You down with O.O.P? Yeah you know me! March 11-15, 2017 Updated 4/7 Final Day-COMPLETED
- Thread starter nco91590
- Start date
iheartbelle87
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2010
Loving your report!!
SAME here!
hahahahahahah... please tell me this was a runner up for the title of your TR?!
That looks DELISH!
Funny story... my Mom isn't a fan of heights either and always closes her eyes as you are lifted up to the screen on this ride.. well the second time we rode this in January, I was feeling particularly sassy and once her eyes were closed and we were on our way up I said (in a panicked voice) "oh sh!T". I thought she was going to DIE! lol.
Yes, I LOVED Maelstrom! Even tho I almost peed my pants every time and was truly convinced our boat would go over the window thingy (idk WHAT that was called)
SAME here!
hahahahahahah... please tell me this was a runner up for the title of your TR?!
That looks DELISH!
Funny story... my Mom isn't a fan of heights either and always closes her eyes as you are lifted up to the screen on this ride.. well the second time we rode this in January, I was feeling particularly sassy and once her eyes were closed and we were on our way up I said (in a panicked voice) "oh sh!T". I thought she was going to DIE! lol.
Love the way you think! Added this drink to my 'to do' list in May!
Yes, I LOVED Maelstrom! Even tho I almost peed my pants every time and was truly convinced our boat would go over the window thingy (idk WHAT that was called)
Yes, yes yes!!
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
No.......but I like this game.
Hmmm. Let's just say you can see YOUR clue in MY state
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
Day 4 - Part 2 World Showcase and Crews Cup Lounge
Having Beach Club Villas as your DVC home resort is pretty awesome. My mom and dad bought into it before it opened in the early 2000's and I dare say, apart from having me, it might be the best decision they ever made
I love being able to walk to 2 different parks. The pool is awesome too and although it's HUGE and a bit daunting when you have little kids it's almost like having your very own water park at the hotel.
The number one benefit is being a hop skip and jump from my favorite place...World Showcase. I've always loved WS...even when I was little. I love the architecture and the gardens, the different shops and now I love the various boozes to sample. Although the last few trips it seems as though we head to Mexico first, back track BACK to Mexico, do a lap, find ourselves BACK in Mexico. I was really sad that our Epcot/WS was so short and crowded. It was the perfect storm of the kids being tired, an early dinner reservation and the fact that Sunday was JAMMED with people. I remember looking at the bridge from France to England and it was just a sea of people and all clogged up over by England. The booths all had really long lines which you just can't do with little kids. Funny enough, my kids give zero about my desire for a grey goose slushie. Scott wasn't into waiting on a bench trying to entertain the kids while I got a $14 drink either lol.
We took full advantage of my parents being an extra set of hands and all decided we would try to enjoy World Showcase as it's meant to be enjoyed. With expensive drinks. And honestly, what good are Grandparents if they don't watch your kids while you drink booze?????? Jk jk jk. We hopped on the monorail from MK and we were pretty quickly and efficiently checked through security.
How cute are they? Look at all the sass Alice is giving! Loves.
First stop, Mexico, obvs. I knew there was not a chance in heck that my parents would wait 20minutes for a margarita. They're retired, so you would think they've got all the time in the world. But it's more like, "We're AP holders and we will be here in a couple weeks and there's no way that's happening". The AP/frequent guest mentality makes sense. If you knew that you wouldn't be having that favorite snack or drink for YEARS, you make it a priority. Otherwise, meh. I find myself doing this and we go about every 2 years. It's like, I'm not going stand in line for 30 minutes for Werthers. I'm just not. Speaking of, Germany:
Flowers in Italy
Ooh! My drink look low! Time to visit my one and only F&G booth....The Smokehouse. I have been DYING over the burnt ends hash. Living in TX I acquired an appreciation for brisket and especially the burnt ends. YUMMMMMMMM. Scott and I shared the beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños and a pulled pork slider with coleslaw on top. I also ordered the blackberry moonshine frozen lemonade because why the heck not??? The pulled pork sandwich was pretty good. The bread was fresh and slightly sweet, but there was A LOT of bread on the top bun. I basically just cut it with a fork and knife. The burnt ends were amazing. The cheese sauce was sharp and the brisket had a really nice char and the jalapenos were not to spicy but added that nice vinegar kick. The blackberry moonshine was also delightful. Not super strong tasting but I definitely felt it afterwards. Total for all 3 items was $24.50.
