They Should Really Put a Bar in Here - Closing Thoughts - 4/1

[Leshaface]

Real life updates...

I mentioned that Sis2 had been in the application/interview process to go back to school for veterinary medicine. She got the letter this weekend, she's in!



DW's cheerleaders have been doing an awesome job cheering on the girls basketball team this year. The high school girls basketball playoffs are underway in Indiana, and the Spartans won their regional for the second year in a row, and are in the final four in class A. Hopefully they can get a little farther than they did last year with a semi-state win next Saturday...

Coincidentally, next Saturday is also our fifth wedding anniversary, so I guess I'm off the hook from having to make plans.



And finally, we have been trying to figure out what we want to do for vacation this year. We want to do something within driving distance that is kid friendly. DW really wants to do a beach trip, so we were talking about some locations last night. I have no idea why, but she doesn't like Atlantic Ocean beaches, so we were looking at Gulf Shores or Panama City Beach... then she mentioned her Sister and BiL were taking their son to Disney World next summer and thought maybe we could go to St. Pete beach and then drive over to Disney World for a day. Naturally, I say, if we're going to Disney World for a day, we might as well make it at least 3 or 4... Next thing I know she's looking at pictures of AoA on her iPad.

I really have no idea if we'll do Disney, and I seriously doubt it. We really had no plans to go back for at least a couple of years, but I can assure you if she gives me the opening, I'm going for it. I'm just impressed that my DW who has never really been a Disney fanatic was the one that mentioned it to begin with. I think I'm making some progress.

Congratulations to both your Sis and DW!

Definitely take that opening if there is one That would be amazing. I think your wife is possibly breaking down if she brought up Disney again!

 

[afwdwfan]

Congratulations to both your Sis and DW!

Definitely take that opening if there is one That would be amazing. I think your wife is possibly breaking down if she brought up Disney again!

Thanks!

I can assure you that if the discussion goes that far, she won't have to twist my arm to go back to Disney World.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Oddly, this may be the only TR I’m following that I’m not hopelessly behind on.

I mentioned that Sis2 had been in the application/interview process to go back to school for veterinary medicine. She got the letter this weekend, she's in!

Congrats to her. Everyone should get a chance to follow their dreams.

Coincidentally, next Saturday is also our fifth wedding anniversary, so I guess I'm off the hook from having to make plans.

Five? Is that all?
Pup…

Happy Anniversary sir.
Spoil her rotten (it’s the only way…)

I have no idea why, but she doesn't like Atlantic Ocean beaches,

Me either…

so we were looking at Gulf Shores or Panama City Beach...

That would still be good though.
Very good indeed…

Naturally, I say, if we're going to Disney World for a day, we might as well make it at
least 3 or 4... Next thing I know she's looking at pictures of AoA on her iPad.

But that would be much better.

I'm just impressed that my DW who has never really been a Disney fanatic was the one that mentioned it to begin with. I think I'm making some progress.

Keep up the good work

 

[afwdwfan]

Oddly, this may be the only TR I’m following that I’m not hopelessly behind on.

You need to prioritize better.

Congrats to her. Everyone should get a chance to follow their dreams.

I don't think it was "following her dreams" so much as the fact that she has been working on a horse farm breaking thoroughbreds for the past 5 years making very little money with no benefits. She finally decided that if that is the best she can do with the degree she has, it is time to either do something else or get more education.

Five? Is that all?
Pup…

Geezer...

Happy Anniversary sir.
Spoil her rotten (it’s the only way…)

Thanks! I'll even spring for her own bag of popcorn at the basketball game.

Me either…

I'm impartial. I'm just not a beach person.

That would still be good though.
Very good indeed…

Yeah, I'm just not sure if it is 4 or 5 days of good before I lose it.

But that would be much better.

Kind of what I'm thinking. Not sure if the bank account agrees or not, but that's why they make credit cards, isn't it?

Keep up the good work

Like I told Mark... if I just knew what I was doing...



Working on my next update... looks like I'm finally going to have another picture heavy one. It is taking forever to get all the pictures ready to go, but hopefully I'll have it done sometime today.

 

[KatMark]

Real life updates...

I mentioned that Sis2 had been in the application/interview process to go back to school for veterinary medicine. She got the letter this weekend, she's in!

Awesome news

DW's cheerleaders have been doing an awesome job cheering on the girls basketball team this year. The high school girls basketball playoffs are underway in Indiana, and the Spartans won their regional for the second year in a row, and are in the final four in class A. Hopefully they can get a little farther than they did last year with a semi-state win next Saturday...

