There's no place like home, a December 2011 DVC pre-trip. 12/2 p56 DL and WDW updates

[Native NYer]

Happy New Year!!!

We don't have our ADRs planned just yet. Since the rest of my family is so flexible, I get to choose everything. There are a few places I know I want to schedule: Boma, Jiko, Crystal Palace character breakfast, and Tusker House character breakfast. I'd love to try Le Cellier, but not sure. I've read great things about the steak, but am wondering if it's good steak, as in a chain like Tony Roma's. Or is it great steak like Peter Luger (which we LOVE) and Smith & Wollensky. Sanaa is also on my list, but need to check the menu.

Also, since we're probably going back in December 2010, I'm not sure if I want to make dining reservations at any of the MK resorts for the August trip. So far, it looks like we're staying at the GF. So, I may save 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, and Narcoosees for that trip. I'm thinking about Sanaa too! I need to check their menu. I'm debating California Grill. Is it all hype? Or is the food really that good?

Where is the Turf Club? I'm all about seafood!

What CS places are you thinking of? Or do you just wing it?

We used the online ADR system for August and it was a breeze. We got email confirmations for all of our ADRs. It was definitely faster than talking to someone on the phone.

 

[rentayenta]

Happy New Year!!!

We don't have our ADRs planned just yet. Since the rest of my family is so flexible, I get to choose everything. There are a few places I know I want to schedule: Boma, Jiko, Crystal Palace character breakfast, and Tusker House character breakfast. I'd love to try Le Cellier, but not sure. I've read great things about the steak, but am wondering if it's good steak, as in a chain like Tony Roma's. Or is it great steak like Peter Luger (which we LOVE) and Smith & Wollensky. Sanaa is also on my list, but need to check the menu.

I hear Le Cell's steak is more like Outback not Peter Luger or even Ruth Chris. Sanaa is on our list as well. I love a good Tandoori. And my kids are fools for a decent samosa. Boma is good too but the lines can be quite long.

Also, since we're probably going back in December 2010, I'm not sure if I want to make dining reservations at any of the MK resorts for the August trip. So far, it looks like we're staying at the GF. So, I may save 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, and Narcoosees for that trip. I'm thinking about Sanaa too! I need to check their menu. I'm debating California Grill. Is it all hype? Or is the food really that good?

We love Cal Grill. We had an MK view and it was amazing to watch the sun go down. Dusk is my favorite part of the day. Cal Grill is worth trying. Word of caution, if you like good food then Chef Mickey's dinner will disappoint. The character interaction was good but we found their food bad and the place was dirty. We could have hit them on an off night because almost everyone else loves it. I heard breakfast is better though.

Where is the Turf Club? I'm all about seafood!

SSR. It will be our arrival day dinner. DH said he wants to check in and check out SSR. It's supposed to be a hidden gem.

What CS places are you thinking of? Or do you just wing it?

We wing it to a point based on what our dinner plans are. If we are having seafood for dinner then we would probably not go to Harbour House for lunch. For CS we are wanting to try:

• Tangerine Cafe (Epcot)
• Harbour House (MK)
• Casey's (MK)
• Cosmic Ray's (MK)
• Artist's Palate (SSR)
• Yorkshire Fish Shoppe (Epcot)
• Yakitori House (Epcot)
• Rosie's (DHS)
• TS Pizza Planet (DHS)

I try to choose a few from each park and then of course from the resort as well.

We used the online ADR system for August and it was a breeze. We got email confirmations for all of our ADRs. It was definitely faster than talking to someone on the phone.

That's good to hear. Walk me through it, do you enter your reservation number or name?

 

[vamassey1]

I used to think most people shared but I am starting to think we are in the minority. We share when we go out here too. If the kids want their own meal, that's great, as long as they'll eat it.

DH is a big sharer! "Are you going to eat that?" then it disappears. He finishes off everyone's food.

 

[rentayenta]

DH is a big sharer! "Are you going to eat that?" then it disappears. He finishes off everyone's food.

A man after my own heart.

 

[rentayenta]

13 days until AZ/Vegas!!! ​

47 days until So Cal!!! ​

51 days until DVC ressie!!! ​

174 days until Mexico!!! ​

206 days until ADRs!!! ​

385 days until THV!!! ​

 

[pooh'smate]

Just a quick hello. My dh was on vacation the past week and today is his last day. I did book us a Wishes Dessert Party on the night we are at MVMCP. I have heard great things about it. Where in AZ are you going to be for vacation?

