FINAL UPDTD 8/16 - The "Don't mess with the CMs/take less photos TR" Jun14 @ BWV

[KatMark]

Are you done? No, really...are you done? Every time I started to write a reply, you'd type another update. Here I'm trying to remember what you wrote and you just kept throwing more at us.

I hear you on the days until the next trip and getting this one done. I have 40 days until my trip and still have four days left on the girls TR to get done and I'm writing a PTR for the September trip.

Okay...let's see what I can remember.

I'm with you...I'll sit out Space Mountain; I'll do it for the girls if I have to, but Mark (especially after his neck surgery) will not do it.

So you wouldn't recommend Pinocchio's for lunch? I'm not a Pecos Bills fan, but love Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Rays.

Cute pictures on the Tea Cups. The photos on Splash Mountain had me

We've not see that parade in I don't know how long. I definitely do NOT want to miss it in September. That is awesome that the CM wouldn't let the people stop in front of you. They should do that all the time.

Oh...the Mine Train. I agree...very smooth.

And I'm with you...LOVED Be Our Guest for dinner. We've eaten there three times and enjoyed it each and every time.

Beautiful castle pictures of the castle show.

Okay...I can't remember any more. I think I did pretty good though.

 

[annmarieda]

Oh my goodness!!!! You have been updating. I understand though. It is kinda terrifying when you have a TR that you are still writing and a trip right around the corner.

Rope drop - I have missed the ceremony more times than I have caught it. It is funny how crowded it all seems then and after you are let in how it thins out.
I loved your commentary on Mickey and Minnie and.... Elsa

Space Mountain - I can do once... and then I am done. It is just to jostling. I anticipate at some point even once will be too much for me.

Buzzlight year - I am so very sorry to hear that your unbeaten streak has been broken. I hope you recovered from shedding that one lonely tear.

IASW - Such lovely pictures!!!

Village Haus - I can't remember how long it has been since I have at there. I think it just is never very appealing to me. Your review does not make it more so...

Haunted Mansion - Again with the awesome pictures!!!

SDMT - I am so jealous that you have rode this! I can't wait!!!!

Splash Mountain - That is hilarious that the people behind you did the same pose!! Way to be a trend setter!

BOG - I would be among those who have not had the best experience for dinner there. However I will say the food there is really good as is the theming so it kinda made up for the rest of the dinner.

Electrical Parade - You must have had a good spot. Your pictures are so clear!

Castle Show and Wishes - That was a pretty nice spot. It was nice that the cm shoo'd people away for you! Great pics too

 

[saintstickets]

Are you done? No, really...are you done? Every time I started to write a reply, you'd type another update. Here I'm trying to remember what you wrote and you just kept throwing more at us.

When I get started on something, it's hard for me to stop!!

I hear you on the days until the next trip and getting this one done. I have 40 days until my trip and still have four days left on the girls TR to get done and I'm writing a PTR for the September trip.

I decided not to do a PTR on our October trip. It's hard enough to keep up reading everyone's TR! I might post an itinerary a few days before we leave.

I'm with you...I'll sit out Space Mountain; I'll do it for the girls if I have to, but Mark (especially after his neck surgery) will not do it.

Why can't our bodies be in better shape when we're older and experienced instead of when we are young and foolish?!?

So you wouldn't recommend Pinocchio's for lunch? I'm not a Pecos Bills fan, but love Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Rays.

Pinocchio's is okay but I prefer Peco's and Cosmic Rays. We've never eaten at CHH. I might just have to try it this next trip.

Cute pictures on the Tea Cups. The photos on Splash Mountain had me

You gotta have a coordinated plan for ride pics!!

We've not see that parade in I don't know how long. I definitely do NOT want to miss it in September. That is awesome that the CM wouldn't let the people stop in front of you. They should do that all the time.

It was a first for us. Usually they just ignore what's going on but not this one. I just wish I had caught her name so I could tell Disney how great she was!

Oh...the Mine Train. I agree...very smooth.

Probably the smoothest coaster ride in WDW but I repeat, why no pics?!?!