I may or may not have been buzzed in Japan and may or may not have danced to the Taiko drummers. These guys are the best. Probably my favorite thing to do is sit and watch them. I catch a show every visit. Would love to maybe see them in a new outfit?
The moonshine may also have contributed to having Alice pick a pearl I mean, how cute is this girl with Alice? That's gotta be the best job in Disney. Everyone is a winner! Alice got a big one too. 7mm I believe? We paid for the setting and the nice red box and it ended up costing like, $40. But a nice keepsake nonetheless. Rowan wanted this crazy ninja figurine that was about $350....so we distracted him with pocky sticks lol. Fair trade.
My mom and I popped into France for some pastries to bring back to her condo to enjoy when we got there the next day. You guys are going to be mad, but I didn't take pics of our desserts! AHH! We got napoleons, creme brulee, a strawberry tart, chocolate mousse dome, chocolate croissants and a couple eclairs. I promise the next time I go I will take lots of snaps of the desserts. They were delicious. The creme brulee especially. I enjoy cooking, and now that my kids are older and I've got a bit more time on the weekends, I have been doing a little bit more baking. Pies, cakes, cookies, that sort of thing. After my trip I decided to dip my toe in creme brulees. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
It was about 5pm and we could tell the kids were getting hangry. The dinner F&G crowds were showing up too, so after saying a tearful goodbye to my favorite place, we walked back over to Beach Club, stopped up at the room to drop off the delicious bakery treats, grabbed the kid's tablets and headphones and went for a nice quiet drink and some apps as Crews Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club.
Scott and I stopped here on a whim before dinner on our anniversary trip and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the truffle fries! I was looking forward to a nice relaxing dinner. The bar is next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse down a quiet hallway. Crews Cup is nicely lit and comfy. It has an Adirondack camp feel too it. Lots of wood and copper accents. We plopped the kids on the couch with their kindles and headsets and they were quiet as mice.
Now, we just got the kids tablets and headphones for Christmas. Not to ever be Sanctimommy about it, but we really try to get our kids to behave in restaurants without using phones and tablets. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately, us parents these days get heat from both sides. Either our kids are mindless zombies that we're not bonding with every moment of every day, or our kids act like maniacs in restaurants and we have no control over them. I think there's a balance. Sometimes both the kids and parents need a break from talking to each other. Sometimes, you are in a primarily adult lounge and recognize that people are trying to have a quiet meal. This was a little bit of both. I was looking forward to catching up with my parents and my kids were just over stimulated. This worked out for all parties involved
Scott and my dad both ordered Jai Alais and mom and I both ordered Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. Always a solid chard choice in my book. I love really oakey, really buttery California chardonnays. My personal fav at the moment is Bread and Butter Chardonnay. It's reasonably priced and a really nice buttery chard. The guys both ordered Beer-braised Mussels and Clams Chorizo, Fines Herbs, Garlic-Herb Butter with Toasted Focaccia - which is the same appetizer that they have on the Captain's Grille menu. I don't have a pic, but here's Scott with his bowl from our Aug 2014 trip:
Except they come in a white bowl at the Crew's Cup. But as you can see, there's a ton of mussels with lots of chorizo, garlic, wine and lemon. Scott and my dad were really happy with this dish. They said the mussels were fresh and the sauce was really nice. They don't have kids choices listed on the menu, but if you ask, they do serve standard kid menu choices: pasta, chicken fingers, grilled cheese etc. We ordered the kids pasta and a side of veggies. They devoured the pasta, and even ate a few of the green beans, although I didn't even push it. Sometimes you get tired of parenting lol. I ended up with the Yacht Club burger
Signature Blend Beef, Swiss, Brandy Peppercorn Sauce, Sautéed Mushrooms, Onion Jam, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato $18.00 (I asked for no mushrooms). Ehrmergerd you guys. It was AMAZING. I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of this burger
I feel bad because this burger was probably one of the best I've ever had. Cooked perfectly and not obnoxiously huge. You could taste each component of the burger....the brandy sauce, onion jam *which might be my most favorite condiment of all time* and bacon. The bun stood up to the juices and didn't get soggy or fall apart. I asked for some truffle fries on the side and it was a much smaller portion than I had last time...so perhaps it was a slight upcharge from the regular side of fries? I wouldn't know because my parents paid for dinner y'all! Whoop! Truffle fries were amazing as per usual. Crispy and salty and earthy with that amazing shallot mayonnaise.
