Which way do we go George? Which way do we go?

[ddstratton]

Wow! Quite the change in plans. But who am I to talk? I can't even count the number of times that our last trip changed...

 

[jillybeene71]

At least yall will be at the POFQ for Mardi Gras on the 8th. We have many friends from our town going and staying at the french quarter that week. Please have a drink(s) for me, raise your shirt holler "throw me sumthin mister" pretend you are in New Orleans.
Still very sad we are not going, the 8th would have been our last full day there. oh well, take many many pictures and Ill be waiting for that trip report.

**edit...so I just read in the other trip report you dont drink...so skip that and eat a boatload of beignets for me!!

 

[GaRain]

Only problem with that plan is that March 6th is a Sunday. That is the day I get back from Disney - too bad we don't overlap!
But hey - I see another Atlanta stop....we have options!!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Plans have not changed again since my last update so we are still on for Disney and then a few days in Clearwater area.

Then we have the dining choices. They have been arranged and re-arranged about 10 times and I still think I may want to tweak.

1st - I need some opinions here. Le Cellier is one spot I have a dining reservation for but Dan and Baylor are about as excited to go as they may to being asked to watch a National Spelling Bee. They like the soup alright and breadsticks and originally I thought of getting those "To GO" but then a reservation popped open and I grabbed it like a crack starved junkie.

The March 2 credit rule will be in effect by then and the Menu is not out yet so I am torn to keep it and wait to see if we want anything or just skip it because for 2 credits, is the steak at The Wave, just as good for only one? The desserts are not anything I cannot live without and since I would be paying OOP for the soup anyway, I am thinking of saying Adios.

2nd - We have booked The Spirit of Aloha show for now. It is a 2 TS pp meal but gratuity is included and it is something we have never done before. They only had Tier 3 open for Dining Plan goers, and I know we need to get the table reserved right away so we do not get stuck behind a pole or something.

I have heard reviews that say it is not that great but then again some people love it. Food will be on the okay side but none of us have been to Hawaii or any sort of Luau, so it would be a new experience with a show. We all have done the HDDMR before and Baylor originally wanted that until he found out about this show. Anyone here gone before???


3rd - We got a Cali Grill 5:30 p.m. reservation and will see the sunset and maybe head back for WISHES as well after looking at Bay Lake and The Contemporary. Dan will order an app and I am not sure if we will use it as a dining service credit or not.

Do you guys think when it is a 2 TS dining credit experience you often are better paying OOP???


I also am needing to find out if you can use a Restaurant.com gift certificate for a breakfast meal or is it limited to dinner.

I would love some feedback here and has anyone tried the Hummus Sandwich at Columbia Harbor House??? I think it might be worth a try this trip!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Dawn - I like your revised plans. I feel your pain about all that driving!! Right there with ya sista!

We did Spirit of Aloha last summer. I think we were Tier 2, which was in front, but off to the side a bit. The food was pretty decent. My DH and DD7 LOVED the ribs! I enjoyed the salad and bread too. It also includes beer and/or wine if that's something you care about.
We were on the DxDP, and wanted more 2 credit places so we weren't eating constantly, but could enjoy SofA, CRT, Brown Derby...
The show is okay - a little hokey re: the story line, but the dancing is really good - especially the fire dancer. Probably a good 2 hour experience.
We were there at the end of July, and the seating area is shaded, so it wasn't hot. You probably won't be too warm!

If I wasn't on DxDP, and needed to fill meals, I would definitely consider paying OOP for something. Probably pay for a cheaper restaurant and order whatever you're in the mood for and use the credits for these expensive set price, set menu meals.

I refuse to use 2 TS for LeCellier. It's just not right. I think it's a reaction to the demand and a way for WDW to suck up more of my $$. I'd rather go for lunch and you used to get mostly the same menu choices. I am curious as to whether that's changed.
ETA - the hummus sandwich - I want to try it too. I have gotten the tuna sandwich twice, and always think about the hummus (because I love hummus! You'd think I'd have gotten it by now), but I also am a hummus snob, I know how to make it good, and know what I like. So I'm afraid I'll be too critical. I'd love to hear a more detailed description of the hummus.

