Turning 28 at DLR! A 6/12 solo/Dismeet PTR! -- On hold until 2012; 3/14

[franandaj]

I too am hoping that you get connected real soon.

Sorry to hijack but I'm hoping frananaj can help out here. I've been looking at the best way to get a fastpass ticket for World of Colour and am wondering where the best viewing location is. I was also wondering if I should think about booking a dinner pre-fixe (probably Ariel's Grotto because the menu seems to contain items that would suit DH vegetarianism and DS tastes c.f. the Trattoria) to get a Preferred Seating. The alternative was to order a picnic plate on-line.

Bear in mind that we'll be there in January and would probably prefer to be inside for a warm meal

TIA.

I will tell you that you may likely be in the same place as the people who order their $15pp picnic even if you go to Ariels or WCT, and will be waiting just as long as they are with nothing to do after your meal. I've only seen it on the Dining Plan from the HA area, but we were placed in the HA dining area with people who did the picnic plan and we paid $40+ pp for Ariels. I felt a little gypped that we paid big bucks to get the sit down dining plan, and others who did the picnics sat there while we waited and ate their picnics.

However, unless you are staying at a DL Resort hotel and can get early access to the FP machines, a dining package is your best bet. I think there are some picnic packages that would suit vegetarian tastes, but since your DH eats fish, I would reccomend Ariels. That's where we went the first time we saw the show. Now I can post pictures!!!!!!

At Ariels they give you a choice of two different appetizer thingys. We got the seafood/antipasto one, but they have a vegetarian one as well.

I actually ordered the vegetarian entree when we went there because I love pasta, it was some kind of Agnolotti, it was in a broth with vegetables...

One of the guys in our party ordered the fish as well

Fran got the Tri Tip

Then they give you this dessert plate for the table.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

So I finally finished looking through the DLR food porn thread last night. Unfortunately, I'm mostly going to be eating at CS places this trip because this trip is going to be on a fairly tight budget, as DLR doesn't have the dining plan. I narrowed down the list of interesting-looking TS restaurants to one, especially since I haven't got a clue what Ali has planned I'll probably decide where I want to eat on the day, so these are the ones whose pictures grabbed my attention:

Golden Horseshoe
Plaza Inn
River Belle Terrace
Stage Door Cafe
White Water Snacks (this is in the hotel and they looked like they had good food at decent prices)
Award Weiners
Tomorrowland Terrace

Goofy's Kitchen (for brunch)

I also really want to make a stop at Pooh Corner to get a Tigger tail, and wherever they have those adorable Mickey pretzels. I wanted to get a pretzel on my WDW trip, but never got around to it. Any recommendations for snacky things?

 

[franandaj]

I narrowed down the list of interesting-looking TS restaurants to one, especially since I haven't got a clue what Ali has planned I'll probably decide where I want to eat on the day, so these are the ones whose pictures grabbed my attention:

Golden Horseshoe
Plaza Inn
River Belle Terrace
Stage Door Cafe
White Water Snacks (this is in the hotel and they looked like they had good food at decent prices)
Award Weiners
Tomorrowland Terrace

Goofy's Kitchen (for brunch)

I also really want to make a stop at Pooh Corner to get a Tigger tail, and wherever they have those adorable Mickey pretzels. I wanted to get a pretzel on my WDW trip, but never got around to it. Any recommendations for snacky things?

Don't forget that you'll be staying in a Villa with me, and I plan on cooking dinner in the room on Tuesday and Thursday nights. You'll be taken care of Wednesday, if my master plan comes through (well maybe you might want something for lunch). If it comes together then I'll let you know in detail. If I could get you to tell me what you LIKE (besides hamburgers, I know that from your TR ) I'd be happy to make something that you could scavenge off of in addition to the resort food! I know you don't like meatloaf or mushrooms...I know you do like roast chicken. I could make that on Tuesday and we'd have the leftovers to make sandwiches and chicken salad with. Because of Fran's RA, we usually move slowly in the morning and like to come back to the room in the afternoon for a rest. I like to have lots of food on hand in case we get hungry. The good part is we drive home so I can take any leftovers...do you like lasagna? I could make one of those for Thursday night....