And I'm with you...LOVED Be Our Guest for dinner. We've eaten there three times and enjoyed it each and every time.

Disney did this one right without a doubt!!

Beautiful castle pictures of the castle show.

Thanks. It wasn't bad for where we were.

 

[saintstickets]

Oh my goodness!!!! You have been updating. I understand though. It is kinda terrifying when you have a TR that you are still writing and a trip right around the corner.

Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go go go and get this one done before the next one arrives!!

Rope drop - I have missed the ceremony more times than I have caught it. It is funny how crowded it all seems then and after you are let in how it thins out.
I loved your commentary on Mickey and Minnie and.... Elsa

Ole Mick had me worried for a while but he's a stand up guy and came through!

Space Mountain - I can do once... and then I am done. It is just to jostling. I anticipate at some point even once will be too much for me.

If I could just see and anticipate the curves I would be okay but it's too dark.

Buzzlight year - I am so very sorry to hear that your unbeaten streak has been broken. I hope you recovered from shedding that one lonely tear.

It was a life altering experience. I hope I recover soon.

IASW - Such lovely pictures!!!

Great subject matter...so-so photog but they turned out okay.

Village Haus - I can't remember how long it has been since I have at there. I think it just is never very appealing to me. Your review does not make it more so...

It's okay but other options for us are more appealing.

Haunted Mansion - Again with the awesome pictures!!!

See previous pic comment!

SDMT - I am so jealous that you have rode this! I can't wait!!!!

I was really pleased. I hope to slow down a bit in the pre-ride queue when we return in October to see all it has to offer.

Splash Mountain - That is hilarious that the people behind you did the same pose!! Way to be a trend setter!

Well....they were doing it...I was just hanging on!

BOG - I would be among those who have not had the best experience for dinner there. However I will say the food there is really good as is the theming so it kinda made up for the rest of the dinner.

I hope you give it another chance. We've been very well pleased both times.

Electrical Parade - You must have had a good spot. Your pictures are so clear!

See previous pic comment and add lots of post-photo editing!

Castle Show and Wishes - That was a pretty nice spot. It was nice that the cm shoo'd people away for you! Great pics too

A bit of pixie dust to end the night always makes for a great day!

 

[MEK]

Wow - that really was a holy mega update!

OK - jealous of your POC pics!

Love the pictures of your two favorites ladies. They are adorable!

A+ for BOG! I would say you really maxed out the rating. Glad you loved it so much. Cute picture of everyone with the Beast.

Yay for 3 FP's to BTMMR.

Great parade pictures and yay to the CM who helped you keep your spots for Wishes. Nice!

 

[natebenma]

Trying to get caught up...

June 2:

Nice start with breakfast at Starring Rolls.

Your pictures on the Great Movie Ride are pretty darned good!

I really would like to do the Animation Academy someday. My family is not interested in the least.

Glad you were able to get a ride on TSM in.

My boys really love the Sci-Fi. It is one of their must-dos. I have learned to stick to the burgers or Reuben (the shrimp pasta there is the single nastiest thing I have ever eaten at Disney).

We never got a drivers license, and in fact I have never even seen one posted. We have only been seated at the tables, never in a car. The first time was because the restaurant lost our reservation and we otherwise would have had a long wait, but the other times we have dined there, a table has ben our choice.

What a nice surprise for the ladies!!!

I may need to see if the cronut is still around next week.

Thanks for the review on Shula's. On the bucket list to take my steak-loving teen.

 

[natebenma]

Caught up!!!

June 3:

EE- Too funny that you have the same expression in both ride photos! I had to go back and make sure it wasn't the same picture.

I think the Safari and trails are my favorite things at AK (well, when EE is down all day due to overuse)

It has been awhile since I have been on Kali- not my choice though- assorted circumstances.

So sorry you didn't see DeVine. I would have loved to see the pictures. Hey, does anyone know if HeVine is still around? Haven't heard or seen any pictures lately.

Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts about La Nouba.




October 4 (June 4): Back to the Future
(check the date on your update)

Glad you were able to catch the Welcome Show. My family of early risers has seen it more times than not.

