Clear Skies, Full Bellies...Can't Lose! A September 2012 Trip Report

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

September 17th

Alarm at 6:45am. Bus to MK. Arrive at 7:50. We had an 8:20 ADR for Crystal Palace. Another first for us!

Magic Kingdom isn't nearly AS empty as EPCOT on other early morning - twice the amount of breakfasts there plus they were filming a commercial of sorts with Donald on Main Street. OH...and the crane was making it's first appearance of the trip. So pictures weren't as great as EPCOT (what is?) but we still enjoyed snapping away.

The crane ALMOST blends in with the castle in this shot.

The untrained Disney eye would probably not notice the crane. But my first thought looking at it is - Ugh...stupid crane.

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

Time to check in at...

We had some time...time for more photopass pictures!

Now - the day prior I joked about our "non matching" tshirts. Ok those were CLEARLY the same tshirt but in different colors. But today we weren't wearing the same shirt at all! PROMISE!!

Gosh...matching couples are so cheesy.

An empty Adventureland just begging to be photographed

Now it was time for breakfast!

First up - Eeyore!

Then food time.

My plate

Bill's plate

My 2nd plate

Food review: Not impressed. The breakfast casserole thing that everyone RAVES about was kind of gross. And nothing exceptional about the pooh's puffed french toast either. The food was very underwhelming. Norway's breakfast food was much better - in our opinion.

Now time for more characters!

We actually waited QUITE a while for Pooh and Tigger. But you can't leave without meeting them! Piglet we could have skipped but the rest? Had to wait.

Overall...not impressed at ALL with Crystal Palace. Food was just OK. Service was slow. Character interactions were brief and we waited very long for them. Will probably not hit up this breakfast again until we have kids. No big deal. Our bellies were filled. Moving on...

We had already accomplished everything in the MK so we were just wandering around. We decided to do Sorcerers Kingdom at the Fire House on Main Street. We took the scenic route (aka the shopping route) through the Emporium.

Took this because it's Little Mermaid. Come to find it's a Sorcerers Kingdom play area later!

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

We got our cards and headed over to Frontierland/Liberty Square to play a little.

We took a break to walk on Splash Mountain twice.

Then it was time to do something I haven't done in a long time. So long I don't even remember. But Bill had been insisting on going here for like 3 trips so I granted his wish. We were on our way to Tom Sawyers Island.

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

Bill enjoyed shooting the guns and wandering the caves. I enjoyed the different views of the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. Win-Win.

Overall a fun experience. But not something that we must do every trip.

We had another go of Splash Mountain. Finally able to capture this hidden mickey.

Bill pointed it out like 2 trips ago but we always forget right after we see it that we want to take a picture.

Our Sorcerers Kingdom took us to Main Street. Where we HAD to stop in the Confectionery...

Freshly made caramel apples...

OK. So I'm sure everyone's keyboards are soaked with drool. Mine is. And suddenly my bowl of cereal was not enough for breakfast. I think a caramel apple would be part of a well balanced breakfast...

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

OK back outside for the Sorcerers Kingdom. I don't even remember what villain we were fighting. It wasn't Ursula...I'll tell you that.

We then decided to take the train from the front of the park to Fantasyland. It was time for lunch.

One of my favorite lunch spots:

I sent Bill to get the food while I found a window table to look out over MK. Started to get a little crowded.

FOOD. Shrimp and fries.

And a yummy apple crisp that I wish I had room to finish. I only had a bite or two.

At this point - Bill was ready for a nap. I wanted to go explore Art of Animation resort. Guess what we did...

Waiting for a bus...I love me some monorail action.

And then a bus for Art of Animation came! It took like 25 minutes for a bus. It was NOT helping my cause that about 3 POFQ buses came and went while we waited in line. Oops.

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

Inside the Art of Animation lobby...

I spy Ursula!

In the BIG...BLUE...POOOOOOOL

No seriously thats what it's called. Bill didn't believe me. He thought I was just obnoxiously adding words into Disney songs. Like I EVER do that....pshhhh

We decided to head left towards the Lion King Area. We had no idea where to go - we were just wandering.

Follow Ol' Rafiki...he knows the way!

ELEPHANT GRAVEYARD!

There must be a villain near...

YES! VILLAINS! WOO HOO!!! Wait a second...there are villains in this resort? And there is a Little Mermaid area? COULD IT BE? IS IT SHE? (sac me bleu! invaders! intruders! and they have the mirror! wrong movie.)

I decided to take the long route around the Little Mermaid area. Delaying the inevitable. Like...knowing the end of the story but reading anyway. Like seeing the treasure and still following the map. I WAS SO EXCITED.

THEN...I let myself stare.

