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The first time I went to Disney World, I was 6. My parents drove me & my sister (aged 4) down to Orlando, and we stayed somewhere on property. (I don't remember where, sorry.) I saw my great-grandparents, who lived in St. Pete. Great-grandpa died a couple years later, so it was good that we got to meet him. (Great-grandma died when I was in 8th grade or so.) I went back again when I was 13 or so with my grandma, dad, and grandma's friend from England & her son (about my age), then again in college. And once more, this week.
This time, we stayed in the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs. I remember wanting to stay there back in 1982, and, since Fort Wilderness was booked out, I suggested them this time. Ben's mom is keen on the Outdoors and isolation and whatnot. Unfortunately, it's kind of remote from the parks, so getting to and fro was somewhat of a hassle. (Not mitigated in the least by Ben's dad's insistence on timing every stage of the journey to the minute. Out loud.)
The Villas were renovated recently, with updated kitchen and bath fixtures, and flat-screen HDTVs in each of the 4 rooms (3 BR, living room.) Not bad! It was impossible to predict, however, whether the faucets in the bathrooms would give you hot or cold water, making brushing one's teeth a bit of roulette. And our drain was a bit slow. Other than that, the accommodations were fabulous.
The Disney Dining Plan was more complicated than it was worth, as far as I can tell. It was convenient, though, to be able to pick up a Coke for essentially free, and not to have to wait around for everyone else. It did mean, however, that one was limited to choosing certain items, when one may have preferred something else, so as not to waste the pre-paid food options.
We selected restaurants following recommendations from my Mouse-expert friend![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
corpsefairy.
Marrakesh in the Morocco pavilion at Epcot was in an amazingly beautiful building, decorated by artisans sent from the King of Morocco. The entertainment was an oud player and a belly dancer. I got veggie couscous, and Ben got some couscous with a prune-balsamic sauce and giant hunks of beef. Had I not been limited to choosing an entree, I would likely have gotten the mixed appetizer platter as my meal (hummus, baba ghanoush, and falafel.) I should have ordered the baklava, dammit. The bastilla was tasty, though.
Jiko, in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, was a fancier place. I had a damn good tuna steak, crusted in something spicy (though not killer spicy). I was torn between that and the vegetarian option, but I really wanted a huge slab of protein. Ben got some sort of spicy shrimp curry. There was also a cheese plate split around the table, though splitting cheeses 5 ways is a losing proposition, IMO. (I still don't like blue cheese.)
Kona Cafe in the Grand Polynesian had a mind-boggling array of desserts. I got the "can be made vegetarian" option, which was noodles in a peanut sauce with tofu instead of chicken, then a chocolate lava cake for dessert.
The Rose and Crown (England pavilion at Epcot) had a variety of beers and British pub food. I got vegetarian shepherd's pie (made with mushrooms!) and a pint of cider topped off with Tennent's lager (a Snake Bite), then sticky toffee pudding. Good god damn, that shit was good. Bread pudding covered in butter caramel sauce and creme anglaise. Heaven!
The Electric Umbrella (Epcot) had limited veggie options, though since I enjoy Greek salad, I was OK with that.
Columbia Harbour House (Magic Kingdom/Liberty Square) had a nice hummus & slaw sandwich, but the apple crisp was misleading: it was more like a folded-up apple pie. Crisps don't have dough!
The sweet pretzel (chocolate) from Kringla Bakeri og kafe was delightful, kind of like a donutty texture.
I forget the name of the place we ate in The Land (Epcot), but it was nice. They had some veggie wraps and sandwiches in the cooler, but, again, they weren't included in the meal plan, so I had to get something from the menu (which was a grilled veggie pita with a fuckton of vile olives in the middle.)
The pineapple float made with soft-serve pineapple ice cream and pineapple juice was DIVINE. Especially since I wanted a drink and a bit of ice cream. (I forget the name of the stand, but they served Dole Whip, and it was located catty-corner from the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.)
I was very sad there was little chance of interesting Ben's folks in the character meals, because we walked past the Crystal Palace (buffet with character) and it had EEYORE and TIGGER inside. *grumph*
Sunday after everyone arrived, we went into Epcot center to wander around until it was time for dinner. I caught Sombrero Donald by the Mexico pavilion and got a picture. Then we wandered through everywhere up to Morocco, where we had dinner. After that, we went back to get some Glühwein from a stand in Germany (because it was a Christmas market, of course) and find a spot to watch the fireworks.
