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

[KatMark]

Andy, what a fun update. But I have to tell you when your title said "I Met Somebody" I thought to myself...but we never got the chance to mee.

I'm just grinning from ear to ear over the pictures with the princesses...especially the ones with your DS (although DD is adorable too).

I hate those last days at the MK and just trying to soak it all in with not knowing when you'll be back.

The monorail down? Gee....what a surprise. NOT! I really have come to hate that thing.

Can't wait to hear where you go for dinner.

 

[afwdwfan]

Aw, what a great chapter! I'm glad that you had some good interaction with Cinderella and somebody, even if Rapunzel wasn't too chatty. You got some really good pictures.

Thanks! It was actually more fun meeting the princesses than I expected it to be.

Andy, what a fun update. But I have to tell you when your title said "I Met Somebody" I thought to myself...but we never got the chance to mee.

It's all about you, isn't it?

I'm just grinning from ear to ear over the pictures with the princesses...especially the ones with your DS (although DD is adorable too).

He seemed to really enjoy it. Maybe not so much in a few years, but this time it was good.

I hate those last days at the MK and just trying to soak it all in with not knowing when you'll be back.

Always the worst part of any trip...

The monorail down? Gee....what a surprise. NOT! I really have come to hate that thing.

I still like it. I just wish they'd get the issues straightened out with it.

Can't wait to hear where you go for dinner.

As good as it was, it wasn't even the highlight of the evening...

 

[KatMark]

It's all about you, isn't it?

Well of course it is!

 

[khertz]

He had seen her movie a few times, so he knew who she was and they had a nice conversation. DD came over to join in on the fun and Cinderella commented about how shed lost her slippers too.

How do those characters come up with quips like that so quickly? Sounds like a great Cinderella!

DS seemed pretty excited about seeing the princesses hed just met riding on a float in the parade. After the noise from the parade passed, DW called her mom. They talked for a little bit and then she gave DS the phone. They chatted for a little bit and then DW told him to tell her who hed just met. He said I met Rapunzel, and I met Cinderella, and I met& somebody! I guess well have to watch Sleeping Beauty one of these days.

That is too funny! Come to think of it, when we met the princesses with Paxton, he probably only recognized Rapunzel. So I guess we need to watch Sleeping Beauty AND Cinderella before our next trip!

Great Princess pictures! Even if Rapunzel wasn't too great with DS in person, you can't tell from the pictures. It must be a little boy thing, Paxton was doing the hands-in-the-mouth-looking-shy thing too when he met the princesses!

Editing to add that upon a closer look at your photos, the Cinderella you met bears quite a striking resemblance to the Sleeping Beauty we met!

 

[MEK]

Adorable pics. So glad he loved Rapunzel even though she must have been new to the job. Maybe she had a headache from carrying around all that hair. Just sayin'

We decided to go grab some cinnamon rolls at the bakery for breakfast the next morning. I took the stroller and headed into the bakery, while DW went to the Emporium to grab a few things she couldn’t find at Mouse Gears.

I will miss the cinnamon rolls when Starbucks takes over. *sniff sniff*

I slowly and sadly walked down MS towards the exit. It seemed like we had just got there and we were already leaving MK for the last time.

Oh no - last day at MK? That is always so sad.


[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

 

[afwdwfan]

How do those characters come up with quips like that so quickly? Sounds like a great Cinderella!

I don't know, but when they do, it really adds to the experience.

That is too funny! Come to think of it, when we met the princesses with Paxton, he probably only recognized Rapunzel. So I guess we need to watch Sleeping Beauty AND Cinderella before our next trip!

Quite a sacrifice to have to make, but I think you're up to the challenge.

Great Princess pictures! Even if Rapunzel wasn't too great with DS in person, you can't tell from the pictures. It must be a little boy thing, Paxton was doing the hands-in-the-mouth-looking-shy thing too when he met the princesses!

Yes, he was a little shy with them, but absolutely loved it. Rapunzel wasn't awful, but she just wasn't quite as outgoing and into character as the other two. But Aurora and Cinderella definitely set a high mark to try to measure up to.

Editing to add that upon a closer look at your photos, the Cinderella you met bears quite a striking resemblance to the Sleeping Beauty we met!

Not only there, but I think she looks familiar from another TR I've seen recently.

 

[afwdwfan]

Adorable pics. So glad he loved Rapunzel even though she must have been new to the job. Maybe she had a headache from carrying around all that hair. Just sayin'

That's an interesting theory!

