The "Never Again in July - nunca mais em julho" Disneymoon Trip Report

7.7.12 - Our Wedding day went well, actually very well. It rained all morning and to our luck it stopped an hour and a half before our ceremony and the weather was perfect; reminiscent of a fall day in New England... a tad on the cloudy side, cool with no humidity. This IS not part of the TR but I figured some people were interested... so I wanted to share. I'm sure everyone is interested in what I look like, so bam... here's a couple quickies. The rest of the TR is coming... soon!

The best trip ever, and with the crowds and tour groups 11 days was money and we needed every bit of it.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Understandable. Glad you would go back though. And yes the only other place I've had steak is Texas Roadhouse and a few other places where I didn't like it at all. So really now, the only time I ever eat steak is when I go to Le Cellier anyways.

Did you happen to try one of those Waffle Sandwiches from Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom? I'm dying to try one of those.

Yes, if you can convince the boyfriend to take you somewhere nice for an anniversary or birthday, Abe and Louie's down by the Prudential is a top notch steak in Boston. You'll love it!

 

[ddbowdoin]

Totally agree with you about the shrimp and the Lapu Lapu. Husband can sit there and eat those shrimp (patiently peeling them) until I am ready to scream...loves them. And the Lapu Lapu....gasoline....yup, that's about what I thought too. Did not enjoy and did not finish. I wondered if I just got a bad one because all I could taste was alcohol and NOTHING else. Glad someone else feels the same way since this drink has become the stuff of legend on these boards.

The shrimp is wicked... peeling isn't too bad, plus when cooked with the shell on the shrimp retains more moisture and flavor.

In terms of the Lapu Lapu... I also thought maybe I got a bad mix, but no it's just really, really strong. I finished mine up, then finished what the wife couldn't put down and I was in cruise control. It also didn't help that I started carving out the inside of the pineapple and eating that as well!

 

[ddbowdoin]

I'm excited about trying the shrimp, and I'm glad that you said that about the Lapu Lapu before I tried it. It's kind of a legend around the boards, so I'm glad I didn't make a mistake lol.
Until then, brushing up on essential Portuguese phrases just in case I need them.

you should definitely still try it... I'm a beer drinker at home so I'm not an expert on mixed drinks.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I love the lotso vinylmation.

I wish he smelled of strawberries! haha

 

[PRNCSAurora]

Great trip report. Congratulations on your wedding and Disneymoon. I wanted to honeymoon in WDW, but DH was very anti-Disney at the time. I scammed a Disney anniversary the following year, which ended with DH asking "why we didn't go for our honeymoon."

 

[foreverbelle]

So I leave on vacation and come back to a great trip report! Amazingly fun and I am so thrilled that you got upgraded. I mean really how incredible is that.

I always feel like all I do is eat down there, which is amazing since I myself don't eat a whole lot...but I am loving your reviews, especially since Mama Melrose is a place we always bring up..

Ah yes the Brazilians. Yep I was just down there and I know what you are talking about it. You hit the nail on the head.

Your wedding looked amazingly beautiful-as did your wife. Congratulations and I can't wait to read more.

 

[ddbowdoin]

So I leave on vacation and come back to a great trip report! Amazingly fun and I am so thrilled that you got upgraded. I mean really how incredible is that.

I always feel like all I do is eat down there, which is amazing since I myself don't eat a whole lot...but I am loving your reviews, especially since Mama Melrose is a place we always bring up..

Ah yes the Brazilians. Yep I was just down there and I know what you are talking about it. You hit the nail on the head.

Your wedding looked amazingly beautiful-as did your wife. Congratulations and I can't wait to read more.

more to come... taking me longer than expected!

 

[foreverbelle]

more to come... taking me longer than expected!

I know what you mean, I got back in town Sunday night, I need to upload the pics and type up my report. But its getting back into work and all. I need to find time to start mine

 

[acrab3t]

Continuing on from my previous post on 7.9: the Brazillllllians

I know this is a controversial topic here, and that many threads end up getting locked, members being told their ignorant or prejudicial. I must admit, when I would read threads I often said "yeah, how bad could they really be?" Well, let me tell you something... they are downright AWFUL.

Once we soaked in the view, the room upgrade, the complimentary bottle of Disney exclusive champagne we changed our shoes, freshened up, and ran right into the MK. I mean, we were on a monorail resort! Although, we simple walked from the Tahiti building over to TTC, it was much quicker. We followed tradition, entered the MK to the right and went immediately to Adventureland and POTC. I immediately saw the yellow shirts, the flags, the blue shirts, again the flags. I knew we were in trouble. We're in line for POTC (and I must admit the crowds are too much in July) and the chanting began. POTC is one of those attractions where everything gets you into the mood, the music, the smell... and then it was all ruined by a ratpack of Brazilians chanting and banging on the wall, followed by screaming during the ride and about 200000 flash photos. All of this happened within the first 30 mins of being inside MK and our first ride of the day. I was NOT a happy camper. I spent all of this money to have to deal with these kids for 11 long days. We came across groups from Paraguay and Argentina and guess what, they were fine... it was the Brazilians who were chanting, linking arms at night so you couldn't cross, essentially groping each other. CM after CM chatted with me about how they felt Disney brass needed to do something about the groups, along with them admitting their loss figures (stolen goods) is the highest when the groups are in the park.

I Disneymooned in January 2011 and was mobbed by Brasilian kids too. Most of the time they were not bad, just loud, and yes, they like to cut in line . I was annoyed only a few times during our stay. I got a little annoyed exiting Epcot to go to the buses after Illuminations. A large crowd was trying to exit the one narrow gate and they started to chant. I will say that some of their group looked around and hushed them. They seemed aware that they were a bit rowdy and it was not appropriate. Another time was at the resort quick service, breakfast time. All I wanted was some hot chocolate and they were out! I was in a sea of Brasilian students fighting over beverages and was overwhelmed! A cast member noticed me (must have been my Minnie Bridal ears) and showed me a fresh urn of hot chocolate that the others didn't see. Phew!

