Escaping The Brutal Northeast For Sunny, Warm Florida and Fun! Completed 7/12 About This Page:

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by DLinNH

ok, where is the BOG update? hmm? just kidding. I know working full time is a drain - I do it every single week plus a 2nd job, but I can't stand not knowing the rest of your trip. LOL. so the lady in the back has a questions.."tell me about the room locations at POR for Royal Rooms?" if you are able. I just changed my resv. to a Royal Room based on an a great discount, but I am concerned about distance to main buiilding, etc. Any info would be helpful! Too bad we weren't there at the same time!

I hope to do my next update tomorrow! I'm only on day 2 right now, so there is plenty more ahead! I stayed in Alligator Bayou and the Royal Guest Rooms are all in Magnolia Bend. The walking distance to the food court, shouldn't be any more than five minutes and that would be from the farthest buildings! The RGRs at POR are in Oak Manor and Parterre Place with Oak Manor being the closest to the food court.

Here's a good site for info on the Port Orleans resorts:

Unofficial Guide to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter Resorts

[lindawdw]

Sounds like you really enjoyed walking around the new part of Fantasyland before your BOG ressie. I'm heading to WDW this Saturday and am so excited to ride the SDMTR!!! Looking forward to hearing about your dinner.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by lindawdw

Sounds like you really enjoyed walking around the new part of Fantasyland before your BOG ressie. I'm heading to WDW this Saturday and am so excited to ride the SDMTR!!! Looking forward to hearing about your dinner.

It was fun exploring and seeing the new Fantasyland for the first time!

I should have an update later today!

Have a great time in WDW and on SDMT and looking forward to a TR!

[SuperDave]

Uh Oh....Looks Like Something’s Definitely Missing!


Sunday, March 30 (Part III)

I checked in at the Be Our Guest booth, over to the left before the bridge. I guess this would be considered a booth. There were a few people in front of me checking in as well, but didn’t have to wait long to do so. I was given a pager and had a seat over on the rocks in front of the Beast’s Castle.


This is quite a unique pager as opposed to most of the non descriptive ones you generally get at WDW.

I wanted to get a closer look at the details of this pager and went to grab my reading glasses from my cargo shorts and discovered that something was definitely missing! Now this bothered me as I need these for reading menus in many restaurants as they tend to be dark inside. I checked my other pockets and no luck! The last time I remember checking for them was securing them by buttoning my shorts pocket, just as I got in the car for Space Mountain. That’s my guess of where I left them. I don’t know how I could lose them on that attraction, since it’s such a smooth ride! I didn’t know when my pager would go off for my ADR, so I didn’t have time now to return to Space Mountain and ask one of the CMs if they found them. I’d just have to wait until after dinner.

I waited a bit more and my pager lit up at around 7:50. Not too bad for a 7:45 pm ADR, and how popular this place is.



I was led in through the large front doors of the castle by one of the CMs. He was completely in character by welcoming me to dinner at the Beast's castle. Referring to the Beast as his honor and my host. The castle is amazing when you enter it with such detail and theming. Certainly, spectacular to say the least. I was brought into the Ballroom and quickly noticed the grand chandeliers in this dining room. It did seem a bit dark in here and not having my glasses could be a problem with reading the menu.







I was seated and my waiter gave me a menu and wine list. I looked over the menu and didn’t have too much trouble reading it without the glasses. I ordered a glass of Syrah and for appetizer I went with the potato leek soup and for my entree I decided on the herb and mustard crusted lamb chops in a demi glace.

I looked around the ballroom and loved the pane glass in the rear with the snow falling. This was quite a nice touch to this place. After a few minutes, the ballroom lit up with some grand orchestra music playing as The Beast made his entrance and over to the next room for photos. I thought this was pretty cool.

I was brought some bread and butter, but not my glass of wine or water yet! Shortly, my potato leek soup was served to me, but no beverages yet. This is a big turnoff for me as you should have your beverage brought to you before the first course. There should also be a few minutes to enjoy the bread too. I had to get the attention of my waiter as she had forgotten about my glass of wine and didn’t bring me any water yet. I shouldn’t have to ask for the latter. Soon I received my beverages. I was feeling a bit rushed with the service as it’s not off to a good start.

The potato leek soup was excellent and one of the best I’ve had. I was finishing the soup, when my entree arrived. A little bit soon and now I feel even more rushed. I know this is a tough ADR to get, but no reason to rush you like this. The lamb chops I felt were pretty good, but had too much mustard on the crust and were basically swimming in a pool of sauce. Just a bit too much on that! I decided to skip dessert as it’s basically cupcakes. Although, I was interested in trying the Gray Stuff. I think for the most part the meal was good. It was just the service that was extremely lacking. I will probably give this another try as I love the decor and theming here! The potato leek soup was quite delicious!

So I left my table, near the entrance and took a walk around the castle and took some photos!




The Beast doing the photo thing. There was a line in the room, but wasn’t too bad, although I decided against an extra expense with my photo with him.


Entrance to the castle






It doesn’t seem like a castle until you see some armor!






Entrance to the Ballroom, which I just love with the gargoyles!