MUWAHAHAHA. I AM THE RULER OF ALL THE OCEAN!

When I stay at AoA in March...I just may request a room so that when I step out - I see Ursula.

Needless to say...I loved this section.

One last look...

plaz10 · Nov 20, 2012

Onto the Nemo section...

And now I'm sure everyone wants to see the Cars area. Well here you go...

That's all the farther we went into it. We aren't big Cars fans. And we were hot and tired. Time to go back for a nap. A few parting pictures...

I actually think that's a very creative, cool name for a bar at a pool. I liked it.

Resort specific merch! Perhaps I'll buy some when I've actually stayed there.

PartOfYourWorld · Nov 20, 2012

plaz10 said:
HI JESS! Man...your name is awesome.

Heck ya it is

SSE is just my favorite structure ever built. It's so simple yet so beautiful. I'm obsessed - can't lie. I would much appreciate a SSE photoshoot on your (i'm so freaking jealous you'll be there again in less than 2 weeks) Thanksgiving trip. Actually Bill will be in Florida next week (Tampa) for med school residency interviews and he was teasing me that he was going to drive to Disney for a day to see all the Christmas stuff and take pictures. I was seriously angered. "You CANNOT see the Christmas decorations before me! You better not!" Haha ohhhh our love.

Okay, I promise a photoshoot of SSE just for you I'm going to go crazy with my new camera anyways so it's a perfect victim!! Muahahaha It's funny reading this knowing that there are Christmas decorations now up at Disney World when it feels like we were just there and it was Halloween...

I promise to put PORS in our rotation for a future trip. Bill really fell in love with POFQ so it will be hard to get him to stray...I'll work on him.

I don't blame him because POFQ is beautiful too! That's where we will be in less than 5 days!!!!

Disney Princesses. I'm not hating on them - but I don't LOVE them either. Belle, Ariel and Rapunzel are my girls. I can take or leave the rest. Villains though...love 'em all. OK I could do without Queen of Hearts. But the rest are pretty top notch. Disney PRINCES on the other hand...yummy. Yes I said YUMMY about cartoon characters. Flynn, Aladdin, Eric...in that order. Yep.

Okay I approve Ya the Queen of Hearts..never really my favorite either. Scar, Cruella, Dr. Facilier, and Ursula are my favorites. For some reason I've always loved Scar...weird. YEP BEST THREE LOOKING PRINCES "The Prince" looks like a pansy everytime I see him with Snow White

Ursula will DEFINITELY be coming home with me. I can't get enough Ursula love. I bought some Ursula tumbler cups at Target a few years ago - don't think I've ever actually used them - but it was something Ursula...had to have it! I paid a pretty penny for that Ursula shirt online...justifying that "How often do you see an Ursula shirt?" Often enough to see it in Villains in Vogue for $15 less. Ooops.

Okay good!!! If I see something with Ursula on it you know I'll be thinking of you! And I'll probably take a picture of it for you! lol.

Don't be mad...but I don't even like Tower of Terror. I like the way it LOOKS and the theme is great but the whole ups and downs - makes me sick. I sorry. I've ridden before and needed to sit for like 15-20 minute after to lose the sick feeling. But I'll send the camera with my sister and mom in March when they go ride while I do single rider RnRC. Eeek...

It's okay, I'm not mad you like my tower. It is not for everyone, but as long as you admire it's beauty I can live with that

I have to agree with your Crystal Palace breakfast, not the best. But still a fun place! ANd to get in the MK early! despite that stupid crane...don't worry it's been there everytime we've gone since January of 2008. So finally, I will be able to see it WITHOUT it and with Christmas decorations!!!!

Thanks for the pics of AoA!!!! I cannot wait to see that resort in person!!!!

Hurry up and post more before I go!!!

plaz10 · Nov 21, 2012

PartOfYourWorld said:
It's okay, I'm not mad you like my tower. It is not for everyone, but as long as you admire it's beauty I can live with that

I have to agree with your Crystal Palace breakfast, not the best. But still a fun place! ANd to get in the MK early! despite that stupid crane...don't worry it's been there everytime we've gone since January of 2008. So finally, I will be able to see it WITHOUT it and with Christmas decorations!!!!

Thanks for the pics of AoA!!!! I cannot wait to see that resort in person!!!!

Hurry up and post more before I go!!!

The jealousy of you seeing the Christmas decorations and not me is pouring out. Hahaha. I cannot wait to experience Christmas at Disney. Lots of Instagram pictures, please.

I wasn't going to post more today but...
#1 My boss left for the day and
#2 you asked.

plaz10 · Nov 21, 2012

September 17th continued...

We had to catch a bus - to EPCOT - then to POFQ. We went swimming for a bit then took a nap. Showered and dressed up...we caught a bus to MK.

