Disney Nomads ... 3 Resorts in 8 Nights (March '12) - ALL NEW UPDATED 9/2 About This Page:

[PrincessSharon]

Yup, that sounds like Captain EO all right. Glad you got to spend some time with your friend!

[Colexis Mom]

Great description of Captain EO!

[njlaura]

Hi everyone! Sorry so late in replying. I'm so behind...

Originally Posted by chezp

Oh my goodness, I love the description of Captain Eo!

Priceless cheesiness.

Originally Posted by lazanya

OMG! That was hilarious about Captain EO!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

I haven't seen Captain EO in over 20 years and I'm cracking up because you brought it all back!

And now you'll have to see it again!

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Glad that you got to spend some time with your friend. Love the Captain EO description

Thanks!

Originally Posted by jlhill4444

I have never seen Captain EO, but with your description, it is on the top of my list now!! Too funny!!!

You have to see it to believe it.

Originally Posted by Cam22

I do enjoy your sense of humor. My niece would have rolled her eyes even more if I'd used your description of Captain EO.

Thanks Cam! Is your niece at that eye rolling stage? Not looking forward to that in a few years with my daughter.

Originally Posted by PrincessSharon

Yup, that sounds like Captain EO all right. Glad you got to spend some time with your friend!

I wonder how long they're going to keep him around.

Originally Posted by DisneyDana

okay I have been reading along and just now checking in, but I had to tell you that I sat here howling at "the crow flies at noon" story! hahahahaha! That was great! Now back to reading.

Ha ha! That was such a great coincidence.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great description of Captain EO!

Thanks!

[njlaura]

After looking at the Mickey head vegetables we make our way toward the World Showcase. Passing the pretzel cart, Bets says, “I see people walk by my kiosk with these all day, and they look so good, but for some reason I’ve never tried one.” Back to the pretzel cart we go. They’re pretty good but the pretzel I’m dying to try, (hmmm…perhaps that’s overstating it) the pretzel I really want to try is the jalapeno one at Animal Kingdom.

I can now add poor snacking to my list of trip reporting don’ts. This joins lack of picture taking, stupid gimmicks, dumb nicknames and unfortunate choice of words.

Monkston wants to play Kim Possible so we grab a phone (I’m NOT calling it a kimmunicator). I hope the Agent P game has a better name for this thing. Our mission is in Great Britain, so off we go.

I text Sheena to see what she’s doing. She’s also friends with Bets because she followed me from the newspaper to the big financial company.

A text comes back. “Finally got a pool day. Druid and TGM are at Magic Kingdom. Having a cocktail.”

Guess she won’t be joining us.

Mr. Squid is missing out on all this fun so I call him (no texting for him). It turns out he’s right around the corner. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to play Kim Possible. At least she’s outgrown the Kidcot stations, right? They’re cute, but we can color at home.

We meet up in Great Britain and follow Monkston around as she plays her game. As we near the gazebo where the band plays I say to Mr. Squid, “That Beatles band doesn’t play here anymore. Does that make you sad? You always loved them.”

“I never said I loved them. They were terrible.”

“Then, why did we always have to stop and sit in direct sunlight in the middle of the day to listen to them?”

“I liked the songs.”

“Oh.” Well, ok then.

Mission accomplished, we decide to make our way to Morocco for lunch. We have made this a must-do ever since Mr. Squid discovered tabbouleh. He has spent years perfecting his own version of it at home and makes at least a batch a week. His recipe is a mystery. I think it involves pickle juice.

I don’t eat his tabbouleh.

Mr. Squid and I split a combination plate, Bets has falafel and Monkston gets chicken nuggets. Mr. Squid declares his tabbouleh superior to what we’re eating. Does that mean we can try another place for lunch next year? They’re expanding the boulangerie. How about that one?

After we finish our lunch, Mr. Squid and Monkston decide to go back to the clown pool. Bets and I do some shopping, check out the flower and garden stuff and chit chat.

Ooh caramel! There’s Karamel Kuche. I remember how delicious the caramel corn was last year and how much Monkston liked it. Bets uses her discount to buy some (Score! It’s not what you know…) and we head back out.

