Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[cokebabies]

Love the Tron poster.

The downside is that just outside my office is an emergency light that never turns off, so I never get to take advantage of its glow in the dark awesomeness.

 

[Protozaius]

Well, I'm back from my 50th birthday bash at Disneyland... actually i've been back for a week now. Been going through the Disney withdrawals pretty badly (knowing that are next visit is another two years away) so I have been reluctant to look at my photos let alone post them. Well here is my first barrage of photos. I found myself trying to take pics of some of the little details that can be found if you're looking.

Does anybody know where this is?

What are the odds that there is a name tag with MY name on it by this casrtle model?

 

[averagejo]

Just a few photos of my haul from Disneyland a couple of weeks ago.

J. Scott Campbell is an incredible artist. You did well, nice haul!

 

[spazzy]

going there on monday for the week, but first stop off at new orleans for a day

 

[Apone]

What are the odds that there is a name tag with MY name on it by this casrtle model?

[/QUOTE]

Considering your name is Michael...pretty good odds.

 

[Protozaius]

What are the odds that there is a name tag with MY name on it by this castle model?

Considering your name is Michael...pretty good odds.



Okay, okay so they aren't exactly lottery odds but still... it's a nice little coincedence.

 

[Coheteboy]

Does anybody know where this is?

Fantasyland?


And Michael, where's the rest?! We wanna see your food tour! I have a bunch of pics from this weekend but I don't wanna take away any attention from your trip!

 

[MIKE M]

man i cant wait to go in july ,seems like forever

 

[Crash1207]

We're surprising our kids with a trip to WDW in a couple weeks. My wife is having a REAL hard time keeping it quiet.

 

[MIKE M]

ive never been to WDW just to Disneyland

 

[Protozaius]

Fantasyland?


And Michael, where's the rest?! We wanna see your food tour! I have a bunch of pics from this weekend but I don't wanna take away any attention from your trip!

Yes... it is part of the old Sky Bucket launching area in Fantasyland. I noticed that area while my family was using the restrooms nearby. The stairway to this area is obsured by memorabilia carts. I find it fascinating that it is still there.

Sorry I'm a bit slow in posting my food tour. I threw my back out this weekend and was bedridden more than I wanted to.

Finally, here it is.

Well part one anyway.

The first new place we tried was the Cafe Oreleans restrauant. Our family shared one order of Pomme Frites. Turns out one order is not enough for a family of four and they went VERY quickly. I really liked the Cajun spice remoulade dripping sauce. A BIG hit with my family!

For my entree, I had the infamous Monte Cristo. Boy is that one rich sandwich! Geez!

I really couldn't eat it all so both my son and I decided to share our orders so I got to try what he ordered which was the Chicken Gumbo Crepe (see below). I think I liked it just a tad more than the Cristo.

For the next day we had a quick snack at Jolly Holiday bakery since we had late lunch reservation at the Blue Bayou. Pretty standard fare. This (see photo below) was shared by all my family. Although, truth be told my son had a far bigger share of the Mickey cookie that anyone else. By the way, the Matterhorn Macaroon was amazing.

Next up was the Blue Bayou. Again, LOVE the atmosphere of the restrauant. Had a hard time capturing it on film... none of my photos turned out. Using a flash, I took a picutre of my entree which was the Seafood Jambalaya. I was going to order something new (I was teetering between the Buccaneer's Beef Short Ribs and the Crab Cakes) but I went ahead and ordered my now established standard. I figured it's been 4 years since the last visit so....

The next day we had breakfast at the Cozy Cone. I very novel way to serve scrambled eggs. And LOTS OF CHEESE!

Later on we visited the Cove Bar for those Lobsters Nachos that I heard about. And they did not disappoint. Again, we shared on order and it went WAY TOO FAST. I had no problem with the service at the Cove bar... until it was time to leave. It took FOREVER to get our check and get outta there. It was crazy! What made matters worse was we were seated in the sun without shade. My kids left to get in line to ride California Screamin" (for the sixth time) and they were nearly done with their ride when we finally got gone from there.

Still GREAT nachos!

My daughter liked the Cozy Cone so much she later tried the Chicken Verde Chili Cone. It was a bit spicy but VERY good!

 

[cokebabies]

Thankfully, I just ate lunch so those pictures don't make me as envious as usual.

If they had a Monte Cristo with only two pieces, and a side of the pomme frites, that'd be perfect for me. Because I want both, but never have anywhere near enough room for them.

I got the gumbo crepe last time - pretty good, but I liked the Cristo more.

And for next time you're there - I can VERY highly recommend the short ribs. Ridiculous. But you're right, unless you are really good with photography, don't bother at Blue Bayou. Either there's no flash and it's a dark blur, or a washed out picture with flash. I just enjoy it. It's nice to once in a while be somewhere in Disney and not feel pressured to get a picture.

