Love Bugs, Little ones, and one heck of an Upgrade

Just got back from the world celebrating our anniversary and our youngests' first trip. It was wonderful! We planned this trip since last December, and it was up and down all the way, but we pulled it off. There's me, 40 year old chef, beautiful wife Joanna, oldest (13) Lexi, (10) Nicki, (9) Sal, and princess (6) Taylor. Our anniversary was Sept. 13, and when I got home from work, dinner was made, Mickey table cloth and plates set, and then this!

I have wanted one for years, now I have one. Up at 7am next day, wednesday, to the airport, right through security, and off to the wrong gate. It took me an hour to realize this, duh! Two hours later, and we are in Orlando.

 

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A quick trip to LwtL. I love seeing all the plnats and how they grow all that stuff.

 

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Now i got yelled at for the above picture. I stood up, and before I knew, over the loud speaker, "please sit down!" How in the heck did they see me so fast? Oh well, lets hoof it over the Le Chefs de France and try classical french cuisine.

 

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A twenty minute wait, and now its time to eat. The place was not what I expected at all. It was rather old and dirty. The bathrooms were the worst on property! Our waiter was terrible, always waiting for this and for that. Drinks for the kids were only one! One beverage for a kid? Really! Well, lets move on to the food pics and review.

 

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My french onion soup. Tasted like dirty water with crunchy onions, dried cheese on top. Just horrible. This was the start of a bad dinner.

My wife's lobster bisque, Really bland, no flavor what so ever.

My braised short ribs in cabernet. Now most times I have shortribs, there is a bone, not so with this, and pieces of meat were rather large, as if they used a chuck roast and cut it up. Once again, very bland, maybe two mushroom slice and one onion. Verdict. Crap!!!!!

Ah yes, the signature dish of mac n cheese gruyere! Lets take some pasta, put a little bit of cream in it, and cover it with gruyere cheese and bake. It was like eating raw noodles with dried out cheese on top. Its supposed to be creamy. Send the chef back to school!! This place nos dived it hard.

My daughter dried out salmon. Could pick it up like a piece of toast. Once again, you guessed it, no seasoning. Send me off to the retirement home.

Sals beef burger. Well they got this right, as in the sense it was beef, and a brioche bun. I tried one of his fries, slimy greasy crap. Cant this place get anything right?
So we sent it all back, got the manager, and had our meals put back on our card so we could eat some where else on our last night instead of them trying to redo a disaster. Lets at least try dessert though.

Creme brulee. eecckkks

The strawberry was good.

profiterols, my girls loved these. And yes, they were pretty good.

 

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Nothing screams french cuisine more than a chocolate chip cookie!!!

Can't mess this one up.
So now that were all infuriated, the kids decide to skip ROE, and just head back to the hotel and swim. I was a little bummed, but heck, at least I will miss the crowds and the lines. I'm ready to hit the hot tub and drink a few beers.

My try at retro. I think it would look great on a t-shirt.

 

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Now here comes a really great surprise, of which I should have taken credit for to get points from my wife for being romantic and spontaneous.

This was sent to our room from the Grand Floridian. I could have so easily taken credit for it, but knowing my luck, something would have popped up to implicate me, plus my wife knows better. So lets hit the pool and drink this bottle!

I love these robes. Where else can you wear a robe in public and be comfortable.

 

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Man, does that water make me look fat.

Rise and shine, time for animal kingdom. I love waking up to the monorail out my door everyday.

 

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Great job on your TR - cant wait to see the rest of your pics!

 

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Sorry everyone for taking so long, but it's holiday season and that's my busy time, so on with the show.
More room pics and then off to AK, which we plan on getting wet at because of Kali Rapids.

Looking like another beautiful day, great weather, and yes, my beautiful girls.

 

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GIANT ANT!!!!!!!!

I love the qeue here. So many animals to find.

 

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Dork alert.

What a fantastic show. All effects were working. My kids really like this show, as I did as well. Now it's off to dinoland for a brief visit. Dinosaur, and gone, because Primeval whirl did not open as planned. One of our favorites because of the stupid spinnning.

 

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They sure look happy to go back in time and get ate by dinos! not me.

 

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And now for Finding Nemo, a great musical!

I love these signs on the way, but don't worry, this is the only one I will show.

 

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Let's celebrate! We found nemo

Let's go find a Yeti!

I think he's over there somewhere.

 

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Enough pictures dad, can we just get in line already. Jeesh.

So we got FP's for later, but the line was only 20 mins, so lets do it now.

 

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My favorite t-shirt, and now they finally sell it!

What a view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never seen the bird, does he ever work?

 

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Well, it looks like the weather is about to change, here comes the rain, but let's hurry up and get some food first, then off to Kali Rapids, where we are going to get wet anyway.

Sweet n sour chicken, mandarin orange beef, egg roll, Asian chicken sandwich, and pork fried rice. All pretty good. Wash it down with a beer and a Yak Attack, and have a stroll in the rain.

 

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Kali Rapids, a long line due to the rain. I think everyone thought the same thing we did, were already wet, so who cares if we get even more wet.

Hey look, Mr.Attitude showed up, with a smile.

This is a really well themed qeue. Show much detail. Between Kali and Everest, I think these are the two best themed qeues on WDW property.

 

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Now this was an adventure, as we rode with a man from down under. A big burly man who like to have fun, so he made the ride that much better. Joking with everyone in the raft, making fun of himself, and nailing the ending, saying he and the ones next to him, my girls, would end up soaked, and they did. Still raining, and everyone wanting to get somewhat dry, we decide to skip the safari and head to the Lion King, as no on e has seen this except for me and the wife, so let's hoof it. Man time is flying today, half day park my , or at least not with four in tow.

Just a little monkey business.

 

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The Tree of Life with nobody around.

Daddy, aren't I cute even though I'm soaking wet?

And the opposite, screw you, I'm wet and unhappy.