Trick or Tweet! The Lurkyloos Do F&W, etc: 11/8 Last Day at WDW!

[PopArtGal]

I agree that the decor is a bit better. The old decor reminds me of the Golden Girls. Which I love to watch, but not be in lol

 

[lurkyloo]

After we got back to at Hospitality House and I attended Russell's Shuttling Demanding Old-Biddy Travel Writers merit badge ceremony, I poked around the public facilities snapping pictures for PassPorter.

This is where you go when you finally admit that you're not going to be cooking every meal in your DVC villa

This is where you put kids who are bored with visiting four world-class theme parks

This is where you put adults whose kids are bored with visiting four world-class theme parks

This is not a good photo

This is either a Hidden Mickey water slide or the nostrils and gaping maw of a hideously melting sand creature…

This is how you get to and from Downtown Disney if you plan to imbibe numerous adult beverages there

This is where you buy the same crap found in every Disney-owned retail outlet on property, just in case you forgot to take advantage of those 3,472 other shopportunities

This is where you go if you miss TGI Friday's

I finished up with a few more glamour shots of the resort before I had to get ready for dinner at Citricos. And by "get ready" I mean surf the web and do free laundry.

OK, first of all, I LOVE the free valet parking you get when you show your Tables In Wonderland card! I don't know why I'd never used it before this trip. Maybe cuz technically it costs money in the form of tips, but when you're talking about parking at the Grand Floridian, it's SO worth it!

This was Citricos' second chance with me. We'd eaten here on our honeymoon, and the food was decent but nothing to write home about. It's the same menu of one chicken dish, one fish, one beef and one pork you find at every Disney Signature restaurant , just with a Mediterranean twist that is Citricos' only distinction. I feel kind of sorry for for them, though, because the food is always going to be upstaged by Victoria & Albert's and the view is always going to be upstaged by Narcoossee's.

Looks like the Beef with a Mediterranean Twist is popular tonight!

I do like big slabs of butter with fleur de sel!

Berkshire Pork Two Ways: Rotisserie Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Berkshire Pork Belly with Heirloom Apple Polenta Cake, Swiss Chard and Orange Blossom Mustard Drizzle

This was good only one way: The pork tenderloin was tender and medium rare as I had requested, but the pork belly was mushy and so bland. The apple-polenta cake was just OK. Once again, another decent but not standout meal.

The big news of the evening was the large table full of bratty kids who were literally running around the restaurant and standing on their chairs as all their parents blithely ignored them to chat with each other.

In fact, everybody in the restaurant BUT their parents was watching them! The servers stood by wringing their hands and occasionally venturing a "Maybe it would be safer to sit down, honey" as the kids crawled under the table, ran rings around it, and narrowly missed smacking into waiters carrying trays piled with plates. Meanwhile, I'm trying to surreptitiously photograph the mayhem for the amusement of my trip report readers…

If I ever have kids and you ever see me letting them act like that, please come over to my table and punch me.

Eventually the parents drifted out of the restaurant, and as this dawned on them, the children altered course mid-lap and sprinted after them. They were replaced at the big table by a bridal party, which lead me to more blurry stealth photography…

The one in white is the bride!

Toward the end of my meal, I got to meet DISer Giulia, who'd spotted me on her way out of the restaurant. I love being able to put faces with screen names!

The night was still young, so I decided to drive around and see what the cake options were like at Value and Moderate resorts for the folks on the DIS Cake Chatter thread.


My first stop was Coronado Springs Resort, cuz it was on the way home. What I didn't know then was that it is the only resort on property with a unique selection of cakes, and they don't participate in Disney's standard chocolate/vanilla/marble cake program. So if you're looking for something a little different, this is the place to go!

(top row, l-r) Chocolate with chocolate mousse, strawberry shortcake and Oreo cookie cake; that may be the mixed berry cake on the very bottom. Not pictured is carrot cake, which requires 72 hours' notice

 

[lurkyloo]

I'd never been to the newish Rix Lounge, so that warranted a bunch of dark, blurry photos…

For my Value Resort cake investigation I chose Pop Century because it was familiar, close, and, frankly, I don't even know where the All-Stars are! The trusty all-chocolate and all-vanilla 6-inch cakes like the ones I shot a couple years ago were still available in the food court cold case—in fact, they might be the very same ones!

At this point Patrick called, so we had a nice chat while I drove back to Old Key West and got ready for a big bubbly Jacuzzi bath—bliss!

