DLinNH Mini-Pre-Trip Report (POR Riverside) - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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If you can do it AKL club level allows you to access the Sunrise safari. It's a little more $$ but there's access to the food area breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks during the day (if you're there). But the sunrise Safari was amazing and it's absolutely worth the hassle of getting up early enough to be there.
My niece and nephew rented DVC points recently and were quite pleased with the whole experience. In fact, they didn't rent the points until about 4 weeks before their trip. He did the math for paying for a room vs renting points and renting won. We've also done a split stay two times in the past. Disney makes the whole switch over so very easy. My only problem with a split stay is that I like to make myself at home, so moving interferes with that just a bit.
Like all of you on these boards, I love to plan where we will eat. The last two trips we had free dining, so I really had to plan our meal times out depending on the park we were in for that a particular day. This trip, we will pay out of pocket and will most likely eat at many more counter-service places. That said, I plan to have a few sit-downs. It is really hard figuring out which park you will be in and the time to eat depending on the park. I really need to know which parks are having early entry on a particular day, as I tend to avoid those parks. The calendar is not out yet for that part of the planning stages, obviously, so for now I’m just going to tell you my list of places we are thinking about eating and I’ll go from there.
I want our counter-service experiences to be as awesome as possible, seeing we are not doing too many sit-downs this trip. We don’t eat a lot of food at each sitting, so I think it will be fine for us. On the dining plan, we over ate all the time. So here are our thoughts:
Sit-Downs May Include: Restaurant Favorite Food Picks Boma Cocomisu (sorta like a tiramisu)
Interesting fun fact: When I stayed at AKL way back in 2006, adults only trip, we ate ourselves silly at Boma on two occasions. The first time, they had this lovely coconut concoction to try, and we LOVED IT! On the second visit to Boma, they did not have it. At the time, my now ex-husband, asked the waiter if it was a regular item on the menu as we LOVED IT? The waiter went out back and told the chef we loved it and then you won’t believe what happened………..the Chef himself came out to meet us and had an enormous bowl just for your table! I mean huge bowl and he gave us the recipe. Now that is a Disney story!
Hollywood Brown Derby/Lunch App. Cobb Salads; Grapefruit Cake; Martini Flight (for me of course)
The last time I ate here was way back in 1988! Yikes that was a long time ago. I’m really looking forward to sharing appetizers and relaxing at this restaurant again.
I have never toured Beach Club area. I fear I will NEED to stay here, so that is why I probably never ventured over there. I thought we would leave Epcot late in the afternoon and explore and eat at Beaches and then return to Epcot to catch illuminations.
Crystal Palace/Breakfast Too many choices to list Spice Road New for Us Raglan Road New for Us
Counter Service May Include:
Earl of Sandwich
Flame Tree
Columbia Harbor House
BOG – hopefully for lunch
Yorkshire Fish & Chips
Food Truck @ DTD for Butter Chicken (the same one served at Sana) – hope I can find where the truck is parked. Have you seen these trucks? They look really cool!
Riverside – obviously we will eat here; the make your own pasta was great last time.
I also want to try to make it over to my all time favorite resort the Poly and grab a cocktail and appetizers at Tambu Lounge. I was thinking if I time it right, we can head out to the beach to see Wishes. I love the Poly and secretly wish I could live there year round.
I also plan to see Ye Ha Bob at Riverside’s Lounge. I can’t believe I have never seen this show, given the number of times I have stayed at POR.
Here’s a list of my must eat snacks and drinks:
Grey Goose Slush
Kaki Gori (Japan)
Rice Cream (Norway – if they still sell these, if not I’m sure I’ll find some other yumminess to sample)
Karamell Kuche – Germany – this will be a first for us
Joy of Tea - Japan
Dole Whip Float
Waffle, fresh fruit & Nutella (Sleepy Hollow) – another first
Make-You-Own Oatmeal – pure heavenly way to start a day (Riverside food court)
Biegnets (French Quarter)
Zebra Domes (AKL)
Many Choc. Dipped Mickey Rice Crispy Treats – I plan to hit up Goofy’s Candy Co. and create our own crispy treat.
New Ice Cream shop in France
Given the list, I think I need to stay another 8 nights!
Last Installment: What little Disney touches I plan to add to my life to help get me through the dreaded Waiting Period………..
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I your dining plans! What a special treat at Boma to get your own bowl made by the chef. I asked once at Boma for some recipes to use when I taught an African novel. When I got back home, I had several e-mails. Unfortunately, a few of the ingredients in each recipe were not available locally, so I've never made them.