Not being able to resist the smell I sample a piece and hmmm….this isn’t like last year’s. This isn’t very good at all. It tastes kind of stale and chewy. Bets says it may just be a bad batch and we should go and exchange it. So back we go and I let her explain the situation, cast member to cast member. He brings us a sample and we think it’s better so he gives us another bag.

Off we go again, take another bite while we’re walking, and this really isn’t any better, is it? We decide we can’t go complain again so we just decide to suck it up and hope Monkston is happy with it anyway.

After several hours of shopping, we decide to go back to the boardwalk. Bets is curious to look around since she’s never had a chance to explore the resort.

Before we go, Bets says she wants to run over to Japan to get an iced tea. I decide to pick up a bottle of wine up in France and we’ll meet by the bridge. I find a pretty reasonable (for Disney) white burgundy and also get a plastic cup of it for the walk back.

This is not the best walking drink I think as it sloshes all over my hand. I’d rather they give a larger cup and not fill it up all the way, but I guess Disney feels differently. After meeting back up with Bets we walk (I, very carefully with my rapidly depleting white burgundy) to the exit.

We reach the exit and a cast member loudly says, “No, No! You cannot bring your champagne out here! You must finish it in the park.”

Who has “champagne?”

Oh, I think she means me.

This makes no sense to me. I can see not allowing “champagne” in the park, but out of it? Anyone have any idea why?

It’s no matter though. There’s a bench in the shade so we sit and finish our drinks. Bets tells me about her Imagineering friend and that she has an office right here at Epcot. I had no idea they had offices at the parks. Her friend works in interior design and LOVES her job. Sounds pretty great to me too.

I ask her if she has any good dating stories, because she usually does.

“Oh my goodness. I’ve given up on online dating.”

“Why? What happened?”

“First of all, the profiles and photos you see on the site are very different from reality. Take my last date.”

In my head I add, “Please.”

“He seemed like a nice, normal guy when I was emailing him. I told him I’d meet him at Starbucks where I always go on first dates.

“We were having an ok conversation, not great, when he takes out his iPhone to show me some pictures. Now, I always find it funny when guys flicks through screens on their phones because it looks kind of fey but I stifle an impulse to giggle. He stops and proudly shows me a photo of a target with bullet holes. ‘Oh my,’ I say. ‘That’s um…nice?’ He finds another one and this time it’s one of those human silhouette targets with holes in it. And then he shows me a photo of his gun and ammo collections! Needless to say, this was our first and last date.”

Wine and iced tea finished, we head back to the exit and, drinkless, I’m allowed to pass.

I show Bets around the resort and then we meet Mr. Squid and Monkston at the pool. After some more chit chat we say our goodbyes to Bets and head back to the room to change for dinner at Le Cellier.


After the short walk from the resort (Yay!) we see Sheena, Druid and Little TGM outside the restaurant. I tell them I’ll go and check us in.

When I made the reservation, there weren’t any tables for 6 available so I had to make two reservations for 3 and I plan to ask for tables next to each other.

“Hi there. I have reservations for the njlaura and Sheena families. Could you please seat us next to each other?”

“Oh dear. I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to the seat assignment manager.”

Seat assignment manager?

“Thanks. We’re willing to wait if that helps.”

I see her talking to a man holding a small laptop. I think they’re both shaking their heads. I think they’re talking about me.

She’s coming back. Am I imagining that disapproving look on her face?

“He says he’ll see what he can do but he can’t guarantee it.”

This isn’t going to be the dinner we were looking forward to if we have to sit across the restaurant from each other.

I walk outside and Sheena tells me the guys took the kids over to the Kidcot station. Hmm. I thought she’d outgrown that. I guess I was wrong.

“How was your day, Sheena?” I ask.

“Perfect. I sat at the pool all day, read my magazines, had a couple of cocktails. Perfect.”

“That’s great. I had a nice time with Bets too,” I say.

