1st time F&W, MNSSHP, Africa Trek & no kids! (Updated 5/11/14)

[saintstickets]

Breakfast at Les Halle's is something I definitely want to try. Will they let you enter from the front if the park or just the International Gateway? I like the idea of being able to take some pictures with less people.

I believe you can enter from the front. It opens at 9:00am and there are CM's as you enter the World Showcase directing you to keep people from wandering.

I see you will be going to Shulas on your upcoming trip. We have a Shulas near our home in PA and we went for DH's birthday in December. I never order steak out - I like mine grilled at home - but I decided to try it here. Best. Steak. Ever!
I don't know if that Shulas does the same as the one in our area but if it does and one of you going has a birthday within a few weeks of your trip, sign up for their online newsletter. They send you a certificate for a free entree -that can be a $40 something coupon!

Thanks for the tip about Shulas. I will do that tonight. We are looking forward to the dinner.

Sorry your TR is over, I really enjoyed it!

Why thank you. I have enjoyed remembering all the craziness (mostly instigated by me!) and trying to recapture the moment.

I really and truly enjoyed your TR. The pictures were amazing!

Thanks...you're too kind.

I envy your seminars that you did. Cheese and wine pairing.. I would absolutely love to do this. I will be looking into it for my own fall trip. Then the culinary demo... OMG! $14 sounds like quite the deal.

You can't beat that price...especially compared to Disney prices!!

The 4 minute brawl sounds intense. I am impressed that Disney took little time to get it under control. Those black clothed agents... we encountered them once. They are pretty stealthy. It was shocking how they seem to come out of no where and then are just as quick to disappear. In our case, it was just that a couple obnoxious youths (probably late teens early twenties) who started to curse at dh and our then toddler to move out of their way. There was no time for dh to even react before a large male in black clothing appeared and informed the offending youth that he would need to stop or be escorted out of the park. Even before dh could react to that... both were gone. Kinda a nothing to see here sort of moment..and what just happened rolled into one. Since then I have always felt as though Disney is watching VERY heavily the goings on within the parks. Kinda creepy.. kinda reassuring....

I was amazed how quickly they appeared, had the situation under control and then disappeared. I've read in other TR's about these guys but have never seen them before. If we had been 30' away or facing a different direction, we would have missed the whole thing!

Your meal with MEK sounds quite nice. Dismeets are so fun. Even though you may never have met in person it can feel like you are seeing an old friend that you have known forever.

It really did seem that way. DW and I had a really nice time and look forward to meeting others in the future.

I said it on MEK's TR, but I will also say it here... you view of illuminations is amazing!!!

MEK knew to ask for that area and it paid off in spades!

And... your upcoming trip is not too far off. Sounds like some great plans!!

I'm ready to go! It can't come too soon!!

The Big Cheese?

Careful....Mickey might not like someone else being called that!

I enjoyed reading about your adventures in Food & Wine. The seminars sound really well done. The Caesar Salad recipe looks fantastic!

We had no idea what to expect from the seminars or the demos and were very pleasantly surprised at how good they were.

Wow, those chocolate displays are insane.

It's a good thing they were behind glass!!

I love sampling all kinds of food, and I am not finicky in the least. I would have trouble not trying everything. I'm not a big fan of kimchi, but many people have identified that as their favorite thing at F&W, so I would even give that a try.

I might skip the ravioli- I have read that is so-so in a few reviews.

We hit a large portion of the kiosks for our 1st trip to F&W and really didn't have any BAD food. Naturally, according to each person's own personal tastes, some things are better than others. When we return this October I'll have to make sure and visit all the kiosks we missed last year!

I haven't been to Yachtsman- I've only dined at the sister restaurant, Captain's Grille.

Captain's Grille is on our list to try one day.

Great dinner & meet with MEK and Denny! I love the view and your pictures of Illuminations from there.

It was a great dinner and MEK really scored with requesting that area to eat.

Great report!

Sounds like a really fun lineup for the next trip- I look forward to reading all about it.

Thanks! We are fast approaching single digit days for the next trip. I'm ready to go now!!

 

[MommaPeel]

Looks and sounds as if you had a fantastic trip! Thank you so much for sharing.

Enjoy your next trip and I can't wait to read the TR for that one!

I booked my MNSSHP already due to your amazing TR photos and I will likely grab the Africa Trek tour that you did, I think my boyfriend will enjoy that one so much more than the 7 hours of the Backstage Magic.

Enjoy your next trip! I still have over 110 days

 

[saintstickets]

Looks and sounds as if you had a fantastic trip! Thank you so much for sharing.

Enjoy your next trip and I can't wait to read the TR for that one!

I booked my MNSSHP already due to your amazing TR photos and I will likely grab the Africa Trek tour that you did, I think my boyfriend will enjoy that one so much more than the 7 hours of the Backstage Magic.

