The other very merry Christmas trip :)

[Keith]

Here we are at manchester airport at the departure gate waiting to board :)

The flight leaves at 11:15 in theory and after a very very very long 9hours we should be in Orlando

Britchick has said there are a few flights all in at the same time so immigration may be .....fun

[Keith]

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[Britchick]

Lol at the title! Shall be checking people's thumbs out in immigration queue ;)

[Keith]

Just about to depart woohoo

[Tink]

Ohhhh!!!! BYE!!!!! Safe journey!!!!

[Wendy]

Have a wonderful time both of you, you deserve it :hug2:

[foreverducky]

Safe travels! Have fun!

[uscwest]

Have a wonderful time Keith and Helen.

[catrancher]

Bye Keith! Hope you and Helen have fun!

Stop by the house while you're over here and say hi! :wave:

Bit of a drive, but what the heck. :shrug:

Tom (:macwave:... well, it was a thought.)

[Johnie]

Hey Keith, are you coming to breakfast with me and Julie tomorrow? :-D

[Keith]

Im here YAYAYAYAYAYAY

Flight not so bad, a lot of screaming kids though... managed some sleep which was good.

Pondering a late night MK visit hmmmm

[Wendy]

Have fun :D

[Britchick]

Im here YAYAYAYAYAYAY

Flight not so bad, a lot of screaming kids though... managed some sleep which was good.

Pondering a late night MK visit hmmmm

How long did it take you to get through? We were on magical express at 6pm, landed at 4.40, there were lots behind us that had a much bigger queue than us.

[Keith]

No queue at all ! 345pm so perhaps we missed then other flights fastest weve ever got through

[uscwest]

Wish that we were there with you both (Keith & Julie). Have a wonderful time. It has been quite a while since Donna and I were able to get down there for Christmas season.

[Isafari]

Enjoy every magical moment :hug2:

[Britchick]

No queue at all ! 345pm so perhaps we missed then other flights fastest weve ever got through


You were first flight to arrive I think, we were sandwiched between two virgin flights. Wasn't as horrendous as it could have been.

[Slowhand]

Great to hear that you arrived safe and sound Keith.
Have a truly fabulous holiday. :wave:

[Lisa1976]

Glad you're there safe and sound. Have a fab time :)

[Vikki]

Have a wonderful time

[Wendy]

Hope you're having fun and have a great time tonight :hug2:

[Mags]

I hope that you are having loads of fun Keith. :-)

Mags

[Keith]

Thanks everyone :hug2: It's great :)

We're driving around, magic fm non-stop christmas music on the radio, singing away and we're NOT in the -2 degrees at home in the UK.

Downtown Disney today, and hoop dee doo this evening :D

[Mari]

Sounds super fun!!

Have a great trip!


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[Keith]

Hoop dee doo

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[Johnie]

We were at HDDR last night

[lisaw]

Funny to see it from that angle! Every time we have been we get the same table on the left side of the stage! Hope it was still good?

[Wendy]

We've still never made it :lol:

It looks fun maybe next time. Thanks you, for sharing the photos :hug2:

[Tink]

And so your tradition continues... hope you liked it! I know it's undergone some changes.

Thanks for sharing the photos with us. I'm another one who has never been.

[uscwest]

Looks like you are having lots of fun already Keith. Hoop Dee Doo looks as good as ever. Folks, if you have never been, it is so much fun as I'm sure Keith will attest.

[Keith]

Funny to see it from that angle! Every time we have been we get the same table on the left side of the stage! Hope it was still good?

Having been so many times and sat everywhere including right in front of the stage, I now ask for a table off at the side. It just about guarantees not getting picked on and so I can just relax more and enjoy it :yes:

It is still fun yep but I have to admit that the loss of the classic hoop dee do song is a big one :/ the cast is entirely different from the last few years and not as good yet IMHO

All that aside it's as corny as ever and a fun night :D

[foreverducky]

How's your hotel?

