Posts Tagged ‘Streetmosphere’
Saratoga Springs 2008- Chapter 4
Posted on: May 27, 2009
Wow, it’s Wednesday allready. Halfway point of the trip. Today is our big food day. After reading a wonderful food review from MickeyNicki on the disboards, we are trying Boma breakfast this morning and then our favorite Brown Derby for dinner tonight.
Since we’re not morning people, we have a 10:45am Advanced Dining Reservation at Boma. We are going to drive over to make it easy. My truck (Ford Expedition) acts a little strange when DH starts it, but then seems fine. With DVC member card/Disney Dining Experience card we get free valet parking and were walking into Animal Kingdom Lodge and seated at Boma in no time flat. DS11 loves breakfast buffets (so do I ) DD14 is not a breakfast person, does not like most breakfast foods even, but when she read & saw the pics on MickeyNicki’s review she wanted to try Boma. Wow, this is an amazing breakfast! DD was all set between the Corned Beef on the carving station and all the wonderful muffins. The carved meats, mini omelets, muffins, fruits, and the OMG incredible sticky buns won us all over. Then we tried the jungle juice, YUM! Great coffee, yummy juice, and all that food. We all could’ve rolled out of there. We love dinner at Boma and now breakfast is a must do as well!
We walk outside and and wait for the valet to pull my truck around. We wait…..and wait some more……I see a management type person run down with what looks like a charger, and we continue to wait. Someone finally asks if we’ve been helped, and we say yes, they were supposed to be pulling a blue expedition up. The girl has no idea and asks the other valet and he says something about it not starting and they’re trying to jump it now. Manager comes back and then DH goes down to the valet lot with him. They get it started and pull up for us. Our only guess is that the kids left stuff on in the back (I’ve got outlets that DD uses for her laptop and DS uses for his playstation). All seems fine now, so back to Saratoga Springs Resort we go for a relaxing afternoon.
We spend the afternoon at the Grandstand pool with a couple of those fabulous Mai Tai’s and our books. It was hot & sunny, perfect pool weather!
After showering and changing, we head to the Studio’s for dinner at the Brown Derby. This is our 3rd trip in a row eating here, it has become our favorite restaurant. We got to the Studios and went to check times on Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster. Got Fast Passes and then wandered around watching the Streetmosphere. I love walking and watching at the Studio’s, the atmoshpere is great.
I could do without the blacktop though in June, it really holds the heat in. We made our way back to Brown Derby and checked in. A lot of people seemed to be trying to walk in, but they were all being turned away. We were seated within minutes, taken to what we were told was the “Chefs Table”. It’s the big table in front of the bar, overlooking the rest of the restaurant. I don’t know if it really is a special table or not, but we felt special. Our server was fantastic (I feel bad, I didn’t write down his name) he was very helpful with suggestions, refills, etc. He always seemed to be there if we needed anything, but not overbearing/hovering. We (DH & I) started with cocktails and shared the Cobb salad. Yum! The menu had changed slightly from our last 2 visits. The filet has been replaced with a NY Strip (our server said that it’s excellent and they were having difficulty getting the filet), the grouper was gone (loved that) and the pork had a different name and slightly different description. DD fell in love with the Roasted Hatfield Pork Rib Chop in December, she swears it’s the best thing she ever put in her mouth. So she was a little worried about the changes and also asked about switching the sides, but our server told her that the new one is fantastic and to try the sides that come with it. He promised that if she didn’t like them, he would get her replacements. Since she’s trying to “grow” and become a foodie, she agreed to try the new pork dish with the sides. Our server told DH to try the Ahi Tuna, since he’s had several of the other items on the menu previously and I had the Salmon with the marscapone polenta with gorgonzola and balsamic glaze & olive tapenade. DS11 ordered his favorite, the hotdog on the kids menu. He told our waiter that they have the best hot dogs on property. Our waiter told DS he would tell the Chef that. Dinner came out and as always was fantastic! I can only assume that DD’s pork was good, because it was gone before I could even get a taste. She even liked the sides. DH was glad that he got the Ahi Tuna, and it didn’t take long to clear his plate . The salmon was perfectly cooked and that polenta is wonderful! The only thing left on my plate was the Sicilian olive tapenade, which is too salty for me. DH laughed at me, because I didn’t like it last time either. I prefer black olives, the green ones just aren’t my thing. Then there’s DS, who ate his entire hot dog and asked our server if he had told the Chef what he said. A few minutes later, the Chef comes out to introduce himself to us and said that he was very glad to hear that DS loves the hot dogs so much. Here we are having a 4/5 star dinner and my son is complimenting the Chef on the Ballparks!!!! We finished dinner with coffee (good coffee, not Disney coffee) and dessert. DH & DD had their grapefruit cake, DS had the creme brulee and the chocolate lover that I am, had the flourless chocolate cake. Another fantastic meal at Brown Derby.
DD impersonating Mary Tyler Moore on the Streets of America
DS impersonating Darth Vader
The skies started to look a little scary, so we figured it would be a good time to go to Muppet Vision. If you normally go straight in and hurry to get into the next show, don’t. There is sooooo much to look at in this attraction. We’ve seen this sign many times:
We took our time and this is what we found
The show was funny as always and when we came out the sky had cleared. We rode Star Tours real quick and then we went back up to see if there were Fast Passes for EMH at Toy Story Midway Mania. Nope and the wait was 100 minutes. We were starting to walk away when DS saw the single rider line. We waited about 20 minutes (much better than 100) and had a great time. I thought it was a lot of fun but DH said he would have been disappointed if he’d waited 2 hours for it. After that we went and saw Indy and then went to Great Movie Ride. I wasn’t feeling real well at this point, full tummy and the heat had me feeling a little green. DD was worn out as well, and she doesn’t like the thrill rides and wanted to leave. I really didn’t want to miss Rockin Rollercoaster and since we had the Fast Passe I figured I was either going to feel alot better or alot worse. DD waited while the rest of us rode. That was the best I had felt in hours! I thought about trying Tower of Terror, but figured I’d be pushing my luck. Maybe next time, The “boys” stayed and used their Fast Passes for Tower of Terror and DD & I caught a bus back to SSR.