Not that you shouldn't eat in the parks. From your list I really like:

Plaza Inn
Award Weiners
Goofy's Kitchen (for brunch)

I've never eaten at these places:

Golden Horseshoe
River Belle Terrace
Stage Door Cafe
White Water Snacks (this is in the hotel and they looked like they had good food at decent prices)
Tomorrowland Terrace

We love Cafe Orleans since it reopened with the Monte Cristo on the menu. We ate there last Sunday, the weather was cold, but it was so good! I've always wanted to try Carnation Cafe, but we're usually staying there such a short time that we only hit Cafe Orleans. For a yummy snack I love the Bengal Barbeque, they have bacon wrapped asparagus, that's my favorite! I also like the Gumbo restaurant in NO Square.

In DCA we usually get a dog at Award Wieners (good choice!) but I also like the soup in the bread bowl from Pacific Wharf and we used to love the corn dog palace, I really hope they bring it back when Ariel's ride is done.

The other thing we need to figure out is when to see WoC and Fantasmic! I'm tentatively thinking F! on Tuesday and WoC on Thursday that way Friday you could see either of them again, but then there's also the Fireworks...lots to think about....

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Don't forget that you'll be staying in a Villa with me, and I plan on cooking dinner in the room on Tuesday and Thursday nights. You'll be taken care of Wednesday, if my master plan comes through (well maybe you might want something for lunch). If it comes together then I'll let you know in detail. If I could get you to tell me what you LIKE (besides hamburgers, I know that from your TR ) I'd be happy to make something that you could scavenge off of in addition to the resort food! I know you don't like meatloaf or mushrooms...I know you do like roast chicken. I could make that on Tuesday and we'd have the leftovers to make sandwiches and chicken salad with. Because of Fran's RA, we usually move slowly in the morning and like to come back to the room in the afternoon for a rest. I like to have lots of food on hand in case we get hungry. The good part is we drive home so I can take any leftovers...do you like lasagna? I could make one of those for Thursday night....

Not that you shouldn't eat in the parks. From your list I really like:

Plaza Inn
Award Weiners
Goofy's Kitchen (for brunch)

I've never eaten at these places:

Golden Horseshoe
River Belle Terrace
Stage Door Cafe
White Water Snacks (this is in the hotel and they looked like they had good food at decent prices)
Tomorrowland Terrace

We love Cafe Orleans since it reopened with the Monte Cristo on the menu. We ate there last Sunday, the weather was cold, but it was so good! I've always wanted to try Carnation Cafe, but we're usually staying there such a short time that we only hit Cafe Orleans. For a yummy snack I love the Bengal Barbeque, they have bacon wrapped asparagus, that's my favorite! I also like the Gumbo restaurant in NO Square.

In DCA we usually get a dog at Award Wieners (good choice!) but I also like the soup in the bread bowl from Pacific Wharf and we used to love the corn dog palace, I really hope they bring it back when Ariel's ride is done.

The other thing we need to figure out is when to see WoC and Fantasmic! I'm tentatively thinking F! on Tuesday and WoC on Thursday that way Friday you could see either of them again, but then there's also the Fireworks...lots to think about....

Actually, I'd done a little mini-itinerary with the days and then just put down either the name of a restaurant or "dinner w/Ali and Fran" for the dinners I figure if I'm not interested (for whatever reason, because there are days when I just want something specific, you know?), I can go grab something to eat somewhere else I just like knowing the options And I haven't had lasagna in a long time, to be honest, but I remember preferring the meatless kind. I'm a big fan of the simple kinds of cheese, but considering that when I was a kid, I only liked American unless I didn't know what kind it was, it's a good thing that I'm now eating Colby and mozzarella and provolone

Carnation Cafe was one of the ones I was really thinking about for TS before deciding to look at Goofy's, since the prices were reasonable and the food looked good. Their baked potato soup looks amazing! So if you guys really want to try them one day for lunch, I'm up for it I think the soup and sandwich thing would be a similar price to what I'd be paying at a CS anyway.

I'm not a big fan of traditional barbecue (I like grilled things, but I don't like barbecue sauce except in certain things). I looked at the other menus as well, but those were the ones that had more than one thing I figured I'd like

I tend to be one of those commando-types that goes to the park and then stays there all day, unless something unforeseen comes up, except that I don't really do real minute by minute itineraries So when you guys head back to the resort to rest for a while, I'll just stay in the park and then when you guys come back, give me a call or something

 

[stephielela]

You guys sound like you are going to have so much fun! I am trying to think of the places we have eaten at DL and DCA... I know we did Carnation Cafe which I believe (though if I'm wrong, tell me) is pretty reminiscent of Crystal Palace... I think... I will try to remember more! I know I have always wanted to eat at Blue Bayou, but we never did.