[Beccaberry]

Looks like you're having a lovely time!! I truly thought having gone last year for Christmas, it would have been one of those "been there, done that" experiences. I am so very dearly finding out how UNTRUE that statement is! Have enough fun for us all!

[Slowhand]

Nice move Keith....hiding behind your camera so that you don`t get picked on! :yes:
Great shots....thanks for sharing.

[Keith]

Nice move Keith....hiding behind your camera so that you don`t get picked on! :yes:
Great shots....thanks for sharing.

You know me so well :wink:

[Keith]

Last night was the luau at the polynesian. Interesting change in menu though :/ gone is the tangerine salad and pineapple to be replaced with potato salad and asian apple pear slaw :/ neither of which are things I consider good food items to be served outside in the heat really but ok!

The ribs have gone too replaced by slices of pork loin with bbq sauce.

Sadly the wonderful volcano lava cake has also been replaced by milk chocolate macadamia nut moose! A much lighter and unremarkable cake with annoying little nuts all through it.

I probably prefer the pork to the ribs but the other changes are bleurgh.

We'll be updating the menu on the site as soon as I can get the details to our menu elf (AKA Wendy)

Hollywood studios today for the fantasmic dinner package at mama melrose. Melroses is kinda variable at the best of times but it CAN be better than brown derby on a good day and the atmosphere is nice. here's hoping!

We'll do MM then wander round. Great movie ride for sure, perhaps the animation training workshop before waiting for the early fantasmic and then out to the osbourne lights :yes:

[Keith]

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[catrancher]

Oh... Mama Melrose!

Used to be one of my favorites! :yes:

Years ago they had a grilled Prime Rib that was the best tasting thing I ever put in my mouth.

Tom (:macwave:... meat eater first class!)

[Wendy]

Have fun :D

We've never been there be intersting to hear what you think of it now.

[Beccaberry]

One of my favorite places, actually. :) Enjoy!

[Keith]

Cool popcorn bucket
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[Johnie]

Lol I had to buy that popcorn bucket!

[Britchick]

Cute!

[Wendy]

Cool popcorn bucket
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Did you buy it?

Have you seen the castle yet in the Christmas Store at DTD, you will love it :D

[uscwest]

Hollywood studios today for the fantasmic dinner package at mama melrose. Melroses is kinda variable at the best of times but it CAN be better than brown derby on a good day and the atmosphere is nice. here's hoping!

Keith, we have eaten twice at the Brown Derby since they got the new chef and changed the menu. It was wonderful both times and certainly a HUGE improvement over what they had there before.

[Keith]

Sitting here at the California grill with a glass of champagne and watching the castle change colour does it get any better ?

[Britchick]

Hoping to do that from our room next week :)

[Beccaberry]

Sitting here at the California grill with a glass of champagne and watching the castle change colour does it get any better ?


*sigh* I don't believe it does!

[Keith]

Well it's Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom tonight! So excited I'm actually nervous :lol:

[Vikki]

Bet that's because it's been so heavily anticipated you just want it to live up to it.

[Wendy]

Well it's Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom tonight! So excited I'm actually nervous :lol:

I forgot that was tonight :D

[Britchick]

Have fun! We're there on Monday!

[uscwest]

Make sure to let us know what you think of BOG. We have to wait until February.

[Keith]

Well we re here at be our guest in the west wing which is very cool indeed. Tiny dining room but lots of theming and things happening. Beast just popped in to say hello. Very dark for phone photos though

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First drink at mk yayayayaay
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[Beccaberry]

Lovely!

[Keith]

Well that was delightful it has to be said.

The restaurant itself is across a little bridge into Beast's castle. There are CMs stationed there demanding to see reservations before letting people across. People asking to just go see were being told no.

Predictably it was reservations only, no walk ups and they were being quite tough about timings for a change too! People were being turned away because they were too late for their reservation.

Once across the bridge, we were asked to follow our seater who guided us through the main dining room which was huge and had wonderful snowy scenes outside the main windows. It was pretty noisy in there so we were happy when we were taken into the much smaller west wing.

