Thanks, we're glad to have you back for this one!I'm joining in! I know I've read a few of your reports in the past and I'm excited about another one!
We absolutely love WL, and this is probably our favorite room there yet. It's all a matter of preference though, and we haven't had a room there we didn't enjoy.Your trip is off to a great start! Your room at the WL looks awesome - what a great view of the central courtyard! I really enjoyed our brief stay at WL in 2016 and would be happy to return there one day.
It was a great trip for extra events on the water. While the amphicar was a neat bucket list thing, the fireworks cruise was a better deal, despite costing almost three times as much. Both are a fixed price regardless of the number of people, but more can enjoy the fireworks cruise. We didn't feel at all bad having less than the maximum people on the cruise, and now having experienced it we would even consider it with just a party of three. It was impressive.Wow, a ride in an amphicar AND a fireworks cruise?! What great memories! I'd love to try a fireworks cruise one day but I think it's unlikely with my small travel group. I think you're right that it's not a bad value with a bigger group.
We're excited to share the fun. I didn't think I would love Boathouse, and now I just don't see what anyone would have to complain about there. I think it would have appeal to one of the widest groups of any WDW restaurant. You listed all the favorites for Crystal Palace, and we can't wait to go back again in February. Teppan Edo is one restaurant we do more for us than the kids, but they always seem to enjoy it, and Marshall can eat his weight in noodles.You've had several great ADRs already. I've never eaten at the Boathouse but it would be right up my alley. I haven't been to Teppan Edo in years but I'd love to return once our daughter is a bit older. Crystal Palace breakfast is one of my FAVORITE meals at Disney - between the custom omelet station, the Pooh's puffed French toast, and the character lineup, it's such a great choice.
I'm excited to see what other fun you have in store!
Thanks! We stumbled on to writing the report this way after our first family WDW trip in 2012. We both wanted to contribute, and enjoy reliving the trips through the discussions back and forth while we are writing it and then again when we revisit the report years later. We are always glad when other people enjoy it too.I really enjoy the way you both input into the report.
Love the pictures on Main Street! Especially the one of the kids by themselves...it shows pure JOY!
I like your sunset view. It is better than fireworks. We will have to try it some day.Overall I was very impressed with California Grill, and it surpassed my expectations. I would definitely look forward to eating here again, and while it was somewhat more expensive than most other meals, it was a great experience for everybody.
That sounds like a great way to watch the fireworks - much better than having to try to watch them while eating dinner.With my receipt from earlier I secured my trip up the elevator, and I got up there just a few minutes after the show started. Jon and Brandy were inside, and I said hi before heading outside to get some shots of the show.
We thought Sonny Eclipse was cute, and Allie actually got up and danced around some. It was fun watching her decide whether she was goign to stay seated or join in, and then she just got up and went for it.Did you enjoy the Sonny Eclipse show?
No, the ornament we picked up was the one we had ordered when we were in Disney springs on our first night. Since the personalization takes some time, we just have them ship it to our resort when it is ready, then we get it a couple of days later. We generally only do one custom ornament a trip, otherwise we'd need a bigger house...By this time you'd had the idea about getting "Boats are always better" printed on an ornament. Did you do that for the ornament you got on this day?
It really is worth a visit. It wasn't as expensive as we thought it might be, and didn't wind up being the most expensive meal of the trip. The ambiance and views were really neat.I like your sunset view. It is better than fireworks. We will have to try it some day.
Yeah, it kept him busy, and he was really quiet about it since he was being "sneaky". It worked for us.I love Marshall's water trick. It is almost like a science experiment.
It really was nice. I would definitely try for a pre-sunset reservation when eating here, and then plan to just hang out or come back for the fireworks.That sounds like a great way to watch the fireworks - much better than having to try to watch them while eating dinner.
We just shared soem traditional Disney chicken nuggets and fries, and enjoyed the cold Cokes and air conditioning. It was about what we expected, standard park quick service, but we liked that we ware able to easily get a spot inside, where at Casey's Corner we would have been outside since it was getting crowded.I've only been to Cosmic Ray's once in recent history and had a Greek salad. If that's up your alley, I thought it was quite good and fresh!
Ahh, that makes a big difference. Our server was great, she was friendly and efficient, and always seemed to be right there with whatever we wanted. Our negative opinions of the old Artist Point come mainly from poor service, and that is hard to overcome.Your meal at California Grill looked delicious! We had a so-so server on my last trip there, but I've always enjoyed excellent food. The ambiance and the view is awesome, too! I'm so glad you liked it!
It was another fun day, and there are still so many more to come. It is hard to pick a favorite, but this one did have some of the best food with two great ADRs.Sounds like another great day!