I will miss the cinnamon rolls when Starbucks takes over. *sniff sniff*

I'm already anti-Starbucks. If they take those cinnamon rolls away, I'll hate them even more.

I realize they have moved them to Gaston's Tavern, but we typically grab something on the way out of the park in the evening to eat the next morning. Main Street is convenient for this, Fantasyland isn't.

Oh no - last day at MK? That is always so sad.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I checked the Touring Plans app and saw that Barnstormer was back up and running, so I headed over to grab a couple of FP’s for later. Everyone else stopped to ride the Teacups while I did that.

You got the better end of that deal.

They told us that CoP was closed when they went there and Sis2 wanted to ride Splash Mountain again. They walked across to Frontierland only to find that Splash was closed as well.

D'oh! This has not been a fortunate trip for them.

I had done no princess related research

I spotted the lie! Admit it, you had the whole schedule memorized.

We kind of took our time, because this was going to be the last time we’d see the MK this trip. I always hate that feeling.

Well, in an effort to win parent of the year, I naturally grabbed him out of the stroller and started talking to him.

He was ok with it? I guess our title is safe, then.

She really seemed to enjoy the fact that there was a little boy there to see the princesses and unlike Rapunzel, she sat and just chatted with him for a while. I have no idea what they were talking about, but it must have been something good.

"...corn on the cob, corn fritters, popcorn, creamed corn..."

Not even three years old and he already thinks I'm a dork.

Fatherhood is very glamorous.

We finished meeting Cinderella and walked outside just in time to see the 3 o’clock parade. I don’t know what time it was

Nice.

He said “I met Rapunzel, and I met Cinderella, and I met… somebody!”

It seemed like we had just got there and we were already leaving MK for the last time.

I suppose you could try chaining yourself to the flag pole.

 

[Vincent405]

I Dont Think Shes Gonna Make It

Tuesday, Dec 4


We sat down and I noticed Sis looked awful. We had noted on the ADR that she had a food allergy, and when the chef came out to speak with her, she told him that she didnt think like she felt like eating anything. He offered to make her some chicken soup and said he could make her just about anything she might want, but she declined his offer. Our waiter brought out drinks and she didnt hang around too long before she got up and left.

I wasnt sure what was wrong, but Mom went with her to make sure she was ok. BiL told us that she started feeling kind of sick while they were at AK, and they actually left the park to go back to the room and rest for a while. He told us that shes been acting like shed eaten some gluten somewhere.

Not including Sis, we all enjoyed our meal. LTT is one of our family favorites. We love the home style food that they serve and I think we had them bring us more of just about everything. I could have used the kids stroller by the time we were done there, but Id have crushed it.

Sis came back in and sat with us for a while as we ate, but she didnt last long before she got up and left again. Mom went to check on her again. Even though her little girl was grown up, she was still her Mom. I think this scene repeated itself a few times throughout the course of dinner. Finally she just said she was going to go outside and sit down somewhere.

At about this time, our waiter brought out our dessert. He saw Sis get up again and said he was sorry that she wasnt feeling well. BiL, managing to keep a straight face, just shook his head and looked at the waiter with a sad look on his face and said I dont think shes gonna make it.

Now, I know this is a short update, and light on pictures, but this is as good a time as any to elaborate on what happened with Sis. As Ive mentioned, she has a gluten allergy. This was addressed at every meal we ate, but she got very, very sick and it was pretty obvious that it was her typical reaction to gluten. We obviously have no way of knowing for sure, how or where, but she seems to think the cross contamination was at Cosmic Rays the night before. She ended up being miserably sick and missing out on a whole park day over this, and really took a couple of days to get back to normal.

A couple of days later, she went to the American Pavillion at EPCOT. She wanted lunch, but this was really her first QS meal since shed been sick, so she just wanted something simple. She told the manager there about her allergy and explained that shed had a reaction to gluten that shed picked up somewhere. The manager there explained to her that what shed heard at other Quick Service places was only partially true. They do have fries that have gluten in them, but they also have gluten free fries. Those gluten free fries, which Sis had been eating all week, have their own dedicated fryer. That much, we already knew. What we didnt know until this manager explained it was that Disney re-uses their cooking oil. And they dont segregate it. So while they have a dedicated fryer for gluten free food the oil likely has remnants of wheat based breading or other food in it from whatever fryer it was used in yesterday. After she learned this news, Sis was done with fried foods at Disney World.