“Get this. I’m standing at the bus stop to come here to meet everyone and I see these two guys carving into a tree with a pocket knife. I walk over and tell them to stop, that I’ve paid a lot of money to stay at this beautiful resort and I don’t need them defiling it.”

“Oh my God! I can’t believe you had the nerve to do that. They had a knife! Not everyone visiting Disney is a good person.”

“I really wasn’t thinking about that. I just didn’t want them damaging that beautiful tree. Anyway, they stopped and I walked away, but I heard them call me a rhymes-with-witch. I don’t care though. What is wrong with some people?

“And then they got on the Epcot bus with me.”

I gasp. “Do you think they were following you or they wanted to go to Epcot?”

“I don’t know. I could see they were glaring at me but I didn’t care.”

I love how she’s not afraid to speak her mind. Never in a million years would I have had the nerve to do that. Good for you Sheena!

“So why are so dressed up?” Sheena asks.

“Um. It’s a signature restaurant. Aren’t we supposed to dress up a bit?”

“Pfft. Most of these people are in shorts and t-shirts. What are they going to do? Kick you out? Look at what Druid’s wearing. He got that t-shirt five years ago for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.”

The buzzer goes off and we are seated at a table for 6. Yay!

Here's one measly photo Monkston took with my phone. I promise to do better with pictures next year. Maybe I won't have to do so much typing.



I’m curious about what the changes are going to be here now that it’s a hoity toity signature restaurant. Frankly, I don’t think the atmosphere merits it but we’ll see.

I didn’t feel like having $89 steak. What I really wanted was the chicken but I can’t order chicken in a signature restaurant. Maybe I’ll get the pork so I can see what fried cheddar cheese pasta is like.

I talk the kids into ordering the Kids Picks meals that come with an appetizer so we can steal their cheddar cheese soup for the pretzel bread. There’s a tip for all the parents of picky eaters that won’t eat the appetizer anyway.

Our server, let’s call her Ashley because she’s young and pretty, comes over, wishes Mr. Squid a happy birthday, and takes our drink orders. The kids have the usual lemonade, Squid and I order wine, Sheena asks for a fancy cosmo drink and Druid wants beer.

After a few minutes Ashley comes back with everyone’s drinks but ours. Hey, isn’t he the birthday boy? She says it will be a few minutes and then takes our orders and walks away.

A few minutes later she comes back with the bread. I miss the old wire cone. They put it all in a basket now along with some new, daintier rolls. Doesn’t everyone just want the pretzel bread? This basket has one little piece of pretzel bread. They’re just setting themselves up for more trips to the kitchen.

Still no wine. Squid gives me a what the heck look.

A few minutes later, the soup arrives. No wine.

Mr. Squid asks if it’s coming soon and the lightbulb goes off. Another few minutes and we’re all set but now the others need refills. And we need more pretzel bread.

So far, I’m not all that impressed. The cheese soup is delicious though.

The steaks arrive and poor Mr. Squid gets the shaft again. His steak is not just too rare, it’s raw and the server has run off. We wait for about five minutes and flag down someone to find Ashley.

She apologizes and offers some complimentary wine.

Everyone else was happy with their steaks. I wasn’t all that thrilled with the pork since it was a bit tough. The fried cheddar pasta is pretty tasty though. It’s like a macaroni and cheese cake.

Mr. Squid finally gets his steak back. We tell Sheena and family about how nice the Boardwalk and how it’s so great that we can walk to Epcot.

“If you guys join DVC, you can stay there with us.”

“We can rent points and stay there,” Sheena counters.

Ok, ok. We’re not done convincing you yet though.

After dinner, Mr. Squid is given a birthday dessert. Druid wants a dessert too but for some reason Sheena doesn’t want him to get one. They have a little whisper disagreement and he relents. I later find out that she was trying to keep our expenses even. She’s so thoughtful that way.

We pay our $563 check and leave and I’m so happy that we have just a short walk. I gloat to Sheena once again that we don’t have to go all the way to the front of the park and wait for a bus.

“Then you don’t get to go in Mousegears with us,” she says.

Foiled again.