Up Next: Touring Event Spaces at DHS & Patrick Arrives!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Did someone get hungry during their photo journey?

If I ever have kids and you ever see me letting them act like that, please come over to my table and punch me.

Wow. Just wow. And no one called a manager over? I'm additionally horrified by the glow "jewelry" at the signature restaurant.

I'm thrilled you were able to retrieve your camera charger! How crazy how you actually got it back though! I get quickly attached to hotel rooms too, that would have been strange to me to be there with someone else's stuff. Like, "you guys moved on already?" hahaha.

 

[Aburns8]

Wow, what a day. We are eating at The Wave on the first night of Destination D and Citricos and the second night. I think I might just make another reservation for Kona for the second night and skip Citricos. I guess Brian will have to decide for us since I can't make a decision. Should I save my money and skip Citricos?

 

[PopArtGal]

How do the All-Star cakes taste like? They look like they taste like cardboard to me. We never tried them.

 

[Swmr359]

um...is this one changing?

I'm looking forward to reading about MNSSHP and Harry Potter

 

[mrsksomeday]

Carrie you always crack me up. I love the pictures, I was also horrified by the children's behavior at Citrco's. That is ridiculous. I won't punch you I will just remind you of this TR, but I would bet 1 million dollars that you and Patrick would NEVER let your kids act like that.

Wow, what a day. We are eating at The Wave on the first night of Destination D and Citricos and the second night. I think I might just make another reservation for Kona for the second night and skip Citricos. I guess Brian will have to decide for us since I can't make a decision. Should I save my money and skip Citricos?

We are eating at the Wave the first night of Destination D too, we have never eaten there, we were just happy to get any reservation at the Contemporary that night.

 

[Aburns8]

We are eating at the Wave the first night of Destination D too, we have never eaten there, we were just happy to get any reservation at the Contemporary that night.

I think I made the reservations really early on. I am hoping that the food is okay and it beats Chef Mickey's.

 

[mrsksomeday]

I think I made the reservations really early on. I am hoping that the food is okay and it beats Chef Mickey's.

Well we didn't decide we were going to WDW and Destination D until March 25th , so I was behind in my planning. I would think it wouldn't take much to beat Chef Mickey's .

 

[norybell]

Nutcracker Ballroom 3

I can see how this might be nice for a certain type of wedding (grand, swanky). But shouldn't something called the "Nutcracker Ballroom" be a little more...I dunno...whimsical or something?

No one’s ever in the lounge… prolly cuz they keep getting transported up to the mothership through that portal!

Also: another totally Dr. Who-esque picture!

There was a big brouhaha on the DIS wedding boards at the time because Disney had suddenly stopped letting people have ceremonies on the beach between the Wedding Pavilion and the Grand Floridian. They gave me some line about how the noise from the GF pool disturbed guests… Now, of course, we know that Disney is actually planning to build a DVC wing of the Grand Floridian there, which will remain unacknowledged and unannounced until the first guest sets foot in the lobby.

Whoah. I had no idea about this -- clearly I've been out of touch! Granted, I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were a DVC owner. But since I'm not, this makes me kinda sad. I like the GF the way it is!

Seriously? C'mon, people. That is beyond ridiculous.

I had one amazing meal at Citrico's, and one terrible meal there. So the jury's still out for me.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

hell of an update!

And sure the updated room might not have been BLT, but really? How much time do you spend there. Maybe in the other ones the bathrooms are updated?

and all I have to say about the kids is I would have been POed

 

[Disneygrl36]

I love the room size at Old Key West, but that update in decor doesn't really seem to be that great.

Loved your comments on the lounge area at the Wave & the mickey slide at the OKW pool! You are always making me laugh.

What were those parents at Citricos thinking????? Is that child removing her clothing & why does she have a leotard on????? Good lord people.......

We ate at the Wave once & I was debating going back there during the D23 event but we were just underwhelmed so I haven't booked a ressie there.

 

[Aburns8]

I love the room size at Old Key West, but that update in decor doesn't really seem to be that great.

Loved your comments on the lounge area at the Wave & the mickey slide at the OKW pool! You are always making me laugh.

What were those parents at Citricos thinking????? Is that child removing her clothing & why does she have a leotard on????? Good lord people.......

We ate at the Wave once & I was debating going back there during the D23 event but we were just underwhelmed so I haven't booked a ressie there.

What are you doing Sunday night for dinner? Still haven't heard back from Sakina.

 

[Disneygrl36]

What are you doing Sunday night for dinner? Still haven't heard back from Sakina.