The highlight of the west wing is a little alcove with a rose in it whose petals are falling. As time goes on, there's thunder and lightning, more petals drop and the portrait of the prince start to turn to the beast.

The room is very dark but not so much that you can't see to eat or read the menu.

The food menu is great and I was impressed by the choices. Several options even picky old me could have! We chose the french onion soup to start then I had the steak and DW had the salmon. All was absolutely delicious!

Of course the other change was alcohol! YAY! I was able to order a nice bottle of wine with dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. From what I was able to observe, the world didn't end nor were people falling about drunk over the magic kingdom so worries about the daemon drink seem unfounded :D

It really was a great meal, very tasty indeed and there was certainly enough of it! I'd rate it much more highly than cinderellas royal table.

We'll definitely return !

[Tink]

That is a great report! Thank you so much for sharing your meal with us. :yes: I am so relieved to learn that people weren't reeling out of there three sheets to the wind! ;)

Nice to hear that the food tasted good, too!

[Slowhand]

Thanks for being our guinea pig Keith.
That restuarant is now on our hit list. :yes:

[Britchick]

Ooooooo can't wait!

[Wendy]

I am so glad you had a nice time and the food was good :D I can't wait until we go next year, we will definitely be going :yes:

[Beccaberry]

Sounds positively delightful :D

[uscwest]

Great report Keith. C'mon February. :yes:

[Keith]

Great report Keith. C'mon February. :yes:

I really think you'll like it. I was surprised because I'd heard people say it was disappointing.

A nice little addition I think

[Britchick]

Did you meet the beast?

[Keith]

Did you meet the beast?

I did!

He wandered through the dining room a few times very quickly and announced that he would be accepting guests in his study all evening... and he was indeed! It's a very nice photo OP actually as it's not rushed or busy.

[Britchick]

So cool! The CM that just checked us in at BLT said that he was still doing this. So excited for tonight

[foreverducky]

This is all very exciting! A roaming beast, excellent setting, with good food. :D I'm thrilled that they are not letting people just roam around while others are eating.

[Keith]

This is all very exciting! A roaming beast, excellent setting, with good food. :D I'm thrilled that they are not letting people just roam around while others are eating.

That's mostly true although fellow diners will tend to get up and photo the theming especially the rose and the portrait which changes slowly into beast

[Johnie]

We have an ADR in early April. I'm so looking forward to this!

[Keith]

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[Johnie]

Ok that looks like Le Cellier bread.......

[Beccaberry]

I'm gonna go with Le Cell as well :)

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[Johnie]

Lol for some reason I thought you were at BOG tonight which confused me about the bread.

[Britchick]

That's me Johnie lol

[Johnie]

Lol I figured that out after I posted. I did get excited thinking I could get the pretzel bread at MK lol

[Keith]

Just checked into the contemporary 13968

[Wendy]

:mental: :mental: just the view you wanted :D

[Keith]

:mental: :mental: just the view you wanted :D

Perfect it'll look wonderful when lit up can relax now phew

[Lisa1976]

Nice :)

[Wendy]

Perfect it'll look wonderful when lit up can relax now phew

I'm so happy for you :hug2: you can send me a picture :D I'll leave my phone downstairs so I don't hear it :lol:

[foreverducky]

Wow, you are just staying all over the place at WDW. How exciting!

[Keith]

Wow, you are just staying all over the place at WDW. How exciting!

yeah! I love trying different places :yes: The beach club was perfect for EPCOT and now the contemporary will be great for Magic Kingdom

Mickeys Christmas Party tonight!

[Keith]

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[Johnie]

Sigh. Where they hold the dessert party used to be my favorite "secret" place to watch Wishes

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Back to room




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[Slowhand]

I hope you enjoy the next "leg" of your trip Keith. :thumbsup:

[Wendy]

Can you see Beast's Castle from there as well, I think that changes colour :)

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[Britchick]

Can you see Beast's Castle from there as well, I think that changes colour :)

I couldn't see it from bay lake, it's a bit lower so not sure you would Wendy

[Slowhand]

Hope V & A`s was up to its usual "scratch" Keith. :yes:

[Keith]

I couldn't see it from bay lake, it's a bit lower so not sure you would Wendy

I THINK we can... although not seen the castle I THINK it is change colour, it's always been blue.