When we returned home, Mom sent some e-mails to Disney World. Someone called her back and pulled up the information from Sis KTTW card. They knew every restaurant that shed eaten at and noticed that she had an unused day on her ticket. The CM confirmed that re-using the oil is the standard procedure that the Disney Quick Service places use, but noted that the managers are supposed to share this information with anyone who has an allergy. On our entire trip, the only manager that mentioned this during the allergy spiel was the one at the American Pavilion at EPCOT.

Mom never mentioned anything about our suspicions about Cosmic Rays, but the CM even went on to comment that she is surprised they didnt do a better job of explaining it, because it supposedly has one of the best track records of all their restaurants when it comes to allergies. Mom told the CM they need to do a better job of training their managers or something. She made a point to the CM that she wasnt as worried about someone like Sis who can recognize the signs and take care of herself, but she was more worried about something like this happening to a Make a Wish kid coming to Disney World with a food allergy. It could be a life or death situation for them, all because a manager doesnt mention that one tiny detail.

Either way, the CM did give Sis and BiL each a 1 day pass to make up for the fact that she didnt even use one of her days and he actually spent a pretty big chunk of the day with her back at the resort. They ended up with several unused QS and snack credits at the end of the week though, and wasted MVMCP passes.

Our feeling about the attention to allergies is that the Table Service places all do an excellent job. The same can be said for a Quick Service place where you have an actual chef that prepares the food speaking to you, like at The Pepper Market. Sis just doesnt have any confidence in the other QS places anymore though. All they ever do when she says allergy is hold up the line and bring out a manager with a book. She doesnt feel confident that the managers actually know what theyre talking about and has no confidence in that system. After that incident, she basically went back to just ordering things that she knows will be safe (like she has to do everywhere else). For the rest of the week, her diet consisted of mainly meats (that were allergy book approved) and carrot sticks. She wasnt about to try any other gluten free products that they were offering.

Just found your trip report and read this part with interest. We are starting to plan a trip for next year and have a celiac disease issue. Was your, and your sister's overall feeling that QS places should be avoided. That is the impression I am getting from the research I have done so far, mainly because if you get "glutened", you are down and out for a day or so and it's not worth the risk.

 

[afwdwfan]

You got the better end of that deal.

D'oh! This has not been a fortunate trip for them.

The amount of breakdowns we saw that week, especially if you include the monorail, was a real disappointment.

I spotted the lie! Admit it, you had the whole schedule memorized.

I didn't have the whole schedule memorized, but I did do some research. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I never saw Barry's Jasmine picture.

He was ok with it? I guess our title is safe, then.

Well, I guess you won 2012. We'll see how this year goes.

"...corn on the cob, corn fritters, popcorn, creamed corn..."

I doubt it. That's usually not something he would talk about. He was probably talking about cows. Or tractors.

Fatherhood is very glamorous.

Nice.

I suppose you could try chaining yourself to the flag pole.

Nah, all they'd have to do is get some type of a lift. The chain would slip right over the top. I was thinking something a little more permanent like maybe one of the lap bars on Thunder Mountain.

Just found your trip report and read this part with interest. We are starting to plan a trip for next year and have a celiac disease issue. Was your, and your sister's overall feeling that QS places should be avoided. That is the impression I am getting from the research I have done so far, mainly because if you get "glutened", you are down and out for a day or so and it's not worth the risk.

Unfortunately, I'd have to say yes. At a Table Service restaurant, you at least speak with a chef who deals hands on with the food. At QS, you speak to a manager with a book. The manager may or may not know all the details about how the food is handled, and as we found out, sometimes a seemingly "minor" detail can make all the difference.

Now you could probably get by with eating QS as long as you consult their book and don't eat anything questionable. Sis seemed to get into trouble with french fries which were "specially prepared" to be gluten free. After that incident, her QS meals went back to being a burger and carrot sticks or whatever kind of raw fruit/vegetable option she could get. I'd think you'd be fine doing that as long as the entree option isn't something that would contain gluten.

 

[Vincent405]

Unfortunately, I'd have to say yes. At a Table Service restaurant, you at least speak with a chef who deals hands on with the food. At QS, you speak to a manager with a book. The manager may or may not know all the details about how the food is handled, and as we found out, sometimes a seemingly "minor" detail can make all the difference.

Now you could probably get by with eating QS as long as you consult their book and don't eat anything questionable. Sis seemed to get into trouble with french fries which were "specially prepared" to be gluten free. After that incident, her QS meals went back to being a burger and carrot sticks or whatever kind of raw fruit/vegetable option she could get. I'd think you'd be fine doing that as long as the entree option isn't something that would contain gluten.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Enjoying your report.