I really should take notes on your plans in the hope that I might end up in the same place as you one of the days so I can meet you guys in person!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Plans have not changed again since my last update so we are still on for Disney and then a few days in Clearwater area.

Then we have the dining choices. They have been arranged and re-arranged about 10 times and I still think I may want to tweak.

1st - I need some opinions here. Le Cellier is one spot I have a dining reservation for but Dan and Baylor are about as excited to go as they may to being asked to watch a National Spelling Bee. They like the soup alright and breadsticks and originally I thought of getting those "To GO" but then a reservation popped open and I grabbed it like a crack starved junkie. 'm with Dan and Baylor on this one. For us, it's just...well...eh. Joe would never go with using 2 TS for this place, even if we got free dining. I'm just well, not a fan.

The March 2 credit rule will be in effect by then and the Menu is not out yet so I am torn to keep it and wait to see if we want anything or just skip it because for 2 credits, is the steak at The Wave, just as good for only one? The desserts are not anything I cannot live without and since I would be paying OOP for the soup anyway, I am thinking of saying Adios.

2nd - We have booked The Spirit of Aloha show for now. It is a 2 TS pp meal but gratuity is included and it is something we have never done before. They only had Tier 3 open for Dining Plan goers, and I know we need to get the table reserved right away so we do not get stuck behind a pole or something.

I have heard reviews that say it is not that great but then again some people love it. Food will be on the okay side but none of us have been to Hawaii or any sort of Luau, so it would be a new experience with a show. We all have done the HDDMR before and Baylor originally wanted that until he found out about this show. Anyone here gone before??? We really enjoyed the show. We've seen it three times and loved it each time. Our favorite part of the show has to be the fire thrower dude. He's great! Joe and I really like the food too, although I have heard mixed reviews from others.


3rd - We got a Cali Grill 5:30 p.m. reservation and will see the sunset and maybe head back for WISHES as well after looking at Bay Lake and The Contemporary. Dan will order an app and I am not sure if we will use it as a dining service credit or not.

Do you guys think when it is a 2 TS dining credit experience you often are better paying OOP???We find that we're better paying OOP on most of the 2 TS places because the dining plan seems to have just way too much food. Most of the 2TS places we go to are places where we end up focusing more on getting appetizers.


I also am needing to find out if you can use a Restaurant.com gift certificate for a breakfast meal or is it limited to dinner.

I would love some feedback here and has anyone tried the Hummus Sandwich at Columbia Harbor House??? I think it might be worth a try this trip!!

I am so getting the hummus sandwhich when we go to CHH, unless of course you come back and tell me that it's yukky!

 

[DONTMINDME]

We've done the aloha dining several times and enjoyed the show very much the food is average but filling nothing to write home about but I would definitely do it again in the future, it was a fun experience, the fire guy was the best. As for La Celliers not sure I would waste 2 table services on it especially when the guys are indifferent. The wave seems lke a better choice..*&1we2 thats ferret talk for I agree, walle our ferret just walked across my computer to put his 2 cents in.

 

[jeni16]

We did the Spirit of Aloha show when we stayed at the Poly in April. We thought it was great as well. The fire dancer was awesome. Worth it just to see him. The food was pretty good as well but we didn't care for the dessert. We were on the dining plan & had Tier 2 seating. I would try for Tier 2 if you can. The Tier 3 seats seemed a little far back. Maybe this could be an Out of Pocket meal for you so you could get better seating.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I had the weirdest dream last night that I went with you guys last night on your road trip. It was Dan, Dawn, Carsyn and Baylor. We had a great time!