Ben's mom was keen on being as close to the exit as possible, because, apparently, we might get stuck at the park by missing the last bus. Yeah, I don't know either. Though we did have plans to get up fairly early the next day, so getting to sleep early would be good. The site we ended up at, by the boat dock, wasn't all that great. But we got out of the park relatively quickly.
Monday morning was Extra Magic Hours at Animal Kingdom, which means it opened an hour earlier. So we got up and went to the Kilimanjaro Safari tour. Many others had that plan, but the line moved quickly. The animals were out in the cool foggy morning! We saw lots of them. Then we went through the rest of that park, finishing up by noon, when they started to fall asleep. We swung past Camp Minnie-Mickey, where the main characters have essentially permanent photo ops. I wasn't terribly interested in any of the ones with lines (Minnie, etc), but THUMPER!!! was standing in a little corner, so I had to get my picture with Thumper. I think I frightened the poor cast member with a slightly enthusiastic hug.
We rode the Everest ride, and I don't recommend it. It goes BACKWARD, which is distinctly UNPLEASANT. I leaned against a display rack in the gift shop for a minute, then sat outside until I stopped feeling like I was going to fall over. It wasn't the motion-sick nausea, just vertigo. Like I said, unpleasant.
But I got a safari Eeyore with detachable tail! It's so cute!!
After that, we went back to Epcot for some more wandering around, looking for food. Got food, and Ben's folks went back to the room to wait for Tom (who got too drunk Saturday night and missed his flight, so he joined us Monday). We rode the Three Caballeros ride in Mexico (corny as hell, and possibly sketchily stereotypical), then went up to Norway and rode the Norway, fuck yeah! ride (which is properly called Maelstrom.) That also goes backwards, but not nearly as fast as Everest. Then they trap you in this holding chamber so you can watch a movie about Norway. We skipped that.
Then while we were walking past China, we saw these teenaged girls doing mad acrobatic shit, including some Cirque du Soleil-type stuff. One of them hula-hooped 50 hoops. It was amazing.
We killed some time wandering around Epcot some more until it was time to make our way to Jiko. When we got to the lodge we had time to spare, so we looked out in the yard, which abuts the animal kingdom area, but all the animals were sleeping.
Tuesday we went up to the Magic Kingdom. We hadn't gotten far into Adventureland when I saw Lilo and Stitch, so I had to go get my picture done. We rode the Jungle Cruise (corny! And subjected to Serious Biologist Critique immediately afterward) and went into the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. Then I saw Aladdin and Jasmine, and got my picture with them (mainly because they were both attractive. Shush.)
Then we rode Pirates of the Caribbean. The bits where they inserted Johnny Depp are surprisingly well done and subtle (and a seriously good likeness). Everyone else went on Thunder Mountain while I finished my pineapple float and played around with mobile LJ on my phone. I was saving my potential nausea for Space Mountain.
After lunch at the Grand Polynesian, we went back to the Magic Kingdom and went through Tomorrowland. The spaceship ride was fun (if slightly dizzying), and Stitch's Great Escape was well done, with the lighting effects and force-feedback harnesses. Then it was up Space Mountain. Man, they didn't have the video games in line the last time I was there. That's a great idea. After Space Mountain, we trekked over to the Haunted Mansion. It's so corny, but it's so much fun.
Since Tom missed the Illuminations Sunday night, and the MK parade and fireworks were only Monday and Wednesday this week, we went back to Epcot for Illuminations again. This time we got a much better seat, over in Norway. We staked it out around 8:15 for the 9:30 show.
Wednesday we had Christmas presents, then went to Epcot to see the last few pavilions (the right-hand side ones, by England) and for lunch. Then we rode Spaceship Earth (they gave props to the Arabs for keeping copies of the books in the library at Alexandria!) and played at Innoventions a bit before trekking down to the Magic Kingdom again for dinner, Spectromagic, and Wishes.
Spectromagic is an updated Electric Light Parade. Wishes is kinda corny, with the theme of "when you wish upon a star," but the fireworks were pretty, if obscured by a building.
I had fun, and I think (eventually) Ben's parents did, too. His mom was excited to go ride Pirates. XD
This time, we stayed in the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs. I remember wanting to stay there back in 1982, and, since Fort Wilderness was booked out, I suggested them this time. Ben's mom is keen on the Outdoors and isolation and whatnot. Unfortunately, it's kind of remote from the parks, so getting to and fro was somewhat of a hassle. (Not mitigated in the least by Ben's dad's insistence on timing every stage of the journey to the minute. Out loud.)