 

[afwdwfan]

They Should Really Put a Bar in Here

Friday, December 7

DW and I arrived in EPCOT with about an hour to spare before our ADR. We knew that Mom, Dad and Sis2 were probably already in the park because their vehicle was gone from the MK TTC when we got there. I sent a text to Sis and she said everyone was in EPCOT and they were all sitting around in Italy.

DW and I decided since we had time, wed take our time getting back to them. We made a stop at the outdoor margarita stand in Mexico. We enjoyed our beverages as we headed to Italy to meet up with everyone else. When we arrived, we found that they had the same idea we did and had a few drinks from Italy. I dont remember what everyone had, but Im pretty sure it wasnt Beverly.

It was almost time for our ADR, so we headed to Via Napoli to check in. I was really nervous, hoping that everyone would love it as much as DW and I did. And Ive got to admit, I was a little nervous hoping it would be as good as I remembered it. We absolutely loved it the last time, and I just hoped I didnt remember it being better than it actually was&

We were seated in the room that is off to the right hand side. I think Id prefer to be seated in the main dining area, but it really wasnt bad. They had it opened up to the outside patio area, and it was a nice evening. It just made for a different feel than dining in the main dining room where you can see the ovens.

Despite the recommendation that they get pizza, Sis2 and BiL each ordered a pasta dish. No I dont remember what it was. It wasnt pizza, they were wrong, and I didnt care. Sis2 actually was complaining that they didnt have very many pasta options and I think she didnt want to like eating there and wanted us to eat at Tutto instead. I dont know why, since I asked for their input planning ADRs and got none, but she just kept whining and complaining& that changed when she got her food though. Both of them said it was really good and theyd gladly go back. Ill probably never order anything other than pizza there, but if youre wondering, they apparently do everything well.

Sis asked about a gluten free pizza crust, but she was told that they take pride in the quality of their pizza crust and were unwilling to compromise it by creating a gluten free version of it. Dang, Id heard about the imported water thing, but they really take this crust seriously! The chef said he had gluten free pasta, and Sis likes pasta dishes, so it worked out fine and she enjoyed her meal.

Now for Mom, Dad, DW DS and I, we were going to eat some pizza. We ordered 2 large pizzas, one margherita and one pepperoni. Mom asked if we should order the Mezzo Metros instead, and I assured her the 2 large pizzas would be plenty for us. We had plenty of pizza so that BiL and Sis2 still got to try some pizza even though they chose poorly when they ordered their meals.

We all enjoyed our meal. I hadnt had the margherita before and it was good. I still liked the pepperoni better, and I think next time I might want to try the quattro formaggi, having seen the rave reviews for it. DS really enjoyed it too. He ate a whole slice of margherita and had part of another one. I guess part of it could be that he didnt want anything for lunch other than goldfish and fries.

We were going to have about half a day for park time the next day, and I was planning to hit EPCOT so we didnt really have anything we urgently wanted to do that evening other than watch Illuminations. DW and I never managed to make it any farther around the World Showcase than Italy in our earlier EPCOT day, so we decided to walk around and enjoy the evening at the WS since we still had a few hours. We walked over to the American Pavillion and watched a bit of the Candlelight Processional that was taking place. Id love to be able to watch the whole show one of these days.

We then made our way over to Japan to look for something Id read about on the Disney Food Blog. Frozen beer. Or rather a beer with a frozen head on it to keep it cool.

BiL, Sis2 and I each got one. It was interesting, I guess. It isnt really something that Id go out of my way to get again, but Im glad I tried it. They serve it to you with a straw, which kind of makes sense, because if you tried to drink it youd end up with a nose full of frozen beer, but it was a little odd drinking a beer through a straw.

We continued walking around the WS and since we were still working on the frozen beers in Morocco, we waited until France for our next drink. Ive seen all the rave reviews for the concoctions they make there, so I was bound and determined to get one of those French slushes. Again, BiL, Sis2 and I each got an orange slush and DW had the other one& lemon, isnt it? Anyway, I know mine was great, and it was gone by the time we made it through the UK.

We continued the rest of the way around WS, and since we were all together in the same place, we decided to get some Photopass pictures taken. We got some done at the Christmas tree and then headed toward Future World to get some taken at the topiaries.