It was quite the relief not dreaming about whats going on here in Wisconsin. Being a UW Hospital employee, but not a state employee, Walker wants to take away our bargaining also!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Well....Hello Newmannnnnnnn!!!!!!

If anyone has been reading the TR underway, you know I had an injury last weekend and have been AWOL because my knee is screwed up. I only have a monitor /big honkin computer/ at my desk while Dan is away and bending my knee in the slightest has been excruciating until today for any length of time.

For those out of the loop. Saturday, Feb. 19th, I fell on ice in our driveway and cracked the heck out of my left knee cap. Swollen, bruising, torn cartilage, yadayadayada and Dawn ended up on her backside with knee immobilized for a good while. Nothing surgery has been determined for yet but yesterday I went shopping with Carsyn and stood for the first time in a long while and my knee kept buckling forward and giving out. This means I am off to get an ACE sleeve for my knee and hope my WDW is not a bust. They have tried Vicodin and Percocet and nothing touches the pain. Part of the problem is that I have been on them so many times with kidney issues that my body has a tolerance to most anything and what it does not, I have allergic reactions to. Basically I stop breathing if you come at me with Morphine or most things related.

I do have some yummy updates for you all to ponder whilst thinking of how much bigger my hind quarter got while lying in bed!

Here is a better idea of plans!

Dan and Dawn will leave sometime in the wee hours of Monday March 7th. We will stop in Chicago at a famous "Dog" shop and maybe pick up some popcorn... and stretch for a few hours. Than continue our drive to Smyrna, Tennessee and eat at a place we found a deal for on Restaurant.com and spend the night. 12 hours of driving done and 12 more to go!

Tuesday: March 8th
We get up early and drive to WDW. 12 hours of driving and we want to be there by 7 p.m. at the latest. We will check in at POFQ (new room a must) and have already paid for our stay and and our dining plan. We will not use our dining though that night, but will instead head over to THE GARDEN GROVE, and use a Restaurant.com certificate we had bought before, to eat a nice Italian dinner buffet. Then if we are up to it, walk around Board Walk.

Wednesday: March 9th
Breakfast at POFQ and then a day at the pool. We may just stay at this pool or we may decide to head over to a pool elsewhere. The nice part of this location is how close the drink refills are. I do love the Poly pool though as well and as a DVC member, we can pool hop. I have contemplated heading over to the GF and use their pool and pretend we fit in because Dan and I have a special lunch planned at 3:20 p.m. A Grand Floridian tea!!! We can freshen up there in a shower facility next to the pool if they have one like the Poly does. Does anybody know?

Then we are going to shop a bit at local outlets before we pick up Baylor at MCO when he gets in that night late. 10:05 p.m. arrival and I bet he will be starving so maybe we can get him something to eat before we get back to WDW. I think most places at DTD close by 11:00 p.m.

Thursday March 10th:
AK day and lunch at Y&Y. Second time for us and first for Baylor. Dan and I plan on splitting most of our meals so we will have a lot of TS meals to use on this stay! That night we will head to, "The Wave" at 5:25 for a first for all of us. Then head to DTD that evening or back to swim depending on how tired we are.

Friday March 11th:
Epcot Day and lunch will be at Tutto Italia, another first for all of us and then have reservations to eat at Las Hacienda at 7:45 and hoping for a window seat for Illuminations! I think this will be an OOP for us since we like their app's more than their meals.

* Must do's for us here:
School Bread at Norway
Karamel Concoctions in Germany
Grey Goose in France
Peach Snap in China
Try something at Le Cave in Mexico
See any of the Beatles reviews since we have seen none!!!

****ANY SUGGESTIONS on other must do's????


Saturday March 12th:
DHS - we will be going to Starring Rolls for lunch BTW!!!

Dinner at 8 p.m. at Spirit of Aloha show!!! A first for us all and we will give it a honest review!

