Here We Go Again - Universal and Disney Dream October 2015 - COMPLETE 17 days

Dining review day 15

Wednesday 28th October



Breakfast

Enchanted garden



We tried breakfast here as a less busy alternative to Cabanas.







There was a nice buffet, not as much choice as upstairs at Cabanas but more than enough. Drinks were served too.



Lunch

Cookies bbq, Castaway key











We all enjoyed our lunch here, think we had spicy chicken, DD had a burger. Ice cream for dessert.





Dinner

Royal Palace, Pirate night





I had a cocktail and DD a slushie in a pirate light up cup.

The bean things are pigeon peas that came with the bread to start.



We had potstickers to start and I tried the clam chowder. DH had jerk chicken salad. DD had mac and cheese, me scallops and DH steak. Dessert was a sundae for me and cake for DH.













Buffet

Cabanas





After the fireworks there was a buffet in Cabanas. Baked potatoes and tacos and dessert crepes with various toppings.













Snacks

We bought some water which came with a disney cruise cool bag on the beach.

DH had a cocktail of the day and DD more help yourself ice cream

The cruise looks wonderful! I hope it was a terrific birthday!
We've never been on one. DH is terribly claustrophobic---our walk in closet gives hime panic!

J'aime Paris said:

The cruise looks wonderful! I hope it was a terrific birthday!
We've never been on one. DH is terribly claustrophobic---our walk in closet gives hime panic!

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We all loved the sruise. The cabin was very spacious like a normal hotel room.

Trip Report Day 16 Thursday October 29th 2015 Disney Dream At Sea



We had a later start today and I took DD to the open house in Edge to check it out. Kids need to be 11 to go there unaccompanied.



We took DD to Cabanas for breakfast, we didn’t eat as we were headed for Palo brunch.



We dropped DD off at kids club and went to brunch. I couldn’t get a reservation online but had been able to make one day 1 when we boarded (you had to go to royal palace at 1pm I recall)

Palo is adults only and has a charge of $30 per person plus tip.

We had a lovely brunch, ate far too much. There was a buffet with servers to assist then dishes cooked to order then so many desserts.



We collected DD from kids club. She hadn’t had lunch they had turkey or cheese sandwiches but for some reason hadn’t liked the look.



DH had a nap in the cabin and I took DD for some lunch from the quick serve place by the pool.

We then swapped over. DH and DD headed off to do the detective agency.



I went to the spa. I’ve booked a rainforest pass for $16 in advance and paid for a scrub on the day. I had a lovely relaxing time in the spa. There was hardly anyone in. There were steam rooms and a sauna and different showers. The sauna had a floor to ceiling glass window overlooking the ocean and I was the only one in.



I finished off with the hot tub overlooking the ocean and had a snooze on a heated lounger.

Bliss.

I eventually dragged myself away and we had dinner in Animator’s palate. This was our favourite main dining restaurant. Crush appeared on the screens to chat.





I’d prepaid the tips but they gave us slips slowing how much we had paid and envelopes so we handed these to the 3 servers – server, assistant and head server and to our cabin attendant.

The show tonight was Disney’s believe which DD and I enjoyed. Dh had a wander to a few of the bars.

We also booked another cruise as you got 10% discount and some on board credit. Just had to pay a deposit which is refundable if we don’t go. The discount lasts for 24 months so we will probably move our booking to a 2017 when they are released.

I also did some laundry this evening, our room was close to the laundry.

We then had the task of trying to pack everything and get the cases under the weight limits for our flight tomorrow. Stressful as usual, we always buy too much and never learn!

I did manage to watch the See Ya real soon show with the characters in atrium and DD had room service again.



We left the suit cases outside the room so they could be taken off the ship for us.

Day 16 dining review

Thursday 29th October

Breakfast

We were eating at paolo brunch so popped up to the Cabanas buffet with DD so she could have some breakfast.





Paolo brunch, Disney Dream













We managed to get a reservation on the ship on day 1 (had been fully booked online)



$30 each plus tip and adults only so DD went to the kids club.

We had really lovely food but ate far too much.

There was a buffet then you could order hot food, I had eggs royale (eggs benedict but with salmon), chicken parmesan with risotto and we shared a sausage flatbread. DH had tomato soup and the chicken.

Desserts, there were lots of them too choose from including chocolate strawberries.





Highly recommended





Flos

DD hadn’t eaten in the kids club (lunch there was cheese or turkey sandwiches? No idea why not)



Took her up to the pool deck for chicken tenders and fries. I’d also smuggled a chocolate strawberry out of paolo for her.



Dinner

Animators palate, pacific rim cuisine

Despite feeling like I’d never eat again after paolo I managed to eat a salmon starter which was lovely and light, DH had baked potato soup. DD had her usual steak. I had the beef filet with teriyaki sauce and it was delicious. DH had same steak as DD but wished he had had mine. We had cake dessert.





This was our best main restaurant meal and we loved the atmosphere in animator’s palate with Crush popping by.









Room service

DD had chicken tenders and a mickey bar again!

Drinks and Snacks

Trip report Day 17 Disney Dream – Disembark and flying home

As we were on early dining we had a very early served breakfast at Animator’s palate.



We then sadly left the ship. There were porters and he quickly found our luggage and steered us through immigration to the Budget car hire shuttle bus (again remember dollars to tip!)