The pictures would have been really awesome had they adjusted the camera a little better. Obviously, DS was opposed to staying in one spot long enough to get any pictures that weren't blurry.

While we were doing the picture thing, BiL and I started talking. He told me what he and Sis rode at DHS and said theyd been at EPCOT since mid-afternoon. He then told me that he has found his favorite ride in Disney World. Mission: Space. He said Sis wouldnt ride it with him and he couldnt believe there was hardly any line for it. He rode it 3 times. We still plenty of time before Illuminations would start, and everyone was talking about taking DS to ride Its a Small Mexico again before we looked for a spot to watch the show.

BiL, in his infinite wisdom, comes up with the best idea ever. They can all go ride Its a Small Mexico, while he and I go ride Mission: Space Orange after stuffing ourselves silly in Via Napoli and drinking a good chunk of the way around the world.

Actually, it wasnt bad at all. I have some motion sensitivity on simulator type rides, but for some reason, it seems like M:S Orange actually bothers me less than M:S Green. We rode without the need for any barf bags to be put to use. I consider that a win.

We headed back over toward Mexico, when BiL got a text. Theyd finished riding and were heading to Germany to get some caramel corn. We met them over there and tried to decide where we wanted to watch Illuminations from. It was getting kind of crowded around the lagoon, but we found a spot in Norway, by the stave church. We were on the backside of the walkway, but had a spot to sit down on a ledge and still had a clear view of the lagoon. Id never watched Illuminations from there before, but that might just become a spot well watch from in the future.

We still had a few QS credits to use, so I decided to make a quick trip over to the CS at Mexico to grab a beer and some nachos and churritos for DW and I to share while we watched Illuminations. Not only is it a great meal, it is a fantastic snack.

By the time Illuminations ended, both kids and most of the rest of our group looked like they were about to crash. Everyone seemed to be ready to head back to CSR for the night, except for BiL and I. It was evening EMH and the night was still young. I still hadnt had an opportunity to ride Test Track in the standby line, so we decided to send everyone else back to the rooms and wed catch a bus back later. Neither of us was locked out of our room later that night, so apparently there were no objections to our plan.

We headed over to TT and we talked a little bit more about WDW. BiL was blown away by WS and how you can pretty much just do a pub crawl from one country to the next. He had always thought that Disney World was just for kids, but he was clearly getting it by that point.

We made our way to TT and I was excited to finally get to see the whole queue and experience the design studios. There were a lot of displays as you wait that kind of explain some of the elements that go into the design process including a blank model with images projected on it, and a wall that has touch screens on it to practice drawing the body lines of a vehicle. Once you get past these, a CM assigns you a spot which will coincide with a design station.

BiL said he wouldnt design one since he already had and he would just go with me. I was assigned the number 7 in my row. BiL noticed that they then left 8 open. He asked the CM if he could just go ahead and design one since 8 was open. The CM told him they leave that position open in each row in case one of the design terminals doesnt work. The CM told him if theyre all working ok, he could design one though. BiL went ahead and grabbed an RFID card just in case, and he did end up designing a car.

After the timer ran out on us, we headed down to the other end of the room and stood next to the exit doors. We waited a minute or 2 before they finally opened. After they opened, we came out into one of those rooms where Disney likes to make you leave a single file line to fill all available space in a huge corral area and then re-form a single file line. You could hear audible groans from people as they realized that there was more waiting after the design studio. BiL and I were near the back of the crowd when we came into the corral area, so we didnt even worry about trying to crowd forward, but at the same time, the room was so packed that we couldnt even get all the way out the door in the design. A CM came up and asked everyone to push forward as far as we could. I looked at him and asked me how hard he wanted me to start pushing? I think it took him a little bit to figure out whether I was joking or being serious, but he finally cracked a smile. We finally got far enough in the room that we were across the magic line on the carpet and they were able to close the doors and let a new group in the studio. We still hadnt made it all the way up to the area where the single file line re-formed when the studio doors opened once again.

You can kind of see the room Im talking about on the other side of the glass behind the engines in this picture that was taken when I went through the FP line. It is a large open room that goes down to a single file line that has a switchback and goes up a ramp to merge with the FP line.

It didnt take long before it became a bit of a running joke every time the doors opened. We were in that room/queue area to see the design studio open a total of 3 times. Each time, people would walk through the door and see that it was just another queue and no sign of the ride and you could just see this dejected look on their faces and hear the groans. There was a couple in front of us in line that we started joking around with. The guy in front of us made the comment that he thought about just getting out of line when he walked out of the design studio and realized he wasnt getting on the ride. He made the comment that hed been in line for over half an hour and had been almost an hour since he had a beer. BiL just looked at him and said, They should really put a bar in here!