It was a good night. Got a little frustrating at times with lines and with our dear children who don’t mind waiting for the things they like but want to leave as soon as they get what they want. If you saw a family having words about kids being selfish on Sunset Blvd, it wasn’t us.
Tomorrow DH & I have a golf date and then we’ll have dinner with the Princesses.
So we head to the Studios. A few years ago, DS had a brave moment and wanted to ride Rockin Rollercoaster. He wasn’t quite big enough, so the CM gave him a “Limo Pass” that said when he was tall enough to ride, bring the pass back for front of the line privileges. We’ve brought the Limo Pass back several times, and he even tried to use it once but the ride broke down while we were waiting. This time he’s going to use it! DH grabs 4 fast passes (all of our tickets) for Tower of Terror and then we walk over to Rockin Rollercoaster. DD isn’t in the mood to ride, so the 3 of us head in. The limo pass worked as a fast pass for our whole party. Good thing the kid loves Aerosmith, the line is moving pretty fast. Love the pre-show! I haven’t been on this in years (usually sitting outside with DS) Allright, want to ride with me? I didn’t think so. —- 3,2,1 “Dude looks like a lady!” Wow! I’m singing and laughing (and hoping that my baby) is ok. He’s never done corkscrews before … It’s over so fast, how’d he do? “Can we get in the single rider line?” My baby isn’t a baby anymore.
Meet up with DD outside, and see the crowds in the street growing and moving this way. She doesn’t really want to ride anything and decided to go to the room, maybe eat or catch up with my dad & Jackie. DH & DS go on what used to be their favorite ride, Tower of Terror. I’ll just go sit and wait thank you very much. I sat enjoying the sun, and had a great chat with a lady from Baltimore. It was really nice and before I knew it, the boys were back and then they were gone to use the other 2 fast passes. They really like Tower of Terro, I’m still thinking about it. Maybe next trip I’ll be brave enough? Now the boys are done, I say good bye to my new friend and head back to Rockin Rollercoaster. The single rider line moved quick and the ride was even more fun this time.
12:30 already? Guess it’s time to head out of the Studios and make our way to Epcot. OOH! Streetmoshpere! I love Streetmoshpere! “The World’s most famous actress, Norma Desmond (?)” was needing a little attention, so DS posed for pictures with her. Then we ran into “Jack Diamond, talent agent” and his assistant “Honey Darlin”. “Jack” recognized DS’s talent immediately and then showed him some magic tricks. That was so much fun!
– I have to stop and say that I know a lot of people don’t like the Studios, but it’s one of my favorite parks. I suppose if you just rush from ride to ride you’re done in no time flat, but there’s so much to just “experience” here. The Streetmoshphere characters and shows are hilarious. We’re still quoting Honey Darlin a week later. The detail on the shop windows, and all through the streets, the handprints outside GMR, there is so much to enjoy if you slow down to notice.–
Ooops, it’s almost 1 already. DD has picked up Counter Service lunch for herself at Epcot and taken another ride on Test Track. Now she’s catching up with Jackie & Dad (grandpa for her).
My plan is falling apart, and I don’t like that. I like plans and schedules. We’re supposed to see World Showcase & take a time out for the DVC Merry Mixer. Deep breath, we’ll still have time to do everything.
Or maybe not. Dad Jackie & DD are already between Morocco & Japan! We catch up only to find out that Dad & Jackie have spent the last few hours going through World Showcase themselves. That was not the plan! DH grabs a quick lunch from Germany while DS & I get pretzels for lunch. We manage to finish just in time to catch the 3pm show at American Adventure. Since they’ve already seen the rest of World Showcase (so they think, I’m pretty sure they missed a lot) we head towards the International Gateway to go out to the Merry Mixer. Dad & Jackie are going to go with us, but at the last minute decide they need to stop in the World Traveler shop. Ok, we won’t be long.
This is our 1st trip as DVC members (Disney Vacation Club Members), and our 1st Merry Mixer. Outside the International Gateway, there is the party. Music, dancing, games and sugar cookies that are unbelieveable. Pin trading, pictures with Mickey. It was pretty cool, but loud. Very loud. We didn’t stay long, got our ornaments and headed back into the park. Dad calls DH (again? I’m starting to get a complex!) He and Jackie are near The Land. They’ll meet us by the restaurant for dinner. Ok, we’ve got some time and the kids want to ride Test Track again, so we walk over. DH & I sit and rest d wait while the kids single rider line. Now, this is cool, as we’re sitting a guy comes up to me and says “So you listen to the DISunplugged?” I’m wearing my podsquad t-shirt that I won right before the trip 
We talked for a bit, about the show and our trips before he went back to find his family. How cool is that? Only in The World! The kids finish TT and we decide to cut through Mouse Gears on our way to the land. I look, and say hi to my dad 
Jackie likes to shop, so it wasn’t too surprising to find them there. So we wander through the store with them and then make our way to Garden Grill for our CLP package dinner.
Up next:I’ve waited years to see CLP