 

[PrincessInOz]

At the Land.

We've eaten breakfast at Carnation Cafe. It was the first time I ever had Mickey Waffles. I remember it as pretty good...but then I had no other comparison point then.

We now pretty much always eat lunch at Cafe Orleans . The salads are always fresh and the gourmet sandwiches are great. In my experience, soups can be hit and miss here.

We also prefer the burgers and pizza at the Village Haus compared to the Golden Horseshoe.

Love Gibson Girl for an ice cream snack. And the Tiki Room for a Pineapple Dole Whip.

At DCA

We go to Pacific Wharf and get something from there. As Alison said, the soup in the bread bowl is pretty good. Otherwise we head to the Pizza place at Sunshine Plaza - but it might be closed now for the renovations.

Just remember that DTD is VERY close to both parks; and is worth considering for food. All parks and DTD are walking distance and the parks are smaller than the ones at the World.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

You guys sound like you are going to have so much fun! I am trying to think of the places we have eaten at DL and DCA... I know we did Carnation Cafe which I believe (though if I'm wrong, tell me) is pretty reminiscent of Crystal Palace... I think... I will try to remember more! I know I have always wanted to eat at Blue Bayou, but we never did.

The pictures I saw of the food they have there look awesome, so I think I'd like eating there, even if it was just soup and a sandwich. Everyone on the DLR food porn thread says that their baked potato soup is fantastic, so I think that's what I'd get. Blue Bayou looks great as well, but I'm going to be on a tight budget for this trip, since I've also got two others planned this year and also have other things I need to do with my money

At the Land.

We've eaten breakfast at Carnation Cafe. It was the first time I ever had Mickey Waffles. I remember it as pretty good...but then I had no other comparison point then.

We now pretty much always eat lunch at Cafe Orleans . The salads are always fresh and the gourmet sandwiches are great. In my experience, soups can be hit and miss here.

We also prefer the burgers and pizza at the Village Haus compared to the Golden Horseshoe.

Love Gibson Girl for an ice cream snack. And the Tiki Room for a Pineapple Dole Whip.

At DCA

We go to Pacific Wharf and get something from there. As Alison said, the soup in the bread bowl is pretty good. Otherwise we head to the Pizza place at Sunshine Plaza - but it might be closed now for the renovations.

Just remember that DTD is VERY close to both parks; and is worth considering for food. All parks and DTD are walking distance and the parks are smaller than the ones at the World.

I looked at the menu for Cafe Orleans, but I don't remember seeing anything that particularly grabbed my attention. I had the Village Haus on my original list, but I cut it out for some reason

I'll have to keep Gibson Girl in mind Am I seriously the only person who doesn't like the Dole Whip? I hate pineapple!

I'm also not a big fan of bread bowls. I don't like soggy bread The only soup I think I'd want in a bread bowl would be the Le Cellier cheese soup in a pretzel bread bowl I also don't like sourdough I'm weird, I know. I'll take a look at the DTD ones!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Not PTR related, but would any of you guys be interested in seeing pics from my dad's trip to DLR in 1974? He was about 15, and his oldest sister took him so he could watch her daughter and she could spend time with her husband Yay family dynamics. But anyway, would any of you guys like to see them? He already said that I can scan them in (he's paranoid about the internet), but I wanted to see if any of you would be interested.

 

[PrincessInOz]

yes!

 

[franandaj]

Not PTR related, but would any of you guys be interested in seeing pics from my dad's trip to DLR in 1974? He was about 15, and his oldest sister took him so he could watch her daughter and she could spend time with her husband Yay family dynamics. But anyway, would any of you guys like to see them? He already said that I can scan them in (he's paranoid about the internet), but I wanted to see if any of you would be interested.

That sounds cool! I think that would be about 2 years before my first trip. Since we stayed at the DLH last weekend my mom was talking to me about that trip. I remember they had this water show at the hotel that mesmerized me. I was down there evey night taking pictures with my Kodak Instamatic (or some other primitive camera) it was so basic, but I loved it and took a ton of pictures and went down there every night.

I pointed out to my mom that in today's world the would have been neglective parents as they let me (like 12 or so year old, 3rd grade) to go down to a water show at a hotel by myself, after dark 3 nights in a row, would be considered terribly neglectful in today's society!