I think the bill was around $100 for 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, 1 burger and 2 kids meals. Not too shabby. We got great service and was a real respite from the heavy crowds and noisy meals we've had all week. Definitely worth ducking into if you're looking for a break or something different. It's got a great vibe and the food is really good here.
We said our goodbyes to mom and dad and we would be seeing them the next day. We originally were planning to check out in the morning and hit the road, but the weather on Wednesday was supposed to the chilliest all week. 60 as a high in Orlando and mid 50's for Clearwater Beach with high winds. So we decided to hit up MK for the morning and just try to tick a few more rides off the list.
Coming up: Final day and final thoughts
Having Beach Club Villas as your DVC home resort is pretty awesome. My mom and dad bought into it before it opened in the early 2000's and I dare say, apart from having me, it might be the best decision they ever made
I love being able to walk to 2 different parks. The pool is awesome too and although it's HUGE and a bit daunting when you have little kids it's almost like having your very own water park at the hotel.The number one benefit is being a hop skip and jump from my favorite place...World Showcase. I've always loved WS...even when I was little. I love the architecture and the gardens, the different shops and now I love the various boozes to sample. Although the last few trips it seems as though we head to Mexico first, back track BACK to Mexico, do a lap, find ourselves BACK in Mexico. I was really sad that our Epcot/WS was so short and crowded. It was the perfect storm of the kids being tired, an early dinner reservation and the fact that Sunday was JAMMED with people. I remember looking at the bridge from France to England and it was just a sea of people and all clogged up over by England. The booths all had really long lines which you just can't do with little kids. Funny enough, my kids give zero about my desire for a grey goose slushie. Scott wasn't into waiting on a bench trying to entertain the kids while I got a $14 drink either lol.
We took full advantage of my parents being an extra set of hands and all decided we would try to enjoy World Showcase as it's meant to be enjoyed. With expensive drinks. And honestly, what good are Grandparents if they don't watch your kids while you drink booze?????? Jk jk jk. We hopped on the monorail from MK and we were pretty quickly and efficiently checked through security.
How cute are they? Look at all the sass Alice is giving! Loves.
First stop, Mexico, obvs. I knew there was not a chance in heck that my parents would wait 20minutes for a margarita. They're retired, so you would think they've got all the time in the world. But it's more like, "We're AP holders and we will be here in a couple weeks and there's no way that's happening". The AP/frequent guest mentality makes sense. If you knew that you wouldn't be having that favorite snack or drink for YEARS, you make it a priority. Otherwise, meh. I find myself doing this and we go about every 2 years. It's like, I'm not going stand in line for 30 minutes for Werthers. I'm just not. Speaking of, Germany:
Flowers in Italy
Ooh! My drink look low! Time to visit my one and only F&G booth....The Smokehouse. I have been DYING over the burnt ends hash. Living in TX I acquired an appreciation for brisket and especially the burnt ends. YUMMMMMMMM. Scott and I shared the beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños and a pulled pork slider with coleslaw on top. I also ordered the blackberry moonshine frozen lemonade because why the heck not??? The pulled pork sandwich was pretty good. The bread was fresh and slightly sweet, but there was A LOT of bread on the top bun. I basically just cut it with a fork and knife. The burnt ends were amazing. The cheese sauce was sharp and the brisket had a really nice char and the jalapenos were not to spicy but added that nice vinegar kick. The blackberry moonshine was also delightful. Not super strong tasting but I definitely felt it afterwards. Total for all 3 items was $24.50.
I may or may not have been buzzed in Japan and may or may not have danced to the Taiko drummers. These guys are the best. Probably my favorite thing to do is sit and watch them. I catch a show every visit. Would love to maybe see them in a new outfit?