The Villas were renovated recently, with updated kitchen and bath fixtures, and flat-screen HDTVs in each of the 4 rooms (3 BR, living room.) Not bad! It was impossible to predict, however, whether the faucets in the bathrooms would give you hot or cold water, making brushing one's teeth a bit of roulette. And our drain was a bit slow. Other than that, the accommodations were fabulous.
The Disney Dining Plan was more complicated than it was worth, as far as I can tell. It was convenient, though, to be able to pick up a Coke for essentially free, and not to have to wait around for everyone else. It did mean, however, that one was limited to choosing certain items, when one may have preferred something else, so as not to waste the pre-paid food options.
We selected restaurants following recommendations from my Mouse-expert friend
corpsefairy.Marrakesh in the Morocco pavilion at Epcot was in an amazingly beautiful building, decorated by artisans sent from the King of Morocco. The entertainment was an oud player and a belly dancer. I got veggie couscous, and Ben got some couscous with a prune-balsamic sauce and giant hunks of beef. Had I not been limited to choosing an entree, I would likely have gotten the mixed appetizer platter as my meal (hummus, baba ghanoush, and falafel.) I should have ordered the baklava, dammit. The bastilla was tasty, though.
Jiko, in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, was a fancier place. I had a damn good tuna steak, crusted in something spicy (though not killer spicy). I was torn between that and the vegetarian option, but I really wanted a huge slab of protein. Ben got some sort of spicy shrimp curry. There was also a cheese plate split around the table, though splitting cheeses 5 ways is a losing proposition, IMO. (I still don't like blue cheese.)
Kona Cafe in the Grand Polynesian had a mind-boggling array of desserts. I got the "can be made vegetarian" option, which was noodles in a peanut sauce with tofu instead of chicken, then a chocolate lava cake for dessert.
The Rose and Crown (England pavilion at Epcot) had a variety of beers and British pub food. I got vegetarian shepherd's pie (made with mushrooms!) and a pint of cider topped off with Tennent's lager (a Snake Bite), then sticky toffee pudding. Good god damn, that shit was good. Bread pudding covered in butter caramel sauce and creme anglaise. Heaven!
The Electric Umbrella (Epcot) had limited veggie options, though since I enjoy Greek salad, I was OK with that.
Columbia Harbour House (Magic Kingdom/Liberty Square) had a nice hummus & slaw sandwich, but the apple crisp was misleading: it was more like a folded-up apple pie. Crisps don't have dough!
The sweet pretzel (chocolate) from Kringla Bakeri og kafe was delightful, kind of like a donutty texture.
I forget the name of the place we ate in The Land (Epcot), but it was nice. They had some veggie wraps and sandwiches in the cooler, but, again, they weren't included in the meal plan, so I had to get something from the menu (which was a grilled veggie pita with a fuckton of vile olives in the middle.)
The pineapple float made with soft-serve pineapple ice cream and pineapple juice was DIVINE. Especially since I wanted a drink and a bit of ice cream. (I forget the name of the stand, but they served Dole Whip, and it was located catty-corner from the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.)
I was very sad there was little chance of interesting Ben's folks in the character meals, because we walked past the Crystal Palace (buffet with character) and it had EEYORE and TIGGER inside. *grumph*
Sunday after everyone arrived, we went into Epcot center to wander around until it was time for dinner. I caught Sombrero Donald by the Mexico pavilion and got a picture. Then we wandered through everywhere up to Morocco, where we had dinner. After that, we went back to get some Glühwein from a stand in Germany (because it was a Christmas market, of course) and find a spot to watch the fireworks.
Ben's mom was keen on being as close to the exit as possible, because, apparently, we might get stuck at the park by missing the last bus. Yeah, I don't know either. Though we did have plans to get up fairly early the next day, so getting to sleep early would be good. The site we ended up at, by the boat dock, wasn't all that great. But we got out of the park relatively quickly.