[Cam22]

So sorry Le Cellier was less than stellar! I think Ashley needed more than a wake up call!

[mcc0313]

Sorry that the meal wasn't up to par...sounds like the service was a little off. Glad you got to enjoy all at one table though. I love your selling pitch...the walk to the BW is so worth it, waiting for the moment when you say Shenna has been sold

[dutchdisneyfamily]

It sounds like it wasn't the best meal, but the company was good. Fun times with friends!

[lazanya]

Sorry your meal wasn't up to par.

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry about dinner!

[chezp]

So sorry Le Cellier wasn't great - sadly, after our experience there, I'm not surprised.

[njlaura]

Originally Posted by DisneyDana

OMG! It's been so long since you've had an update that I've forgotten who you are and your hairstyles are out of date!

LOL

Originally Posted by Cam22

So sorry Le Cellier was less than stellar! I think Ashley needed more than a wake up call!

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Sorry that the meal wasn't up to par...sounds like the service was a little off. Glad you got to enjoy all at one table though. I love your selling pitch...the walk to the BW is so worth it, waiting for the moment when you say Shenna has been sold

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

It sounds like it wasn't the best meal, but the company was good. Fun times with friends!

Originally Posted by lazanya

Sorry your meal wasn't up to par.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Sorry about dinner!

Originally Posted by chezp

So sorry Le Cellier wasn't great - sadly, after our experience there, I'm not surprised.

All in all, it was still a fun night, just not quite what we had anticipated.

[njlaura]

Today is Mr. Squid’s birthday. Happy birthday Mr. Squid!

Monkston and I have been up for a while and are letting the birthday boy sleep while we huddle in the vanity area. Because I’m mother of the year, I’ve given her the last of the stale cinnamon rolls. I’m going to tough it out with just coffee because we have reservations at Kouzzina.

“Where are we going today, Mommy?”

“Let’s let Daddy decide.”

The only plans we’ve made so far are breakfast and moving to our new home in Kidani for the next three nights. Oh, and a birthday dinner at Jiko, but’s that’s way off. We still have a whole day to fill.

Mr. Squid wakes up, and after we’re all ready, we start packing up. This isn’t really as arduous as it would seem since we never fully UNpacked. We do have some decisions to make about what food travels with us though.

“What should I do with this? Should we bring it?” I hear Mr. Squid say. I look over and he’s holding up the gouda he’s been saving since way back at Bay Lake Tower.

“I can’t believe you’re still carrying that! No, I don’t think we need the gouda.”

“How about this?”

“I think we can throw out the leftover pizza too.”

“This?”

He’s holding up the leftover caramel corn, which is really more full than leftover. I’m torn. It’s really not very good, but I think I paid $36 for it and I don’t want it to go to waste.

“Ok. Bring it. Maybe Monkston will be hungry later.”

See? Mother of the year.

I forgot to mention that in addition to the caramel corn I had gotten some weird snacks and drinks for Mr. Squid in Japan yesterday. We pack those up too.

We’re all done packing and it only took about 15 minutes. Anyone on the fence about a split stay should know that it’s really not difficult.

We call bell services and 5 minutes later someone is at the door for our luggage. Easy peasy.

We check in at Kouzzina and while we’re waiting for our table, I look at Kat Cora’s family photos hanging in the lobby. I think that’s a nice, homey touch.

The hostess comes back and we’re seated at a table right next to the open kitchen. I’m so excited to watch the chefs in action.

Our server, let’s call her Britney, arrives and Mr. Squid has questions about the coffee frappe and how closely it resembles a frappucino. After some discussion, he decides to try it and I order a pressed pot of coffee. She then tells us that the rather serious, no-nonsense woman in the kitchen is Dee, who is Kat Cora’s sous chef on Iron Chef. Wow! A celebrity! Sort of.

Here’s her picture.



She didn’t look that happy though. Maybe it’s the wine.

“What are you getting?” asks Mr. Squid.

“The stacked breakfast.”