The more we talked about it, the more it made sense. It had been a while since any of us had a beer. We were stuck in that line and apparently, we were still going to be waiting for a while. There is no pre-show going on in that room at all& no displays to look at, no video playing. It really is a letdown to be stuck in there after the awesome experience that the queue had been up to that point. Everyone seemed to expect to walk out of the design studio to see cars loading a few feet away, kind of like when youd leave the pre-show area of the old TT, so the least they could do is sell you a beer as a peace offering for that mean trick they just pulled on everyone.

We slowly made our way out of that drab room and got to the merge point with the FP line. Apparently, that was the hold up and part of the reason why it seemed to take so long to get out of the corral room. I dont know if the ride had been down earlier or what, but there was a huge back up in the FP line. The CM asked the couple in front of us how many they had and they said 4. The CM cut the line off right behind us and we officially had new friends.

We finally got on the ride, and I have to say that my truck was a pretty good vehicle. I checked my score on the board at the end of the ride, and I scored a 216. The high for the day was 232 and most of the others checking their score when I was there were in the 190  205 range. I was happy with it for my first time, but I was really hoping to get to do it again in the morning to see if I could improve on my score.

We considered heading back to the WS to see if we could sample some beverages from a few more countries. If it had been about 5 years ago, Im sure we would have, but on this night, we decided bed was more important than beer. We headed out of the park and a bus was sitting at the CSR stop loading as we approached. We got on and it was standing room only. There was a Pop Warner family by us and the mom was chatting with basically anyone who would carry on a conversation with her. I know Ive been picking on the Pop Warner people most of the time, but she and her family were actually very nice. Her son, who was a player on a team from CA, was sitting in one of the seats. He fell asleep in his seat and fell into the aisle as the bus made a turn. BiL caught him to keep him from falling on the floor and sat him back up. He didnt even wake up.

We got off the bus and headed back to our rooms. We were going to be checking out and leaving the next day, so we talked a little bit about plans for the day. He and Sis were going to MK, but the rest of us were planning to sleep in a little longer than normal and go back to EPCOT. I told him they should just load their stuff into the cars in the morning and they could just take a monorail to EPCOT when they get done at MK.

That was the plan I had in mind when I went to bed anyway&

 

[KatMark]

We were seated in the room that is off to the right hand side. I think I’d prefer to be seated in the main dining area, but it really wasn’t bad. They had it opened up to the outside patio area, and it was a nice evening. It just made for a different feel than dining in the main dining room where you can see the ovens.

Despite the recommendation that they get pizza, Sis2 and BiL each ordered a pasta dish. No I don’t remember what it was. It wasn’t pizza, they were wrong, and I didn’t care. Sis2 actually was complaining that they didn’t have very many pasta options and I think she didn’t “want” to like eating there and wanted us to eat at Tutto instead. I don’t know why, since I asked for their input planning ADR’s and got none, but she just kept whining and complaining… that changed when she got her food though. Both of them said it was really good and they’d gladly go back. I’ll probably never order anything other than pizza there, but if you’re wondering, they apparently do everything well.

Now for Mom, Dad, DW DS and I, we were going to eat some pizza. We ordered 2 large pizzas, one margherita and one pepperoni. Mom asked if we should order the Mezzo Metros instead, and I assured her the 2 large pizzas would be plenty for us. We had plenty of pizza so that BiL and Sis2 still got to try some pizza even though they chose poorly when they ordered their meals.

We all enjoyed our meal. I hadn’t had the margherita before and it was good. I still liked the pepperoni better, and I think next time I might want to try the quattro formaggi, having seen the rave reviews for it. DS really enjoyed it too. He ate a whole slice of margherita and had part of another one. I guess part of it could be that he didn’t want anything for lunch other than goldfish and fries.

One of these days I really want to try this place; but first we have to figure out the stomach issues when I eat anything with red sauce.

I'll have to tell Mark about these...this is the first I heard of them.


We continued walking around the WS and since we were still working on the frozen beers in Morocco, we waited until France for our next drink. I’ve seen all the rave reviews for the concoctions they make there, so I was bound and determined to get one of those French slushes. Again, BiL, Sis2 and I each got an orange slush and DW had the other one… lemon, isn’t it? Anyway, I know mine was great, and it was gone by the time we made it through the UK.