Sunday March 13th:
MK
Dinner at Kona at 5:05

Monday March 14th:
Epcot
Via Napoli for lunch
Then we head over to the Poly for a 9:45 p.m. dinner res for Ohana

Tues March 15th:
Wrap Up Day - Cal Grill at 5:30 p.m. - will probably take this as a OOP. maybe head to DTD to see some Irish shenanigans!

Wednesday March 15th - pack up and eat @ Boma for breakfast at 7:35 p.m.

Then drive 3 hours to Caledesi Island north of Tampa for 4 hours on our own private beach!!! Well with a few others but they limit amount of people on the island!!

We are staying in Clearwater for 3 nights and have coupons from Restaurant.com for the area. We are going to give the pizza at Giordanno's another try in Tampa.

Thursday March 17th, we are renting a 20' pontoon boat for the day. Baylor will be the fishing man and we will give the fish to locals if we catch any. None of us like eating fish all that well! Plan on island hopping and snorkeling!

That night we will go to a local sports bar for food with another coupon and thought it would be a fun St. Patricks day feel!!

Friday March 18th:

Easy day at the beach in Clearwater.

Saturday march 19th - head home - maybe stop in ATL for Coke tour. Stay again in Smyrna TN and

Sunday March 20th, - arrive home by early evening!

Hope you all have plenty of tips and suggestions for us all!!!

 

[MollyMcDaniel]

Awwww...bummer. You will be gone from WDW before we get there. Now I'm going to pout!!!!! I hope your knee holds out, but think of the advantages with a wheelchair.....line cutting...all day, all the time. Hmmm, that gets me thinking.

 

[GaRain]

Hey! I see an Atlanta stop on that itenerary!!!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Awwww...bummer. You will be gone from WDW before we get there. Now I'm going to pout!!!!! I hope your knee holds out, but think of the advantages with a wheelchair.....line cutting...all day, all the time. Hmmm, that gets me thinking.

The problem is I am chunky. I would insist on strapping on a sign to the hovercraft, explaining in detail that I was using it because of my knee so I was not a victim of the people who assume people who have weight issues only use the ECV because they cannot walk!!

Hey! I see an Atlanta stop on that itenerary!!!

It is!!!

TLENZ - the fact you are dreaming about me makes me giggle!


Well...we have a revamp of the dining itinerary already!!

I was able to snag a Le Cellier lunch resie!!!!

Monday March 14th @ 2:10 p.m. we will be there!!!

I also have added to the list for a few things!

Thursday the 10th we will go to Raglan Road for the music and dancing and probably dessert!!! I have heard the bread pudding is to die for! Anybody actually have had it??

Thursday March 10th we also will eat dinner @ The Wave @ 5:25 p.m.

We moved Via Napoli to 11:30 a.m. on Tues March 15th. This may be axed if we do not want to go to Epcot that day.


Has anyone done the House of Blue Sunday Gospel Brunch???

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I've not tried any of the things you asked about. So I'm no help there.

I will be keeping an eye out for you at MK on Sunday - we plan to be there for the evening EMH and at AKL when you have your Boma breakfast on Wednesday. We're staying there, so you never know... That's our Epcot day, but we're not heading over too early.

Sounds like a fun trip - I really hope your knee improves fast, or you get something to help.

 

[GaRain]

The problem is I am chunky. I would insist on strapping on a sign to the hovercraft, explaining in detail that I was using it because of my knee so I was not a victim of the people who assume people who have weight issues only use the ECV because they cannot walk!!

It is!!!

TLENZ - the fact you are dreaming about me makes me giggle!


Well...we have a revamp of the dining itinerary already!!

I was able to snag a Le Cellier lunch resie!!!!

Monday March 14th @ 2:10 p.m. we will be there!!!

I also have added to the list for a few things!

Thursday the 10th we will go to Raglan Road for the music and dancing and probably dessert!!! I have heard the bread pudding is to die for! Anybody actually have had it??

Thursday March 10th we also will eat dinner @ The Wave @ 5:25 p.m.

We moved Via Napoli to 11:30 a.m. on Tues March 15th. This may be axed if we do not want to go to Epcot that day.


Has anyone done the House of Blue Sunday Gospel Brunch???

First - Atlanta! Would love to meet up if you are interested....
Second - Mom has had the bread pudding at Raglan Road and LOVED LOVED it!
Third - I have done the Sunday Brunch at HoB, but the New Orleans location. The food was great and it was a lot of fun!

 

[PrincessOliviasMom]

Thursday the 10th we will go to Raglan Road for the music and dancing and probably dessert!!! I have heard the bread pudding is to die for! Anybody actually have had it??

Their bread pudding is TO DIE FOR! Period. End of statement. Nothin else like it! Definitely try it!

We had a great steak dinner there and the kids loved the fish-n-chips. Nothing but great reviews from us.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Has anyone done the House of Blue Sunday Gospel Brunch???[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

OK, I have not been to one - but there was another TR on here - the "How I survived 10 days at Disney with a Disney Resistant Husband" or something like that and she DID go - for Mother's day - and had pics beforehand - apparently you cant take pics inside, but she liked it..

here you go..I found it for you...


http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39931960&postcount=1797

 

[tlenzendorf]

It was a really funny dream. I wish I could remember it better! We were in a mustang, didn't you say before that Dan has a mustang?

 

[Dizneydawn]

I will be keeping an eye out for you at MK on Sunday - we plan to be there for the evening EMH and at AKL when you have your Boma breakfast on Wednesday. We're staying there, so you never know... That's our Epcot day, but we're not heading over too early.
WE have to meet up!!!!!!

First - Atlanta! Would love to meet up if you are interested....

I would love to if possible!!

Their bread pudding is TO DIE FOR! Period. End of statement. Nothin else like it! Definitely try it!
So I am to understand it is good???

here you go..I found it for you...


http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39931960&postcount=1797

That was such a kind thing to do!!

It was a really funny dream. I wish I could remember it better! We were in a mustang, didn't you say before that Dan has a mustang?

Yup - a 2007 "Grabber Orange" with black racing stripes. If we were all in it than your dream must have been painful cause your tukkus would have been in the back!!!



Mini update: Stressed out because now...of course...a huge Minnesota Snow Storm is expected to pummel us on Tues/Wed. Timing is yet TBD exactly but they are predicting it starts Tuesday afternoon and ends by late Wednesday morning.

Baylor flies out WEDNESDAY afternoon!!!!!!!

Of all things we have gone through, canceled flights is not one of them. I also will be in FL while he is here with his Dad in charge, trying to get him another flight if canceled.

I have a call into SWA to find out usually the amount of time an airport is canceled after a snowstorm is over. Or what I can do ahead of time to alleviate some possible delay.

Like can I put him on an earlier flight?

Now I am even more frustrated because the whole purpose of him flying was to get him to school for 3 more days. Now it looks like of those 3 days, one will be canceled for sure. So maybe we can put him on an earlier plane Tuesday before the weather gets too bad?

So much for a stress free few days with Dan!

Last night they were saying expect at least a foot, more likely about 20 inches. Of course this will be the one time the weather team is right!

Last night Baylor said..."Well I can just stay home for a week alone!"

Ummmmm..............NO!

What a giver I have!

I have been busy planning a few surprises that I can tell you all about after the trip!!! Really excited for them!!

Other than that the only thing I am still torn on is getting a HOB Sunday Brunch Gospel....more $ OOP and need to evaluate the budget again now that gas prices are going to be closer to $4 a gallon!!! I think if you are going to get robbed, it should be at least from a cute pirate like Johnny, and not some sheik who has 20 wives and 10 are camels!

 

[Normangirls]

Well, pooh. I hope everything works out for you. Where's global warming when you need it?

Anyway, I can't believe your trip is almost here!

Be safe, don't forget the hand sanitizer, and HAVE A GREAT TIME!