The moonshine may also have contributed to having Alice pick a pearl
I mean, how cute is this girl with Alice? That's gotta be the best job in Disney. Everyone is a winner! Alice got a big one too. 7mm I believe? We paid for the setting and the nice red box and it ended up costing like, $40. But a nice keepsake nonetheless. Rowan wanted this crazy ninja figurine that was about $350....so we distracted him with pocky sticks lol. Fair trade.My mom and I popped into France for some pastries to bring back to her condo to enjoy when we got there the next day. You guys are going to be mad, but I didn't take pics of our desserts! AHH! We got napoleons, creme brulee, a strawberry tart, chocolate mousse dome, chocolate croissants and a couple eclairs. I promise the next time I go I will take lots of snaps of the desserts. They were delicious. The creme brulee especially. I enjoy cooking, and now that my kids are older and I've got a bit more time on the weekends, I have been doing a little bit more baking. Pies, cakes, cookies, that sort of thing. After my trip I decided to dip my toe in creme brulees. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
It was about 5pm and we could tell the kids were getting hangry. The dinner F&G crowds were showing up too, so after saying a tearful goodbye to my favorite place, we walked back over to Beach Club, stopped up at the room to drop off the delicious bakery treats, grabbed the kid's tablets and headphones and went for a nice quiet drink and some apps as Crews Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club.
Scott and I stopped here on a whim before dinner on our anniversary trip and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the truffle fries! I was looking forward to a nice relaxing dinner. The bar is next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse down a quiet hallway. Crews Cup is nicely lit and comfy. It has an Adirondack camp feel too it. Lots of wood and copper accents. We plopped the kids on the couch with their kindles and headsets and they were quiet as mice.
Now, we just got the kids tablets and headphones for Christmas. Not to ever be Sanctimommy about it, but we really try to get our kids to behave in restaurants without using phones and tablets. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately, us parents these days get heat from both sides. Either our kids are mindless zombies that we're not bonding with every moment of every day, or our kids act like maniacs in restaurants and we have no control over them. I think there's a balance. Sometimes both the kids and parents need a break from talking to each other. Sometimes, you are in a primarily adult lounge and recognize that people are trying to have a quiet meal. This was a little bit of both. I was looking forward to catching up with my parents and my kids were just over stimulated. This worked out for all parties involved
Scott and my dad both ordered Jai Alais and mom and I both ordered Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. Always a solid chard choice in my book. I love really oakey, really buttery California chardonnays. My personal fav at the moment is Bread and Butter Chardonnay. It's reasonably priced and a really nice buttery chard. The guys both ordered Beer-braised Mussels and Clams Chorizo, Fines Herbs, Garlic-Herb Butter with Toasted Focaccia - which is the same appetizer that they have on the Captain's Grille menu. I don't have a pic, but here's Scott with his bowl from our Aug 2014 trip:
Except they come in a white bowl at the Crew's Cup. But as you can see, there's a ton of mussels with lots of chorizo, garlic, wine and lemon. Scott and my dad were really happy with this dish. They said the mussels were fresh and the sauce was really nice. They don't have kids choices listed on the menu, but if you ask, they do serve standard kid menu choices: pasta, chicken fingers, grilled cheese etc. We ordered the kids pasta and a side of veggies. They devoured the pasta, and even ate a few of the green beans, although I didn't even push it. Sometimes you get tired of parenting lol. I ended up with the Yacht Club burger
Signature Blend Beef, Swiss, Brandy Peppercorn Sauce, Sautéed Mushrooms, Onion Jam, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato $18.00 (I asked for no mushrooms). Ehrmergerd you guys. It was AMAZING. I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of this burger
I feel bad because this burger was probably one of the best I've ever had. Cooked perfectly and not obnoxiously huge. You could taste each component of the burger....the brandy sauce, onion jam *which might be my most favorite condiment of all time* and bacon. The bun stood up to the juices and didn't get soggy or fall apart. I asked for some truffle fries on the side and it was a much smaller portion than I had last time...so perhaps it was a slight upcharge from the regular side of fries? I wouldn't know because my parents paid for dinner y'all! Whoop! Truffle fries were amazing as per usual. Crispy and salty and earthy with that amazing shallot mayonnaise. I think the bill was around $100 for 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, 1 burger and 2 kids meals. Not too shabby. We got great service and was a real respite from the heavy crowds and noisy meals we've had all week. Definitely worth ducking into if you're looking for a break or something different. It's got a great vibe and the food is really good here.
We said our goodbyes to mom and dad and we would be seeing them the next day. We originally were planning to check out in the morning and hit the road, but the weather on Wednesday was supposed to the chilliest all week. 60 as a high in Orlando and mid 50's for Clearwater Beach with high winds. So we decided to hit up MK for the morning and just try to tick a few more rides off the list.