Monday morning was Extra Magic Hours at Animal Kingdom, which means it opened an hour earlier. So we got up and went to the Kilimanjaro Safari tour. Many others had that plan, but the line moved quickly. The animals were out in the cool foggy morning! We saw lots of them. Then we went through the rest of that park, finishing up by noon, when they started to fall asleep. We swung past Camp Minnie-Mickey, where the main characters have essentially permanent photo ops. I wasn't terribly interested in any of the ones with lines (Minnie, etc), but THUMPER!!! was standing in a little corner, so I had to get my picture with Thumper. I think I frightened the poor cast member with a slightly enthusiastic hug.
We rode the Everest ride, and I don't recommend it. It goes BACKWARD, which is distinctly UNPLEASANT. I leaned against a display rack in the gift shop for a minute, then sat outside until I stopped feeling like I was going to fall over. It wasn't the motion-sick nausea, just vertigo. Like I said, unpleasant.
But I got a safari Eeyore with detachable tail! It's so cute!!
After that, we went back to Epcot for some more wandering around, looking for food. Got food, and Ben's folks went back to the room to wait for Tom (who got too drunk Saturday night and missed his flight, so he joined us Monday). We rode the Three Caballeros ride in Mexico (corny as hell, and possibly sketchily stereotypical), then went up to Norway and rode the Norway, fuck yeah! ride (which is properly called Maelstrom.) That also goes backwards, but not nearly as fast as Everest. Then they trap you in this holding chamber so you can watch a movie about Norway. We skipped that.
Then while we were walking past China, we saw these teenaged girls doing mad acrobatic shit, including some Cirque du Soleil-type stuff. One of them hula-hooped 50 hoops. It was amazing.
We killed some time wandering around Epcot some more until it was time to make our way to Jiko. When we got to the lodge we had time to spare, so we looked out in the yard, which abuts the animal kingdom area, but all the animals were sleeping.
Tuesday we went up to the Magic Kingdom. We hadn't gotten far into Adventureland when I saw Lilo and Stitch, so I had to go get my picture done. We rode the Jungle Cruise (corny! And subjected to Serious Biologist Critique immediately afterward) and went into the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. Then I saw Aladdin and Jasmine, and got my picture with them (mainly because they were both attractive. Shush.)
Then we rode Pirates of the Caribbean. The bits where they inserted Johnny Depp are surprisingly well done and subtle (and a seriously good likeness). Everyone else went on Thunder Mountain while I finished my pineapple float and played around with mobile LJ on my phone. I was saving my potential nausea for Space Mountain.
After lunch at the Grand Polynesian, we went back to the Magic Kingdom and went through Tomorrowland. The spaceship ride was fun (if slightly dizzying), and Stitch's Great Escape was well done, with the lighting effects and force-feedback harnesses. Then it was up Space Mountain. Man, they didn't have the video games in line the last time I was there. That's a great idea. After Space Mountain, we trekked over to the Haunted Mansion. It's so corny, but it's so much fun.
Since Tom missed the Illuminations Sunday night, and the MK parade and fireworks were only Monday and Wednesday this week, we went back to Epcot for Illuminations again. This time we got a much better seat, over in Norway. We staked it out around 8:15 for the 9:30 show.
Wednesday we had Christmas presents, then went to Epcot to see the last few pavilions (the right-hand side ones, by England) and for lunch. Then we rode Spaceship Earth (they gave props to the Arabs for keeping copies of the books in the library at Alexandria!) and played at Innoventions a bit before trekking down to the Magic Kingdom again for dinner, Spectromagic, and Wishes.
Spectromagic is an updated Electric Light Parade. Wishes is kinda corny, with the theme of "when you wish upon a star," but the fireworks were pretty, if obscured by a building.
I had fun, and I think (eventually) Ben's parents did, too. His mom was excited to go ride Pirates. XD
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 10:24 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 12:02 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 01:00 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 11:25 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 12:01 am (UTC)From:I think I'd like to stay at one of the nearer resorts (Polynesian looked nice), should I go again, though if other people advocate treehouses, I wouldn't object ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 03:17 am (UTC)From:I also really, really want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Okapi! Giraffes! So very cool!
Let me know when you have pictures up! I'd love to see them.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 02:49 pm (UTC)From:2010 looks too busy for me (6 weeks in Europe!) but 2011 is clear so far...
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 04:27 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 04:01 am (UTC)From:THAT PINEAPPLE THING SOUNDS AMAZING :O :O :O
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 02:52 pm (UTC)From:Space Mountain wasn't too bad, because it didn't pull a lot of Gs. There were some drops and things, but mostly it was fine. (I got more queasy on the go-round-in-a-circle spaceships ride.)