Hello-It'sSmee! A July 2020 "It's Good to Be Bad AND Back" TR *Link to new TR 2/21*

[CruellaNY]

Thank you all for sharing the last Disney pic (or a version of) on your camera roll! I really enjoyed seeing them and hearing some of the stories behind them For all of you who are unable to visit, whether it be due to your comfort, your country/state restrictions or job restrictions, I hope the world keeps moving in the right direction and everyone who wants to return to Disney asap is able to before much longer!

​

Day 4 Part 3: "Olive" Us Have That Friend.....

After a successful and super fun day at AK we had a super fun night awaiting us with our super fun friends, @Jenny Sanders and Joe. We had one more night before they left and we were going to make the most of it! Dinner was at California Grill; Jenny had booked it for the 2 of them and graciously added us when our boys decided not to come. Steve and I ate here years ago; I think in 2017? And weren't impressed but I'd been wanting to try it again so we were excited!

We met over there and started by taking pics out on the deck where nobody was around:



It was nice to get a decent picture with no mask!
We were seated on time in a booth tucked a bit back and off to the side, in view of others but - thankfully given the way the rest of the night progressed - not in the middle of the room! Our server was fantastic and we chatted about him being called back and how happy he was when that happened.

Before I get to the food let me just say how wonderful and hysterical this night was. We drank, ate, laughed. Fueled by extra extra dirty birthday martinis that I tried and tasted like 18 gallons of olive juice with splashes of vodka, some of us sang right there in CG. I'll let a few pics do some talking:











As you know Jenny is no stranger to her adult beverages, and I as well normally endulge in a few when at a Disney dinner. In this case those extra extra dirties she was ordering were extra adult beverage-y and at one point, in order to get me to drink faster, she just started drinking my wine OH I love my friend and cannot wait to see her in two weeks!!!!!

OK! Let's get back to some Cali Grill basics! This was our view and you can see the signs that were on some tables:




I've read a few reports of complaints about the physical distancing of tables here but I didn't think it was a problem. Now for Kari @kastoney so she doesn't stop reading my report: my I present, our dinner:

My app
Beer and Cheese Soup
Potato-Celery Root Foam, Hand-braided Pretzel, Garlic Butter, Heirloom Apple



This was DELICIOUS! Of course the pretzel roll but that soup-mmm!

Steve's app:



Sushi! No idea what kind since I don't eat it and did not take notes but I see there's a shrimp there! He loved it.

For an entree I got what I'd had 4 years ago but had it with mashed potatoes. This was MUCH better!
Oak-fired Filet of Beef*
Aged Gouda Macaroni and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts, Oxtail Marmalade, Red Wine-Sweet Onion Jus



The Brussels Sprouts quickly made their way to Steve but this was ALL mine. The meat looks dark due to the Marmalade but it was cooked to medium perfection and the Gouda Mac? For someone who doesn't usually appreciate mac n cheese I couldn't get enough of this! I was so happy with my app AND entree here.

Steve went this way:
Jumbo Scallops
Lump Crab in Yuzu Vinaigrette, Carolina Gold Rice, Glazed Dragon Carrots, Shishito Beurre Blanc



OK. IDK where the rice is, whether it changed since we were there or he asked for no rice; I was busy protecting my wine from Jenny so I didn't really listen. I DID listen to what Jenny ordered though; she got the Grouper and asked our server for it in a most interesting rhyme. I'll leave it at that!

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[CruellaNY]

CONTINUED FROM LAST POST

I was definitely full at this point but the desserts were calling my name! I know Steve didn't get one and can't remember if Jenny did (yes she was still awake and upright) but I indulged with this:

Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Milk Chocolate-whipped Panna Cotta, Pretzel Crunch



It was as good as it looks! Totally 100% chocolate, the way I like my desserts. SO glad we returned to CG and while we don't have it set for our trip this month we will not wait another 4 years to go again.

That concluded our final birthday dinner with our wonderful friends and wow was it a sendoff! If you're reading @Jenny Sanders TR as well, you're in for a treat whenever they get their Cali Grill vlog done We left together with them going to their CR room and us taking a Lyft back to the Beach Club after saying good-bye - until September, which will be in exactly 14 days from now when we celebrate Steve's (and @luvpoohandcompany's) birthday with them!