Coming up: Final day and final thoughts
Sailormoon2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2015
Hurray for an awesome WS day!! The one and only time my DH has been to Disney, we stayed at YC and basically attended WS everyday, we spent so much time there that barring SE he has yet to ride anything in Epcot! Lol!!
OasterP
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2013
Love reading your report! It sounds like you are from my no alcohol in stores state! I was so convinced the snow would miss us, and like two feet later I admitted I was wrong.
Your family is adorable and I love reading the report! My kids got "the look" several times our last trip. Well really just my son b/c not much an eight month old can do to get the look. However now that she is 1 1/2 - her next trip will almost certainly have it included.
Can't wait to read more!
Your family is adorable and I love reading the report! My kids got "the look" several times our last trip. Well really just my son b/c not much an eight month old can do to get the look. However now that she is 1 1/2 - her next trip will almost certainly have it included.
Can't wait to read more!
ThreeBoyMama
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
Amen, sister!
Now, we just got the kids tablets and headphones for Christmas. Not to ever be Sanctimommy about it, but we really try to get our kids to behave in restaurants without using phones and tablets. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately, us parents these days get heat from both sides. Either our kids are mindless zombies that we're not bonding with every moment of every day, or our kids act like maniacs in restaurants and we have no control over them. I think there's a balance. Sometimes both the kids and parents need a break from talking to each other. Sometimes, you are in a primarily adult lounge and recognize that people are trying to have a quiet meal. This was a little bit of both. I was looking forward to catching up with my parents and my kids were just over stimulated. This worked out for all parties involved
Oh my gosh, YES. I could not agree with this more. Also I now want that burger at Crew's Cup, even without a photo!
PS: I keep forgetting to mention that I *love* the title of this trip report. I sing along every time, LOL.
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
I saw you mention that on your TR. Girls trip sounds awesome! Maybe for my 40th??? You guys should take a page fro Pepper and Chips and eat at all the lounges!!! Maybe you can all split that giant fishbowl from The Wave lounge LOL!
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
Oh, we ALWAYS get the snow. Lake effect is a real mother. Ooh! We took Rowan at 18mo and I loved it. He was so darn cute in all the pics. Scared of all the characters but just loved all the action. He was happy to sit in the stroller and people watch lol.
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
Amen, sister!
Oh my gosh, YES. I could not agree with this more. Also I now want that burger at Crew's Cup, even without a photo!
PS: I keep forgetting to mention that I *love* the title of this trip report. I sing along every time, LOL.
That burger was worth every single judgemental glance I may or may not have received for giving my kids tablets and straight up ignoring them for an hour and a half lol. I wouldn't even know because I was too busy enjoying my wine and truffle fries
kastoney
Disney foodie served with a side of sarcasm
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2010
What nice neighbors you have!!!! I always secretly wish we get snow at home while we're in Disney so we can't get home. Then I fear coming home to all the snow in the driveway. We decidedly do not have awesome neighbors
AWESOME!!! Now if only he had a full on grill
Why yes! That IS a gold tooth!
Don't we all
Pretty much sums it up. Lol. My husband has a pretty low threshold for crowds and people in general.
Great picture!
An hour for pirates, that is crazy!!!!!!
What is this jk business?????? Enlisting the grandparents while we drink is a grandparent right of passage
Total sass! She and Casey would so get along!How cute are they? Look at all the sass Alice is giving! Loves.
This was one of my favorite F&G items last year. Glad you loved it too
Forget the new outfit would love to see some of this buzzed dancing of which you speak!
How fun!The moonshine may also have contributed to having Alice pick a pearl
Totally have to steal the Santimommy line!!!!!Not to ever be Sanctimommy about it, but we really try to get our kids to behave in restaurants without using phones and tablets. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately, us parents these days get heat from both sides. Either our kids are mindless zombies that we're not bonding with every moment of every day, or our kids act like maniacs in restaurants and we have no control over them. I think there's a balance. Sometimes both the kids and parents need a break from talking to each other. Sometimes, you are in a primarily adult lounge and recognize that people are trying to have a quiet meal. This was a little bit of both. I was looking forward to catching up with my parents and my kids were just over stimulated. This worked out for all parties involved
Wow, this sounds absolutely amazing. Have to get there on our next tirpSignature Blend Beef, Swiss, Brandy Peppercorn Sauce, Sautéed Mushrooms, Onion Jam, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato $18.00 (I asked for no mushrooms). Ehrmergerd you guys. It was AMAZING. I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of this burger
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
The day before we left I was hoping everything would still be a mess and maybe we could take a bump. But no such luck
What is this jk business?????? Enlisting the grandparents while we drink is a grandparent right of passage
LOL. Well, they're also good for picking up the dinner tab
Crew's Cup is awesome! That burger was amazing but there were definitely other menu items that looked good too!