(Here is the description from allears. Stacked Kouzzina Breakfast - Two Poached Eggs, Kalamata Olive Toast, Artichoke Spread, and Sweet Potato Hash with choice of Bacon or Chicken Sausage $11.99)

“Will I be jealous of your breakfast if I don’t order it?”

“I don’t want to take responsibility for your breakfast enjoyment. Why don’t we ask Britney?”

It’s a good thing that this place isn’t crowded because we’re acting like tea drinkers. (I’m looking at you, Smidgy and Shannon.)

Britney comes back with our drinks and tells us that the stacked breakfast is her favorite and that the artichoke spread is to die for. That’s all Mr. Squid needs to hear. Sold!

Did I mention that Britney is very pretty?

While we’re waiting we take some pictures because that’s the kind of trip reporter I am. I only take photos when I’m bored and waiting for food. So here is another set photos featuring the laura74 family sitting at a restaurant table.







I know. Pathetic. You have to admit the one with Mr. Squid is pretty funny though. Next trip I promise to take pictures of thing people are actually interested in.

We pass the time watching the chefs in action. This looks nothing like any of the restaurant kitchens I remember from my waitressing days. These chefs barely talk. They aren’t throwing pans in the sink. They aren’t cursing at the servers. They are so calm and organized. I fear they may be animatronic.

“Squid, this is so weird. Every chef I’ve ever worked with has been a megalomaniac jerk. These guys seem too nice to be chefs. I haven’t seen anyone getting yelled at yet. I’ve never worked in a restaurant where the chef didn’t yell at the servers.”

“This is Disney.”

“I don’t know. They’re like Stepford chefs.”

Britney arrives with our food and I ask her, “The chefs seem so nice here. When I was a server, the chefs yelled at us all the time. Are they always like this?”

“Oh no! There’s another kitchen in the back. That’s the yelling kitchen.”

Ah. Mystery solved.

Monkston seems to be enjoying her Mickey waffles. Squid and I both agree that the stacked breakfast is good but we would rather have a more savory potato hash. I was curious about how the sweet potato hash would go with this dish but I assumed that Kat Cora knew better than I.

Mr. Squid says he wants to go to Epcot so that is where we head. On the way he points out the Beach Club and that he and Monkston had explored it a bit yesterday. He says he doesn’t mind if I want to go over and see the pool so we make a detour to Stormalong Bay.

We ask the cast member stationed outside to keep out the undesirables if we can go in for a few minutes to look around. I guess we look trustworthy because she lets us in.

The pool is huge with a lazy river winding around under bridges. It looks like so much fun…and a lot of points. I like the atmosphere at Boardwalk better but this pool is pretty darn tempting.

“What do you think Squid? Should we try this place next year? Maybe we can stay here in a studio for a couple nights so we don’t use up all our points. But then, look over there. The Boardwalk is so much fun and so pretty. I guess we can walk over to visit though.”

I’m babbling.

I feel a little sad to leave this area. I mean, look at us. We are walking to Epcot! No bus. No long trek to the front entrance. We just go through the gateway, and voila, we’re in France!

Monkston has brought the Duffy she started last night. We have not escaped the Kidcot stations after all. She has decided that she wants to visit all of them.

Mr. Squid takes Monkston to get her Duffy signed while I look at all the French Country kitchen things. Someday maybe I’ll have a new kitchen... Squid?

Next we stop in Morocco but it’s a quick stop because we’re not that interested in the stores there. Tabouleh, yes. Fez hats, no.

We always spend a lot of time in the Misukoshi store. My favorite time there was when Monkston was in first grade and we bought her a kimono before our dinner at Tappan Edo.

Look how cute!





Last year, we credited Monkston’s purchase of the good fortune cat with our buying DVC so she was anxious to buy another cat. There was much examining of the different knick knacks but in the end she decides not to get one.

Next is the saddest of the pavilions, America. Why oh why does Disney not show us off better for the international guests? Just take a look at the menu in Liberty Tavern. Cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs! There is so much great regional American cuisine to choose from. Jambalaya? New England Chowder? Shrimp and grits? Southern fried chicken? Chili? There are plenty of fast food items that would better represent our country. And the gift shop just has a bunch of red, white and blue junk.

