What did WE celebrate? .. 30 days of Disney fun and food! Update 04/02

[dizneeat]

Please tell Tom his NOLA buddies love the calendar too!!!

I'm the same when it comes to CG's Valrhona cake, I can't order anything else!

I'll let Tom know that you like!

Thank god there are others that are addicted to the Valrhona cake! Going there and NOT having it just doesn't seem right!

Oh, to be at the California Grill right now. We really loved it here! Glad to hear that you had such a nice meal there, too. Back when I was thinking we weren't we going to to the dining plan on our upcoming trip, this was the one place I really would have gladly paid for OOP.

Luckily, we're going back soon!

I guess there would need to be a huge thing going wrong for us not to like a meal at the Cali Grill! We have such fond memories there!
And it helps that the TiW card cuts off 20% off the price!

Tina, we'll be at WDW in exactly 11 weeks - before Christmas we'll hit single digits on the weeks!!!

Are you excited too???

 

[cbg1027]

Knowing real "French Food" I was always worried about going there. The Tarte was pretty good, but the rest of the food, was so NOT French at all! I am really looking forward to what you have to say about Bistro - maybe they can pull it off!

I'm so glad someone else understands why when I say Les Chefs is NOT good!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed about Bistro. I'll let you know!

I'm not a huge sushi fan either, but whenever I see photos like the one of your Bonsai Roll, it makes me want to try CG's sushi really bad!

That Grouper Dish Tom had looks amazing!!!!

I don't blame you about that cake! It's the only dessert I've ever ordered the 3 times I've been to CG...I just can't bear to go there and NOT get it. So far, I've had it with strawberry, raspberry, and peppermint. The raspberry was my favorite, but boy that cherry looks like it could be the best if I ever get a chance to taste it!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 13, August 26

Breakfast at Wolfgang Puck's Express

The last day of the first part of our Disney vacation had started. But at least it was the first day of our cruise adventures!

We got up early loaded all our stuff into the car, said goodbye to Old Key West, but vowed to be back in only 7 days and at 10 to 9am we were on our way over to Downtown Disney, to spend the last two of our free dining credits at Wolfgang Puck's Express.

We were some of the first guests there.

We ordered two bottles of water to take on the Disney Wonder with us.

Tom had some coffee, which is surprisingly drinkable and I had the organic Earl Grey tea, which is very nice even out of the paper cup.

For once we both ordered the same thing! The Smoked Bacon Pizza - scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mozzarella and cheddar cheese and Ranch Dressing. As I stated before, this thing is out of this world good. A very filling and tasty breakfast. Just what we needed to start of the second part of our Disney trip in style.

We enjoyed our breakfast, and said goodbye to our two favourite CMs at WPE, CJ and Maritsa and got back into the car for our journey to Port Canaveral.

Price breakdown:
DDP - 24 credits to start with
Wolfgang Puck's Express .... $ 30,90 (2 CS credits)
TS credits left - 0
CS credits left - 0
Snack credits left 0


Overall money spent on DDP: $ 1248,20

Next up - Disney Wonder - Yummy Stateroom gifts

 

[dizneeat]

I'm so glad someone else understands why when I say Les Chefs is NOT good!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed about Bistro. I'll let you know!

I'm not a huge sushi fan either, but whenever I see photos like the one of your Bonsai Roll, it makes me want to try CG's sushi really bad!

That Grouper Dish Tom had looks amazing!!!!

I don't blame you about that cake! It's the only dessert I've ever ordered the 3 times I've been to CG...I just can't bear to go there and NOT get it. So far, I've had it with strawberry, raspberry, and peppermint. The raspberry was my favorite, but boy that cherry looks like it could be the best if I ever get a chance to taste it!

It's hard if you know the "real thing", isn't it? But Les Chefs is definitely NOT a good FRENCH restaurant!

Tom loves sushi and I do TRY it. But the Bonsai Roll was something I could order myself!

I've had the cake at the CG with so many different ice-creams - cherry was one of the best! I remember having salted caramel ice-cream once and I was kind of wondering if I would like it, but BOY, I did!
We have a reservation there in February and I guess the Valhrona cake wins again!

 

[dizneeat]

Still Day 13, August 26

Disney Wonder - Yummy Stateroom gifts

The drive to Port Canaveral takes about an hour and traffic was low, so we made it there at around 11am. We knew we could not get to our staterooms before 1.30, so we weren't in any hurry.
We drove to the luggage drop off, dropped off our luggage and since it was really heavy we left a good tip for the luggage handler.
Next stop was the cruise parking lot.