Again - we weren't going to MK but wanted castle pics in our nice clothes since we were eating at California Grill this evening. Another first!

Of course...we get in and it starts raining. And I'm thinking...NO I WILL HAVE MY CASTLE PICTURES IN A DRESS.

So we waited it out.

Then it was off to Cali Grill. It has in my Disney book that we walked there - but I don't remember that. Maybe there was a long monorail line. That sounds right. Anyway...we arrived and went to check it and stuff. That resort hotel seems like NOBODY LIVES THERE. Like weird and not fun disney vacation at all. But I'm sure rooms that overlook MK are pretty sweet. I will probably not stay there until I can afford an MK view.

Moving on...

We get in and get a window seat - not a seat by the Castle though. Oh well. We could see Illuminations from our seats though.

FOOD. Appetizer we split the cheese plate.

You know what this trip taught me? I LOVE CHEESE PLATES. I love cheese in general (knew that a long time ago) but its so fun to pair it up with different stuff and the experience of trying it with Bill was just a really good time. I now scan all appetizer menus at restaurants to order the cheese plate. It's my new thing that makes me feel classy. Cheese. Yum.

plaz10 · Nov 21, 2012

I got the pork tenderloin w/goat cheese polenta.

SPEAKING OF CHEESE...goat cheese polenta is heavenly. I was so full like halfway through my plate - but I kept eating the polenta. Because it was so good. I could have eaten just the polenta and been happy. Again...Cheese = Delicious and Classy.

Bill got the veal chop. He loved it.

For dessert we split the chocolate sampler.

Chocolate "Whoopie Pies" as they call them but I hate that name. They're gobs.

Very dark picture of a chocolate/chili cupcake. Bill ate this.

Mint chocolate pudding or something. And in the background you can see the Buckeye (peanut butter ball) on a stick. I make these for Christmas every year so I thought it was just OK.

Off to the viewing area for Wishes

And I cried again. It was like the 3rd time I'd seen it and I still got teary? Disney makes me so emotional.

So when Wishes was done...we settled the bill (alcohol should be a DDP add on or something!) and we started walking to MK to get a bus.

WOAAAAAH Mr. Bus man who takes his job way too seriously says MK just closed (We were already at the bus area) and that we had to walk back to the Contemporary and catch a bus somewhere then go home from there. Bill was livid. And I was all "Oh ok Sir, sorry!" In retrospect...we should have just been like "we are going to guest services" or ya know...kept walking. He was on the other side of the bus gates. I don't think he was going to jump over the barriers to block our path.

Anyway - back to Contemporary to catch a bus to Downtown Disney (first one to come) where we actually did a little shopping. Then we did something we'd been wanting to do...catch the boat back to POFQ!

We boarded the boat and went home.

I went to bed. Bill stayed up to watch the end of the Atlanta v Denver football game because Bill was playing against someone in fantasy football who had Peyton Manning and the other guy needed like 20 points to beat Bill. Luckily P Manning sucked it up that night and Bill was victorious. (For those wondering...I had Matt Ryan but it didn't matter because I had already secured my victory. HOO RAH) (Another FF sidenote: I beat Bill last week by a margin of 1.46 points. Holla. For Reals)

Up Next: Our very first BOO to YOU!

PartOfYourWorld · Nov 21, 2012

How did you like the boat from Downtown Disney back to POFQ? I love it!!! One of the best things about that resort. Also, when we stayed in Feb over there, we had a semi-water view (it was like at an angle) but you could see the boats coming down the river and blowing their horns it was magical!

ndiniz · Nov 22, 2012

Joshua&CalebDad said:
As if anyone ever needed an excuse to watch P & F. You watch P & F and be proud. No one here is going to judge.

Heck yeah! Phineas & Ferb rock!

PolynesianPrincess · Nov 26, 2012

Isn't Cali Grill SUPER yummy?! We ate there in May and loved it. Sadly, I think it's going to be closed for renovations when we go in May so I think we're going to go for dinner one day after the cruise. I had the filet and it was awesome! Better than Le Cellier's I think! (Shocking, I know!! lol)

AOA looks really cool. If I had to stay at a value resort again, I'd stay there. I love the Disney theming. All Star Sports is nice but I'd take life sized Nemo's and Ariel's over life sized football helmets anyday!!

PolynesianPrincess · Nov 26, 2012

ndiniz said:
Heck yeah! Phineas & Ferb rock!

I won't lie.... I watch P&F from time to time if I stumble upon it scrolling through channels...

plaz10 · Nov 27, 2012

PartOfYourWorld said:
How did you like the boat from Downtown Disney back to POFQ? I love it!!! One of the best things about that resort. Also, when we stayed in Feb over there, we had a semi-water view (it was like at an angle) but you could see the boats coming down the river and blowing their horns it was magical!

