Wanabee's Trip Report (condensed)

[Wanabee]

Arrived home from Yacht Club yesterday after a 10 day Florida trip, last five at WDW. Weather was 80's evey day and 60's at night. I'll try to be brief:

Eating:
YACHTSMEN STEAKHOUSE - delicious & expensive
LECELLIER (Canada) - DW got the recipe for the soup
CALIFORNIA GRILL - our 30th anniversary dinner.. we were seated at the window and the fireworks were great. Great Filet Mignon and even better souffle'.
BIG RIVER GRILLE - great spot for beer and appetizers outside on the patio.
PARIS (lunch) - We have been to Paris, France twice and they are no friendlier at Paris, Epcot.
GERMANY - Beer & Pretzel's while watching TON. Both were terrific (especially "TON").

Theme Parks:
Epcot (FW):
TEST TRACK - 10 min wait & 10 more for a breakdown
JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION - no wait
SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE - no wait

MGM:
INDIANA JONES - no wait
DREW CAREY - 10 min wait (cute sound effects)
3-D MUPPETS - 10 min wait
GREAT MOVIE RIDE - no wait
TOWER OF TERROR - no wait

Magic Kingdom:
SPLASH MTN - no wait
THUNDER MTN - no wait
SMALL WORLD - no wait
HAUNTED MANSION - 5 min wait
PIRATES CARIBBEAN - no wait
TIMEKEEPER - no wait
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR - used FastPass

Animal Kingdom:
SAFARI RIDE - used FastPass
MAHARAJA JUNGLE TREK - no wait (best in AK)
TREE OF LIFE - disappointed in carvings, thought they looked like they came from plastic molds
TOUGH TO BE A BUG - great 3-D show (poke in your back is a little painful)
TARZAN ROCKS - good show with a beat, roller bladers and gymnasts

YACHT CLUB = we have stayed at POLY and GF but the Yacht Club is the very best of all. The hotel is great, fancy but not stuffy, but the location is the best there is (as would be the Beach Club, Boardwalk and Swan/Dolphin). However, we checked out those places and decided we really liked the YC the best.

Miscellaneous: My DW had never heard of pin trading before but got into it right away. Came back with 10 pins and did a lot of swapping to get her favorite ones.

Overall, it was the perfect vacation to celebrate our first 30 years together. Again, I thank those of you who contributed to it with your sage wisdom and experiences during the planning stages.

 

[pumba]

 

[4merlurkerchris]

Thanks for the report. Glad you had a great time!
Chris

 

[diznee]

Thanks for a great trip report! Sounds like you all had a wonderful time!

 

[kimmy66]

Great report, thanks!

 

[Cousin Orville]

Which restaurant in Paris (Epcot ) did you eat at? DW and I are trying to decide whether to eat at the Bistro or Chefs.. or neither. Thanks! And nice report!

Cousin Orville
Inventor of Air Cooling - CoP

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Sounds like a great time at Disney was had by all. Thanks for posting!

 

[Patricia]

WHat were the dates of your trip. I am trying to figure the crowds for the Pres. Day Weekend. Were you there for the 16th through and including the 19th? Thanks for the help.

 

[Floundering Crab]

Nice report--short, sweet and to the point. Will DW share the LeCellier soup recipee?

 

[Wanabee]

Cousin Orville, It was the Chefs deFrance. The food was not great or awful but the attitude was poor from the maitre'de at the door who was not pleased that I didn't respond in French to his inquiry, to the waitress who offered that she has only been here 4 mos and had 8 mos to go. She had not found "anything of interest in America" to go see and looked forward to going home.

Patricia, we arrived on 02/27/01 at 3:00pm and left 03/03/01 at 6:00pm. I had to search for places to use FastPass as the crowds were very light. The only shoulder to shoulder crowd we encountered was at MGM but that had to do with working our way around a parade.

Floundering Crab, the LeCellier Soup recipe follows:

CANADIAN CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP
(Recipe yields 1 gallon)

1 lb Cheddar Cheese shre dded
1/2 lb Bacon
3 oz Smoked Bacon
5 oz Butter
5 Cups Milk (warmed)
1/2 lb Celery (diced fine)
1/2 oz Leeks (diced fine)
1/2 Red Onion (diced fine)
6 oz Flour
1 qt Chicken Stock
1/2 oz Tabasco Sauce
1/2 oz Worcestershire Sauce
To Taste Freshly Ground Bla ck Pepper
To Taste Kosher Salt
1/2 oz Ale

1- Slowly heat milk
2- Brown the bacon (separately from smoked bacon) first, then after it is rendered half way render the smoked bacon.
3- Add the butter and melt
4- Add the celery, onions and leeks, cook until translucent
5- Add flour and mix thoroughly to form a roux
6- Add chicken stock and simmer for 3 minutes
7- Add warm milk and stir vigorously to thicken
8- Cook out roux until thickened
9- Reduce heat to low, add cheese and stir until melted
10- Season w ith, kosher salt, pepper, Tabasco & Worcestershire Sauce
11- Just prior to service add warm ale

Hints: When reheating do not bring to a boil; it will break

Best wishes from Mrs. WanabeeÏ

 

[*Flower*]

How do you measure 1/2 ounce of ale?

I'd be tempted to make the recipe without the Tabasco, but I'm not sure how to measure 1/2 ounce.

Thanks in advance for your help.

<IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

*Flower*

 

[AnnaE4]

Boy! You were right about it being condensed but your report was short and to the point! Loved it!

Denise

 

[Wanabee]

that you purchase a bottle of ale at an adult beverage store, take a measuring cup or measuring spoon marked in ounces and then pour out 1/2 ounce. Make sure to consume the rest of the ale yourself and it won't matter if the cheese soup comes out or not! Good Luck.

 

[Floundering Crab]

Recipe looks great--will report on results!