Good luck to the team.

Coincidentally, next Saturday is also our fifth wedding anniversary, so I guess I'm off the hook from having to make plans.


Typical guy!

And finally, we have been trying to figure out what we want to do for vacation this year. We want to do something within driving distance that is kid friendly. DW really wants to do a beach trip, so we were talking about some locations last night. I have no idea why, but she doesn't like Atlantic Ocean beaches, so we were looking at Gulf Shores or Panama City Beach... then she mentioned her Sister and BiL were taking their son to Disney World next summer and thought maybe we could go to St. Pete beach and then drive over to Disney World for a day. Naturally, I say, if we're going to Disney World for a day, we might as well make it at least 3 or 4... Next thing I know she's looking at pictures of AoA on her iPad.


I don't like the Atlantic side either; we used to go to Daytona Beach every year and it has just gotten really bad. Much prefer the St. Petersburg/Marco area.

I really have no idea if we'll do Disney, and I seriously doubt it. We really had no plans to go back for at least a couple of years, but I can assure you if she gives me the opening, I'm going for it. I'm just impressed that my DW who has never really been a Disney fanatic was the one that mentioned it to begin with. I think I'm making some progress.

Good for you making progress on the Disney end. Perhaps you will be surprised and you will end up there for a few days.

 

[afwdwfan]

I don't like the Atlantic side either; we used to go to Daytona Beach every year and it has just gotten really bad. Much prefer the St. Petersburg/Marco area.

We love St. Pete. We were just thinking maybe a few hours shorter drive. It is still a haul, but Panama City and Gulf Shores are just a little closer. I'd tossed out the idea of Myrtle Beach too, but it is an Atlantic beach, and the drive is about the same as driving to the Gulf... so there ya go.

Good for you making progress on the Disney end. Perhaps you will be surprised and you will end up there for a few days.

It was definitely a pinch me moment. I had to sit there for a little bit to let it register and make sure she really said what I thought she said.

 

[afwdwfan]

An Hour Wait for Lunch???

Friday, December 7

It was our last full day in the parks so we got up bright and early so we could take full advantage of the day. We had a few more QS meals left than we were probably going to use, so instead of our usual breakfast of pastries, I went to the counter at Café Rix to get a couple of the egg sandwich meals to bring back to the room. Not the best use of a QS credit, but better than leaving them unused.

Since Sis was feeling better and she’d missed out on our morning at DHS, she and BiL decided to go back over there so that she could ride Toy Story and do some of the other things she missed out on. I really don’t know exactly what they got done at DHS, but I do know that they got to the park for Rope Drop, went straight to TSMM and it was closed that morning. They did end up riding later in the day, but they said it was down when the park opened and an hour or so later when they came back.

The rest of us had other plans. We were going to head to MK. We got to the TTC and the line for the monorail was fairly long, but there was a Ferry pulling up to the dock, so we decided to take a boat ride.

We didn’t quite get there for the welcome show, but we were coming in just after it ended. I’m glad we weren’t there any later, because we could already tell the park just felt more crowded than it had been earlier in the week. We took some time to hang around on Main Street and then headed for Fantasyland hoping to ride Dumbo and then Barnstormer. Unfortunately, Barnstormer was down at the time.

We decided instead to go to Philharmagic. Why??? I have no idea. We probably should have tried to do Enchanted Tales then, but I’m sure the line was already an hour plus since that is what it seemed to be every time we checked. I mean don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Philharmagic, but looking back, I can’t believe we did that early in the morning when you can walk right in there any time.

DS wanted to ride the carousel, so everyone else headed there while I walked over to see how long the lines were for Enchanted Tales and Be Our Guest. Enchanted Tales was as long as usual, and BoG was already lined up back across the bridge at 10 am. It was really kind of crazy, they had the line for BoG forming from one end of the bridge and the line for Gaston forming from the other end and they kind of merged into a mass in the middle of the bridge. I didn’t write off the possibility of eating at BoG entirely, but I figured there’s no point lining up at 10 am for what will be an hour wait, when the wait was an hour when we checked at 11 am a few days earlier.

While I was back that way, and not knowing what the rest of our day would have in store I got a few pictures of the New Fantasyland area, since I hadn’t gotten photographic evidence that we’d been there yet. These were all taken with the cell phone, and I have to say, I think they’re some of the best cell phone pictures I got the whole trip.