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Vernie822
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2014
Ooh, that burger and fries sounds amazing! Between the onion jam.. the garlic peppercorn.. and the truffle.. swoon.. has everything you could ever dream of!
YES! It is really the most magical place.
How did I miss that moonshine! Oops. I too love burnt ends.. yum. I order them occasionally in NC and I'm always sad when it's not covered in that white cheese fondue.
YES! It is really the most magical place.
How did I miss that moonshine! Oops. I too love burnt ends.. yum. I order them occasionally in NC and I'm always sad when it's not covered in that white cheese fondue.
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
Day 5 - last day, Tomorrowland Terrace, Clearwater Beach FL
This was always going to be a short little trip to WDW before heading to the beach. But honestly, 4 days is just not enough. Especially when there's such high crowd levels. I convinced Scott to do one more morning at Magic Kingdom as it was too cold for the beach anyway.
I scored a few last minute FPs for the morning and we thought we would just head out after lunch, hop in the car and be in Clearwater Beach by late afternoon. This was the coldest day by far on our trip. I was able to buy a blanket in the Beach Club gift shop and used my winter coat to put over the kids. When my mom left the night before, she took our laundry which also had all the kid's leggings/pants!
We did the carousel, the tea cups, Winnie the Pooh, went on Under the Sea and met Ariel in Fantasy Land
I'm not sure what was up with Rowan but he was really funny with her...maybe it's the clam shells that did it? Lol. He was like, laying on her.
The kids were feeling a bit peckish, so on our way to Tomorrow Land, we stopped by Big Top Souvenirs. Alice chose a pink sparkly mouse ears cake pop, Rowan chose an Olaf sugar cookie and I grabbed a peanut butter cookie because they looked pretty good. I'm wondering how these cookies have not been mentioned by any blogs or websites because that peanut butter cookie may have been one of the best I've had. I got this on the interwebs, but it looked just the same. It was big, soft and peanut buttery with big chunks of like, the inside of Reeses PB cups and chopped peanuts. I know, right??? So good.
Then we stood in this humongo line to meet Buzz Lightyear. Alice and Scott went into Center of Progress while we waited, and waited, and waited. All the while we were standing in the shade and it was probably 45 degrees out. Finally, we got to meet Buzz. Rowan was so pumped. Look at him looking up at Buzz. So stinking cute.
Then it was time for our Buzz Lightyear Spin FP.
HAHAHAHAHAH! Omg. That's my "concentrating very hard" face apparently.
After Buzz, we went to Monsters Laugh Factory and took a spin on the People Mover. That thing really moves lol! The kids thought it was super cool. They really liked going into Space Mountain.
It was starting to get busy and we were ready to get going. We thought we would grab lunch and head out. I thought Casey's would be a good idea. I wanted some of those corn dog nuggets lol. But the line was absurd, so we turned back around and decided on Tomorrow Land Terrace. What a flipping nightmare that was. The kids got mac and cheese, Scott a chicken sandwich and I got some pulled pork "bahn mi": Asian Pulled Pork with Pickled Vegetables and a spicy Sriacha Aïoli served with Apple Slices or House-made Chips. This description is hilarious because it was literally pulled pork with cole slaw on top. Scott's sandwich took FOREVER. When I say forever, I'm talking like 15-20 minutes AFTER I ordered. He brought the kids down to try and find a table in the sun because it was all shaded and FREEZING in there.
While waiting, I had these three kids ages 7 to probably 11, rough housing and bumping into me and the mom was yacking away to her travel agent presumably. I always find it hard to believe that there are people out there that know absolutely nothing about Disney World, or what they're doing there. She was like "I want to make sure you booked us on the Happy Place ride" and she just kept repeating "Happy Place" and the TA must've been like, what the heck are you talking about? and then finally she was like "Yeah, that's it...Small World". I was DYING. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW IT'S CALLED SMALL WORLD?!?!?!?