I really liked the boat! Yeah it takes a while but its so relaxing. And I felt special that my resort had a boat to DtD. Water view room!! Very cool.

ndiniz said:
Heck yeah! Phineas & Ferb rock!

Because Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it allllllll! The show is definitely good to watch. I loved all the Perry stuff in the parks. I actually bought my sister a Perry shirt for when we go in March! (For it's her son that got me hooked on it!)

derelicte19 said:
Isn't Cali Grill SUPER yummy?! We ate there in May and loved it. Sadly, I think it's going to be closed for renovations when we go in May so I think we're going to go for dinner one day after the cruise. I had the filet and it was awesome! Better than Le Cellier's I think! (Shocking, I know!! lol)

AOA looks really cool. If I had to stay at a value resort again, I'd stay there. I love the Disney theming. All Star Sports is nice but I'd take life sized Nemo's and Ariel's over life sized football helmets anyday!!

derelicte19 said:
I won't lie.... I watch P&F from time to time if I stumble upon it scrolling through channels...

Cali Grill is fantastic. I thought that the service and food were better than Le Cellier. When we go on our girls trip in March we are only doing 1 sit down (Be Our Guest) since we only have 3 days in the parks. But I think dinner after the cruise sounds great! I've been trying to decide if I'm going to come down before the cruise or after...but isn't there some villain thing on Friday the 13th? That may be my deciding factor...

So much love for P&F! I really enjoyed the Agent P's adventure in WS. I think we did like 3 of them!

PolynesianPrincess · Nov 27, 2012

plaz10 said:
Cali Grill is fantastic. I thought that the service and food were better than Le Cellier. When we go on our girls trip in March we are only doing 1 sit down (Be Our Guest) since we only have 3 days in the parks. But I think dinner after the cruise sounds great! I've been trying to decide if I'm going to come down before the cruise or after...but isn't there some villain thing on Friday the 13th? That may be my deciding factor...

So much love for P&F! I really enjoyed the Agent P's adventure in WS. I think we did like 3 of them!

Hmmmm, I haven't heard anything about the villain thing but now I'm intruigued! lol

Yeah, we have to stay after the cruise and not before because my sister had to take her vacation as a whole week, M-F. So since she has to take the whole week we figure why fly home afterwards and do nothing when we can stay in Disney and ride fun rides and eat good food! haha. I think we're going to fly in on the 7th and fly home the next Sunday the 15th. Still not sure yet. We're hoping to stay at the Poly if funds will allow. If not then probably the Wilderness Lodge. You should totally stay AFTER the cruise too so we can have some park time togethaa!!!!!

Oh and PS - meant to point this out in my last reply.... sooooooo cheesey with the shirts!!

plaz10 · Nov 27, 2012

September 18th

Alarm at 7. Down for breakfast in the food court.

I had an egg and cheese croissant.

Bill had some beignets

Then to the bus for DHS!

We found our way back to...

Bill won. He got over 250,000 which I believe is the highest score either of us have ever had.

Should we ride Rock n Roller Coaster next??

WAIT A MINUTE...I LOVE THAT IDEA!

Rode with no wait. Absolutely love this ride.

plaz10 · Nov 27, 2012

I'm so rumbly...in my tumbly...time for something sweet!

Settled on this gem which is a snack of Disney lore...

The Carrot Cake Cookie.

Really freaking delicious. LOVED it. Cream cheese icing is my kryptonite.

We walked around a bit...

Then we decided to watch the Citizens of Hollywood for a little

Cute but not worth half an hour of Disney time.

We took the boat to EPCOT.

On the way...the clouds looked dark. Our boat pulled into Yacht and Beach Club like normal and the captain told us that he'd be staying docked there for there were reports of lightening in the area. So we could wait it our or walk. We decided to walk and hit up another Disney dining establishment for the first time...

Very tiny bakery! I thought with all the hype it would be bigger. Nope.

Sorry these next few pictures are bad...lots of condensation in there!

We decided on the Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake

It was pretty delicious. It's not going to upset the Red Velvet Cream Cheese for best cupcake ever but it was pretty good

plaz10 · Nov 27, 2012

Walking over to EPCOT...

THIS is the reason that Boardwalk has shot up to my #1 must day at resort - WALKING TO EPCOT. I mean I knew you could do it but I had never done it. Easy access to EPCOT? That's the way to my heart.

Tut Tut it looks like rain! So we headed to France to grab a snack and some shelter

We settled on this pizza looking thing.

And an apple tart

Clear Skies, Full Bellies...Can't Lose! A September 2012 Trip Report

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