 

[PrincessInOz]

That sounds cool! I think that would be about 2 years before my first trip. Since we stayed at the DLH last weekend my mom was talking to me about that trip. I remember they had this water show at the hotel that mesmerized me. I was down there evey night taking pictures with my Kodak Instamatic (or some other primitive camera) it was so basic, but I loved it and took a ton of pictures and went down there every night.

I pointed out to my mom that in today's world the would have been neglective parents as they let me (like 12 or so year old, 3rd grade) to go down to a water show at a hotel by myself, after dark 3 nights in a row, would be considered terribly neglectful in today's society!

Insane, isn't it? I did so much more stuff by myself without parental supervision. I completely freak out when DS wants to do the same....

 

[franandaj]

Actually, I'd done a little mini-itinerary with the days and then just put down either the name of a restaurant or "dinner w/Ali and Fran" for the dinners

I tend to be one of those commando-types that goes to the park and then stays there all day, unless something unforeseen comes up, except that I don't really do real minute by minute itineraries So when you guys head back to the resort to rest for a while, I'll just stay in the park and then when you guys come back, give me a call or something

So based on this information, I'm guessing this will be a potential itinerary.

Tuesday
--------------
Pick up Firefly from airport, check into hotel, she goes commando style into the park. I go home, pick up the pieces and come back with DP to check in. Firefly goes commando style into the parks. DP and I check in in the afternoon, prepare dinner, relax....Firefly closes the parks and comes in a heap of exhaustion!

Wednesday
----------------
Surprise, but busy from dawn to dusk if my plan works out

Thursday
----------------
Firefly hits Magic Mornings, perhaps we get FPs for WoC at 9AM. Alison & DP get up leisurely and make bacon & eggs or pancakes, hit the shops and perhaps we all meet up for lunch at Carnation. If DP feels up to rides we could do some. A & DP go back to the hotel to hit the pool and make dinner. Firefly continues at the parks! Dinner in the room around 5:30-6PM for those who are interested.

We meet up at either 7PM or 8:30 for our FP line up. Alison goes back to the room Firefly closes the park yet again!

Friday
----------------
Firefly hits Goofy's? (we decide whether or not based on her decided time) we make breakfast in the room unless we go to Goofy's. Firefly hits the parks, we go back to the room and sleep off the brunch! After a nap we hit the parks, who knows? We contemplate where we want to dine, although by this time we will have already made reservations, but at this point I don't know where. I am guessing the Firefly will still be in the parks being a commando!

Saturday
--------------
Check out of the room, for us, just pack up and go, Firefly, who knows? But we will be happy to give her a lift back to the airport!

One thing that WDW vets don't realize that is that the area of the DLR is about like if one stayed at the Beach Club. Disneyland is closer than Epcot, and DCA is about as close as the Yacht Club. The BWV are farther from BCV than DTD, so everything is in a REALLY tight knit area. You could be in the parks, we could call you and say "food will be on the table in 15 minutes" and unless you were in a line for a ride, you could be there for dinner within 15 minutes from almost anywhere in any of the parks. This is one thing that is hard to grasp for WDW vets. If you did want to save money you could come back to the room and grab something just as easily as you could walk across the park to get a bite to eat. I can also take you to a grocery store on the way to the hotel for staples like water, and I don't know what else would be staples for you, for us it would be yogurt, fruit, milk, eggs, cheese, bread and other stuff....

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm picturing the following:
Tuesday Firefly

Wednesday Firefly

Thursday Firefly

Friday Firefly

Saturday Firefly

Alison and DP Tuesday – Saturday

 

[roxy72]

I hope you have a wonderful 27th birthday at Disneyland! You are such a lucky lady to have a nice friend in Ali. She's kind to share her 1-bedroom villa with you.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Insane, isn't it? I did so much more stuff by myself without parental supervision. I completely freak out when DS wants to do the same....

So did my siblings and I. We still had limitations due to the neighborhood we lived in, but we were still pretty free to go to the park or whatever, which was about a half mile away.

So based on this information, I'm guessing this will be a potential itinerary.

Tuesday
--------------
Pick up Firefly from airport, check into hotel, she goes commando style into the park. I go home, pick up the pieces and come back with DP to check in. Firefly goes commando style into the parks. DP and I check in in the afternoon, prepare dinner, relax....Firefly closes the parks and comes in a heap of exhaustion!