Ooh...my favorite (and boy could I go for one right about now)...the Grand Mariner Slush. The other is the Grey Goose Slush.

These are really cute...and I just love your daughter's outfit.

That was the plan I had in mind when I went to bed anyway…
[/COLOR]

So I guess you liked the new Test Track? I'm still not sold on it.

Oh oh...new plans developed after waking up in the morning?

 

[Leshaface]

It was almost time for our ADR, so we headed to Via Napoli to check in. I was really nervous, hoping that everyone would love it as much as DW and I did. And I’ve got to admit, I was a little nervous hoping it would be as good as I remembered it. We absolutely loved it the last time, and I just hoped I didn’t remember it being better than it actually was…

This is what I always think whenever I take my family or friends to a restaurant that they've never been to before. I absolutely loved Via Napoli. Had I not checked out all the rave reviews about this place before going, I would have made ADR's at Tutto, but i'm so glad I didn't.

Sis asked about a gluten free pizza crust, but she was told that they take pride in the quality of their pizza crust and were unwilling to compromise it by creating a gluten free version of it.

Wow. Talk about hardcore. That sucks for your Sis, but kinda cool that they do this.

We then made our way over to Japan to look for something I’d read about on the internet. Frozen beer. Or rather a beer with a frozen head on it to keep it cool.

Frozen Beer? Through a straw?! Excellent! Gets into your system quicker

We headed over to TT and we talked a little bit more about WDW. BiL was blown away by WS and how you can pretty much just do a pub crawl from one country to the next. He had always thought that Disney World was just for kids, but he was clearly “getting it” by that point.

Love when people finally get it!

That was the plan I had in mind when I went to bed anyway…

Uh oh....

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

He made the comment that he’d been in line for over half an hour and had been almost an hour since he had a beer. BiL just looked at him and said, “They should really put a bar in here!”

All this time, I somehow assumed that the "bar" in your title was referring to a lapbar on a ride and was waiting for a story involving an attraction. The actual story is even better and now I have the correct definition of the "bar"!

 

[MEK]

They Should Really Put a Bar in Here

Friday, December 7


Sis asked about a gluten free pizza crust, but she was told that they take pride in the quality of their pizza crust and were unwilling to compromise it by creating a gluten free version of it. Dang, I’d heard about the imported water thing, but they really take this crust seriously! The chef said he had gluten free pasta, and Sis likes pasta dishes, so it worked out fine and she enjoyed her meal.


We all enjoyed our meal. I hadn’t had the margherita before and it was good. I still liked the pepperoni better, and I think next time I might want to try the quattro formaggi, having seen the rave reviews for it. DS really enjoyed it too. He ate a whole slice of margherita and had part of another one. I guess part of it could be that he didn’t want anything for lunch other than goldfish and fries.

Interesting about no gluten free crust. I do love the pizza there. I've not tried the pasta yet. Glad to hear everyone liked it.

We then made our way over to Japan to look for something I’d read about on the internet. Frozen beer. Or rather a beer with a frozen head on it to keep it cool.

BiL, Sis2 and I each got one. It was interesting, I guess. It isn’t really something that I’d go out of my way to get again, but I’m glad I tried it. They serve it to you with a straw, which kind of makes sense, because if you tried to drink it you’d end up with a nose full of frozen beer, but it was a little odd drinking a beer through a straw.

I have to admit - this sounds interesting. I didn't even know this drink existed. What's it called?

I have some motion sensitivity on simulator type rides, but for some reason, it seems like M:S Orange actually bothers me less than M:S Green. We rode without the need for any barf bags to be put to use. I consider that a win.

Now that is interesting...or odd.....or both! Wish I had that problem.

Everyone seemed to be ready to head back to CSR for the night, except for BiL and I. It was evening EMH and the night was still young. I still hadn’t had an opportunity to ride Test Track in the standby line, so we decided to send everyone else back to the rooms and we’d catch a bus back later. Neither of us was locked out of our room later that night, so apparently there were no objections to our plan.

Woo Hoo! Boys Night Out!

We headed over to TT and we talked a little bit more about WDW. BiL was blown away by WS and how you can pretty much just do a pub crawl from one country to the next. He had always thought that Disney World was just for kids, but he was clearly “getting it” by that point.

Getting it is good. When a pub crawl is involved it's even better!

. He made the comment that he’d been in line for over half an hour and had been almost an hour since he had a beer. BiL just looked at him and said, “They should really put a bar in here!”