 

[rentayenta]

Just a quick hello. My dh was on vacation the past week and today is his last day. I did book us a Wishes Dessert Party on the night we are at MVMCP. I have heard great things about it. Where in AZ are you going to be for vacation?

How dare he go on vacation without you! Unless it was for hunting or football.


The Wishes dessert party looks super cool! And on MVMCP no less. Good for him for booking it!


Our friends are in Gilbert. I think the boys are going to try to see a Cardinals' game. I am so excited just to be getting away. I got a night at the Luxor for super cheap on the way back so we'll spend the night and do the M & M Factory and stuff. The kids love Vegas.

 

[pooh'smate]

How dare he go on vacation without you! Unless it was for hunting or football.


The Wishes dessert party looks super cool! And on MVMCP no less. Good for him for booking it!


Our friends are in Gilbert. I think the boys are going to try to see a Cardinals' game. I am so excited just to be getting away. I got a night at the Luxor for super cheap on the way back so we'll spend the night and do the M & M Factory and stuff. The kids love Vegas.

Well he just stayed home and we did a few day trips. Actually he doesn't know about the dessert party. I think I will not tell him and just surprise him. Gilbert is right next to where my parents live when they are in Arizona for the winter. They have a place in Apache Junction. They go there to get away from the winter in Maine.

 

[rentayenta]

Well he just stayed home and we did a few day trips. Actually he doesn't know about the dessert party. I think I will not tell him and just surprise him. Gilbert is right next to where my parents live when they are in Arizona for the winter. They have a place in Apache Junction. They go there to get away from the winter in Maine.

Cool. I hope to be a snowbird when I am older.


I think I am having residual effects from the cold medicine. I read that as he booked the dessert party.


Did you go on any fun day trips?

 

[BigGoofy44]

For our family, the price just doesn't add up. We have 4 technical adults and one child making the DDP cost $181 per day for my family of 5. Taking into account the fact that I hate to waste food and that we love appetizers and that we would NEVER order 5 desserts with dinner, never ever ever, nor would Chloe (my middle DD) order a huge Filet for her self, the DDP is not bargain for us.

Us either, and while Jessica and I love food we don't want to eat at all the places we would have to in order to make it worth it. Maybe someday, if we were going as just a food tour of WDW we would consider the DxDP, but just the regular dining plan is not worth it, and the price of the Deluxe for you would be outrageous.

Now we are at $152. The plan costs $181 a day. Am I missing something? For us the DDP forces us to order food and desserts we normally wouldn't eat.


Anyone seeing something that I am not? I want to get the most bang for my Disney back. Don't even get me started on how 50's PrimeTime adds up. Even with the foo-foo Tink drinks I think I hit $80 for the 5 of us.

We're the same, we will usually order 1 app, 2 meals (sometimes 1, remember she's tiny), and 1 dessert when dining out. In fact, unless we are eating at D Bar Desserts (owned by Keegan Gerhard from Food Network Challenge) we don't even order a dessert.

Maybe I should dissect every meal for your enjoyment?

This could be quite entertaining!

 

[BigGoofy44]

DH is a big sharer! "Are you going to eat that?" then it disappears. He finishes off everyone's food.

My wife would say that he sounds like me. Used to be she'd ask for a to go box, then by the time they came back there wouldn't be anything to go.

 

[Marshay]

It's amazing how quickly they grow.

I think it's because 1/2 of it is me thinking aloud.

I love the THV- so old school Walt. Thankfully the THV and SSR are the same resort or we would have been buying at 2 DVC resorts. DH loves SSR so much so we are adding that extra day to ensure he gets some relax time at SSR.

Because of this rotten head cold, I could not sleep last night so I looked through the menus of the TS that we want to do and I am thinking that the DDP is still not a great deal for us. We love our appetizers and a beer or cocktail with dinner. I am thinking the TIW card might better suit us. The only place TIW doesn't apply to is Teppan Edo which is of course, one of the most expensive meals we want to try.

That sounds amazing! We went to Sea World in San Diego about 8 years ago, during Halloween, and it was really cool. Can't wait to go back.

I make mad fun of him but I am actually enjoying it as long as he doesn't get too involved.


I would love APs but am just not sure we'd make it back within a year. Guess we could always upgrade on the last day if we decided. Right now, with the trip being over a year away, we don't think we'd make it back within a year, but even this last time, we kinda wished we upgraded to APs so we could go back this December. Plus we need one AP to get the TIW card. Need to do the math on that.

