I wrote a TR, although I'll have to alter it a bit b/c it was on a private board and my friends didn't know much about WDW and some of it would be pretty redundant for the DIS...like explaining how neat it was that WDW has a special bus that takes you to the resort and our bags magically appear later in our room!

I cannot believe it's been TWO YEARS and looking at the pictures, I'm shocked at how young Savannah looks. They really do grow so fast and it slips right by! Here's a peek at one of the pics from our 2008 trip. Keep in mind I did not have my Nikon at the time, in fact, taking pictures of the fireworks with my crappy point and shoot is what made me want to get a better camera and explore photography more! It always comes right back to Disney for me, doesn't it?

 

[Victoriasmom98]

OMG!!! Savanah does look sooooo young!!! Unreal!!!!!

 

[-Hope-]

Before I even read what you wrote I was thinking, "Wow, Savannah looks so young!" I can't believe that was only two years ago- right after we first met! I can't wait to read the flashback TR! Since we didn't know each other well back then I didn't get the full scoop.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Before I even read what you wrote I was thinking, "Wow, Savannah looks so young!" I can't believe that was only two years ago- right after we first met! I can't wait to read the flashback TR! Since we didn't know each other well back then I didn't get the full scoop.

Should I include crowd pics? I'm already throwing in some food porn for ya.