All in all our honeymoon was just what we wanted. Our friends and family thought we were crazy for going to a "kid's" vacation destination. I would not trade our Disneymoon for any other honeymoon. It was truly magical. We are returning this January for our 2 year anniversary. This will be our 3rd trip in 3 years! Congrats on your wedding!

 

[ddbowdoin]

I Disneymooned in January 2011 and was mobbed by Brasilian kids too. Most of the time they were not bad, just loud, and yes, they like to cut in line . I was annoyed only a few times during our stay. I got a little annoyed exiting Epcot to go to the buses after Illuminations. A large crowd was trying to exit the one narrow gate and they started to chant. I will say that some of their group looked around and hushed them. They seemed aware that they were a bit rowdy and it was not appropriate. Another time was at the resort quick service, breakfast time. All I wanted was some hot chocolate and they were out! I was in a sea of Brasilian students fighting over beverages and was overwhelmed! A cast member noticed me (must have been my Minnie Bridal ears) and showed me a fresh urn of hot chocolate that the others didn't see. Phew!

All in all our honeymoon was just what we wanted. Our friends and family thought we were crazy for going to a "kid's" vacation destination. I would not trade our Disneymoon for any other honeymoon. It was truly magical. We are returning this January for our 2 year anniversary. This will be our 3rd trip in 3 years! Congrats on your wedding!

I feel your pain, and I agree... a lot of CM's noticed when we were mobbed and helped us find things / faster ways of getting what we need. They all gave me that look, "yeah... we know"

I wouldn't have traded anything for this disneymoon, it's amazing. We're also on a once-a-year pace, which is awesome!

 

[BlackCauldron]

Sounds about right. I had this exact experience in July 2009. My then-husband yelled at them to shut up. They laughed and said in plain English that they didn't speak English.

This same thing happened to me a few years back. We were in line, had 3 of them in front of us, and wouldn't you know it, the other 200 came rushing in to get their "saved" spots in line. We yelled at them and one of them said in plain English they didn't speak English. To which I replied "Good - then you wont understand me when I say you are a f----n ignorant b---h." Judging from the look on her face - I think she understood me.

Since then I avoid the Brazilian groups like the plague. I've been to Disney many many times and have seen/experienced many MANY tour groups, and the only ones I have ever seen cause trouble have been the Brazilians. What do they teach their children down there?????? They certainly do ruin the experience. The up side is that the CMs are well aware of this and, in general, are very accommodating. I've been stuck on many rides that these kids have ruined - and if you tell a CM when you get off the ride, they will generally let you go back again to have a better, quieter time.

And a quick note on the theft - I remember a CM in bell services told me once that the Brazilian groups stripped the hotel rooms CLEAN. Not just the requisite toiletries and towels, but the bed sheets, pillows, comforters and TOILET SEAT COVERS!!! So sad.

 

[psukardi]

Two questions & one comment.

Comment - Awesome trip report!

Questions

1. Do the Brazillians show up in October? I must have suppressed these memories out of my mind, but now I think I remember why my dad was so mad all those years ago in Disney.

2. Le Cellier - Would you say this is on par with a Mortons/Ruth's Chris or is it a notch below? I'm a bit of a foodie and while DC doesn't come close to NYC or probably Boston in terms of food; we hold our own.

 

[BlackCauldron]

Two questions & one comment.

Comment - Awesome trip report!

Questions

1. Do the Brazillians show up in October? I must have suppressed these memories out of my mind, but now I think I remember why my dad was so mad all those years ago in Disney.

2. Le Cellier - Would you say this is on par with a Mortons/Ruth's Chris or is it a notch below? I'm a bit of a foodie and while DC doesn't come close to NYC or probably Boston in terms of food; we hold our own.

We have a Mortons here in Chicago and it's fantastic. Foodie here as well and IMO, while Le Cellier is good, I don't think it quite comes up to the level Mortons does, and it is certainly not worth the 2 dining credits they have now moved to. If you do decide to do dinner here though, you MUST order the poutine.

For the last three years, I have gone at the end of September/first week of October, and I didn't see the Brazilians, although there were a handfull of other smaller groups. I seem to recall them coming in July/August.

 

[psukardi]

We have a Mortons here in Chicago and it's fantastic. Foodie here as well and IMO, while Le Cellier is good, I don't think it quite comes up to the level Mortons does, and it is certainly not worth the 2 dining credits they have now moved to. If you do decide to do dinner here though, you MUST order the poutine.

For the last three years, I have gone at the end of September/first week of October, and I didn't see the Brazilians, although there were a handfull of other smaller groups. I seem to recall them coming in July/August.

Good to know. I already have ADR at Le Cellier so I'll just temper my expectations and enjoy the atmosphere/evening. And yes, I've had poutine before so I'll be having it there as well.

 

[BlackCauldron]

Good to know. I already have ADR at Le Cellier so I'll just temper my expectations and enjoy the atmosphere/evening. And yes, I've had poutine before so I'll be having it there as well.

It's a good restaurant and the food is good quality. Personally, I think that Yachtman's offers the same (if not better) quality at a slightly lower price point, and it's much easier to get into. But if you have managed to snag a rezzie for Le Cellier, hang on to that sucker.

The poutine they have at dinner is good - but it's more of an upscale interpretation of what poutine should be rather than what it traditionally is. If you go in expecting the traditional version, you may be a little dissapointed, but it's a really good version in its own right.