Love it! Now there's a man after my own heart! Better to say "they should put a bar in here" then "they should really put a bathroom in here". Of course, they sort of go hand-in-hand.

I checked my score on the board at the end of the ride, and I scored a 216. The high for the day was 232 and most of the others checking their score when I was there were in the 190 – 205 range. I was happy with it for my first time, but I was really hoping to get to do it again in the morning to see if I could improve on my score.

I had no idea you got scored on this ride. Should be interesting come June!

 

[afwdwfan]

One of these days I really want to try this place; but first we have to figure out the stomach issues when I eat anything with red sauce.

Yeah, stomach issues would definitely put a damper on it. Hopefully you can get there one of these days.

I'll have to tell Mark about these...this is the first I heard of them.

I think I read about them on here just a month or 2 before our trip. They haven't been around for very long. They serve them at the little kiosk that sits back kind of behind the pagoda, across from the main building.

Ooh...my favorite (and boy could I go for one right about now)...the Grand Mariner Slush. The other is the Grey Goose Slush.

I typically prefer a beer, but after all the rave reviews, I had to try it. I must say, it did not disappoint.

So I guess you liked the new Test Track? I'm still not sold on it.

I do. I think it is marginally better than the original, but I do feel like they could have done so much more with it. It just felt like they built up my expectations, especially with the first half of the queue and then once on the ride, it just fell a little flat.

Oh oh...new plans developed after waking up in the morning?

It wouldn't be a family vacation, otherwise.

This is what I always think whenever I take my family or friends to a restaurant that they've never been to before. I absolutely loved Via Napoli. Had I not checked out all the rave reviews about this place before going, I would have made ADR's at Tutto, but i'm so glad I didn't.

To be honest, the first time we ate there I was leaning towards Tutto also, even though I'd read the good reviews of VN. My thought was that I can get pizza anywhere, but I wanted "other" authentic Italian dishes. Once I looked at the menus and prices though, it made my mind up for me since we were paying out of pocket.

Wow. Talk about hardcore. That sucks for your Sis, but kinda cool that they do this.

Yes, they most definitely take their pizza seriously.

Frozen Beer? Through a straw?! Excellent! Gets into your system quicker

Well, there's that too...

Love when people finally get it!

All this time, I somehow assumed that the "bar" in your title was referring to a lapbar on a ride and was waiting for a story involving an attraction. The actual story is even better and now I have the correct definition of the "bar"!

Well, I can assure you I've never wanted a lap bar added to any rides. I've got long legs, and I'm in the camp that they ruined Splash Mountain when they added them.



Ok, maybe not ruined it. It's still an awesome ride, but you get my point.

 

[afwdwfan]

Ok, I went back to my update and added a link to the Disney Food Blog entry about the frozen beer since there's some interest. If you don't want to scroll back up, here's the link.

If you don't want to click, it is basically just a Kirin draft with a frozen head added to the top of the glass. The beer is liquid, but stays very cold as you drink it. If you like beer, it's worth trying. Especially if you like your beer to stay cold on a hot day in the parks.

 

[afwdwfan]

Interesting about no gluten free crust. I do love the pizza there. I've not tried the pasta yet. Glad to hear everyone liked it.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed it too. It means I can go back next time!

I have to admit - this sounds interesting. I didn't even know this drink existed. What's it called?

To the best of my knowlege, frozen beer. I added the link to the Disney Food Blog's entry about it.

Now that is interesting...or odd.....or both! Wish I had that problem.

I think more movement might help??? I have no idea. It works though. I've only ridden M:S Green once and I felt like crap. It took a while to work up the courage to try Orange, but I've ridden it every time since and done just fine.

Woo Hoo! Boys Night Out!

Ready or not, here we come!

Getting it is good. When a pub crawl is involved it's even better!

and

Love it! Now there's a man after my own heart! Better to say "they should put a bar in here" then "they should really put a bathroom in here". Of course, they sort of go hand-in-hand.

Well, we did make sure to make that stop on our way to the line. But if we'd have had to stand in another room like that one...

I had no idea you got scored on this ride. Should be interesting come June!

Absolutely! You only see that score if you stop at the big score wall as you exit the ride and wave your card at one of the readers. Otherwise, you'd have no idea what your score is.

 

[SAT887]

Hi! Just joining in! Looks like I'm late for the party..... We were down the same week as you and your family! I just started reading the beginning and I am a couple pages in!