Trip Report A Jingle BAM Birthday! *COMPLETED*

*Sorry for the bump. This TR is from December 2016*

Let me begin by giving a shout out to all park commandos ~ those who arrive at the parks at opening and stay until closing ~ those who only use the hotel room to sleep and shower ~

We SALUTE you!!!!!

After a whirlwind 48 hours in the world, we have a new appreciation for the stamina of a park commando. We gave it our all and had a blast ~ though a third non-stop day would have likely killed us!

So do your warm-up stretches and prepare to join us on a quick jog through three parks as we celebrate the quarter-century of a wonderful gal named Em.

Cast: Tuvalu and TrolleyFollower91
Date: December 1-3, 2016
Resort: Coronado Springs

Ready, Set, GO!

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Is it okay if I go back tomorrow?

No.

 

[LadyBelle]

I don't think I've had my "party on the wrist" (I'm so stealing that!) since tennis season ended. My job is entirely too sedentary.

And please tell me that I wasn't the only one who read the Pooh piece in Pooh's voice...

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con't

When I booked this trip a couple months ago, I was able to score a lunch ADR at BOG. Though I was happy to have it, it was later than I wanted (1:30 pm). We light-breakfast eaters are ravenous by noon. I checked periodically for an earlier time and managed to get a 1 pm. Two days before leaving I found an 11:55 am ~ perfect!! A good reminder to always keep checking back for that ADR you want!

I checked in and was given the yellow rose since we'd pre-ordered.

What in the world is casting that shadow on my head?

Sadly, today's BOG experience was way-less-than-magical. It began with a very distracted CM at the door who kept letting in guests who had not pre-ordered and ignoring the 3 families (of which we were one) who had. We were kept outside much longer than usual. When we were called inside, this was the line for those who had pre-ordered:

The CM then told us to get in the other (non-preorder) line "because it's shorter." It wasn't! And even if the line in the knight room was shorter than what you see in the photo above, there is still the wait for an ordering kiosk and then having to order our food all over again!

"We'll stay in this line because we have pre-ordered," I replied.

The line didn't move for 5 minutes and we wondered if computer issues were slowing things down. But when the line began to move, it moved very quickly. I paid and we searched for a table.

The Rose Gallery is our default dining location ~ except during the holidays. We love to sit by the Christmas tree and watch the snow.

Em found a table with the above view.

So while the ambiance was wonderful, the food not so much. I ordered the braised pork ~

Instead of the usual fork-tenderness, the pork was tough and chewy. And the green beans jardiniere had only one small piece of red pepper.

Em's roast beef sandwich included other greens (not just arugula) which she did not care for ~ and seemed to be used in place of roast beef, as there was only one slice!

I sang Happy Birthday to Em before we ate our Master's cupcakes. Happily, they were yummy!

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I weren't going to let a "meh" lunch get us down. A trip Under the Sea had us singing again!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Friday, con't

When I booked this trip a couple months ago, I was able to score a lunch ADR at BOG. Though I was happy to have it, it was later than I wanted (1:30 pm). We light-breakfast eaters are ravenous by noon. I checked periodically for an earlier time and managed to get a 1 pm. Two days before leaving I found an 11:55 am ~ perfect!! A good reminder to always keep checking back for that ADR you want!

View attachment 178799

I checked in and was given the yellow rose since we'd pre-ordered.
View attachment 178800
What in the world is casting that shadow on my head?

View attachment 178802

View attachment 178801

Sadly, today's BOG experience was way-less-than-magical. It began with a very distracted CM at the door who kept letting in guests who had not pre-ordered and ignoring the 3 families (of which we were one) who had. We were kept outside much longer than usual. When we were called inside, this was the line for those who had pre-ordered:

View attachment 178805


The CM then told us to get in the other (non-preorder) line "because it's shorter." It wasn't! And even if the line in the knight room was shorter than what you see in the photo above, there is still the wait for an ordering kiosk and then having to order our food all over again!

"We'll stay in this line because we have pre-ordered," I replied.

The line didn't move for 5 minutes and we wondered if computer issues were slowing things down. But when the line began to move, it moved very quickly. I paid and we searched for a table.

View attachment 178803

The Rose Gallery is our default dining location ~ except during the holidays. We love to sit by the Christmas tree and watch the snow.

View attachment 178804

Em found a table with the above view.

View attachment 178806

So while the ambiance was wonderful, the food not so much. I ordered the braised pork ~
View attachment 178807
Instead of the usual fork-tenderness, the pork was tough and chewy. And the green beans jardiniere had only one small piece of red pepper.