Since I have lots of picture room here......................
On Labor Day Chris asked to go shopping so we took him to a mall about 45 minutes away. Four floors and a few stores we don't have around us. One of those is an actual Box Lunch store. If you aren't familiar with Box Lunch they sell tons of Disney, Marvel, HP, Anime and other pop stuff and often have things you won't find elsewhere! I wanted to buy ALL the things like this Heffalumps and Woozles LoungeFly:



Chris took the picture and it was a hardship on him so excuse the crappy shot but how adorable is this??? Heffalumps and Woozles scared the crap out of me when I was little and now I love them! I refrained though because remember I just got the HM LoungeFly and also when we were down in July I happened to buy this one:




Then I decided I should have got it and went online Monday night to their site; OUT OF STOCK So now I'm on a mission! I did buy this for myself though:




Couldn't leave with nothing! ​

 

[vamassey1]

Dinner looks delicious and sounds so fun. Glad you had one more night with Jen & Joe. I'm sure you'll have lots more stories after you trip in 2 weeks.

We love BOX LUNCH! Can't go to the Mall without stopping in to look around, even if there's a line to get in.

 

[fractal]

Drinking friends are the best friends!
Love CaliGrill and that dinner looked awesome.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

We were seated on time in a booth tucked a bit back and off to the side, in view of others but - thankfully given the way the rest of the night progressed - not in the middle of the room! Our server was fantastic and we chatted about him being called back and how happy he was when that happened.

I agree. This was probably a good thing.

Before I get to the food let me just say how wonderful and hysterical this night was. We drank, ate, laughed. Fueled by extra extra dirty birthday martinis that I tried and tasted like 18 gallons of olive juice with splashes of vodka, some of us sang right there in CG. I'll let a few pics do some talking:

Umm, there was DEFINITELY more vodka than olive juice...LOL! I have some different pics...LOL! Don't worry, I will only post the G rated ones. LMBO!

she just started drinking my wine

Oh no! I did???? I was absolutely hammered!

I was busy protecting my wine from Jenny so I didn't really listen. I DID listen to what Jenny ordered though; she got the Grouper and asked our server for it in a most interesting rhyme. I'll leave it at that!

I did??? You will have to let me know what I said...

I wanted to buy ALL the things like this Heffalumps and Woozles LoungeFly:

OMG! I have to have this in my life!!!

So, we just started editing this vlog. OMG! I was beyond hammered! I was downright sloppy drunk. It was an awesome night with awesome friends and I cannot wait to see you in 2 weeks!!!! ❤ ❤

 

[eliseisawkward]

I was behind, but now I’m caught up!! Sharing my “last” Disney pic before I get on with my comments... (I cheated and didn’t share my really bad skyliner pictures).



I still haven’t gotten up to Cali Grill, but I think it’s on my short list... looks like you guys had a great experience this time! Your soup looks particularly delicious.... yummmm.

 

[suse66]

Before I get to the food let me just say how wonderful and hysterical this night was. We drank, ate, laughed. Fueled by extra extra dirty birthday martinis that I tried and tasted like 18 gallons of olive juice with splashes of vodka, some of us sang right there in CG. I'll let a few pics do some talking:

I can only imagine the fun that was had!!

OK. IDK where the rice is, whether it changed since we were there or he asked for no rice; I was busy protecting my wine from Jenny so I didn't really listen. I DID listen to what Jenny ordered though; she got the Grouper and asked our server for it in a most interesting rhyme. I'll leave it at that!

Those scallops look amazing!!

It was as good as it looks! Totally 100% chocolate, the way I like my desserts. SO glad we returned to CG and while we don't have it set for our trip this month we will not wait another 4 years to go again.

100% chocolate is always a good decision.....yum!

Then I decided I should have got it and went online Monday night to their site; OUT OF STOCK So now I'm on a mission! I did buy this for myself though:

Love that shirt!

 

[disneyAndi14]

What a wonderful dinner with Jen and Joe. A girl has to celebrate her Birthday in style!
I love the finds at Box Lunch. I saw your HM backpack and it is so cute!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Laughing and loving your last update! Looks like you had the best night out and I expect you to keep up those standards while celebrating Steve and my birthdays. No letting the side down- there must be much merriment and speaking in rhyme while ordering food and drinks

 

[Wood Nymph]

It was nice to get a decent picture with no mask!

That is a nice picture - and your dress is cute, too.

IDK where the rice is, whether it changed since we were there or he asked for no rice;

They probably pureed the rice.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

I would have eaten all the ice cream.

September, which will be in exactly 14 days from now when we celebrate Steve's (and @luvpoohandcompany's) birthday with them!

I can't wait to see what birthday goodies they get. Dana's birthday is September 22nd. We know a lot of people with birthdays around that date. It falls around 9 months after Christmas, which is interesting.

