Dream Maiden Voyage Trip Report, A Dream Come True = Completed

[Pegasus928]

I spy some more competition winning photos Claire.

Totally agree with that David.
Puts my efforts to shame

 

[cannp123165]

Sounds like a brilliant day!

 

[Muscateer]

Just catching up on last couple days. Its nice to see adventures out of WDW, something different and new. Really like the look of Celebration. As always fantastic photos.

 

[Pinky166]

What a fantastic day.
As usual your pictures are incredible and you have one of the best shots of the lion that I have ever seen in a trippie. And those gorilla pics - wow.
I always find it really cool to read about things that people have done differently from the usual parks and other Florida bits and you certainly gave us something new
And even though its only 8am I could really eat a bacon cheese burger right now

Thank you Kenny.
I could demolish one of those burgers right now too!

another fantastic day, love your animal piccies, especially the Meercat

Thanks Rachel, I love the Meercats they are so much fun to watch.

Well finally, after days of reading, I have finally caught up and wow!!! is all I can say Claire, your report is blooming brilliant, best photos I have ever seen, and Im so enjoying it hon, cant wait to read more

Awww thanks Sue. More coming up in a minute.

What a great day Claire. I love those chairs in the RainForest Cafe (yet another place I've never been to) and the food looks delish too. More lovely pics

Ohhh Mandy you must go, even if it's just to the bar for a drinkie or two. It's very much like T-Rex.

I spy some more competition winning photos Claire.

Thanks David.

I think I will have to look into getting basketball tickets next time DH would love that.

It's a great way to spend an evening.

I'm loving your trip reoprt and Your photos are brill, can I please be nosy and ask what camera you have?

DS would love to see a basketball game but I don't tink they play in September

Thanks Sam. Our main camera is a Canon 550d, we also use a Lumix TZ10 compact camera when we can't be bothered to carry the big one.

They appear to play between October and April, here's the schedule. http://www.nba.com/magic/schedule/

Oh wow! I'm loving the basketball photo's! And that huge Mickey as a welcome - you couldn't have planned it better if you'd tried Another fantastic update Claire! I don't want it to end!

Thanks Rachel.

amazing photo's fab day at AK.

Thanks for reading Andrea.

Totally agree with that David.
Puts my efforts to shame

Thank you both, although I can't take all the credit as Lee takes lots too.

Sounds like a brilliant day!

Thanks for reading.

Just catching up on last couple days. Its nice to see adventures out of WDW, something different and new. Really like the look of Celebration. As always fantastic photos.

Thanks Sadie. Celebration was a great way to relax for a few hours.

 

[Pinky166]

Friday 4th February 2011


We woke around 9am and lounged around. After a while Lee went off to the fitness centre for a run on the tread mill. Whilst he was gone I decided to attempt to pack more of my shopping, I easily filled case #3! I looked around the room at how much stuff was still to be packed and then looked at the small “spare” holdall…......the words “need a miracle” sprang to mind!


Lee returned and we got showered and ready, we decided to pop to Downtown Disney for some lunch and of course that mean’s only one place …..Earl! We had the same as usual, Lee – The Original 1762 and for me the Hawaiian BBQ, after we decided to share a Strawberry Milkshake and a dessert at Ghirardelli’s. The Gold Rush - Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sundae: Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge Sauce and melted Peanut Butter, topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds, a cherry and a Ghirardelli Square Milk Chocolate.

Ignore Lee in the background - he was in a VERY silly mood! You could say he was having a sugar rush, but he hadn't eaten anything yet.......

We drove back to Animal Kingdom Lodge and decided to go for a swim as it was so hot, mid 80’s! We had a lovely swim and soaked up some sun for a few hours. We had a couple of cocktails from the pool bar, Tangerine Dream for me and Pina Colada’s for Lee.

We got showered and changed and got the bus over to Epcot. Whilst we were waiting for the bus we amused ourselves by taking silly photos…..

Our best Lion impressions…. I think Lee's silly mood had rubbed off on me too!

Thankfully the bus arrived pretty quickly and we were soon arriving at Epcot. (Not many photos though I’m afraid as we only took our little point & shoot camera with us.)

We got some Fast Passes for Test Track for later then headed over to World Showcase as we had another ADR at Le Cellier (well it is one of our favourite restaurants ) we were a little early so watched Off Kilter for a while and I tried to take some night time pics but they didn’t come out as clear as i'd hoped on the little camera.

We went and checked in for dinner and were seated fairly quickly. We ordered some drinks, a Very Berry Punch for me and a Moosehead Beer for Lee.


Once again Lee could not resist the urge to spoil my drinks porn photo....maybe I should change his age in the Trip Report intro from 36 to 6!!!!

For starters I had my favourite, Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup with Pretzel Breadsticks:

Lee had Roasted Duck Meatballs:

We ordered another round of Drinks, a Moosehead for Lee and a Kentucky Peach Cocktail for me – Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon, Peach Schnapps, Sweet & Sour mix topped with Sprite:

For Main Course, I of course had to have my all time favourite, Mushroom Filet Mignon:

Lee chose the Kansas Coffee rubbed Steak with Cream Cheese Mash:

We decided against dessert, so paid up and had a walk around World Showcase. After a while we made our way to Test Track to use our Fast Pass.

Afterwards we had another look around MouseGears, where I bought a 40th Anniversary mug. Then we watched Illuminations from afar and got the bus back to AKL. We got some Hot Chocolate and Zebra Domes from Mara.