Sadly, this is as close as I’d get…

And I’m out of picture space… Continued in the next Post

 

[afwdwfan]

An Hour Wait for Lunch??? – Part 2

Friday, December 7

I headed back out to meet up with everyone else. They had just finished riding the carousel, and DS was trying to remove a sword from a stone… which actually has an anvil on top of it. I’ve never really understood that part. Anyway, he finally found something that stood up against his gift of destruction.

We decided to ride Haunted Mansion since DW and I hadn’t ridden it yet. We weren’t too sure how DS would take it, but we had the iPad ready to go if needed. We got in our Doom Buggy with DS sitting between DW and me. He wasn’t exactly excited, but he seemed to be taking it ok. Until we got into the hallway with the ghosts banging on the doors… and the ride came to a stop. He didn’t freak out, but he sat with his hands over his eyes. I was worried that we’d have a problem, but thankfully the ride took off with a delay of only a couple of minutes. He kept his hands over his eyes for the rest of the ride, but then as we walked outside he said “that was fun!”

By this time it was almost 11. We decided to go back over to BoG and see how long the line was. It was no longer than when I checked earlier, and the CM said it would be a 45 – 60 minute wait. We decided that we have already hit just about all the attractions in the MK, so we’d just go ahead and wait. It actually wasn’t too bad. We had plenty to look at as we were waiting in the line outside, and after about half an hour we were going through the doors.

And this is the part of the new Fantasyland that I’m looking forward to…

Once inside, it wasn’t even like we were waiting anymore. We were just awestruck, checking out all of the scenery. They really did an awesome job with this place.

I loved listening to the knights as you wait in the hallway.

The set up they have for lunch there is incredible! I love how you just walk up to the station and wave your rose next to it and place your order. It is a pretty quick and simple process. We ordered and went in to find a table big enough for everyone since Mom, Dad and Sis2 were still ordering. We found a table and got a high chair for DD. I took our cups and went to get drinks. By the time I got back to the table, our food was already there. I was impressed.

The RFID rose:

The food ordering stations:

I love the winter scene outside the windows.

The meal was delicious. No, we didn’t take food pictures. Although I wish we had, even at lunch, they put some effort into presentation here. As for the entrees, Sis and I had the steak sandwich, Dad had the braised pork, DW had the carved turkey and Mom had the Croque Monsieur. For dessert, I had the triple chocolate cupcake. I know, pretty plain and simple, but if you give me the option of chocolate or just about anything else, chocolate will win every time. And that cupcake was amazing! Everyone else had the strawberry cream cheese cupcake or the lemon meringue cupcake. I won’t elaborate on every little detail, but nobody had any complaints about the meal. For QS, the food quality was excellent and I don’t think anyone would say they were hungry when we walked out. Well, except for DS… we didn’t order anything for him though. He had some snacks and ate a few French fries. The only thing I will say is that I thought the steak was a little on the tough side, but I think it was just because they cook it so that it is well done and I typically order steaks medium. I won’t complain about that though, because I understand why they do it that way. It would be hard to custom make every order and have it at the table as quickly as they did, and honestly, it tasted great anyway.

After we finished our meal, we got up and walked around a little bit on the way out. Really, this place is incredible. They really did a great job making it feel like something straight out of the movie. We took some pictures of the west wing dining room, but it was so dark in there that none of the pictures came out, so I guess you’ll have to look at other TR’s for that one…

In the end, we had about a 50 minute wait from the time we got in line to the time we were actually eating. With the line kind of broken up between the outdoors portion, indoors portion and the ordering area, it really didn’t feel quite that long. Once we were inside, the line felt like it moved quickly and it didn’t seem to take long at all. I can’t say that I’d normally wait that long for a meal, but in this case, the food alone almost justified that kind of wait, and getting to see BoG easily made it worth the wait. I don’t know that I’d wait that long to get in there every trip to the World, but if it is your first time to go to BoG, and you can’t get an ADR I really feel like it is worth it.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great pictures of inside BoG. We decided to try it during our next trip because of the wait times which were no different than what you reported. I'm hoping that by next year when we go, the hype would have died down a bit and the lines would be a bit more manageable without giving up prime morning attraction hours.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

It was our last full day in the parks

I still hate that sentence!

Since Sis was feeling better and she’d missed out on our morning at DHS, she and BiL decided to go back over there so that she could ride Toy Story and do some of the other things she missed out on.

I hope they did enough to be able to enjoy it.

Unfortunately, Barnstormer was down at the time.

Starting to sense a theme for this morning...

We decided instead to go to Philharmagic. Why??? I have no idea.[/QUOTE]

It's called a brain fart. Happens to everybody now and then.