 

[kittylady1972]

Ok first of all...sharing my last Disney pic...okay two of them...one as we left MK and one at the WL before leaving for the airport:





LOVED your birthday dinner post so far. We love CG but haven't been there in years, the menu is different and some of the things I loved are gone...though I make them at home now (hello Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli). That soup...and dessert...looked fabulous though...it may have to be considered for OUR next trip. Plus DH loves him some dirty martinis and it sounds like those were quite good!

LOVE Box Lunch as well...this was my latest find there:


I can look out for that bag next time I'm in one of the stores here. I LOVE that new shirt though!

 

[pkondz]

I hope the world keeps moving in the right direction and everyone who wants to return to Disney asap is able to before much longer!

Oh, I hope so! Miss Disney!

Dinner was at California Grill

Ah! I've had the brunch there, but not dinner.

It was nice to get a decent picture with no mask!

<gasp!> What?!?!?!?

thankfully given the way the rest of the night progressed - not in the middle of the room!

I could take that several ways.

One way became quite clear, after continuing to read!

We drank, ate, laughed.

That sounds wonderful.

Fueled by extra extra dirty birthday martinis that I tried and tasted like 18 gallons of olive juice with splashes of vodka

Ew. Nope!

Love this!

in order to get me to drink faster, she just started drinking my wine

OH I love my friend and cannot wait to see her in two weeks!!!!!

Wonderful! Glad that's happening for you guys.

Beer and Cheese Soup

oooohhh… that looks (and sounds) good.

For an entree I got what I'd had 4 years ago but had it with mashed potatoes. This was MUCH better!

Good! But...

The Brussels Sprouts quickly made their way to Steve

… okay. Just another area we agree in. Brussels sprouts are from the Devil.

The meat looks dark due to the Marmalade but it was cooked to medium perfection

I was going to ask. Phew!

the Gouda Mac? For someone who doesn't usually appreciate mac n cheese I couldn't get enough of this!

mmmm…. good to know.

I wanted to buy ALL the things like this Heffalumps and Woozles LoungeFly:

Well you should have! Take out a loan! Buy all the things!

Heffalumps and Woozles scared the crap out of me when I was little and now I love them!

I've heard of this. Disney scares kids!

also when we were down in July I happened to buy this one:

Pretty.

I did buy this for myself though:

I really like that!

Oh no! I did???? I was absolutely hammered!

 

[CruellaNY]

I'm sure you'll have lots more stories after you trip in 2 weeks.

Um given the video Jen and Joe will post has both a cut AND uncut version - I think we will for sure!

We love BOX LUNCH! Can't go to the Mall without stopping in to look around, even if there's a line to get in.

It was only the 2nd time I've been in a store since it's not in our local malls but I wish it was! So much more stuff than online.

Drinking friends are the best friends!
Love CaliGrill and that dinner looked awesome.

Truth!
I'm so glad we went back after not liking it the first time. We enjoy the signatures and have a handful of faves we always return to so it took awhile but now we'll return sooner rather than later.

I did??? You will have to let me know what I said...

Now you know

It was an awesome night with awesome friends and I cannot wait to see you in 2 weeks!!!! ❤ ❤

Sames!

was behind, but now I’m caught up!! Sharing my “last” Disney pic before I get on with my comments... (I cheated and didn’t share my really bad skyliner pictures).

Aw thanks for sharing, great picture! Yeah sometimes the one we're supposed to share in these things isn't the one we want to share lol

I still haven’t gotten up to Cali Grill, but I think it’s on my short list... looks like you guys had a great experience this time! Your soup looks particularly delicious.... yummmm.

Try it! So glad we went back, we tend to stick to Narcoossee's and Citricos most but with those closed it kind of forced us all to CG. But ended up being a good "force"!

I can only imagine the fun that was had!!

Wait till you see Jenny's vlog.............

Love that shirt!

It's coming with me to Disney this month!

 

[CruellaNY]

What a wonderful dinner with Jen and Joe. A girl has to celebrate her Birthday in style!

It was the best night! And oh she celebrated in style alright

Laughing and loving your last update! Looks like you had the best night out and I expect you to keep up those standards while celebrating Steve and my birthdays

Challenge accepted!

That is a nice picture - and your dress is cute, too.

Thank you! That's the first time I wore it; actually bought it in February for our April 2020 Disney cruise Was happy to finally wear it!

hey probably pureed the rice.

Didn't even think of that

Dana's birthday is September 22nd. We know a lot of people with birthdays around that date. It falls around 9 months after Christmas, which is interesting.