Enjoy your next trip! I still have over 110 days

Thanks so much Cassie for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the TR and found some interesting things to try. Most everything we have done at WDW is a result of reading someone's TR, seeing what they experienced and then trying it ourselves. Looks like to me that you should do a TR as well!

 

[KatMark]

Bill, I am hopelessly behind in reading your TR...please forgive me. Work has been kicking my butt the last couple of weeks and trying to do all that work and catch up on the minor stuff before I leave has not been an easy task. I'm still no where near ready to pack.

A couple of comments and then talking about a DIS meet.

Thanks for the photos of Food & Wine. We have never done this. I know...over 25 visits to Disney, and we've never been there for that. It changes this September as they started it a week earlier and it starts on our arrival day.

We definitely preferred Yachstman over LeCellier, but I wouldn't mind going back to LeCellier if they would let me substitute items. We went to the Shula's in Chicago and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Then this past weekend, we went to Morton's Steakhouse and it blew Shula's, LeCellier and Yachtsman right out of the running (it should for a tab, with tip, of $525 for a party of four!).

Those crowds were insane. Mark and I are going to stick to Epcot very early and leave before the later afternoon/evening crowds come in.

I'm so glad you got meet up with Mary Ellen and Denny. I've had the pleasure now of having a meal with them on two trips (last June and this past March) and they are wonderful people.

Okay, I've NOT updated my final plans on my PTR (told you I've had no time to DIS), but I copied your plans and this is what I see. We are in the Magic Kingdom on the 4th (if you are staying after dinner...we arrive after our 5:15 Spirirt of Aloha meal) and we are at Epcot on the 5th and we have FP+ for Journey at 9:40 - 10:40 and Soarin' from 11:20 - 12:20 (we are doing Coral Reef for lunch).

So I hope we can work one of those times out and hopefully we will know before we both head off (I leave on the 29th).

 

[saintstickets]

Bill, I am hopelessly behind in reading your TR...please forgive me. Work has been kicking my butt the last couple of weeks and trying to do all that work and catch up on the minor stuff before I leave has not been an easy task. I'm still no where near ready to pack.

A couple of comments and then talking about a DIS meet.

Thanks for the photos of Food & Wine. We have never done this. I know...over 25 visits to Disney, and we've never been there for that. It changes this September as they started it a week earlier and it starts on our arrival day.

I'm glad you'll get to try F&W this fall. We enjoyed it so much we're going back this year! Of course, any place I can "troll" for so many different kinds of food is great in my book!

We definitely preferred Yachstman over LeCellier, but I wouldn't mind going back to LeCellier if they would let me substitute items. We went to the Shula's in Chicago and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Then this past weekend, we went to Morton's Steakhouse and it blew Shula's, LeCellier and Yachtsman right out of the running (it should for a tab, with tip, of $525 for a party of four!).

There is a Morton's in nearby New Orleans that we've been meaning to try. I'll have to go there one weekend when we go to a Saints game and compare that to Shula's!

Those crowds were insane. Mark and I are going to stick to Epcot very early and leave before the later afternoon/evening crowds come in.

It might have been just the time we were there but we did notice the crowds picking up early afternoon. It's a good time to hit the pool or take a nap to get ready to close a park later!

I'm so glad you got meet up with Mary Ellen and Denny. I've had the pleasure now of having a meal with them on two trips (last June and this past March) and they are wonderful people.

All I can say is ditto!

Okay, I've NOT updated my final plans on my PTR (told you I've had no time to DIS), but I copied your plans and this is what I see. We are in the Magic Kingdom on the 4th (if you are staying after dinner...we arrive after our 5:15 Spirirt of Aloha meal) and we are at Epcot on the 5th and we have FP+ for Journey at 9:40 - 10:40 and Soarin' from 11:20 - 12:20 (we are doing Coral Reef for lunch).

So I hope we can work one of those times out and hopefully we will know before we both head off (I leave on the 29th).

Between those two days we should be able to work something out. Think about it and let me know.

 

[Auntrosie]

I'm wondering the same thing as above. We are doing this for the first time in June. How many pictures does the CM take? Did you ask them to take specific pictures or do they just take what they want? Was there water in the bottles? I know it's going to be hot when we go and I just want to make sure we have plenty of water.

My family and I took this tour in September of 2012. I'm going to be a downer. I don't feel it was worth the money. The photo's were great. The rest was just OK.

 

[Nanaji]

Hi Bill,
I stayed at BCV in Oct 2012 and was also on the 4th floor. My view from the balcony was very similar to yours and I had a really great time there. I am enjoying your report as a bit of a memory. I will be back again in October this year but staying at AoA for a change.

 

[saintstickets]

My family and I took this tour in September of 2012. I'm going to be a downer. I don't feel it was worth the money. The photo's were great. The rest was just OK.