Our food finally arrived and it was fine. Nothing spectacular. After all the hassle and the crowds, I think we were ready to go. Took one last stroll down Main Street USA, hopped in my parents car that they left for us the night before and took off.
The drive to Clearwater Beach was an easy one. Took about 2 hours. We had a really great rest of the trip with my parents and my Aunt and Uncle who split the condo with them. We went to the Lowry Zoo in Tampa one day, which I highly recommend. Very clean, tons of animals and they even had a special dinosaur exhibit which Rowan was super afraid of lol. They had this bird feeding area which was fun at first and then the birds started fighting and stuff. It was weird.
This was always going to be a short little trip to WDW before heading to the beach. But honestly, 4 days is just not enough. Especially when there's such high crowd levels. I convinced Scott to do one more morning at Magic Kingdom as it was too cold for the beach anyway.
I scored a few last minute FPs for the morning and we thought we would just head out after lunch, hop in the car and be in Clearwater Beach by late afternoon. This was the coldest day by far on our trip. I was able to buy a blanket in the Beach Club gift shop and used my winter coat to put over the kids. When my mom left the night before, she took our laundry which also had all the kid's leggings/pants!
We did the carousel, the tea cups, Winnie the Pooh, went on Under the Sea and met Ariel in Fantasy Land
I'm not sure what was up with Rowan but he was really funny with her...maybe it's the clam shells that did it? Lol. He was like, laying on her.
The kids were feeling a bit peckish, so on our way to Tomorrow Land, we stopped by Big Top Souvenirs. Alice chose a pink sparkly mouse ears cake pop, Rowan chose an Olaf sugar cookie and I grabbed a peanut butter cookie because they looked pretty good. I'm wondering how these cookies have not been mentioned by any blogs or websites because that peanut butter cookie may have been one of the best I've had. I got this on the interwebs, but it looked just the same. It was big, soft and peanut buttery with big chunks of like, the inside of Reeses PB cups and chopped peanuts. I know, right??? So good.
Then we stood in this humongo line to meet Buzz Lightyear. Alice and Scott went into Center of Progress while we waited, and waited, and waited. All the while we were standing in the shade and it was probably 45 degrees out. Finally, we got to meet Buzz. Rowan was so pumped. Look at him looking up at Buzz. So stinking cute.
Then it was time for our Buzz Lightyear Spin FP.
HAHAHAHAHAH! Omg. That's my "concentrating very hard" face apparently.
After Buzz, we went to Monsters Laugh Factory and took a spin on the People Mover. That thing really moves lol! The kids thought it was super cool. They really liked going into Space Mountain.
It was starting to get busy and we were ready to get going. We thought we would grab lunch and head out. I thought Casey's would be a good idea. I wanted some of those corn dog nuggets lol. But the line was absurd, so we turned back around and decided on Tomorrow Land Terrace. What a flipping nightmare that was. The kids got mac and cheese, Scott a chicken sandwich and I got some pulled pork "bahn mi": Asian Pulled Pork with Pickled Vegetables and a spicy Sriacha Aïoli served with Apple Slices or House-made Chips. This description is hilarious because it was literally pulled pork with cole slaw on top. Scott's sandwich took FOREVER. When I say forever, I'm talking like 15-20 minutes AFTER I ordered. He brought the kids down to try and find a table in the sun because it was all shaded and FREEZING in there.
While waiting, I had these three kids ages 7 to probably 11, rough housing and bumping into me and the mom was yacking away to her travel agent presumably. I always find it hard to believe that there are people out there that know absolutely nothing about Disney World, or what they're doing there. She was like "I want to make sure you booked us on the Happy Place ride" and she just kept repeating "Happy Place" and the TA must've been like, what the heck are you talking about? and then finally she was like "Yeah, that's it...Small World". I was DYING. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW IT'S CALLED SMALL WORLD?!?!?!?
Our food finally arrived and it was fine. Nothing spectacular. After all the hassle and the crowds, I think we were ready to go. Took one last stroll down Main Street USA, hopped in my parents car that they left for us the night before and took off.
The drive to Clearwater Beach was an easy one. Took about 2 hours. We had a really great rest of the trip with my parents and my Aunt and Uncle who split the condo with them. We went to the Lowry Zoo in Tampa one day, which I highly recommend. Very clean, tons of animals and they even had a special dinosaur exhibit which Rowan was super afraid of lol. They had this bird feeding area which was fun at first and then the birds started fighting and stuff. It was weird.
