A Birthday, Besties, and Bubbly...with Jen and Joe on the Go!!! 9/29 Link to New Report and We're Back Again!

[eliseisawkward]

Hopping in quite late, but happy to see your quaran-trip went well and excited to see how the rest goes. I also am catching up on your "new friend" @CruellaNY's report. It's fun to see what you guys did together versus separately!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I definitely heard after the fact that it was best to come in a few hours after opening instead.

We arrived late to all the parks in July and are planning late arrivals in September too. I just have no desire to be stuck in a crowd of people unable to move...
I'm so sorry you weren't able to ride RotR!

Otherwise known as "the one where I find my new favorite wine" lol

I KNEW you would like it!

What? You didn't tell me that yesterday But I did hear your #'s are going up and Illinois is now on the NY travel ban list so.....ugh I hope it gets better out there!

Our governor is an a**. That's really all I can say about him here...

First, tell Ashley I was thinking about her last night watching Lucas Giolito pitch his no hitter. What an exciting night!

OMG Annie!!! We were all sitting on the edge of our seats!!! It was sooooooo cool to see! I don't know if you know this but Ashley actually commentated for Giolito during his "virtual" season on Twitch.

I love that photo in SWGE that looks like an aerial shot! Very cool!

We had no idea that's what it was when it was being taken!!!

Hopping in quite late, but happy to see your quaran-trip went well and excited to see how the rest goes. I also am catching up on your "new friend" @CruellaNY's report. It's fun to see what you guys did together versus separately!

Thank you for joining in!!! We had such a good trip!!! We will be Disneying together in September too...

 

[buzzrelly]

Joe and I agreed that it would be a successful park for us if we were able to ride Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania, and have one of those delicious Ronto Wraps

What?? No SDD? That might b my favorite coaster ever…there's no way I could skip it.

I'm now looking forward to visiting HS again in a few weeks. Although, this time, we'd like to ride SDD. I was also able to make us reservations at Oga's again!!!

Okay, well there you go.

I love that SWGE Magic Shot!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Our Review of Paddlefish Vlog!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

What?? No SDD? That might b my favorite coaster ever…there's no way I could skip it.

We just ran out of time. It's first thing on the list at HS in September!!!

I love that SWGE Magic Shot!

Ha! We didn't even know it was a Zoom Magic Shot at the time.

 

[vamassey1]

Great Birthday celebration! I love seafood and see lots I would like.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Great Birthday celebration! I love seafood and see lots I would like.

We were so blown away by this meal. It was perfect in every way. Sad I can't fit it in during our September trip.

 

[WishesQueen]

Loving both your trip reports and looking forward to your September reports. My family and I are going early October as long as everything in the world stays as is

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Loving both your trip reports and looking forward to your September reports. My family and I are going early October as long as everything in the world stays as is

So wonderful that you have a trip planned in early October! Florida weather in October ie usually wonderful!!!

 

[WishesQueen]

So wonderful that you have a trip planned in early October! Florida weather in October ie usually wonderful!!!

Excited and nervous all at the same time....not my usual pre-trip emotions.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Looks like you had an awesome birthday celebration. The photos of all the food are making me hungry and I’m not a seafood girl ( more of a “see food must eat” kinda girl) so that’s saying something! It’s nice sometimes to put the cameras away and just enjoy. Sounds like you had a truly great evening. Well deserved after all the effort it took to get this trip up and running

 

[Wood Nymph]

It was nice that Paddlefish turned out to be excellent for you birthday dinner. The one thing about good service, though, it that it often unpredictable, with one person reporting the best service they ever had while another has a really bad experience.

It sounds like the food was really good, although I am never going to eat a lobster corn dog, no matter how good it is.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Excited and nervous all at the same time....not my usual pre-trip emotions.

If it's any consolation, we felt very safe in WDW. You also control your trip. If you feel uncomfortable at a park, leave. Go back to your resort and swim, have a drink...

Looks like you had an awesome birthday celebration. The photos of all the food are making me hungry and I’m not a seafood girl ( more of a “see food must eat” kinda girl) so that’s saying something! It’s nice sometimes to put the cameras away and just enjoy. Sounds like you had a truly great evening. Well deserved after all the effort it took to get this trip up and running

Moira, it was such a great evening all the way around.

It was nice that Paddlefish turned out to be excellent for you birthday dinner. The one thing about good service, though, it that it often unpredictable, with one person reporting the best service they ever had while another has a really bad experience.

Hi Sue! We just wanted to shout out the great experience. We have had so many not so good experiences lately in the Disney restaurant bubble, that we wanted to recognize how wonderful this dinner was from start to finish.

It sounds like the food was really good, although I am never going to eat a lobster corn dog, no matter how good it is.

HAHA! You sound like Ariane! LOL!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Getting to Know Jen and Joe Episode 4 VLOG!!

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Getting to Know Jen and Joe Episode 4 VLOG!!

You could make a nice Watermelon sangria with that

 

[Jenny Sanders]

You could make a nice Watermelon sangria with that

OOH! Now, that's an awesome idea!!!!

 

[kastoney]

Hi there! We are just returning from almost 2 weeks of blissful vacation so I'm behind on everything. I have been able to get a few vlogs in but today is my first day back on the DIS. Oh how I missed it.