I wish you would have enjoyed it as much as we did but that's one of the great things about WDW, there is SOOOO much to do and see. If one thing doesn't tickle your fancy, there's bound to be something else that will!

Hi Bill,
I stayed at BCV in Oct 2012 and was also on the 4th floor. My view from the balcony was very similar to yours and I had a really great time there. I am enjoying your report as a bit of a memory. I will be back again in October this year but staying at AoA for a change.

It wasn't a bad room at all. Nice and quiet too. We will return to WDW this October as well. I'm sure we will run into each other!

 

[Nanaji]

Thanks Bill for the great report. It was entertaining and informative and now I can hardly wait for October. (but don't want the summer to go too quickly, living in the Great White North) I have made many notes in my planning journal. I have been on the Africa Trek (a gift from my sister) and MNSSHP on previous trips too. All excellent.

I look forward to seeing future reports. May all your wishes come true.

 

[saintstickets]

Thanks Bill for the great report. It was entertaining and informative and now I can hardly wait for October. (but don't want the summer to go too quickly, living in the Great White North) I have made many notes in my planning journal. I have been on the Africa Trek (a gift from my sister) and MNSSHP on previous trips too. All excellent.

I look forward to seeing future reports. May all your wishes come true.

Thanks so much for the kind words. My main goal in these TRs is to do exactly that...inform and entertain. I have learned so much from others on the DISboards. If I can return the favor even a tiny bit by helping someone else find out something new or rekindling a fond memory while invoking a smile, then I have accomplished what I set out to do in these TRs. Again, thanks so much and I look forward to your TR too!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Bill! I'm so sorry I didn't jump in sooner. I saw MEK's dinner photo with you guys in her TR and forgot to look for your TR at that time! This was awesome and I love your photos.

I'm a die hard Shula's fan so I hope you enjoy that.

I wish you safe and fun travels for your next trip. Have fun with the Dismeets and I can't wait to hear about it!

 

[saintstickets]

Hi Bill! I'm so sorry I didn't jump in sooner. I saw MEK's dinner photo with you guys in her TR and forgot to look for your TR at that time! This was awesome and I love your photos.

I'm a die hard Shula's fan so I hope you enjoy that.

I wish you safe and fun travels for your next trip. Have fun with the Dismeets and I can't wait to hear about it!

We are looking forward to Shula's. So many have told me it will put Le Cellier and Yachtsman Steakhouse to shame so I am ready to find out!

This past trip was our first time to have a DISmeet and it could not have been better! MEK and I hope to coordinate our December 2015 trips and meet up again. Next week DW & I are going to try and meet up with KatMark when we are at WDW. Now....when can I pencil you and yours in?!?!

 

[saintstickets]

For anyone interested, here is the link to my next TR

The "Don't mess with the CMs/take less photos TR" Jun14 @ BWV

 

[TinksThree]

A few days after we were home, I was looking at all our souvenirs, receipts and pictures to begin planning this TR. I noticed on the printout of all the charges that you get when you checkout that there was something missing. Being the type of person that I am, I keep all my receipts and when I compared them to the printout, I discovered that the meal at Les Chefs de France was not included. I called the Guest Services number on the printout and told them of the error. Since I had the receipt, I could tell the CM all the details and she tried to find the charge in the system. She could not find it. I asked her if I could give her my credit card number to complete the transaction since we enjoyed the meal, we should pay for it. She told me she didn’t have the capability to do that and she guessed that I got the meal for free. I tried again to pay for it to no avail. Oh well… Not only did DW enjoy the eye-candy provided by our waiter CM Teddy at Les Chefs, we got to see Remy before he left, we had a nice meal and it was free!
Pixie dust!!!

This must be an issue at Chefs de France!! This same thing happened to us when we went in Dec/Jan!! That may be a little concerning for business! Or maybe they just love us Mississippians because we are just so awesome!!!

Sorry it took me so very long to get caught up to the end but thoroughly enjoyed the TR! Wow on the little scuffle outside of R&C! What amazing seats for Illuminations....great end to the trip! Good food, good views and good company!

 

[saintstickets]

This must be an issue at Chefs de France!! This same thing happened to us when we went in Dec/Jan!! That may be a little concerning for business! Or maybe they just love us Mississippians because we are just so awesome!!!

THAT'S IT!!!!

Sorry it took me so very long to get caught up to the end but thoroughly enjoyed the TR! Wow on the little scuffle outside of R&C! What amazing seats for Illuminations....great end to the trip! Good food, good views and good company!

Thanks for the kind words...now to the next TR...I need to get a move on so I can finish it before we leave again in October!! (I know...it's tough! )

 

[khertz]

I just realized I never came back and finished your TR, but I caught myself up when I saw you had started your new one (headed there next). Seems like a great meal with Mary Ellen & Denny...they are so wonderful! How nice that y'all were able to enjoy an evening together, despite the fistfight going down!!!