Pre-Trip Report Oct 31-Nov 4

Good Day!

This is my first post here, so... hello. :wave:

First, a little about my crew....

Justin [Me] - 27 Year old, former disney cast member (it was my first job, I worked at the outdoor hot dog cart outside of Pecos Bill Cafe in 98-99). I have been working in IT for the past few years and am about to graduate from the Law Enforcement Academy (which is why we're going to Disney, a celebration). Needless to say, having worked at the Kingdom and grown up IN orlando... I'm a Disney veteran

Danielle [The Loving Wife] - 24 years old, degree in creative writing ... and (as we found out today!) ... pregnant with our second child! Also spent some time in Orlando throughout high school (She sung in the Candlelight Processional 3 or 4 times)... She counts as a vet as well.

Mackenzie [My princess] - 2 years old. Been to Disney 7 or 8 times already. The grandparents keep taking her since she's free right now.

I mean... just look at this ... how could she be happier? [This was taken during her first visit, outside of the Crystal Palace]

Here's the family photo from Animal Kingdom...

Now, onto the new trip. I graduate from LEA on the 26th of October and we'll be taking a (MUCH needed) vacation to Orlando. We'll be driving down from Tallahassee on Friday the 30th and staying with my mother and father in law at the Shades of Green Resort that night. The next morning, we will check into our resort, the Pop Century, and head over to our 9:20 am reservation for the Crystal Palace Breakfast. I'm a sucker for good waffles.

Our Itinerary is as follows:

Saturday Oct 31 - Magic Kingdom with the Crystal Palace Buffet at 9:20 am
Sunday Nov 1 - Hollywood Studios
Monday Nov 2 - Epcot with reservations for the Princess Storybook Lunch and dinner at the Garden Grill in the Land. (the Garden Grill is for me. I love that place)
Tuesday Nov 3 - Animal Kingdom as well as Chip and Dale's campfire singalong at Fort Wilderness
Wednesday Nov 4 - Magic Kingdom again, ending it with a nice bang of the Wishes show

Since I've been several times and the wife has been a few times as well, we're trying to see things we haven't really experienced before... like the campfire singalong, tom sawyer's island, etc. If you have any suggestions for little known fun, let me know... I've got 30something days left to get this planning done.

Luckily my parents paid for the resort and my wife's parents paid for the tickets... as a graduation present for me. Talk about a sweet deal!

-Monkey-

 

[foreverbelle]

Well first off congratulations on graduating. What an awesome present I must say, not only a trip to Disney but the addition of your family. I must say you have a lot of celebrating to do!

Your plan sounds great. I have never been to the Garden Grill but we are hoping to hit it up the next go around in February.

Your daughter is adorable!

Have a great trip and enjoy your celebrations!

 

[monkeysammich]

Thanks, Belle.

We went to the Garden Grill on our last trip... and the family style dining and the absolute freshness of the vegetables does it for me. Sure, there's characters... but that roast beef and those green beans are where it's at. I highly recommend getting a reservation for your next trip.

Now off to read other people's reports so I can get even -more- enthused for the trip.

 

[LovingDisney]

Congrats.
Are you planning on doing MNSSHP? Although it is already sold out for 10/31 if you didn't get your tickets. We went in 2007 and loved it.
Your daughter is adorable.

 

[monkeysammich]

Not doing the MNSHHP this year. We just didn't think it was in the cards... but that was before we found out that we are getting this thing paid for. By the time I had the opportunity to get tickets, they sold out on the 31st.

Oh well. Maybe next year!

 

[corey154]

Congrats on your new pregnancy and your graduation!!! (i'm very proud to say i'm married to a law enforcement officer)

Have fun on your vaca!!!

 

[monkeysammich]

Just booked a table for 3 for the Wishes Dessert Party... told the CM that we're celebrating the new baby and she is going to have them announce it to the restaurant. :lol:

 

[foreverbelle]

Just booked a table for 3 for the Wishes Dessert Party... told the CM that we're celebrating the new baby and she is going to have them announce it to the restaurant. :lol:

Awesome.

Btw way. The Garden Grill..does it serve things other than beef- I am allergic to beef and pork...

 

[monkeysammich]

Awesome.

Btw way. The Garden Grill..does it serve things other than beef- I am allergic to beef and pork...

Here's the selection that I was able to pull up:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Oatmeal Cluster Rolls with Honey Butter [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Land Greenhouse Salad with Buttermilk Ranch and Double Smoked Dressing
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grilled Salt and Pepper Flank Steak [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Roasted All Natural Turkey Bresat with Cranberry-Orange Relish[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Seasonal Fish of the Day [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cornbread Stuffing, Potatoes, Garden Fresh Vegetables[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Freshly Baked Harvest Fruit Buckle

[/FONT]

And they have no problem not bringing anything you choose to your table... My wife and I don't really dig fish...and we never saw any all evening.

 

[catherinesmith8]

My husband is an EXTREMELY picky eater and we went to the Garden Grill on our last trip in January 2009. They brought the food out all on one platter and he was grossed out that the potatoes touched the meat and so on. Also, the catfish was not our favorite at all. What about Biergarden in Epcot? Good for kids (since it is noisy) and a buffet so lots of variety???

 

[monkeysammich]

We enjoyed it... and the platter style meals don't bother me (as long as fish doesnt touch anything I eat!)

The meal is really mroe for me... and the best pictures we have from Epcot with my daughter are all from the characters at the Grill... it seems to have some of the best character interactions. (Though my wife was almost ready to punch Chip for being a little too friendly with me).

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Congrats on baby #2 and your upcoming trip!
have a wonderful time!

 

[monkeysammich]

Thanks, DisneyPrincess5!

Also, your signature brings up a good story. After we left from our last trip to the Magic Kingdom... My wife suprised me back at home with a monorail shirt... picture of the monorail and the spanish "please stand clear of the doors" on it.

I love it.

The wife supports my disney addiction

 

[monkeysammich]

Just an Update...

We'll be driving down to Orlando from Tallahassee on Friday the 30th. We will be staying with my wife's parents in their room at the Shades of Green resort. We made reservations (based on the overwhelming opinion of this forum) at Kona Cafe for Friday evening to kick off the festivities.

If it takes much longer to get to Disney I may end up going broke on these ADRs.