Once we had parked the car we made our way over to the terminal. Since we were not quite sure we could use the Castaway Club check in as non US Citizens we used to "Non-US" check in and were done in no time.

After boarding we still had a little under an hour until we could get to our stateroom, so we walked around the ship.

By 1.30 we were allowed in our stateroom and since this was our second cruise, I knew that we would get a welcome back present from DCL.

Tom opened the door and stopped right in the middle of the hallway and shouted out, "There are *some* presents"!!!!!

*SOME* was NOT what I expected! There was in fact MORE than one present!

This one CAME from DCL!

There was the bag, which was filled with goodies.

A key ring.

Two handy water bottles.

Rice Krispy "flip-flops"!

But there was still more!

Our good friends Mary Ellen and Joe had sent us a cheese and fruit plate!!!

And a bottle of wine!

We enjoyed both in the late evening of our first cruise day, and during the next day! There was A LOT of food on that plate!

Next up - Disney Wonder - Lunch at Beach Blanket Buffet

 

[englishrose47]

Awesome reviews and pix as usual Karin !!! That Breakfast pizza is looking mighty good right now as I look at my soggy cereal !!What great welcome on board gifts too!!

 

[podsnel]

Hi again!!

That pizza for breakfast looks soooooooooo good- it is going on my list for the next time we stay over at OKW- which I am planning to do in 2012 for a week. Am I crazy to already know what I'm having for breakfast 2 years from now??? Probably....but that's just how it is around here, I guess!

You also have me wanting to go back to CG- I think that restaurant is wonderful- there is so much on their menu I want to try- we may need to go there next November. At least I'll only have to wait about 11 months for that meal...

So many restaurants....so little time!!!

Looking forward to the cruise!

Ellen

 

[EmpressBubbles]

WOW!! Very nice gifts from your friends!

 

[Lynn5700]

I LOVE your reviews!! Looking forward to your foods from the cruise .

 

[cbg1027]

What nice surprises in your stateroom! I can't wait to see all the Cruise eats.

 

[tinacaplan]

Looking forward to your cruise reviews. Yet another thing to put on the list for "someday."

And am I getting excited???? Oh, yes...yes, I am!

 

[MisplacedTraveler]

I have now read all 39 pages today and I am in total Disney mode. I just convinced my husband yesterday for me to go to Disney World 4 times in 2011.

I love your reviews and photos. Can't wait to read more.

 

[Linda67]

Hi Karin
I can't wait to hear all about you cruise
By the way the breakfast pizza at WPE looks amazing
Linda

 

[dizneeat]

Awesome reviews and pix as usual Karin !!! That Breakfast pizza is looking mighty good right now as I look at my soggy cereal !!What great welcome on board gifts too!!

Thank you, Rosie! Have you ever tried Wolfgang's Breakfast Pizza? It is awesome! Beats soggy cereal any time!

Yes, our on board gifts were wonderful, both the ones from DCL and Mary Ellen and Joe!

Hi again!!

That pizza for breakfast looks soooooooooo good- it is going on my list for the next time we stay over at OKW- which I am planning to do in 2012 for a week. Am I crazy to already know what I'm having for breakfast 2 years from now??? Probably....but that's just how it is around here, I guess!

You also have me wanting to go back to CG- I think that restaurant is wonderful- there is so much on their menu I want to try- we may need to go there next November. At least I'll only have to wait about 11 months for that meal...

So many restaurants....so little time!!!

Looking forward to the cruise!

Ellen

for staying at OKW, my favourite resort and for knowing what breakfast you are going to have in 2012!
Your definitely a girl after my heart, as I know what I am going to have on Feb. 20, 9am! Breakfast Pizza!!!!!!!!!!

We just love the CG. In February we won't do the DDP and we decided to cut back on TS dining, but we were both VERY sure, we would not miss a meal at the CG - so we'll have our dinner there on Feb. 21! Valhrona Cake, here I come!

WOW!! Very nice gifts from your friends!

Mary Ellen and Joe are just so thoughtful! We are really glad to call them our friends!

I LOVE your reviews!! Looking forward to your foods from the cruise .

Hi, Lynn!
Cruise food coming up shortly! I just need to get everything ready for school tomorrow!