I didn't book anything for dinner. I booked Kona Cafe for lunch. We will prolly grab quick service from the Contemporary there & get in line as soon as we can for the Richard Sherman concert. That is the only event that I really truly care to be as close to the front as we can get.

 

[Aburns8]

I didn't book anything for dinner. I booked Kona Cafe for lunch. We will prolly grab quick service from the Contemporary there & get in line as soon as we can for the Richard Sherman concert. That is the only event that I really truly care to be as close to the front as we can get.

Maybe I should do the same. I made a ressie for Citricos. I guess we can go eat lunch somewhere and just do counter service for dinner. We can sit in line early!

 

[lurkyloo]

Wow. Just wow. And no one called a manager over? I'm additionally horrified by the glow "jewelry" at the signature restaurant.

I don't know that the manager could have done anything—isn't the customer always right at Disney? But then, which customers would be right? The annoyed ones or the annoying ones...? Hmmm... quite a conundrum—no wonder nobody did anything!

Wow, what a day. We are eating at The Wave on the first night of Destination D and Citricos and the second night. I think I might just make another reservation for Kona for the second night and skip Citricos. I guess Brian will have to decide for us since I can't make a decision. Should I save my money and skip Citricos?

Hmmm... tough call. The food is good, it's just not, like, amazing. So if you're just as happy eating at Kona as anywhere else, you might save a buck or two.

How do the All-Star cakes taste like? They look like they taste like cardboard to me. We never tried them.

I don't think I'm a good person to ask, because I like supermarket cake. In fact, I've never understood the "tastes like cardboard" description applied to cake because they just don't seem to have remotely the same texture to my way of thinking...

um...is this one changing?

I'm looking forward to reading about MNSSHP and Harry Potter

Me too! I can't believe how boring my trip has been to write about so far!

Carrie you always crack me up. I love the pictures, I was also horrified by the children's behavior at Citrco's. That is ridiculous. I won't punch you I will just remind you of this TR, but I would bet 1 million dollars that you and Patrick would NEVER let your kids act like that.

You're on!

I can see how this might be nice for a certain type of wedding (grand, swanky). But shouldn't something called the "Nutcracker Ballroom" be a little more...I dunno...whimsical or something?

Yes. Yes, it should.

Whoah. I had no idea about this -- clearly I've been out of touch! Granted, I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were a DVC owner. But since I'm not, this makes me kinda sad. I like the GF the way it is!

Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about it... I've always liked the wide open space between the Wedding Pavilion and the GF—it's a shame to think it'll all be so built up from now on. Then again, a covered walkway will be nice. And the rooms will be more up-to-date than the GF's... and if the point values aren't too high, maybe even affordable for renters!

hell of an update!

And sure the updated room might not have been BLT, but really? How much time do you spend there. Maybe in the other ones the bathrooms are updated?

Yeah, I wish I could have seen a normal bathroom. The accessible ones remind me of nursing homes...

What were those parents at Citricos thinking????? Is that child removing her clothing & why does she have a leotard on????? Good lord people.......

Also, I know what you mean about the Wave being underwhelming. It sounded like it might be more like a real restaurant, with a seasonal, market-based menu and everything, but the menu's been the same every time I've gone...

Maybe I should do the same. I made a ressie for Citricos. I guess we can go eat lunch somewhere and just do counter service for dinner. We can sit in line early!

I like how you guys are planning this all out—now who's gonna give me cuts in line?

 

[Aburns8]

I like how you guys are planning this all out—now who's gonna give me cuts in line?

You know we will. Anything for Carrie!

 

[Disneygrl36]

You know we will. Anything for Carrie!

Agreed..........we can all work together & it's going to be sooooo much fun!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Hey Carrie! I hope you and Patrick are doing well.

I've thoroughly catching up on your TR.

Great job on the photos! cool1: on finding the charger so we can see more!)

You’ve had some grand adventures thus far. I've seen a lot of the F & W events on TV specials and thought they looked amazing. I'm glad to hear that I'm really not missing out on as much a I thought I was.

It's odd seeing inside the Wonders of Life pavilion. I remember the year it opened and they had the little Disney Channel mini-special on it. (I still have an old VHS copy of that thing somewhere.) It seems such a waste to have that space just sitting there most of the year.

I really like all the panoramic shots. Those can be tough to pull off, so hats off to you!

Though I have no foreseeable need for a WDW venue, I enjoy seeing all of them anyway. It’s nice to get a glimpse a things other than castles and orbs.

I’m looking forward to more.