I love the drama you created between Mickey, Minnie and Elsa. It looks like Elsa is giving Mickey the cold shoulder, but I don't know if that is a sign of affection or not, if you know what I mean!

Peter Pan

Absolutely fantastic pictures on Haunted and Pirates!

Too bad about the lack of pictures on Mine Train.

I cracked up at the others on Splash getting in on your ride pic poses!



MMMMMMMmmmmmm! BOG- your meals look awesome. I would love that salad trio, beets and all.

The curious must ask- what were the FP for BTM, since the legacy FP no longer exist. Were they something the people were given as part of a DVC tour, or because something had gone down or wrong earlier in their week?

I really miss being able to pass along some Fast Pass pixie dust when you have extras you can't use.

Great pictures of the parade, the projection show and the beginning of Wishes!

For those of you (and you know who you are) with a light fetish

When we were in DL, I took pictures of light fixtures for just such a person and my family wondered why I was taking pictures of lights. I said "For a friend"

 

[MidnightParade]

Wow! It's MEGA update!!!! Yay!!!!

No pics on 7DMT but I have heard a rumour that ride pics will be going into Haunted Mansion when it goes down for refurb in November/December! Kinda bummed it won't be before our trip but a nice excuse to go back.

Speaking of my trip I just saw your 10/5 to 10/11 dates in Andrea's PTR! Thats pretty much almost the same as our trip! So if you see some random 30 something woman staring at you it might be me....or just some other woman staring at you for some reason

Happy you got to see the Welcome Show finally! Your commentary of Mickey and Minnie and Elsa is hilarious and I am now going to think about when I see Mickey or Elsa!

That Splash Mountain pic was fantastic!! Actually both of them were pretty great!

Oh and happy to hear you are feeling better/almost recovered from being sick!

 

[khertz]

What a great MK day!! I'm so ready to get to experience 7DMT. Great pics in there, and in HM!!

 

[saintstickets]

Wow - that really was a holy mega update!

No sense in doing anything half way!

OK - jealous of your POC pics!

I received my new Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens today and I can't wait to try it on POC and other rides in October!

Love the pictures of your two favorites ladies. They are adorable!

I kinda like 'em a lot too....After this long, I guess I'll keep 'em!

A+ for BOG! I would say you really maxed out the rating. Glad you loved it so much. Cute picture of everyone with the Beast.

Our experience at BOG the 2 times we have been was so good, I wouldn't mind going again in October but because DS1 is going with us, I'll spare him and go somewhere else!

Yay for 3 FP's to BTMMR.

That's the thing I miss most about paper FP...you get to give unused ones to strangers and see the appreciative look on their face. I hope the man that gave us the BTMRR FP saw the look on ours!

Great parade pictures and yay to the CM who helped you keep your spots for Wishes. Nice!

I still kick myself for not getting her name. Dummy here could have used his camera and zoomed in on her name tag but then that might seem a bit creepy if she saw me!!

 

[saintstickets]

Trying to get caught up...

June 2:

Nice start with breakfast at Starring Rolls.

It's a good place for a quick breakfast when at DHS

Your pictures on the Great Movie Ride are pretty darned good!

Still trying to learn how to use this "fancee" camera with all the buttons, doohickeys and thingamabobs on it. Maybe one day I'll get the hang of it.

I really would like to do the Animation Academy someday. My family is not interested in the least.

We tried it for the first time last October. This trip was our 2nd time. I think it just might become a regular for us.

Glad you were able to get a ride on TSM in.

It's a must-do ride at DHS!

My boys really love the Sci-Fi. It is one of their must-dos. I have learned to stick to the burgers or Reuben (the shrimp pasta there is the single nastiest thing I have ever eaten at Disney).

We never got a drivers license, and in fact I have never even seen one posted. We have only been seated at the tables, never in a car. The first time was because the restaurant lost our reservation and we otherwise would have had a long wait, but the other times we have dined there, a table has been our choice.

This was a first time visit for us and we were at the table, not in a car. It wasn't our choice, just where they put us. I was pleasantly surprised at the food and will go back again.

