[momofaprincess]

My DD has already told us what we CANNOT do (she is 5)--No character meals (wasn't planning on it) and no meeting any characters... And she's given us a list of what we need to bring back for her... LOL

She was a little mad that we'd be going on TSM without her though... LOL... It will be nice to actually go on rides and sit next to each other and just to go on them together will be great!


I did call and I scored all my reservations and the times I wanted were only off by 5-10 mins!! Except for Cali Grill that it's an hour before what we wanted... but that's ok...

Want to hear them?

[tinkfans]

Of course we do!!!! we LOVE to hear about food!!!

[allirella]

Originally Posted by momofaprincess

I did call and I scored all my reservations and the times I wanted were only off by 5-10 mins!! Except for Cali Grill that it's an hour before what we wanted... but that's ok...

Want to hear them?

Need you ask?

[missymouse]

Originally Posted by momofaprincess

My DD has already told us what we CANNOT do (she is 5)--No character meals (wasn't planning on it) and no meeting any characters... And she's given us a list of what we need to bring back for her... LOL

She was a little mad that we'd be going on TSM without her though... LOL... It will be nice to actually go on rides and sit next to each other and just to go on them together will be great!


I did call and I scored all my reservations and the times I wanted were only off by 5-10 mins!! Except for Cali Grill that it's an hour before what we wanted... but that's ok...

Want to hear them?

I love that she's given you a list of things not to do without her. My kids would all do the same thing!

Most trips we have at least one set of grandparents with us, and DH and I will take a day just for us. It is soooo fun to get to ride without worrying about the kids. I love my kids with all of my heart, but it is very nice to get to enjoy something that we love without them once in a while. It's like you just get to be YOU not mommy and daddy for a little while. Have fun!

[momofaprincess]

Originally Posted by missymouse

I love that she's given you a list of things not to do without her. My kids would all do the same thing!

Most trips we have at least one set of grandparents with us, and DH and I will take a day just for us. It is soooo fun to get to ride without worrying about the kids. I love my kids with all of my heart, but it is very nice to get to enjoy something that we love without them once in a while. It's like you just get to be YOU not mommy and daddy for a little while. Have fun!

I couldn't agree more! And I think that they need a break from us just as much!!!

[momofaprincess]

Ok here's what I got! (remember we are on the deluxe dining plan)

Arrive Sun Aug 2nd
blow a credit on a counter service where ever
7:20pm--Jiko

Mon Aug 3rd
Sci Fi (requested by DH) 11:10 am
7:25pm California Grill

Tues Aug 4th
12:10 Lunch at LeCellier
8:45pm Narcoossee's

Wednesday Aug 5th
12:10 Kona
8:35 pm Yachtman's Steakhouse

Thursday Aug 6th
Fly home--leaving with ME by 10am
Lunch at MCO

[allirella]

Awesome! Sounds fabulous!

[lovemysons]

Nice choices!

[momofaprincess]

Thanks!! I'm really excited to try the signiture restaurants!!

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by momofaprincess

I did call and I scored all my reservations and the times I wanted were only off by 5-10 mins!! Except for Cali Grill that it's an hour before what we wanted... but that's ok...

Almost guaranteed, you'll check in on time and still wait 15 minutes to be seated. Then your meal will probably take a half hour longer than you planned.
In the end, you'll finish at about the time you wanted.
Word of advice if you're trying to watch MK fireworks from Cali Grill, don't worry about killing time and keeping your table.
Guests who dine at California Grill that evening are allowed to leave and then come back up near showtime to watch from the observation deck. This way, they are able to rotate the guests in and out so that later guests aren't forced to wait for an hour for their tables.
Too bad people don't realize this because the last time we went, there were so many diners waiting for tables that there was absolutely no place for them to sit! In fact, there were at least 20 guests sitting on the floor against the wall in the dining area because all the waiting seats were full and there was no room at the bar. This was at 9:30 on a night that Wishes was being performed at 10. And you could see all the tables that had paid their checks just lingering over coffee, and sometimes nothing, just killing time.
With a 9:30 reservation, we weren't shown to our table until 10:25, which caused us to finish so late that MK buses had stopped running and we were forced to take a taxi back to the Yacht (despite MK being open until 10 with buses and monorails running until 12).
Either that or start with a bus to DTD at 12:30 and not get back to our room until 1:30-2:00.

[momofaprincess]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

Almost guaranteed, you'll check in on time and still wait 15 minutes to be seated. Then your meal will probably take a half hour longer than you planned.
In the end, you'll finish at about the time you wanted.
Word of advice if you're trying to watch MK fireworks from Cali Grill, don't worry about killing time and keeping your table.
Guests who dine at California Grill that evening are allowed to leave and then come back up near showtime to watch from the observation deck. This way, they are able to rotate the guests in and out so that later guests aren't forced to wait for an hour for their tables.
Too bad people don't realize this because the last time we went, there were so many diners waiting for tables that there was absolutely no place for them to sit! In fact, there were at least 20 guests sitting on the floor against the wall in the dining area because all the waiting seats were full and there was no room at the bar. This was at 9:30 on a night that Wishes was being performed at 10. And you could see all the tables that had paid their checks just lingering over coffee, and sometimes nothing, just killing time.
With a 9:30 reservation, we weren't shown to our table until 10:25, which caused us to finish so late that MK buses had stopped running and we were forced to take a taxi back to the Yacht (despite MK being open until 10 with buses and monorails running until 12).
Either that or start with a bus to DTD at 12:30 and not get back to our room until 1:30-2:00.

That's a really good tip to know! (about leaving and coming back) I didn't realize you could do that either! We were even thinking... finish dinner and then just go over for Wishes in townsquare and then onto the bus to get back to SSR.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by momofaprincess

We were even thinking... finish dinner and then just go over for Wishes in townsquare and then onto the bus to get back to SSR.

I've seen Wishes as well as two different Halloween shows from up there.
Even with the music, while it's good, it's not quite the same thing. If you've never seen fireworks from up there and have the chance, I'd say do it. If you're like me, and taping from different locations and then editing it all together, do it. (A perfect MK fireworks video has 3 outside park shots and 5 in park shots) However, I'm eating there at 6 PM next Sunday on my birthday, and I plan to watch Wishes from inside the park. (Weather permitting) Another factor here is MK has EMH that night, so it's open until 2 AM.
But if you have time to make it back inside the park, you'll probably enjoy it more. I say this because the shows are designed to look best when viewed with the castle in front of you.
When you watch from the roof of the Contemporary, you are well off to one side and 150 feet up, so the perfect symmetry isn't there and you actually see two different simultaneous shows, the castle effects and the high aerial bursts.

(Don't ever get me started on fireworks in Walt Disney World)

These two pictures show the difference between TTC and Contemporary
As you can see in the Contemporary shot, there is smoke next to the castle from castle effects while the towering burst is well to the rear of MK while the TTC shot has both castle and far bursts together, seemlessly combined.

[momofaprincess]

That pic from TTC is pretty!!

I think we'll probably just head back into the park if time allows us....Especially since in January we'll be back and we have a room at Bay Lake Tower with an MK view.