They did have some nice topiary, though.



On our way to Italy, Mr. Squid says he wants to stop at the DVC booth. We haven’t given up trying to convince the Sheena family to join so we want to find out what their latest promos are.

DVC Dennis tells us that they have an extra points promotion. He tells us that if we want to buy 20 points, we get an extra 30.

“Really?” Squid says. “That sounds too good to be true.”

We tell Dennis that we’re trying to convince our friends to join DVC, not at all for the referral bonus, and does he have any information for us.

He says we can fill out a card with their info and they can send them so materials.

“We don’t want anyone calling and bothering them.”

He assures us that no one will pester them so we fill out the forms. Dennis takes a look at the card.

“Does Druid have red hair and a red-headed son with glasses? I think he was wearing a St. Patrick’s Day shirt.”

Mr. Squid and I look at each other, minds blown.

“Yes! He does! Was he here yesterday?”

“No, actually I talked to him at the Magic Kingdom booth yesterday. The name was unusual which is why I remembered it today,” he says.

“I can’t wait to tell them this story at dinner tonight!” I say.

We make a quick stop in Italy and then move on to Germany. The cast member at the Kidcot stop is the least friendly we’ve encountered. He looks very put out that we’ve bothered him and sighs when we ask if he would write something in German on Monkston’s Duffy. (That sounds so wrong, doesn’t it? Monkston’s duffy.)

On the way to China, we stop at the outpost and the cast member tells us that the beaded bracelets are made out of discarded Disney paper and that proceeds help people in Africa. I’m sold.

We spend quite a while in the China pavilion store Monkston has money to burn and it’s been a day since she’s bought something. She’s getting restless.

Since she’s spending her own money, this could be a lengthy process. She sees some kids in the corner playing with the spinning plates, or should I say spinning Frisbees. A cast member comes over and shows us how to do it but of course it is not as easy as he makes it look. Monkston says she wants to buy one. Mr. Squid looks at the price tag and sees they want $20 for a Frisbee and a stick.

We all decide this is not a wise purchase and she moves on to the mood cats. She decides on two and we head over to Norway. After wading through a sea of tiny princesses and strollers, we find the next Kidcot station.

One more to go. We’ve convinced Monkston to skip Great Britain and Canada so Mexico is the last stop.

Mexican Small World anyone? At least there’s no line.

We decide to go all the way to the front of the park to visit Monkston’s legacy photo. We do this every year, and every year we forget where it is. Do we take a photo of the location? No, we do not. We do have a photo of Monkston pointing to her 4-year-old self though.





“Do you guys want to go on Spaceship Earth or did you do that yesterday?” Squid asks.

“I completely forgot about Spaceship Earth yesterday! How did I manage to forget the giant silver ball?”

There’s no line and Monkston and I get in the front of the vehicle with Mr. Squid in the back. I’m not crazy about the Judy Dench voice. They should really use Mr. Monorail voice! Wouldn’t that be awesome?

We pose for our picture on the way up and I’m convinced that this will be the best Spaceship Earth photo of me ever.

Ride along, ride along, communication is great, inventions, blah, blah, blah. Finally, interactive time! We love this part. We enter all our info. This is going to be great. I can’t wait. Our picture comes up and we have cartoon faces. Where is the terrific photo of me? Where is Monkston? Unfair!

Squid is afraid of Soarin’, Monkston won’t go on Test Track, so that leaves…

Captain EO again! Time to torment Mr. Squid with bad 80s music and hair! I am sure this will lead to his anger over the disintegration of good music in the mid-80s.

This should be fun!

[Colexis Mom]

Happy Birthday to Mr. Squid! Sounds like a great breakfast! Too funny about the yelling kitchen! Looks like a great time in Epcot!

[Cam22]

, Mr. Squid! We ate at Kouzzina's for the first time this past June and loved it! The kimono is adorable!

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Monkston's Duffy, Lol! Too funny! Beach Club is our dream resort. Maybe someday. Can't wait to hear how the conversation about DVC goes at dinner!