What a nice surprise for the ladies!!!

It's how us Mississippi boys are raised...gotta put those women on a pedestal...besides, if mama ain't happy....

I may need to see if the cronut is still around next week.

I hope you get a fresh, hot one. Cold pizza is okay. Cold fried fish is even tolerable. A cold cronut is not acceptable!

Thanks for the review on Shula's. On the bucket list to take my steak-loving teen.

It was good but someone told me that Morton's is even better so I've got it on my bucket list the next time I get a chance.

June 3:

EE- Too funny that you have the same expression in both ride photos! I had to go back and make sure it wasn't the same picture.

You can only do "hang on for dear life" expression one way!

I think the Safari and trails are my favorite things at AK (well, when EE is down all day due to overuse)

We've been on it so many times and even have done the Wild Africa Trek but we still have to do it every time we are in AK.

It has been awhile since I have been on Kali- not my choice though- assorted circumstances.

If KRR was as long as the comparable ride at Universal, this would be the best ride in all of WDW. It is just way too short.

So sorry you didn't see DeVine. I would have loved to see the pictures. Hey, does anyone know if HeVine is still around? Haven't heard or seen any pictures lately.

I read somewhere that HeVine is no longer around. Maybe the job became stale and he grew out of it?

Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts about La Nouba.

We went on DSiL's request and I am glad we did. It is something we will do again in a couple of years.

October 4 (June 4):
Glad you were able to catch the Welcome Show. My family of early risers has seen it more times than not.

I love the drama you created between Mickey, Minnie and Elsa. It looks like Elsa is giving Mickey the cold shoulder, but I don't know if that is a sign of affection or not, if you know what I mean!

One never knows what might happen these days. But hey Mickey, you've been with Minnie way too long to let some good looking young Princess catch your eye! Don't be a rat and get swayed by that gorgeous long blonde hair, those piercing blue eyes, the curvaceous figure and that regal air about her. On second thought...

Absolutely fantastic pictures on Haunted and Pirates!

Thanks. I'm learning bit by bit how to take pics.

Too bad about the lack of pictures on Mine Train.

See future post...it appears that might be changing!

I cracked up at the others on Splash getting in on your ride pic poses!

Just a bunch of trendsetters in my posse!

MMMMMMMmmmmmm! BOG- your meals look awesome. I would love that salad trio, beets and all.

Great meal!

The curious must ask- what were the FP for BTM, since the legacy FP no longer exist. Were they something the people were given as part of a DVC tour, or because something had gone down or wrong earlier in their week?

I'm not sure how they had the paper FP but we were grateful.

I really miss being able to pass along some Fast Pass pixie dust when you have extras you can't use.

Ditto. The look at first when you try to hand them to someone is "who is this strange person and why are they talking to me" but then they'd realize what you were offering and the change of expression is great!

Great pictures of the parade, the projection show and the beginning of Wishes!

Thank you ma'am. I think on our next trip I'll try taking pictures from a different place.

When we were in DL, I took pictures of light fixtures for just such a person and my family wondered why I was taking pictures of lights. I said "For a friend"

Same here...they know who they are!!

 

[saintstickets]

Wow! It's MEGA update!!!! Yay!!!!

Hang on...another is coming your way soon!

No pics on 7DMT but I have heard a rumour that ride pics will be going into Haunted Mansion when it goes down for refurb in November/December! Kinda bummed it won't be before our trip but a nice excuse to go back.

I haven't heard that about HM. It's so dark I'm not sure where they will take the picture. As for 7DMT, it appears they are going to add a ride picture. Read on for the info I found.

Speaking of my trip I just saw your 10/5 to 10/11 dates in Andrea's PTR! Thats pretty much almost the same as our trip! So if you see some random 30 something woman staring at you it might be me....or just some other woman staring at you for some reason

Do I hear a possible DISmeet?!?! I'm used to random women staring at me...and men and children and animals. Maybe I should stop acting cray cray all the time? I think it's the upturned brim of my hat!

Happy you got to see the Welcome Show finally! Your commentary of Mickey and Minnie and Elsa is hilarious and I am now going to think about when I see Mickey or Elsa!