 

[Protozaius]

Well for better or worse here is part two:

Now are up to my birthday at the parks. We had breakfast at the Plaza Inn and my entire family (that's nine total kin) had a blast. Sure the buffet had the standard offerings (though I had a GREAT omelete at their omelete station) but it was the total experience that made it fun. Like my dad (fellow Sideshow Freak Board Memeber "Old Grandpa") getting bullied by Captian Hook.

Or my wife getting her picture taken with another monkey (other than me). It was a GREAT time overall that my family always remember.

Next up was the Carthay Circle restrauant... a truly beautiful place for a birthday dinner.

I ordered the Pot Roast with garlic mashed potatoes. The roast could not have been more tender and succulent. Easily one of the best pot roasts I've tasted.

My wife ordered the white mushroom risotto with roasted carrot coulis which was amazing.

Sure, I think the prices are a bit up there (some people in my party grumbled over the small portions) but I REALLY had a wonderful time there. Maybe it was because it was my birthday, I don't know, I just had a marvelous time. The waiter was fun and personable... he even made sure we had all the World of Color tickets we needede even though none of us purchased the required food purchase to get them.

They brought the cake... sang the familiar song... took it back to get it cut... and served it to us all.

The next morning we had breakfast at Steakhouse 55. Although we didn't try their au gratin potato stack (it wasn't offered that early) I did have some of the most amazing french toast I've ever had with Warm Bananas Foster.

And the atmosphere was fun... with great photos of celebrites of old. Our waitress informed us the all of the pictures had been digitally enhanced to remove all cigarettes and smoke from them. Funny. It especially liked these two photos:

Orson Welles with Charlie Chaplin

Walt with Shirley Temple

 

[cokebabies]

The walkaround Hook is one of the funnier characters.

I think I've mentioned this before, but when I did the character breakfast there (which I really didn't like), Hook pointed at my Leafs shirt, held his nose, and gave a thumbs down.

 

[Protozaius]

Thankfully, I just ate lunch so those pictures don't make me as envious as usual.

And for next time you're there - I can VERY highly recommend the short ribs. Ridiculous. But you're right, unless you are really good with photography, don't bother at Blue Bayou. Either there's no flash and it's a dark blur, or a washed out picture with flash. I just enjoy it. It's nice to once in a while be somewhere in Disney and not feel pressured to get a picture.

Yeah, I got REALLY close to ordering those ribs. I even tried to get other members of our party to order them so I could at least try them but no dice. It didn't help that a significant percentage of our party was vegetarian.

 

[cokebabies]

Yeah, I got REALLY close to ordering those ribs. I even tried to get other members of our party to order them so I could at least try them but no dice. It didn't help that a significant percentage of our party was vegetarian.

One slight bit to make you feel better - they're fantastic, but they're nothing you haven't had before, if you've had good short ribs before. I actually liked the potato stack more than the short ribs, but that's not an insult, because I could eat a metric ton of those things.

You got what you knew you loved - trust me, I know what it's like to be at a Disney restaurant and go, "Wow, everything looks so good! I'll have what I've had the past ten times, please."

 

[Protozaius]

Finally, for our last day we decided to try Maurice's Treats food cart in the new Fantasy Faire section of the park.

That Boysen Apple Freeze concoction is truly amazing. Seriously gives the Dole Whip float a run for it's money. And that chocolate twist made me forget all about going for seconds at the churro cart.

 

[Protozaius]

One slight bit to make you feel better - they're fantastic, but they're nothing you haven't had before, if you've had good short ribs before. I actually liked the potato stack more than the short ribs, but that's not an insult, because I could eat a metric ton of those things.

You got what you knew you loved - trust me, I know what it's like to be at a Disney restaurant and go, "Wow, everything looks so good! I'll have what I've had the past ten times, please."

I do regret not getting that potato stack... well it's food of thought for our next trip. Whenever THAT maybe.

 

[Coheteboy]

Wow, Protozaius, that was REALLY fun trip through Disneyland Resort food. And it really seemed like the food you got was really good as well!

I'll tell you guys about the food I had this weekend although I didn't take pictures of it.


1. Apple from a Fantasyland Cart. WOW, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST CRISP AND DELICIOUS APPLES I'VE EVER HAD. It was cold, juicy, crispy, sweet. I never bought fruit at the park before but I think I will more often.

Although I had thought about it and perhaps it would have been cool if an old hag sold it to me. Hmm...



2. Lunch at Paradise Grill at Paradise Pier. This is the Mediterranean meat skewer place that I love so much. Still really good.


3. Dinner was Award Wieners in a Supporting Roll in Hollywoodland. We only went here because my friends are cheap (haha) and it was okay. The bag of chips they give you now is so rinky dink though... it was slightly disappointing.




ProtoZ did you go to Trader Sam's?

 

[cokebabies]

I really could go for that teriyake burger from Trader Sam's. That thing was so good.