Enchanted Tales was as long as usual, and BoG was already lined up back across the bridge at 10 am. It was really kind of crazy, they had the line for BoG forming from one end of the bridge and the line for Gaston forming from the other end and they kind of merged into a mass in the middle of the bridge. I didn’t write off the possibility of eating at BoG entirely, but I figured there’s no point lining up at 10 am for what will be an hour wait, when the wait was an hour when we checked at 11 am a few days earlier.

These were all taken with the cell phone, and I have to say, I think they’re some of the best cell phone pictures I got the whole trip.

I agree. Some excellent shots there.

I headed back out to meet up with everyone else. They had just finished riding the carousel, and DS was trying to remove a sword from a stone… which actually has an anvil on top of it.

Somebody was a Wile E. Coyote fan?

I’ve never really understood that part. Anyway, he finally found something that stood up against his gift of destruction.

Can you figure out what substance it's made of and re-build everything in your house with it?

Until we got into the hallway with the ghosts banging on the doors… and the ride came to a stop. He didn’t freak out, but he sat with his hands over his eyes. I was worried that we’d have a problem, but thankfully the ride took off with a delay of only a couple of minutes. He kept his hands over his eyes for the rest of the ride, but then as we walked outside he said “that was fun!”

Thanks for emotionally scarring me, Dad!

It was no longer than when I checked earlier, and the CM said it would be a 45 – 60 minute wait. We decided that we have already hit just about all the attractions in the MK, so we’d just go ahead and wait. It actually wasn’t too bad. We had plenty to look at as we were waiting in the line outside, and after about half an hour we were going through the doors.

Sure hope the food is worth it...

And this is the part of the new Fantasyland that I’m looking forward to…

Once inside, it wasn’t even like we were waiting anymore. We were just awestruck, checking out all of the scenery. They really did an awesome job with this place.

It does look amazing inside! Your TR is the first I've seen that shows some of the other rooms besides the dining room. The ordering process seems to be different as well. In a good way, I mean.

The meal was delicious.

Everything sounds great! Sounds like stressing over getting an ADR for dinner isn't necessary at all.

We took some pictures of the west wing dining room, but it was so dark in there that none of the pictures came out, so I guess you’ll have to look at other TR’s for that one…

Ok, see ya later.

I don’t know that I’d wait that long to get in there every trip to the World, but if it is your first time to go to BoG, and you can’t get an ADR I really feel like it is worth it.

Well, I think I definitely need to try it next time. The place looks amazing.

 

[shan23877]

Glad to hear another positive review of BoG! It really does look amazing inside.

Philharmagic may not have been the best attraction to do first thing in the morning, but at least it won't disappoint!

at you finding something DS can't destroy.

And that shirt you were wearing? My husband has several of those. I prefer mine orange and blue.

 

[afwdwfan]

Great pictures of inside BoG. We decided to try it during our next trip because of the wait times which were no different than what you reported. I'm hoping that by next year when we go, the hype would have died down a bit and the lines would be a bit more manageable without giving up prime morning attraction hours.

Yeah, I can't argue with that logic. We skipped it earlier in the week for that same reason, but by this point in the trip it was pretty much just some less crowded attractions that we had left in the MK. We figured we might as well go for it since we didn't know when we'd be back. I have to say, I'm glad we did. I wasn't disappointed.

I still hate that sentence!

Well, it is still better than the one about getting in the car and heading home...

I hope they did enough to be able to enjoy it.

I think they did... I'm pretty sure they did RnRC and ToT, but I'm not sure what else.

Starting to sense a theme for this morning...

You have no idea...

It's called a brain fart. Happens to everybody now and then.

I guess so. It feels like a planning failure though.

I agree. Some excellent shots there.

Thanks

Somebody was a Wile E. Coyote fan?

That could explain part of it.

Can you figure out what substance it's made of and re-build everything in your house with it?

Good idea! But I'm less worried about things being destroyed at our house as opposed to anywhere else.

Thanks for emotionally scarring me, Dad!

Oh, so that's what that means. Oh well.

Sure hope the food is worth it...

In this situation, most definitely. If I was on a short trip and had one day to do everything I wanted in the MK, probably not.

It does look amazing inside! Your TR is the first I've seen that shows some of the other rooms besides the dining room. The ordering process seems to be different as well. In a good way, I mean.