I just hope Mickey isn't becoming a dirty old man...I don't need the competition!

That Splash Mountain pic was fantastic!! Actually both of them were pretty great!

We kinda march to the beat of our own drummer or maybe it's just the voices we hear in our head?

Oh and happy to hear you are feeling better/almost recovered from being sick!

It was touch and go there for a while. I tried to take advantage and get lots of TLC from DW but she didn't fall for it. I think she knows me too well!

 

[saintstickets]

What a great MK day!! I'm so ready to get to experience 7DMT. Great pics in there, and in HM!!

It really was a nice day. I'm sure your little one will love 7DMT!

 

[saintstickets]

Time for another update!!

Thursday – June 5, 2014

We were looking forward to today. Not only are we staying close to home by visiting EPCOT, we are also meeting fellow DISboarder KatMark! But as the poet Robert Burns wrote, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men, Gang aft agley”, or the non-Scottish version – “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. DW woke up with a migraine. For those of you that have followed my previous TR’s, this is nothing new. At least once during any vacation we have she gets a migraine. Sometimes they are manageable, sometimes the whole day is spent in bed and sometimes we are trying to find an ER. We were supposed to meet KatMark early this morning but I had to text her and tell her we weren’t going to make it. Sighhhhh. We were really looking forward to another DISmeet! Kat was very gracious in her response and we vowed to try again in the future. Meanwhile, DW pulled out her pharmaceutical bag and took an Imitrex shot and went back to bed. After a couple of hours, I was debating on whether or not to tell DD and DSiL to go on without us when DW emerged from her cocoon. Fortunately, this migraine was one of the manageable kind. It doesn’t go away but you can tolerate it as long as it doesn’t get any worse. The first thing we usually do is get some food and if she can keep that down, she can normally function on some level. We debated on whether to get something at the Boardwalk Bakery but DW said she wanted to try to make it to here



We took our time getting there…no power walks today and the weather cooperated this morning as it wasn’t too hot. Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie has become one of our go-to breakfast places at least one morning each trip. They open up at 9:00am instead of the 11:00am for the rest of WS (although that was not a factor this day for us). We got a ham & cheese croissant, quiche Florentine and 2 quiche Lorraine along with iced cappuccinos, water and orange juice. After trying it last trip, I did not try the mimosa this time! Here is what we had



If you haven’t tried Boulangerie for breakfast, lunch, snacks or their many dessert choices, you really should try it. The most expensive thing on the menu is their macaroon collection at $10.33 and most items are $3 to $7. I would give this a solid

B+ or maybe even an A-

The only drawback is limited seating. Don’t expect a restaurant atmosphere either but the food is worth the visit.

I’m sure other park guests were wondering if we were going to camp out at our table all day long but we were taking it very slow and easy to avoid any migraine flare ups. It is now around 11:00 and we have already missed our 1st FP+ at Journey into Imagination. We have our 2nd FP+ at Soarin’ at 10:55am. DW proclaims she is doing better so we take a leisurely walk in that direction. A few pics along the way















(Continued in next post)

 

[saintstickets]

(Continued from previous post)

We barely made it in time to Soarin’ and as usual, we LOVE this ride! The manufactured breeze to simulate hang gliding, the aromas of oranges, evergreens and the sea and the majesty of the scenery always amazes me.

Side note here…

A new version of Soarin’ for Disneyland was filmed in March, 2014 and there is a rumor that a new film for EPCOT Soarin’ is in the process with scenes from around the world instead of just California like the current film. In addition, there is some construction work behind EPCOT Soarin’ that is rumored to be a 3rd theater that will allow more passengers with less wait times. Supposedly, this will all come to fruition sometime next year. I sure hope so!