I left the castle around 9:30 or so and enjoyed exploring some of the different rooms in the castle with their detail and theming. It’s all done and appointed very well. You certainly could spend quite a bit of time taking it all in. Now it was time to head on over to Tomorrowland and Space Mountain and hopefully find my reading glasses!

It was quite crowded in the Magic Kingdom now as EMHs were tonight and Wishes would be starting in about a half hour. It took a bit of weaving through the crowds and around some roped off areas to get to Space Mountain.

I told one of the CMs outside of Space Mountain that I may have lost my reading glasses in a black case on the ride earlier. One of them went in and after a good five minutes or so, they told me that they had them! I entered through the Fastpass+ line and went to the top and told a CM there that I was here to get my glasses. I got them and left through a different exit than normal, down some long empty hallways. This was quite different and very plain.

I decided to leave the Magic Kingdom now and perhaps relax for the rest of the evening. Getting out of here was a bit of a project as it was so crowded and many of the usual routes I take to exit here were roped off. Some where between Tomorrowland and Main Street some CMs were directing us toward another exit as Main Street USA was full for Wishes. We went through one of the backstage areas and came out in front of the WDW Railroad Station. Thought that was a pretty cool thing to see as most people don’t get to see this. I have seen a few of these areas on some of the WDW tours I’ve taken.





I was happy I was able to beat the exiting crowds from Wishes. Now it was on to do something else and wind down the evening in a relaxing way...

NEXT: Where Have You Been?

[Colexis Mom]

So glad you were able to get your reading glasses back! Sorry about feeling rushed at BoG! Great pictures!!

[lfredsbo]

Sorry you didn't have such great service at BoG

And happy you found your glasses!!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

So glad you were able to get your reading glasses back! Sorry about feeling rushed at BoG! Great pictures!!

I enjoyed BOG for the most part, but the service was certainly not that great! Glad I got the glasses back!

Originally Posted by lfredsbo

Sorry you didn't have such great service at BoG

And happy you found your glasses!!

I was expecting better service and seemed quite unorganized! If I had someone else it may have been different, but who knows? Glad I got the glasses back. They're not expensive, but would have been an inconvenience at times not having them. I'm sure they'd cost more in one of the resort shops!

[lauriep]

Sorry your service at BOG was so poor. I hope this doesn't indicate slacking off in the training, because the service was top notch when I was there a year ago. Next time stop to talk to the suits of armor-- they'll talk back! They usually send people out through the backstage areas during the crowded parades. It's a good thing, too, or you'd probably never make it out!

[chezp]

So glad they were able to find your reading glasses.

Sorry you were rushed at Be Our Guest - your experience there sounds just like ours last year at Monsieur Paul in terms of being rushed with your meal.

[shazza]

Nice to find your glasses.

Sounds like you had a forgetful server at BoG. We've started ordering appetizers first at some restaurants, only ordering dinner after we get the apps - this is when we want to make sure we aren't rushed. I know some restaurants may not like this approach, but ...

Also, with the photo with the Beast, I'm pretty sure they will take one for you with your camera. The problem is, the lighting is so poor, even the Photopass / now Memory Maker ones can come out dark.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by lauriep

Sorry your service at BOG was so poor. I hope this doesn't indicate slacking off in the training, because the service was top notch when I was there a year ago. Next time stop to talk to the suits of armor-- they'll talk back! They usually send people out through the backstage areas during the crowded parades. It's a good thing, too, or you'd probably never make it out!

I loved the theming and ambience of BOG very much so Just my server was a bit laxed that night! I plan to return and will talk to the suits then. I wish I had known that prior! Definitely, a good idea with the alternative exits!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by chezp

So glad they were able to find your reading glasses.

Sorry you were rushed at Be Our Guest - your experience there sounds just like ours last year at Monsieur Paul in terms of being rushed with your meal.

Glad I got those back as although, most of the time I don't need them, it's just those when I do would be a bit inconvenient!

I remember your experience of Monsieur Paul from your TR last Oct/Nov. At the time I was a bit apprehensive booking an ADR there as this was about the time I was booking my trip! I had a good experience there, but a lot has to do with whom you get as a server! Some are experienced professional and others aren't!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by shazza

Nice to find your glasses.

Sounds like you had a forgetful server at BoG. We've started ordering appetizers first at some restaurants, only ordering dinner after we get the apps - this is when we want to make sure we aren't rushed. I know some restaurants may not like this approach, but ...

Also, with the photo with the Beast, I'm pretty sure they will take one for you with your camera. The problem is, the lighting is so poor, even the Photopass / now Memory Maker ones can come out dark.

That's a good approach with ordering. Not always easy, when you're at a table rather than sitting up at the bar, where it's more relaxed with food ordering!

I thought, about having my photo taken with The Beast but there were always a few in line, so I didn't want to bother or wait much as I had to return to SM to get my glasses and time it so I could get out of the MK before I endured the exiting crowds of Wishes, which I was able to do!

[MayraLR]

Glad you were able to find your glasses!
Too bad the service at BoG wasn't the greatest.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by MayraLR

Glad you were able to find your glasses!
Too bad the service at BoG wasn't the greatest.

I was definitely happy about finding the glasses and certainly not about the service at BOG!