I really like the ordering process. It works very well, and unlike the ordering stations at Pecos Bills where you still have to stand around waiting on your food, you just place your order, move on to find a table and they bring the food to you. It is really a whole lot easier that way and the whole process is very smooth. Truthfully, I'm surprised that they offer that kind of meal and service for a QS dining credit. Don't tell anybody important I said that...

Everything sounds great! Sounds like stressing over getting an ADR for dinner isn't necessary at all.

I'd love to get a dinner ADR there, and we tried. Truthfully though, the menu didn't really appeal to us, and I can't complain about the experience we had with our lunch there. If the newness wears off and you can get in there quicker for lunch in the future, I would probably place this one up there with Flame Tree as basically our 1 and 1A choices for in park QS restaurants.

Ok, see ya later.

Well, I think I definitely need to try it next time. The place looks amazing.

Definitely. Food and scenery are both great.

Glad to hear another positive review of BoG! It really does look amazing inside.

It really is incredible. I loved the snowfall scene outside the windows. They really hit the theming down to the smallest detail. I'm sure Maddie will love it...

Philharmagic may not have been the best attraction to do first thing in the morning, but at least it won't disappoint!

You're absolutely right. It was definitely one of our must do attractions. We'd passed it several times thinking "we can do this anytime, we'll be back" and since this was our last MK day I guess we just decided we might as well do it while we were there.

at you finding something DS can't destroy.

Unfortunately, DD seems to be a good student.

And that shirt you were wearing? My husband has several of those. I prefer mine orange and blue.

I like him more and more all the time!

I'm not a big fan of the orange and blue but I can handle it better than cream and crimson. But only just a little bit better.

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Andy. I love Philharmagic, but I do question your judgment of doing it when you did.

You got some great shots on your cell phone of the new Fantasyland and it didn't look all that crowded with people (well except for the line for Enchanted Tales...which was over 100 minutes every time we went near it).

Love the photos of your DS trying to pull that sword out of the stone.

Isn't BOG just the best? I loved the themeing and the detail. We ate in the West Wing as you know from my TR and we just loved that room. I was able to snag another ADR for our August trip (and Mary got one for our girls trip in June) and I'm hoping to get the West Wing for one and the other ballroom for the other. I'd also like to try to do a quick service meal there too if the line isn't too long.

 

[My sister's princess]

Great review of BOG! It is on our schedule for both Lunch and dinner, not sure if they will both happen though..... I was confused at first with the photo of you son, it looked like he was eating mac and cheese off a napkin! Then I realized they were goldfish

 

[eandesmom]

Great update! I am impressed that HM went as well as it did and love the sword in the stone pics.

Pretty funny about Phillarmagic though!

I really REALLY want to eat at BOG after reading your review, that sounds like a pretty painless wait all things considered.

on the Disney chat...you just never know. Jeff has gone from a every 3 years max to an almost annual event.

When the guy okays (suggests!) an adult only Disney Cruise, and in fact is the one saying he won't cruise with anyone else, admits he has a favorite park...I think that's officially considered progress. And honestly, really unexpected progress all on his own. So you never know!

 

[jecskc]

So I noticed your Purdue shirt and I wanted to tell you I am actually related to John Purdue. Sorry ...... off topic. But along with being a Dis geek, I am an Ancestry.com geek as well.

 

[amandaw]

Love all of your pics of New Fantasyland and especially BoG!!

Just when I felt like I really didn't need to eat there, you come here with a fabulous review. Now, I think we really are going to have to eat there next year even if it's just for lunch. I have to see that place!

 

[that's nice]

Great (cell phone) pics of fantasyland.

We got to walk through BOG in Nov before it officially opened. It is a beautiful restaurant. Nice to hear the food lived up to the hype.

 

[MEK]

Your kids are seriously too cute! These are great pictures.

And I am very impressed with your cell phone photography in Fantasyland. It's such a beautiful area although it looks a tad more crowded in your pics than when I visited in October.

BOG also looks spectacular inside. DH and I have a dinner ADR in June. As much as I would like to try lunch, I don't relish the thought of waiting in line. I'll eventually get around to it.

Great update!

 

[Holly324]

I just recently found your trip report when I was browsing around looking for more reading to feed my WDW addiction. Love the update of BoG! We aren't going for what seems like a loooooooooooooooong time, but it looks great!!

I had to post (I have to say, I am usually a lurker on LOTS of trip reports....I should post more often!) because I saw that you said your sister is applying to vet school! My DH is in his second year of vet school at U of Illinois. I remember the application process all too well....that last interview is exciting! Did she apply to a lot of schools? Good luck to her!!!!!