Another side note - As most of you know, if you purchase Memory Maker (previously called Photo Pass) and have a My Disney Experience account and Magic Bands, your ride photos will automatically link to your account and you do not have to stop at the video queue after each ride. Previously you had to let the CM scan your PhotoPass card to insure your ride photo was saved to your online account. During this trip in June, a new feature with the Magic Bands began that automatically posts any ride photo to your Memory Maker account. You must have it all linked on the MDE website to make this happen. As a precaution, I wrote down the photo number for each ride photo in case there was a glitch in this new system. You could also take a redneck photo of the post ride video screen with your cellphone that shows the photo number as well. I’m glad we did because one ride photo was missing. I contacted Memory Maker online, gave them the ride photo number, the date, the ride, the approximate time and what we were wearing and within a day or two, the pic was added to our account online.

In a related matter, a rumor has been confirmed that starting August 12, 2014, the Tower of Terror will have on-ride videos available. Here are the details…

Guests with a MagicBand linked to the Memory Maker photo package will begin receiving a souvenir onboard video at the Tower of Terror.

Beginning today, the Tower of Terror attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios is the first at Walt Disney World to offer on-ride videos as part of the new MyMagic+ system. More attractions are expected to follow, with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Haunted Mansion strongly tipped to get the on-board photo and video experience.

After riding, those guests with a MagicBand and a linked Memory Maker photo package should expect to see their videos online at My Disney Experience within 24 hours of riding. The video is captured, edited, and uploaded to the guest's My Disney Experience account automatically - all driven from the MagicBand and RFID readers in the attraction.

The on-ride video is not available to any guests not wearing a MagicBand with a linked Memory Maker account.

To support the above reference to the SDMT ride video, a light has been seen flashing at night on this ride that indicates a picture of some kind is being added to this ride. Woohoo!! Maybe they heard me complaining loud enough about no SDMT pics? This new MagicBand/RFID/Memory Maker/MDE feature will allow Disney to offer pictures without needing space for the post-ride queue to view your pics and make a purchase. This also creates an incentive to purchase Memory Maker and a Magic Band for both onsite resort guests as well as offsite guests as you would not be able to purchase this feature by itself.

Back to our regularly scheduled TR programming…

DW is almost 100% restored by now and anxious to resume all activity. Our next FP+ is at 12:40pm at Mission Space! I tried to talk her into not doing this but that woman is stubborn!! Now you know where our children get it from! (Not me!!) I at least talked her into doing the green side instead of the orange side. DD and DSiL went on the orange side. We all survived!

Now DW is feeling real froggy and decides she wants to ride Test Track! Sighhhh. I told you she was stubborn. I decided to sit this one out because my back was acting up and I didn’t want to risk it getting bad and since the ride is 3 across, it worked out okay.



(Continued in next post 2)

 

[KatMark]

Okay, first and try to keep up with me today, will you Bill? I did 4 updates!!!!

Seriously, I am so sorry we didn't get to meet. We were at Epcot until around 6:30 that day and I should have thought to text you to see if you made it over, but the girls kept us hopping. I am truly hopeful that we can have a DIS meet another time.

I'm glad DW was feeling better and that you were able to get some breakfast (I've written that place down with our staying at the Boardwalk the second half of the trip it is a nice short walk).

Great photopass pic of you and DW and all four of you.

And pretty pictures on your way to Soarin'. And speaking of Soarin' our FP+ was at 11:30...I bet we passed each other by and didn't even know it.

 

[saintstickets]

(Continued from previous post 2)

Time to get something to eat so we stop at a favorite of ours because there is such a wide selection to choose from…



We love Sunshine Season Food Fair. DW and I went one way and DD and DSiL went another way. No food pics but we had the oak-grilled rotisserie chicken with black beans and rice, turkey and Monterey jack on ciabatta and crème brulee for dessert. With all the selections available, DW and I had the same thing that DD and DSiL had with the only difference being we added dessert. Go figure.

Since we were nearby, I decided to go on a ride I haven’t been on in a while because a certain DISboard member was now in the Disney College Program and was working at this ride.

She was very busy working and I didn’t want to call out her name and embarrass her (remember my pledge to not harass any CMs this trip) but some of you might know her as PrincessCaitlin and she started working at Nemo this past May, 2014. You cannot tell from this picture but she was really involved in her job and working hard (you did a great job dawnbu40)!