If its where I think it is, spaceship earth may get in the way from Bay lake. Ill try and get a decent photo and circle it so we can see if its really that or something else :lol:

[Keith]

Hope V & A`s was up to its usual "scratch" Keith. :yes:

top notch as usual Terry!! :yes:

[Britchick]

Spaceship earth?!!! Call yourself a Disney expert ;)

[Keith]

Lol I always call that spaceship earth and everyone yells at me lol

Ok I mean that space ride thing that you wouldn't get me on in a million years. That thing ;)

[Britchick]

Lol I always call that spaceship earth and everyone yells at me lol

Ok I mean that space ride thing that you wouldn't get me on in a million years. That thing ;)

oh you mean tower of terror!!! lol I didn't go on it this time, last time I came off shaking LOL

[Keith]

Lol lol

[uscwest]

I THINK we can... although not seen the castle I THINK it is change colour, it's always been blue.

If its where I think it is, spaceship earth may get in the way from Bay lake. Ill try and get a decent photo and circle it so we can see if its really that or something else :lol:

Umm, I think you mean Space Mountain. LOL

[Keith]

Yeah I think we d worked that out john lol

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[Britchick]

Ahhhhhh space mountain!

[Keith]

Ahhhhhh space mountain!

:rotfl:

[Deafjeff]

I loved this thread! It so wonderful to read.

If a very big IF we do cancel the cruise and flying over to Florida instead, we will be going to Be Our Guest for sure! :yes:

Keith, what the vegetarian options like?

[Keith]

I loved this thread! It so wonderful to read.

If a very big IF we do cancel the cruise and flying over to Florida instead, we will be going to Be Our Guest for sure! :yes:

Keith, what the vegetarian options like?

Thanks Jeff :yes:

I'm the worst person to ask about vegetarian options! I dont eat vegetables :( never have.. the menu is here though: http://wdisneysecrets.com/index.php/walt-disney-world-menus/288-magic-kingdom/1566-be-our-guest-dinner-menu.html

It's very popular indeed though so remember to book early

[uscwest]

Keith, what the vegetarian options like?

Donna ordered the Potato Leek Soup and I the French Onion. Both were delicious, although the French Onion was a bit salty. She also shocked me when she ordered the Ratatouille. She declared it delicious and I tried a bite. It was indeed quite good.

[Keith]

ooo yes I tried the French Onion soup and it was very good. Way above normal park food that's for sure

[Slowhand]

ooo yes I tried the French Onion soup and it was very good. Way above normal park food that's for sure
That is my favourite soup of all time, however it plays havoc with my tummy. :unsure:
Sometimes though I think "What the heck?" and go for it as I sometimes can`t resist the temptation when I smell it!

[Keith]

That is my favourite soup of all time, however it plays havoc with my tummy. :unsure:
Sometimes though I think "What the heck?" and go for it as I sometimes can`t resist the temptation when I smell it!

of course done perfectly at Berns :D

[Slowhand]

of course done perfectly at Berns :D
Now that IS a temptation. Then again I think that EVERYTHING is done perfeclty at that eaterie. :yes:

[Keith]

Now that IS a temptation. Then again I think that EVERYTHING is done perfeclty at that eaterie. :yes:

When we first went to Berns following your recommendation, our server said and next, complimentary french onion soup. I said ah no thanks I dont really fancy that. She whispered, oh I'll bring it anyway, you'll change your mind.... and I sure did!!!!

[Deafjeff]

Where's Bern?

[Keith]

Where's Bern?

It's in Tampa http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/

[Wendy]

Hang on I thought I'd lost 3 months then lol: