You're Here BY YOURSELF? A Solo TR COMPLETED!

[praisehisname]

We loved it there so much that DH has requested to repeat it in November! What made you take it off your list for June?

 

[eandesmom]

ooh! Great Narcoosees review, it is on my maybe list for date night in August...if we end up having a date night!

That looks absolutely delish!

 

[creativeamanda]

OMG THAT FOOD LOOKS SOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!!

I'll have to put that restaurant in mind for future trips!

It is really great!

We loved it there so much that DH has requested to repeat it in November! What made you take it off your list for June?

We are doing the regular dining plan in June and we already have reservations for CRT. I know it's not the best probably eating wise, but none of us have ever been and the girls have BBB reservations right beforehand. I'm kind of sad, but we are trying a lot of new places, and I know that when I return, I'll go back there. Our new places this coming trip:
Teppan Edo
CRT
Boatwright's
1900 Park Fare
Crystal Palace Breakfast

dh's new places (but not mine)
Cape May
Boma
Tutto Italia

 

[creativeamanda]

ooh! Great Narcoosees review, it is on my maybe list for date night in August...if we end up having a date night!

That looks absolutely delish!

It is really wonderful! YOu really should do a date night for it. The couple next to me seemed to really enjoy their date night there.

 

[stopher1]

Another great update! We stayed at the GF for our honeymoon, and amazingly didn't eat at Narcoosee's. It's been 16 years, and we still haven't eaten there. Definitely on our must try list now. Great review & food porn.

But I will say, of all of these pics, this one is my hands-down favorite. I just love the composition of it.

 

[creativeamanda]

Another great update! We stayed at the GF for our honeymoon, and amazingly didn't eat at Narcoosee's. It's been 16 years, and we still haven't eaten there. Definitely on our must try list now. Great review & food porn.

But I will say, of all of these pics, this one is my hands-down favorite. I just love the composition of it.

This is one of my favorites, as well. But not my favorite. I took my favorite my last day.

 

[TarzansKat]

I love your pictures from the Poly. Don't you just love that aroma in the lobby? I think every resort has a particular scent, and when I walk into the Poly, it just smells like the Poly, kwim? Wonderful.

Your meal looks amazing. I haven't eaten at Narcossee's in years. We actually walked out...many, many, many moons ago because we weren't that thrilled with the menu. Would you say they have a lot of items on their menu or is it still pretty narrow?

I'm glad you got a good filet, at least you had a good experience after Yachtsmen!

 

[creativeamanda]

I love your pictures from the Poly. Don't you just love that aroma in the lobby? I think every resort has a particular scent, and when I walk into the Poly, it just smells like the Poly, kwim? Wonderful.

I actually know exactly what you mean. I really would love to stay there, but funds for a teacher makes that difficult. Maybe if I save fore a full year we could do it instead of taking 2 trips in the same year.

Your meal looks amazing. I haven't eaten at Narcossee's in years. We actually walked out...many, many, many moons ago because we weren't that thrilled with the menu. Would you say they have a lot of items on their menu or is it still pretty narrow?

I think it has a menu the size of most of the other signature TS locations. Not large, but not really small. I did break down and make a reservation there for June, even though I said we wouldn't. DH says it'll be a late one, but it's my Mother's Day dinner.

I'm glad you got a good filet, at least you had a good experience after Yachtsmen!

I know. I actually thought about the Yachtsman, ya know, giving it another try. But I decided it would not be a good idea with kids in tow.

 

[creativeamanda]

To say it was cold that night is putting it mildly. I typically don't like being in the cold, but I was in Disney World, after all. It's amazing how we tend to overlook some amount of discomfort when it's somethinge we really want to do.

But, just for an idea, this was me that night after Wishes:

When I got to Magic Kingdom, it was close to 7:30, and Main Street was full. I mean, really full. I did, however, find a spot on Main Street between the Plaza and the mouth of the hub. I noticed a family of three with a very young (3ish) child sitting there and I asked them if they minded if I stand behind them with my camera and tripod. It was an awesome location, and I was grateful for it.

Going into the Magic Kingdom:

Stopping on Main Street for photographs:

Across the street and diagonally from where I was standing--I've never been here (as I duck and cover)

I talked at length with the families around us. They were all awesome people, just having a great time. The family who let me stand behind them was there on their first trip with their daughter and she was really enjoying herself.

And before long, it was time for Spectromagic:

My favorite float in the parade:

And here is where she decided to lean all over me and my tripod:

A lady from a tour group decided she needed a picture. Now, I could hear her daughter screaming for Ariel and I was more than happy to lean over tot he side for her to get a picture. But then, it all went horribly wrong. She was all over me and my camera and shoved her way in front of another family. Until we told her to back off.

I will let other children in front of me--and I did for this parade, because they were short and I had a tripod. But I do NOT like it when people lean all over me, especially since I got there early and had been waiting for well over an hour, knowing the park would be packed with EMH being later.

Either way, we got her to move back.

And I got more great photos. . .

Coming up. . .Holiday Wishes.

 

[hucifer]

I can't get over how beautiful the castle is at Christmas. Actually, I cannot believe how COLD it was! Holy cow, that's cold.

I loved your description of Narcoosees' food. I haven't been there before, but now I REALLY want to try it.

 

[DisneyGuy758]

I agree 100% with you on adults pushing through. When we went in 2007, we sat and waited for Spectro Magic for almost two hours. We had a great spot across from Casey's (shame on you for never going there we were probably right where you were too...) and as people came in behind us, they would slowly push forward. Kids, yes, and we did let some by us to sit on the curb next to DS8 and DS1 (at the time) but then their parents started to movie forward too. DW and I both told them to stop crowding as they were ramming their stroller wheel into not only my heel, but DS1's rear end.

Other than that. We LOVED the parade.

 

[creativeamanda]

I can't get over how beautiful the castle is at Christmas. Actually, I cannot believe how COLD it was! Holy cow, that's cold.

I loved your description of Narcoosees' food. I haven't been there before, but now I REALLY want to try it.

It was freezing. Lots of people didn't bring scarves and gloves with them, so they were flying off the shelves at the resort stores. I'm glad I got mine from JC Penney before the trip.

Narcoossee's was awesome!

I agree 100% with you on adults pushing through. When we went in 2007, we sat and waited for Spectro Magic for almost two hours. We had a great spot across from Casey's (shame on you for never going there we were probably right where you were too...) and as people came in behind us, they would slowly push forward. Kids, yes, and we did let some by us to sit on the curb next to DS8 and DS1 (at the time) but then their parents started to movie forward too. DW and I both told them to stop crowding as they were ramming their stroller wheel into not only my heel, but DS1's rear end.

Other than that. We LOVED the parade.

That's awful! I will let children through, because if it were my kids, I would hope someone would do the same for me (but understand if they didn't).

 

[creativeamanda]

Before I go on to Holiday Wishes, I have to first go back to the Spectromagic Parade and share a couple of pictures I didn't notice on my original photobucket upload.

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Catching their float as it changed to white lights.

My favorite dwarf: Dopey. He alone rides a float while the others have to walk.

A few minutes after Spectro was over, Wishes began. I did not move closer to the castle, because I wanted a wider angle shot for these pictures.

I think my tripod was beginning it's last legs here, because the shots are all tilted slightly. My new tripod has a level on it.

These were cute--during the Nutcracker part of Holiday Wishes

My favorite pictures of the fireworks for that night.

After the fireworks were over, I took some photopass pictures and then thise one of the castle.

I rode several rides, but I did not take many pictures. This is yet again, one of the times I felt it was best to pack away the camera. I did, however, feel this was too good to forget. It was 1:30am on the EMH night. How does the park look then?

How's that for crowds? Remember, this was the Sunday before Christmas.

EMH was definitely worth it this night, without a doubt!

 

[hucifer]

OMG, Amanda. You really take beautiful pictures. My nighttime pics never come out like that.

 

[creativeamanda]

OMG, Amanda. You really take beautiful pictures. My nighttime pics never come out like that.

Thanks! I'm uber excited about my May/June trip ones, as I got a new lens for my camera today (uh, yesterday) I also got some digital photography books to help me out.

 

[creativeamanda]

I've admitted it several times and will do so again--I'm a shopoholic. That should come as to no surprise to most of my DIS buddies. But I'll let you all in on another secret: I also like to stay up late and sleep in.

Call it a secret indulgence. Problem is, I tend to stay up late on a work night, when I can't sleep in next day. Oh well, no matter tonight, eh?

When I last left you all, I was leaving Magic Kingdom. Looking at my notes, it was 1:30 am or thereabouts. This is one of the few times in my life where I got to the room, changed into pjs, and turned off the alarm clock.

Only to receive an 8am wakeup call. "Your kids are all up. Thought you'd want to be, as well."

6 hours sleep? Not so bad. I got up, showered, got dressed and headed to the boat dock to go to Downtown Disney. I was secrelty kind of glad that he woke me up, because I knew I needed to get to the World of Disney store before 11am to use my 20% off coupon I got for using the dining plan for a CS meal.

I dropped some money off at the WOD store, and headed to my new favorite CS location:

I've said before that I was sort of skeptical about a sandwich place. This place was beyond awesome and I will definitely be back again sometime!

After wolfing down a sandwich (my first meal of the day), I took a couple of pictures of the Christmas tree between Earl of Sandwich and the Once Upon a Toy store:

(was not carrying the tripod, so I'm certain that was me leaning, not the tripod. . .perhaps I have one leg taller than the other, lol)

I love the detail here on this tree. . .

After looking at the tree, I went into the Once Upon a Toy store, because I was interested in the whole "make your own Pony and Mr. Potato Head". This is definitely a trip for June for the kids--my youngest loves My Little Pony!

I love the detail Disney goes into just for the doorways to stores!

Mr. Potato Head. . .

I actually spent a great deal of money here, because this is where I found the Spectromagic and Wishes cds, as well as a Disney Parks Chirstmas CD.

Next thing I knew, I was taking the boat back.

Apparently now you can take a hot air balloon in Downtown Disney to look over property. I think it just raises up and goes back down. Remember me and heights. I didn't even check out the price. But here it is from the boat.

Returning to POFQ:

I'm thinking I took a nap somewhere in here, because my notes between returning are devoid of information, but I do find myself in the World Showcase that evening, yet I honestly don't know what I did. Except for, of course, a couple (very few) pictures of the WS, and a picture of school bread and champagne. I know I left through the World Showcase area, though, as I have a receipt for that gift shop.

Either way, various pictures (I honestly must have been exhausted--my notes are almost nonexistant other than dining, lol)

I remember seeing this, and thinking my oldest would enjoy it.

Oh, Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. . .

This is the one at the entrance to the World Showcase.

Looking back towards Spaceship Earth from the World Showcase:

 

[LegoMom3]

Your Spectro pictures are FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I have yet to use my current camera on that parade but I'm hoping to achieve similar results. Although I am not brave enough to be at the curb.... I like to go up on the train station balcony.

And you're killing me with the POFQ pics!!! Gorgeous....*sigh* I actually thought - for one very brief and fleeting moment!! - about pricing out that resort for my solo trip (it would be 35% off). But I quickly dismissed it because a) I've already made several changes and my Dreams agent would likely "dis-agent" me! and b) Port Orleans is our family resort and I want this trip to be different. But it was sooooo tempting!

100% with you on Earl of Sandwich. Matter of fact I'm trying to figure out how to work in a trip over to DTD, just to go there! To. Die. For.

.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

nice update!! I can't believe they had a Xmas CD at the toy store I swear I looked at like every few gift shops to see if they had one. The year before they did have one and Dbro told me he wanted it and it was too late, they were all gone and I haven't seen any since. I guess since we didn't go to DTD in Dec maybe that's why??? I wonder if it's on Itunes..hm..

 

[OrangeJax]

Thanks for the update! Your pics make me wish it was Christmas (and I was at WDW) right now!

 

[eandesmom]

You're kids are up, I thought you'd want to be as well.




It's not. Funny. Really. But it is.

A 20% off coupon by eating CS? Do share this magical strategy, I've never heard of such a thing but it is music to my ears.

I am intrigued by Earl, figure we will hit it one of these days, nice to hear that you liked it.