Congrats on the Mother/ Daughter trip ! It sounds like you'll have an amazing time. The POR is such a peaceful and beautiful resort. Your food choices are amazing, and making me hungry as I'm reading your PTR. I can't wait to hear more.
A mother/daughter trip sounds wonderful! Sorry it's been so long for you. It has for me too! It will be almost 4 years when I return in Oct.
Your plans look great! I am with you on all the tech stuff Disney has implemented. Wow!!!
I wanted to stay at POR, but I got out voted and we are staying at POFQ. I am definitely going to take a stroll over there though and check it out while we are there. My girls and I dream of staying at AKL one day, but my big dream is Poly! One day money will allow both!
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Your plans look fantastic! Lots to look forward to. And I will say, you are right about the danger of visiting BC, we went with a dance competition a few years ago and now that's the only place we want to stay! Looking forward to hearing more.
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WDW May 1981, WDW Dec 1983, WDW March 1988, WDW August 2005, WDW July 2010, August 2014, August 2015, DD Soccer tourney short visit Dec. 2015/Jan 2016
Update on the food choices from my last post – I am super excited that there is going to be a Trader Sam’s opening at the Polynesian! I had the opportunity to visit DL and stayed at the DL Hotel for work last June! The hotel is so nostalgic and the rooms are soooo huge! You would not believe how big they are. So we went to this lounge by the pool on several occasions – Trader Sams! I had a pear martini or two and we had an app. of fried long beans – it was such a great fun atmosphere. Just wanted to share..
Tom and I are planning a garden area in our front yard. This winter was the most dreadful in all the years I have been alive and I can’t wait to get outside. Cleaning up from the fall leaves and winter mess has been daunting. So for the first time in my life, I am hiring someone to help with the mess! In the meantime, we are planning this magical area.
We purchased a fountain that looks like a hallowed out piece of wood. Tom has been working diligently building a natural stone wall around it. We purchased a bunch of bulbs of various kinds. Different colored day lilies and low growing yellow lilies along with variegated foliage. Hopefully, they will grow. I DO NOT HAVE a green thumb.
I decided I wanted to add some Disney whimsy to the mix. I didn’t want to go overboard, but wanted to find just a few touches. So I went to our local Kmart and purchased two solar powered gazing balls – one has Tinker Bell and the other has Mickey inside of them…( I need to upload pics when it is done – promise)
I also bought a beautiful glass flower birdbath. In addition, I got Tom some miniature garden decorations last Christmas.
When all else fails and you are feeling down, one must watch a Disney movie. I recently purchased Saving Mr. Banks. This movie is fantastic! I would have loved to have worked for Walt. I could picture myself in the early 60’s traveling to the studio every day and being creative along with everyone else. Anyhow, what a great movie, you should watch it if you haven’t already. I also plan to do some shopping throughout the next several months leading up to the trip. I need some new clothes, comfortable shoes and one good piece of luggage. My last suitcase literally fell apart during my last trip and it is time for a new one. So I’ll keep squirreling away money and purchase things here or there as funds and sales become available.
Another thing I have been doing for this trip, that I’ve never done before, was to purchase Disney Gift Cards as I find myself with some extra cash. I have been trying to use coupons whenever possible and then taking that savings and accumulating it until I have enough for a $25 or $50 gift card. My plan is to pay down my room charge balance mid trip, so I won’t have a huge shocker on check out day. I also take on some extra duties at school as a proctor or SAT’s or PSAT testing. I take this money and purchase gift cards too!
My ADR date is in late August, which will be here before you know it, so I’ll keep you all posted of my plans as they unfold. Thanks so much for reading along and for your great suggestions and comments….
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and he gave us the recipe. Now that is a Disney story!
, so that is why I probably never ventured over there. I thought we would leave Epcot late in the afternoon and explore and eat at Beaches and then return to Epcot to catch illuminations. 
DLinNH
your dining plans! What a special treat at Boma to get your own bowl made by the chef. 
I asked once at Boma for some recipes to use when I taught an African novel. When I got back home, I had several e-mails. Unfortunately, a few of the ingredients in each recipe were not available locally, so I've never made them.
Liz 
WDW May 1981, WDW Dec 1983, WDW March 1988, WDW August 2005, WDW July 2010, August 2014, August 2015, DD Soccer tourney short visit Dec. 2015/Jan 2016
We buy Disney gift cards ahead of time, too. 
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