We went back to the room and called it a night.




Coming soon – Downtown Disney and Jiko!​

 

[wickesy]

Off Kilter
Le Cellier
Cheddar Cheese Soup
Illuminations
Zebra Domes

Life doesn't get any better than that!

 

[florida sun]

Fantastic update Claire, that food looks brilliant and Im so hungry right now, I could eat both yours and Lee's portions Lovely day and great photos again

 

[jjk]

OMG your food Piccies, I would kill for a Zebra dome right now, another lovely day as well

 

[Tammy Stringer]

Claire - just catching up after being away for 2 weeks and glad to see you haven't finished yet.

Loving your report - great photos of the Chilean miners amongst others

Lucky you getting 2 ADRs for Le Cellier - we really wanted to go there on our day in Epcot 2 weeks ago but couldn't get in - instead we tried Tokyo Dining as we hadn't been there before - but we were quite disappointed. When I look at your pictures of the food in Le Cellier it makes me more determined than ever to eat there again next time we are in Epcot.

Glad to hear Lee enjoyed the KTTK tour - I must admit I have never really fancied it but maybe we will give this a go next time we are there as I know Kev would absolutely love it.

How fab that Disney gave you so many gifts to mark the inaugural sailing - what great keepsakes for you both

Tam

 

[tink too]

I've just caught up again and must say I absolutely love your gorilla photos - outstanding!

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Claire, I *love* that picture of Lee and the drinks in Ghirardelli's

Another fantastic update

Steffi xx

 

[squitty]

My mouth is seriously watering after reading your report Claire...all that food and drink, yummy!

 

[irongirlof12]

another brilliant day, I would love to stay at AKL it look so relaxing and a little oasis of calm away from the parks.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

WOW ... totally amazing .... after reading your report I now really need to go to Celebration and eat those potato skins, I need to go to Ghiradellis and eat that peanut butter sundae, I need to go to that Caramel shop in Epcot, I need to try all of those cocktails .... life is way too short. Absolutely stunning photos ...... some of those wildlife ones are incredible.

I also see Lee has at least one thing in common with Tony ... STEAK !!!

 

[Tinks1984]

Oh, I could just devour a meal from Le Cellier right about now. It's one of mine and DF's favourites too I must try those duck mealballs next time, but I always want the cheese soup

I see the shopping packing is becoming a struggle I'm looking forward to seeing how the haul got home with you Claire

 

[jockey]

I love zebra domes

 

[cannp123165]

Another great day! Great food pictures - Ghiradelli's looks so good!

 

[Muscateer]

Oh my 9.30 on a Sunday morning and I want steak & milkshakes. I have never had a zebra dome, what's in them?

You two were having so much fun. Love all your photos and as ever plenty shopping going on.

 

[Pegasus928]

Oh I so want to try those roasted duck meatballs

 

[Pinky166]

Thank you all for your comments.

Off Kilter
Le Cellier
Cheddar Cheese Soup
Illuminations
Zebra Domes

Life doesn't get any better than that!

It certainly doesn't.

Claire - just catching up after being away for 2 weeks and glad to see you haven't finished yet.

Loving your report - great photos of the Chilean miners amongst others

Lucky you getting 2 ADRs for Le Cellier - we really wanted to go there on our day in Epcot 2 weeks ago but couldn't get in - instead we tried Tokyo Dining as we hadn't been there before - but we were quite disappointed. When I look at your pictures of the food in Le Cellier it makes me more determined than ever to eat there again next time we are in Epcot.

Glad to hear Lee enjoyed the KTTK tour - I must admit I have never really fancied it but maybe we will give this a go next time we are there as I know Kev would absolutely love it.

How fab that Disney gave you so many gifts to mark the inaugural sailing - what great keepsakes for you both

Tam

Thanks Tam. I hope you had a lovely holiday.

Le Cellier is one of our favourite's, you really do need to book it at 180 days though as it is always so busy! Although that may change now that it is a 2 TS credit for dinner (still 1TS for lunch).

We both loved KTTK tour, definately worth giving it a go IMHO. It was very interesting and nice to do something different.

WOW ... totally amazing .... after reading your report I now really need to go to Celebration and eat those potato skins, I need to go to Ghiradellis and eat that peanut butter sundae, I need to go to that Caramel shop in Epcot, I need to try all of those cocktails .... life is way too short. Absolutely stunning photos ...... some of those wildlife ones are incredible.

I also see Lee has at least one thing in common with Tony ... STEAK !!!

Sorry if I made you drool over your keyboard.

Oh, I could just devour a meal from Le Cellier right about now. It's one of mine and DF's favourites too I must try those duck mealballs next time, but I always want the cheese soup

I see the shopping packing is becoming a struggle I'm looking forward to seeing how the haul got home with you Claire

I'm the same - always Cheese Soup, Pretzel breadsticks & the Mushroom Filet Mignon.


It was a nightmare to get it all home!

Oh my 9.30 on a Sunday morning and I want steak & milkshakes. I have never had a zebra dome, what's in them?

You two were having so much fun. Love all your photos and as ever plenty shopping going on.

Zebra Domes have a coffee/chocolate mousse inside them, i'd heard so much about them on here that I thouhgt i'd give them a try. They were ok but not something I would go out of my way to have again.


Well what can I say, othar than.......My names Claire and i'm a Shopaholic!