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nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
(Cont)
Clearwater Beach is gorgeous. Despite it being college Spring Break, it was very low key and clean. We ate at this one place called the Salt Cracker basically the whole time we were there. It's right next to the Marina and they have GREAT food and drinks. They have a BOGO on margaritas, rum runners and bloody mary's! I found myself having sticker shock in reverse after Disney World.
Our trip was over and I think because it was 2 very different places that we visited, it kinda felt longer? We were ready to get back home and back to a routine. But like, the day after I was already missing FL! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Ok, so our final hotel bill WITH souvenirs, drinks and food that was charged to the room was about $1100. I did a quick tally of the food and it was about $820 which included tips and booze. The meal plan for all of us would have been $754.40 for 2 kids and 2 adults for 4 nights. Overall, paying OOP allowed us more freedom to split lunches, order off bar menus etc. I think for short trips where food is NOT the priority OOP is the way to go. I liked having limited ADR's and I think I would have preferred to not have any at all.
I've decided that I will never again go when it's busy. I will forever pull my kids from school to avoid March - April and summer. The cool temps were kind of a bummer, but it made the crowds more bearable.
I am already planning our next Disney vacation --- I'm thinking we'll try early November 2019. I've never seen Disney decorated for fall, so that should be fun. The kids will be a little older and I'm hoping there will be some new attractions too!
Thanks everyone for reading along and for all the nice compliments about my cute kids. They are pretty adorable Hope everyone has fun on their upcoming Disney vacations!
Clearwater Beach is gorgeous. Despite it being college Spring Break, it was very low key and clean. We ate at this one place called the Salt Cracker basically the whole time we were there. It's right next to the Marina and they have GREAT food and drinks. They have a BOGO on margaritas, rum runners and bloody mary's! I found myself having sticker shock in reverse after Disney World.
Our trip was over and I think because it was 2 very different places that we visited, it kinda felt longer? We were ready to get back home and back to a routine. But like, the day after I was already missing FL! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Ok, so our final hotel bill WITH souvenirs, drinks and food that was charged to the room was about $1100. I did a quick tally of the food and it was about $820 which included tips and booze. The meal plan for all of us would have been $754.40 for 2 kids and 2 adults for 4 nights. Overall, paying OOP allowed us more freedom to split lunches, order off bar menus etc. I think for short trips where food is NOT the priority OOP is the way to go. I liked having limited ADR's and I think I would have preferred to not have any at all.
I've decided that I will never again go when it's busy. I will forever pull my kids from school to avoid March - April and summer. The cool temps were kind of a bummer, but it made the crowds more bearable.
I am already planning our next Disney vacation --- I'm thinking we'll try early November 2019. I've never seen Disney decorated for fall, so that should be fun. The kids will be a little older and I'm hoping there will be some new attractions too!
Thanks everyone for reading along and for all the nice compliments about my cute kids. They are pretty adorable
Hope everyone has fun on their upcoming Disney vacations!
RunningAriel
Formerly known as DISNEYDUET
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
Wonderful report! We are doing the Disney/Clearwater thing too! It's really nice to decompress after Disney and I agree with the reverse sticker shock. lol We usually spend 1/3 of what we spend at Disney and drink twice as much when we are at the beach!
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
NICE! I take it you've been to Clearwater Beach? We really enjoyed the food at the Salt Cracker. They had these jalepeno corn hush puppies with a pimento cheese sauce that was to die for. They have a nice brunch as well. Didn't make it to Frenchy's because the wait was like 45 minutes but I would love to go back there some day when we can have more beach time. It was really cold for 2 of the days
nco91590
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2014
RunningAriel
Formerly known as DISNEYDUET
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
We love Clearwater! Usually stay up towards the Pier. We've never been to Salt Cracker but will definitely add it to our visit!NICE! I take it you've been to Clearwater Beach? We really enjoyed the food at the Salt Cracker. They had these jalepeno corn hush puppies with a pimento cheese sauce that was to die for. They have a nice brunch as well. Didn't make it to Frenchy's because the wait was like 45 minutes but I would love to go back there some day when we can have more beach time. It was really cold for 2 of the days
Frenchys Original for their Garlic Crab Fries! We always find time to get down to Indian Rocks to Lighthouse Donuts and if we are down that way might as well stop in at Meyers for fudge!! And people wonder why I run! lol 
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