Em's roast beef sandwich included other greens (not just arugula) which she did not care for ~ and seemed to be used in place of roast beef, as there was only one slice!
View attachment 178808

I sang Happy Birthday to Em before we ate our Master's cupcakes. Happily, they were yummy!

Too bad about the unmagical experience at Be Our Guest. The last time I went for lunch I was really disappointed in the food, I'm not in a rush to go back there for lunch. I did like the breakfast there though, part of that may have been because it was my birthday and we were able to be in there before park open.

 

[Tuvalu]

Too bad about the unmagical experience at Be Our Guest. The last time I went for lunch I was really disappointed in the food, I'm not in a rush to go back there for lunch. I did like the breakfast there though, part of that may have been because it was my birthday and we were able to be in there before park open.

I really hope it was just an off day. Woody and I are set to eat there on Sunday.

 

[MegRuss626]

I really hope it was just an off day. Woody and I are set to eat there on Sunday.

I was a little disappointed in September too! The bun on my beloved turkey sandwich was almost in crouton phase! Made me very sad

 

[Tuvalu]

I was a little disappointed in September too! The bun on my beloved turkey sandwich was almost in crouton phase! Made me very sad

The Beast should not tolerate poor quality in his castle!!!!

 

[Longers]

It was now after 9 am so the rest of the park was open. We walked the short distance between the waterfall and our favorite mansion....

View attachment 178674

I was glad to see that the construction on the FP lane is complete and the merge point is back where it belongs (open doorway in center of picture).
View attachment 178675

The interactive MagicBand-based ending was not working, but the ghosts were still pranking doom buggy occupants.

Em and I discovered a couple of fun souvenirs in Memento Mori.

View attachment 178676

View attachment 178678

I so wanted one of those signs - but Chris was hesitant - maybe next year I will just buy one

 

[Tuvalu]

Finish current trip report before arriving for next vacation?

Epic fail.

(But I will complete this one! )

 

[lostpro9het]

I really hope it was just an off day. Woody and I are set to eat there on Sunday.

Sadly, I'm reading about more off days than not. This, unfortunately, solidifies our decision to not go back. It's terrible really, the ambiance can be so nice.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sadly, I'm reading about more off days than not. This, unfortunately, solidifies our decision to not go back. It's terrible really, the ambiance can be so nice.

I am happy to report that today's lunch experience was top-notch. We went right inside with our pre-order, paid and found a table close to the Christmas Tree in the Ballroom. The food arrived in less than 10 minutes. We both had the carved turkey sandwich and Woody commented, "Marie must have just baked the baguettes. Very fresh." @MegRuss626, you would have been pleased. Ample turkey. Hot fries. Very tasty.

Only one minor complaint ~ the chocolate piece on the Masters Cupcake tasted like white, not dark chocolate and there was no Be Our Guest inscription on it.

 

[MegRuss626]

I am happy to report that today's lunch experience was top-notch. We went right inside with our pre-order, paid and found a table close to the Christmas Tree in the Ballroom. The food arrived in less than 10 minutes. We both had the carved turkey sandwich and Woody commented, "Marie must have just baked the baguettes. Very fresh." @MegRuss626, you would have been pleased. Ample turkey. Hot fries. Very tasty.

Only one minor complaint ~ the chocolate piece on the Masters Cupcake tasted like white, not dark chocolate and there was no Be Our Guest inscription on it.

Very excited to hear this...I love that turkey sandwich! Now if only I could talk the husband into running down for one! I tried for a quick impromptu trip for thanksgiving so we could take a pregnancy announcement photo but he does not think like @Tuvalu!! I also love Woody's comment on the roll! lol

 

[Tuvalu]

Very excited to hear this...I love that turkey sandwich! Now if only I could talk the husband into running down for one! I tried for a quick impromptu trip for thanksgiving so we could take a pregnancy announcement photo but he does not think like @Tuvalu!! I also love Woody's comment on the roll! lol

Congrats on the new addition-to-come!

 

[Tuvalu]

@Courtney6682....you want drama? I have got drama for you! But you will have to wait until my next TR for it!

 

[Courtney6682]

@Courtney6682....you want drama? I have got drama for you! But you will have to wait until my next TR for it!

You never let me down lady!! I hope it wasn't anything too serious tho

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Loving the trip report so far. How very lucky of @TrolleyFollower91 to get to be there on her Birthday!!

 

[Jess G]

awesome!!!!! I've always been afraid to book only a couple nights because I don't want to feel gypped of magic lol. It really looks likes you got so much done!

 

[Tuvalu]

Haven't forgotten this trip report. Life has been excitingly busy . Little Tuvalette is no longer the most recent addition to our family.

Drumr got engaged to a wonderful gal! Let the wedding planning begin .

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Fun! Will it be a Disney wedding?