Two nights is just a taste. Last trip we did OKW GV 5 nights, AKV 3 nights, and then POR 2 nights. This was before we owned DVC. This trip we'll do THV for 5 nights and then SSR for 6 nights. We will still be at the same resort with Jenna et al but just not in the same villa. To have that happen, we'd have to do another triple split which we don't want to do again. It was fine once. Funny how spoiled we get.

for reading and posting!

I clinked the link for your autograph book and WOW that is fabulous!!!!!!!! Awesome job!!!

Thanks! I'm enjoying working on the book.

So TiW is Not valid for Teppan Edo? Thanks for letting me know! We are going to try to go back to WDW in July 2010 and May 2011 and I was thinking of getting the TiW card, too, instead of the DDP.

We are using the DDP again for our 4 night trip to BLT in less than 2 months!!!

 

[rentayenta]

Us either, and while Jessica and I love food we don't want to eat at all the places we would have to in order to make it worth it. Maybe someday, if we were going as just a food tour of WDW we would consider the DxDP, but just the regular dining plan is not worth it, and the price of the Deluxe for you would be outrageous.

It would be outrageous! I would consider the DxDDP if we were doing an adults only trip and were doing most 2TS.

We're the same, we will usually order 1 app, 2 meals (sometimes 1, remember she's tiny), and 1 dessert when dining out. In fact, unless we are eating at D Bar Desserts (owned by Keegan Gerhard from Food Network Challenge) we don't even order a dessert.

D Bar Desserts? Do tell.............. We love our apps and truly would NEVER order 5 desserts.

This could be quite entertaining!

I did the most costly and it didn't even come close. With Beaches and 50's, we'd be dumb to do the DDP.

My wife would say that he sounds like me. Used to be she'd ask for a to go box, then by the time they came back there wouldn't be anything to go.

Thanks! I'm enjoying working on the book.

So TiW is Not valid for Teppan Edo? Thanks for letting me know! We are going to try to go back to WDW in July 2010 and May 2011 and I was thinking of getting the TiW card, too, instead of the DDP.

We are using the DDP again for our 4 night trip to BLT in less than 2 months!!!

Where are you eating? Are the kids free? Let me find you the TIW link, it lists all of the restaurants.

 

[DisneyJo]

I thought my family shared a lot but we only do CS not TS maybe we need to start I agree the DDP is so much food!!!

 

[rentayenta]

I thought my family shared a lot but we only do CS not TS maybe we need to start I agree the DDP is so much food!!!

Sharing TS is the way to go especially if you find the portions huge, like we do. Your waistline and pocketbook will thank you.

 

[rentayenta]

Marshay:

http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

 

[pooh'smate]

Cool. I hope to be a snowbird when I am older.

They really enjoy Arizona. We are hoping to visit them in March.

I think I am having residual effects from the cold medicine. I read that as he booked the dessert party.

LOL I have done things like that too. That is how I ended up pregnant with my dd except mine was the residual effects of Codine.

Did you go on any fun day trips?

We just went to the zoo one day as that is my dd's favorite place right now. Then another day we went to the Arbor Day Farm's apple orchard and got some apples and walked on some trails they have there.

 

[vamassey1]

My wife would say that he sounds like me. Used to be she'd ask for a to go box, then by the time they came back there wouldn't be anything to go.

Must be a man thing.

 

[BigGoofy44]

D Bar Desserts? Do tell.............. We love our apps and truly would NEVER order 5 desserts.

D Bar is just a little dessert/food bar that opened in Denver last year. As I said earlier Keegan Gerhard (from Food Network) opened it in Denver in the Uptown area. I first read about it about a month after it opened when a Denver food critic did a write-up. The food there is good, mostly comfort foods like paninis and mac & cheese. But what this place is known for is desserts. Keegan is a master pastry chef he used to be the Assistant Executive Pastry Chef or Executive Pastry Chef for Waldorf Astoria, Ritz Carlton and Wynn Las Vegas. So as you might expect the desserts are absolutely incredible.

One of the nice things about the restaurant is that he works there unless he is out of town for FNC tapings. And when he's there his pastry kitchen is right next to a section of seating and he is extremely friendly and conversational. If you ever get to Denver you have to check it out.

 

[Marshay]

Sharing TS is the way to go especially if you find the portions huge, like we do. Your waistline and pocketbook will thank you.

Perhaps I missed this...but do the servers charge you a "sharing plate fee" when you split/share a meal? Do they act all weird b/c they aren't getting as high a tab?

Marshay:

http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

Thanks! I guess I just assumed it was all the restaurants (sit-down)...didn't realize TE was excluded ...