I think I may have known his birthday was the day before Steve's Happy early birthday Dana!
Ha never thought about it being almost 9 months after Xmas either but Steve is 15 months younger than his older brother lol

Ok first of all...sharing my last Disney pic...okay two of them...one as we left MK and one at the WL before leaving for the airport:

Yay thanks for sharing! I cannot WAIT to be in that lobby in 12 days!

LOVED your birthday dinner post so far. We love CG but haven't been there in years, the menu is different and some of the things I loved are gone...though I make them at home now (hello Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli).

I wanted to try the Goat Cheese Ravioli and was sad it wasn't on there but that soup more than made up for it! Glad we tried it again and I want to go back, but I also want the other signatures we love to reopen ❤

LOVE Box Lunch as well...this was my latest find there:

Ooh love it!

Ah! I've had the brunch there, but not dinner.

We did brunch too once and LOVED it! We'd do it again if (when?) it returns.

could take that several ways.

OMG totally! And also reminds me of my Grandma who I used to watch this with

oooohhh… that looks (and sounds) good.

So good. I would even venture to say better than the soup at Le Cellier...............

okay. Just another area we agree in. Brussels sprouts are from the Devil.

Well you should have! Take out a loan! Buy all the things!

Now that you mention it
And now that Disney has extended the AP 30% off discount through October
Ricky doesn't NEED college, right

 

[pkondz]

OMG totally! And also reminds me of my Grandma who I used to watch this with

So good. I would even venture to say better than the soup at Le Cellier...............

I believe that. I've had Le Cellier's soup and... meh. I've had better.

Now that you mention it
And now that Disney has extended the AP 30% off discount through October
Ricky doesn't NEED college, right

I hear they're short on the trades. Perhaps he'd be interested in plumbing?

 

[missjackiemcg]

That update was just the hilarity I needed this morning Thank you (and @Jenny Sanders ) for providing all the laughs As a boy-mom and Kindergarten teacher, I figured Jenny's grouper rhyme out before your emoji explanation

Sometimes you just have to get a little sloppy!!! I can't wait to see the vlog. PS your dinner looked AMAZING!!!!!

And another thing, I always hear such great things about Box Lunch, and finally just looked it up. There is one less than an hour from me. Guess I need to make a trip!!!!!

 

[CruellaNY]

Sometimes you just have to get a little sloppy!!! I can't wait to see the vlog. PS your dinner looked AMAZING!!!!!

So true especially with good friends! Vlog is on its way soon I believe
Dinner was so good I was pleasantly surprised!

As a boy-mom and Kindergarten teacher, I figured Jenny's grouper rhyme out before your emoji explanation

yup I'm sure you got it! She had said it when she decided what she wanted and I couldn't believe when she added it to her order when our server came, I almost spit out my wine. She was hysterical!

And another thing, I always hear such great things about Box Lunch, and finally just looked it up. There is one less than an hour from me. Guess I need to make a trip!!!!!

Make sure you bring ALL the lol!

 

[KathyM2]

Speaking of family I babysat my granddaughter the other day:

OMG she is the cutest thing ever!!!

Loving living vicariously through your TR and all your post covid shutdown Disney fun!!! I'm a little late to this party but I found my last Disney pic to share.

This pic was taken on March 13th, 2020. This was our last park day but we didn't know it yet. We did know that the shutdown was coming, but we were still undecided about going back to the parks for the last days on the 14th and 15th. At the end of this day we decided not to push our luck, especially with my mom there. She got to ride IASW with her (teenage) grandkids and I think she was happy. I got a picture with my family and a magic shot to boot This was probably the best day of that trip.

 

[CruellaNY]

OMG she is the cutest thing ever!!!

Thank you, and I do have to agree

his pic was taken on March 13th, 2020. This was our last park day but we didn't know it yet. We did know that the shutdown was coming, but we were still undecided about going back to the parks for the last days on the 14th and 15th. At the end of this day we decided not to push our luck, especially with my mom there. She got to ride IASW with her (teenage) grandkids and I think she was happy. I got a picture with my family and a magic shot to boot This was probably the best day of that trip.

Thank you for sharing, ❤ this picture. So happy you got to go back before it all shut down and I hope you get to come back soon. At least you know it's there when you're ready and the fact that your mom was with you on the last trip makes those memories more special!

 

[tundra1]

Finally got a second... my last photo from my last trip:
On the plane, flying home. I had no idea that it would be the last flight I'd take for the foreseeable future, nor the last visit that I could even attempt to Disney.

View attachment 524620

Such a cool shot! It looks like it came from a Star Wars movie! I am keeping my fingers crossed that the border opens up soon. We have relatives we are waiting to visit!