What nice surprises in your stateroom! I can't wait to see all the Cruise eats.

I was prepared for the DCL gifts, but receiving another gift from Mary Ellen and Joe was the icing on the cake!
Cruise food (and booze) coming up very soon!

Looking forward to your cruise reviews. Yet another thing to put on the list for "someday."

And am I getting excited???? Oh, yes...yes, I am!

You just NEED to try a Disney cruise! We just loved our Wonder cruises and can't wait to "meet" the Dream in February!

And speaking of getting excited - make that two of us!

I have now read all 39 pages today and I am in total Disney mode. I just convinced my husband yesterday for me to go to Disney World 4 times in 2011.

I love your reviews and photos. Can't wait to read more.

Welcome!
Going to WDW 4 times! I wish we could do that!
There's lots more food reviews and photos to come. Stay tuned!

Hi Karin
I can't wait to hear all about you cruise
By the way the breakfast pizza at WPE looks amazing
Linda

I wish I could get that Breakfast Pizza more often - it is just so amazing!

And I can tell you this much - we loved our back to back cruise so much we actually booked a back to back to back cruise for summer of 2011!
Food review to be posted very soon!

 

[podsnel]

The fruit & cheese looked gorgeous- what a lovely gift with the wine!

 

[Stefy]

All caught up Great updates

First off love the Christmas Advent Calendar, delish

I love that Magic Cookie, sounds scrummy

Your Cali Grill dinner looked sooo good, such a fantastic restaurant

Great start to the Cruise, what a lovely surprise from Mary Ellen and Joe

 

[englishrose47]

I am hoping for a FREE Cruise in 2012 !!!

 

[dizneeat]

The fruit & cheese looked gorgeous- what a lovely gift with the wine!

It was so good! And there was such an aweful lot of it! Thank god we had the tiny fridge in the stateroom as it took us 3 days to finish it all!

All caught up Great updates

First off love the Christmas Advent Calendar, delish

I love that Magic Cookie, sounds scrummy

Your Cali Grill dinner looked sooo good, such a fantastic restaurant

Great start to the Cruise, what a lovely surprise from Mary Ellen and Joe

Glad you like the Advent Calendar! Hope you check in every day.

The Magic Cookie Bar is sooooooooooooo good! Next time you need to try it! Take the boat from DTD to POR, have a look around and get a MCB before you leave! You won't regret it!

We the California Grill! But I guess you know that by now!

So many wonderful surprised this trip! First YOUR surprise, then the one from Mary Ellen and Joe! We were very lucky!!

 

[dizneeat]

I am hoping for a FREE Cruise in 2012 !!!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Rosie! Disney cruises are the best (even though I have never tried anything else, but WHO CARES??? )

 

[dizneeat]

Still Day 13, August 26

Disney Wonder - Lunch at Beach Blanket Buffet

It took us a while to recover from the shock over all our goodies. AND we definitely enjoyed being back in OUR stateroom, the same we had stayed at during our very first cruise.

Once we had freshened up, we made our way to the Beach Blanket Buffet for some lunch.

We're not really buffet people, but the buffet is plentyful and nice.

My plate ....... going clockwise - cold shrimp, which needed to be "undressed" and cocktail sauce for dipping. Yum! Just like I remembered from the year before. Tomato salad, coleslaw and butter lettuce with balsamic dressing - I was so longing for some salads that day! There is a small breaded pork "Schnitzel", which was rather tough underneath the focaccia bread and some broccoli and cauliflower. Veggies were rather on the cold side.

Tom's plate. Looks like he had about the same I had plus a stir fry they offered that day. Can't blame him for having two pieces of the focaccia bread - that bread is Y-U-M-M-Y!!!!!!!!

Needless to say we needed some drinks. So you can see the usual Diet Coke in the background, but we needed some "Welcome" drinks as well. These are Bahama Mamas!!!

Needless to say we wanted desserts too!

I had a chocolate profiterole and this apple-breadpudding with custard!

Wasn't such a huge fan of the vanilla flavoured blanc-mange with strawberry sauce and whipped cream.

Tom's dessert plate - chocolate profiteroles and some fresh fruit salad. The fruit were cold and juicy and very refreshing.

After our lunch we had time to stroll around the ship before it was time for the lifeboat drill and the "Sail Away" Party.

Next up - Disney Wonder - Dinner at Triton's