Believe it or not but this was the first time I've dined in a restaurant in Illinois since all this COVID nonsense. It felt so nice to have more normalcy...

Sounds like a great night. We've only been out once to a brewery with a big outdoor area that isn't too far from the house. I've been looking at outdoor dining options in Disney and am surprised that there really just aren't a lot. Not sure if we'll be comfortable eating inside by November so there may be lots of ronto wraps and quick service in my future.

A lot of you have asked me how Gia is doing since she was hospitalized. And, she's doing GREAT! In fact, she's doing so well that she will be spending a night with us when we are at Disney in a few weeks.

So happy to hear this. I keep meaning to ask you but when I remember its usually uber early or late

I was really dreading this park. I'm not going to lie. Every report I read and vlog I watched viewed it as the most crowded park and the one that was hardest to social distance.

I'm with ya but it looks like weekends are really the only bad time. We were watching a live stream last night and the evening didn't look too crowded at all. Think our "strategy" may be to hit parks early and then again later in the day and have a long lunch or chill at the resort in the middle.

I had arranged for him to Build a Droid and he was in Heaven. He built his very own R2D2 and deemed it one of the best parts of the trip!

Awesome. Jason would so love to do this

I have no idea what this is but love seeing you all in space

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Dinner at the Boathouse and Drinks at WBG!

After a great afternoon at HS, Joe and I drove back to our resort, showered, and changed. We felt sweaty and gross. We had big plans to get ready for in DS. We were starting with dinner at the Boathouse and then meeting up with @CruellaNY and Steve to have after-dinner drinks at Wine Bar George. We love Wine Bar George and have been there many times. As a matter of fact, we are returning in a few weeks to try out brunch...The Boathouse, however, was going to be a new for us restaurant, and one I was hesitant about. I had read a bunch of bad reviews up until the closing. Once things started opening up again, I started to read more positive reviews. So, I was a bit torn. Turns out, there was no need to worry. This meal and service turned out to be really good and there will be a point when we go back...Maybe in February???

We checked in and were seated right away at a table overlooking the water. I was wished Happy Birthday several times before Joe and I could even think about ordering cocktails, which was really nice. Joe started with an Old Fashion (big surprise). I had the Razz, Razz Duck Cocktail, blue curaçao, blueberry Stoli, raspberry Stoli, Peach Schnapps, lime juice, simple syrup, and fee foam with a mini rubber duck garnish. I hate to say this but this drink was disgusting. It tasted like berry flavored Nyquil. I had to stop drinking it. However, the presentation was very cute. It's a blue-colored drink with a mini rubber duck floating in it. It's very Instagramable!

For appetizers, I started with a wedge and Joe had a Cesar salad. For our entrees, I had the lobster roll and Joe had the salmon. Both of our meals were very good. I'm happy to say that my lobster roll was stuffed with huge pieces of delicious lobster and no filler. It was just how I like it.

Our server also brought me out a birthday cupcake and sang to me which was super sweet!

After we settled up the bill, we met up with Ariane and Steve (Ariane and I had been texting). We checked in a bit early for our WBG reservation but the hostess happily accepted our early arrival and seated us upstairs with a lovely view of DS. Steve and Ariane ordered food, while Joe and I just had drinks. I also introduced Ariane to my favorite wine, Jam Jar. This is a sweet white and one I buy all the time at home!!! Spoiler alert, I only have two pictures from our time at WBG. One's a pic of the drink Joe ordered and I can't remember what he had...The other is a pic of my dessert. I believe we closed down the restaurant this night or came very close to it. I will also say that our server was excellent and I can't remember his name either. Perhaps Ariane remembers...Oh, our server also brought me out a piece of the best Key Lime pie EVER to celebrate my birthday. Honestly, this pie blew away the Key Lime tart from Amorettes. And, for those of you who know me, know that this has always been a fav...

Tune in next time, as Joe and I return to a VERY different Topolinos...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Sounds like a great night. We've only been out once to a brewery with a big outdoor area that isn't too far from the house. I've been looking at outdoor dining options in Disney and am surprised that there really just aren't a lot. Not sure if we'll be comfortable eating inside by November so there may be lots of ronto wraps and quick service in my future.

I know. Isn't that disappointing!!!

So happy to hear this. I keep meaning to ask you but when I remember its usually uber early or late

I just face-timed with her this morning and cannot wait to see her in September. We may have also booked airfare to go see her in St Pete for her birthday in October...

I'm with ya but it looks like weekends are really the only bad time. We were watching a live stream last night and the evening didn't look too crowded at all. Think our "strategy" may be to hit parks early and then again later in the day and have a long lunch or chill at the resort in the middle.

That's a good plan. We are planning on getting to the parks an hour or so after opening (just can't see the point of crowding in with everyone and their mother at park opening), getting a few things done, and heading back to the resort. I think I'd rather swim and pool bar it for a few hours than deal with the crowds that Disney is rumored to be increasing...

Awesome. Jason would so love to do this

It was very organized and socially distanced very well. Joe had a blast!

Hey, welcome back!!! I hope you had a great vaca and can't wait to hear all about it!!!!

 

[kastoney]

We've only done Boathouse once but we enjoyed it. I was a little perplexed by its "signature" status but otherwise the seafood was great and we loved their fries. Ditto on doing WBG once too but it really made an impression. Definitely one of my new favorite spots. Can't wait to see what you think about brunch.