Wednesday
----------------
Surprise, but busy from dawn to dusk if my plan works out

Thursday
----------------
Firefly hits Magic Mornings, perhaps we get FPs for WoC at 9AM. Alison & DP get up leisurely and make bacon & eggs or pancakes, hit the shops and perhaps we all meet up for lunch at Carnation. If DP feels up to rides we could do some. A & DP go back to the hotel to hit the pool and make dinner. Firefly continues at the parks! Dinner in the room around 5:30-6PM for those who are interested.

We meet up at either 7PM or 8:30 for our FP line up. Alison goes back to the room Firefly closes the park yet again!

Friday
----------------
Firefly hits Goofy's? (we decide whether or not based on her decided time) we make breakfast in the room unless we go to Goofy's. Firefly hits the parks, we go back to the room and sleep off the brunch! After a nap we hit the parks, who knows? We contemplate where we want to dine, although by this time we will have already made reservations, but at this point I don't know where. I am guessing the Firefly will still be in the parks being a commando!

Saturday
--------------
Check out of the room, for us, just pack up and go, Firefly, who knows? But we will be happy to give her a lift back to the airport!

One thing that WDW vets don't realize that is that the area of the DLR is about like if one stayed at the Beach Club. Disneyland is closer than Epcot, and DCA is about as close as the Yacht Club. The BWV are farther from BCV than DTD, so everything is in a REALLY tight knit area. You could be in the parks, we could call you and say "food will be on the table in 15 minutes" and unless you were in a line for a ride, you could be there for dinner within 15 minutes from almost anywhere in any of the parks. This is one thing that is hard to grasp for WDW vets. If you did want to save money you could come back to the room and grab something just as easily as you could walk across the park to get a bite to eat. I can also take you to a grocery store on the way to the hotel for staples like water, and I don't know what else would be staples for you, for us it would be yogurt, fruit, milk, eggs, cheese, bread and other stuff....

That sounds pretty good to me! I'm not a true commando, but I still like to be in the parks I'll more than likely have an early to mid afternoon flight out, depending on what airline I use. If I'm flying out of O'Hare, I can come home whenever because that's easy for me to get home from on my own. Midway, I'd need someone to come pick me up to get home.

But yeah, that sounds good I'll keep that in mind, too, about stopping at a grocery store. I'll have to make eggs in a basket for you guys at some point

I'm picturing the following:
Tuesday Firefly

Wednesday Firefly

Thursday Firefly

Friday Firefly

Saturday Firefly

Alison and DP Tuesday – Saturday

You know me fairly well

I hope you have a wonderful 27th birthday at Disneyland! You are such a lucky lady to have a nice friend in Ali. She's kind to share her 1-bedroom villa with you.

Yeah, I know I'm very lucky that she's being kind and letting me stay with her and her DP I'm very very grateful that they offered that I was thinking about coming and staying at a nearby hotel on the cheap, but that definitely makes it more budget-friendly for me

Anyway, hi!

 

[franandaj]

So I'm guessing by your approval of the suggested itineraries, there aren't any other places around Southern California that you want to visit?

 

[DisneyFirefly]

There are, but not on this trip.

 

[irishdancer86]

Hi Dana, I'm in looking forward to reading about your trip! How are things with you?

I remember us talking on my pre trip report about disney moon's regardless of even being engaged but DBF thinks our honeymoon lmao: I'm still not engaged but we chat about it) would be east coast oF America, Vegas, San Fran, San Diego, Vegas and California and gotta squeeze in that Disney fix somehow! so I'm reading with interest!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Hi Dana, I'm in looking forward to reading about your trip! How are things with you?

I remember us talking on my pre trip report about disney moon's regardless of even being engaged but DBF thinks our honeymoon lmao: I'm still not engaged but we chat about it) would be east coast oF America, Vegas, San Fran, San Diego, Vegas and California and gotta squeeze in that Disney fix somehow! so I'm reading with interest!

They're okay, but could be better. Could also be worse, though.

I remember that, too I just don't really know what to talk about on here, since I've never been to DL, the hotel's taken care of with Alison, and I can't even start looking at airfare for another month or two. I might use my tax return to buy my airfare, though, since that's going to be the most expensive part of my trip.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm counting on you getting a new camera and getting some great shots of food porn....particularly if Creamed Canned Corn is involved!