Yes we did! We are definitely going to try for tickets as a do-over for the event we missed last year because that was the night Melissa had her ankle surgery. We really want to go, and will be registering as soon as we can on that Tuesday. We'll let you know if it works out, and maybe we'll see you there.Sounds like another great day!
Did you see a moonlight magic was added for DCA for next month? I am going to try for tickets.
It really is impressive how they can have a restaurant so nice and yet welcoming to the family at the same time. We all had a good time.California Grill is amazing! It’s nice that you can enjoy an upscale restaurant with kids and not feel out of place. Gotta love Disney! Unfortunate that the fireworks were so late that night, but it’s nice that you all got to see them on the boat together. We’ve done the pirates and pals cruise and the illuminations one, but never that one. It looked amazing, and do convenient you didn’t have to leave your resort. I was just watching a video on all ears YouTube where she was touring WL and trying out that campfire cupcake. It was so cute, and she said even the little marshmallow on the the little stick on top was toasted. My DD wanted to try it in late November when we’re there next. It did look small though. Looks like you guys had another magical day!
Welcome back. We’re glad you are enjoying this one as well. I bet you can’t wait to get that October 2020 room booked. Our 2020 trip will be February, so we will be skipping the fall trip next year. It should be neat for you to be there this time next year!I’ve haven’t been to disboards for a couple of weeks, but I’m all caught up now and following along! We’re a little over 30 days to our 11 month window for our October 2020 CCV stay! Love your TR as always! Those were some oustanding photos from the fireworks cruise!
Did the Disney section at Target have discounted prices for the Disney merchandise?Overall I think it's a decent addition to a Target store, definitely not a substitute for a trip to a regular Disney Store but nice to have access to when you also need toilet paper.
That is very perceptive of him.Marshall asked her to babysit him, "because I can be a handfull". At least he realizes it.
The giraffes and other animals on the savanna look the most like they are in their natural habitat. Elephants, lions, hippos, etc, look like they are in a cage at a zoo.Marshall said "I can't believe I saw a real Giraffe!"
I didn't realize they showed surgeries like this. We have to stop by there during one of our cooler weather trips.Instead of performing the operation the way most other goats are castrated this one was receiving the royal treatment in true Disney fashion.
I like Allie's necklace and can see why she enjoyed making it.I hung out in the shop with the kids because of the AC. Allie talked me into buying her one of those necklaces you make in the store
Thanks! I just love taking pictures at WL, and can't ever take enough. It is fun to have somewhere to share my favorites.Your pictures of Wilderness Lodge that morning are amazing! Your pictures of the lobby turned out beautifully and I love your sunrise picture!
We like AM extra magic hours at AK, even though we are never there for the start of them. We skipped Rafiki's last time and were glad to see they kept it open. We liked seeing Chip and Dale there too, but instead had to wait a couple more days till we visited them at Garden Grill.You had a great start to your morning in AK! I'm a big fan of the early-morning safari, too. I also enjoyed my trip to Rafiki's Planet Watch in 2016. The highlight for me was meeting Chip and Dale (who I believe are no longer there), but it was interesting to try something new.
Thanks. We all really enjoyed it, and appreciated that we didn't feel out of place. We will be back!Glad you had a great meal at California Grill. The fireworks pictures are beautiful.
Okapi are Melissa's favorite too. It was neat to see one up close. We got to see them running around at the San DIego Zoo Safari park a couple of weeks ago, and that was cool.The okapi is my favorite ! Glad to see a picture of it in your TR.
The new animation thing takes up a lot of space inside the building, so there isn't room to walk past it when it is going on, so I understand why they did the change, it just takes some getting used to. There is definitely less open space inside now to just hang out. We too have wanted to see a real surgery there, and it was neat.That's strange how they changed the entrance at Rafiki's. I can imagine it would be especially annoying if it's raining. I've always wanted to see them doing a surgery there! We saw them lasering a bird's feet one time and giving a sheep nebulizer treatments but never an actual surgery!
The prices were fairly standard, but the items were some of the same ones you would get at the Disney store. It was too new to have anything on clearance yet, but I would expect better deals if the stuff doesn't sell.Did the Disney section at Target have discounted prices for the Disney merchandise?
Yeah, we like the open look of the habitats where they can do it, and the Giraffes do have it really nice. They are just so impressive to see.The giraffes and other animals on the savanna look the most like they are in their natural habitat. Elephants, lions, hippos, etc, look like they are in a cage at a zoo.
It was our first time getting to see a real procedure there too. We have heard about it, but never had the right timing. It is a nice option, even on a warm day, because the area you watch from is nicely air conditioned.I didn't realize they showed surgeries like this. We have to stop by there during one of our cooler weather trips.
It was really cute, and she enjoyed wearing it for the rest of the trip. The animals worked out well for Marshall too, because they kept him busy at lunch...I like Allie's necklace and can see why she enjoyed making it.