After Nemo, we rambled around WS a bit











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[saintstickets]

(Continued from previous post 3)

It was about 2:00pm now and the hottest part of the day. DW was getting tired so we decided to go back to the room and rest a spell. DD and DSiL stayed at EPCOT and walked around the WS and shopped. A short 15 minute walk later and we are in the room. Did I mention before how much I like staying at BWV or BCV?!?!

Some pics along the way



The next two pics are near the International Gateway park entrance. They are testing various plants to see how they like the Florida weather. I’ve always wondered what this area was originally. Anyone know?





A view of the Yacht Club/Beach Club resorts





And as we approach our home this trip…the Boardwalk



We stopped at the Boardwalk Bakery and got a strawberry cupcake to take back to the room for a snack as we took a break and got ready for our ADR that night at Coral Reef!

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[saintstickets]

(Continued from previous post 4)

Our dining reservation tonight is at 6:05pm for Coral Reef. This is our first time to eat here. I wasn’t sure about eating here since DSiL is not much of a seafood lover. We arrived about 10 minutes early and still had a 40 minute wait to be seated. That is probably the longest we have ever had to wait when having reservations at WDW. I don’t know if they overbooked, were understaffed or what but there were some upset people in the waiting area. Once we were seated, CM Hassna was apologetic for the wait and did her best to compensate. She was very friendly and did not rush us at all during our meal. A few pics while we were waiting at our table







I don’t know what happened to the food pics but they are not to be found. Sighhhh. Regardless, we had a crab spinach dip for an appetizer and for our entrée, 2 orders of the orange ginger-glazed Scottish salmon, grilled mahi mahi and the seared chicken breast. The food was good but nothing to rave about and we found the menu options to be somewhat limited. For those reasons, we would give Coral Reef a rating of

B

It was good and we will return but for us, there are better options.

As you can see, we didn’t get a dessert here. There were only 5 options (mousse, flan, chiffon cake, gelato and key lime pie). Instead we walked over to France and tried the L’Artisan des Glaces sorbet and ice cream shop. DW and I had a scoop of caramel ice cream and a scoop of hazelnut ice cream while DD and DSiL walked next door to Boulangerie for a tarte aux fraises (that’s a strawberry pie for us non-parler francais folks). All were very good and hit the spot as it was still very warm even this late at night. When we were finished, we walked around a bit and once again split up with DW and I returning to the room while DD and DSiL did their thing. It sure is nice to go with “adult” children where they don’t have to be watched constantly, they are fine being by themselves and it’s Disney so you don’t have to worry about where they are going!

Another nice day even though it started off rough. DW was tired and she wanted to get plenty of rest to make sure we didn’t start tomorrow off the same way. As for tomorrow, almost no plans! This day was added after we found out DS and DDiL were not going to be able to make it this trip. The points had to be used for that studio we canceled so we rented out most of the points and added a waitlist for this extra night tomorrow. The waitlist came through about 7 weeks before our trip so it all worked out just fine.

 

[saintstickets]

Okay, first and try to keep up with me today, will you Bill? I did 4 updates!!!!

You da best!

Seriously, I am so sorry we didn't get to meet. We were at Epcot until around 6:30 that day and I should have thought to text you to see if you made it over, but the girls kept us hopping. I am truly hopeful that we can have a DIS meet another time.

I hope we can as well. I feel like I know so many people fairly well here on the DISboards that I've never seen in person. It is nice to finally meet and put a voice with the person you see online!

I'm glad DW was feeling better and that you were able to get some breakfast (I've written that place down with our staying at the Boardwalk the second half of the trip it is a nice short walk).

It's so close and such a nice walk. There are no crowds to fight since WS doesn't open until 11:00am. Rumor has it that other countries are contemplating opening up for breakfast as well!

Great photopass pic of you and DW and all four of you.

Thank you ma'am!

And pretty pictures on your way to Soarin'. And speaking of Soarin' our FP+ was at 11:30...I bet we passed each other by and didn't even know it.

Sighhhh.....we're just two ships passing in the night...or in this case, passing in EPCOT!