We had hired a car as it was cheaper than the Disney transfer bus and we had a few hours before we were due at the airport.



We collected the car and set off for Orlando. Luckily DH’s google maps sat nav routed us around as the usual 528 was closed due to a crash.

We stopped at a 7/11 for a drink enroute. DD fell asleep, worn out from the cruise.





We decided to head for Celebration. We stopped at Publix for some snacks for the plane and the 7/11 there for fuel and another drink.



We had a look around Celebration, at Halloween time a lot of the houses are decorated.



With hindsight we should have eaten at the market street café but instead we headed onto the 192 to see what we fancied for lunch. I think we were all fooded out at this point and we couldn’t decide. In the end stopped at Bob Evans which was ok but nothing great, prefer bob evans for breakfast.



We stopped at coldstone creamery for ice creams before the airport. Had a coupon for BOGOF off their email club.



We dropped the car back at the airport and checked in for our flight to Atlanta.



We were on a small Delta plane from MCO to Atlanta. This was delayed slightly but we were still fine for our connection.



In Atlanta we transferred on the monorail to the International terminal. This was a nice new terminal compared to the last time we had been through Atlanta.

There was a small food court upstairs, DD had a good kids meal from Varsity which is apparently a famous Atlanta burger chain. We shared something from the tex mex, burger was better option.



The plane on the Atlanta to Manchester route was a lot newer than the one we had flown out on Manchester to Orlando and hardly any children on, much different to the plane direct out to MCO. Overnight flight home was fine.



We landed about 7am Saturday 31st October. 1 suitcase came off quickly then nothing else. Eventually us and a few other passengers were tanoyed to go to the desk. The other two bags hadn’t made connection and were delivered to our house the next day. The bags came via New York. Whilst this sounds like a hassle it wasn’t and they kept us fully informed.

We called the car people and headed up to T2 departures where they met us with DH’s car. DH drove us home, takes about an hour.

I’d booked an Asda shopping delivery as usual.

We then had a nap. It was Halloween so DD headed out to trick or treat with a friend (luckily the harry potter robe had made it back) and I manned the door for trick or treaters. Didn’t have all our decorations up but did have this sign I’d got in Target last week and our Mickey plastic pumpkin.



The END until next time!

We are booked for a week in May 2016. We have the Universal annual passes and are planning at staying at Cabana bay again (need to book the hotel, waiting to see if they release APH rate) Flying from Manchester with American Airlines via Philadelphia, a route we have done a few times.

Day 17

Friday 30th October 2015



Breakfast

Animator’s palate, Disney Dream



We ate breakfast very early at animators palate as we were first dinner seating. Think it was 6am. This was a served breakfast with our usual servers.





Snacks

We got a big gulp drink from a 7/11 on way back to Orlando, a code red mountain dew and another drink from the 7/11 at Celebration





Publix supermarket and liquor store

We popped into publix at Celebration

Lunch, Bob Evans, 192 Kissimmee









We couldn’t decide where to go for lunch and ended up here, it is the one near Sherbeth road shortcut. We have been to this one for breakfast before. I had grilled cheese, DD kids grilled cheese and DH a pot roast sandwich with soda to drink.



It was fine but we preferred village inn for similar food

$27.55 plus tip

Coldstone Creamery, Blake blvd



Our last stop before the airport was here. This one is just outside Celebration, near the publix. We had a coupon from the email club for BOGOF so had two medium ‘love it’ sized creations. I know one was mint chocolate chip.





Approx $6



Atlanta Airport

We came back with Delta and Virgin via Atlanta



In the international terminal there was a food court area upstairs. DH and I shared a taco meal and DD had a kids meal from Varsity. This is apparently a famous Atlanta burger chain and was much better than expected.

Virgin Plane

Sorry no photos, I can’t remember what we had on the plane!

THE END

Hope you enjoyed this years food instalment. Next trip is May 2016, week of Universal and offsite eats.

What a great report, Stephanie!! I am finally all caught up. Your cruise looked amazing and soooo much fun! (loved the pirate night, especially!)

That turkey shaped butter thing has to be the strangest food item I've ever seen .

Loved all your pictures, too . Can't wait to follow along on your May adventures....its coming up so quickly!

Fantastic pictures as always........really enjoyed reading along with you........and glad you all had such a wonderful trip again.........

Really enjoyed your report, thanks so much. Your little girl is growing up so quickly, I know you've said in past reports that's she's tall & I guess that could make her look older. She has some lovely clothes, I liked the green dress.
The cruise sounds wonderful, have you booked the same one for 2017?
Glad to hear the operation was so successfull, sounds like you've had quite a rough time of it.
Best wishes & I look forward to hearing about your next one, isn't that far off now.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:

What a great report, Stephanie!! I am finally all caught up. Your cruise looked amazing and soooo much fun! (loved the pirate night, especially!)[/U][/URL][/U][/URL]
[URL='http://www.disboards.com/dial://211072']
That turkey shaped butter thing has to be the strangest food item I've ever seen .

Loved all your pictures, too . Can't wait to follow along on your May adventures....its coming up so quickly![/URL]

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[URL='http://www.disboards.com/dial://211072']

Thank you for reading and posting as I went a long. Not as fast as your updates but I got there

100 days until the next trip

schumigirl said:

Fantastic pictures as always........really enjoyed reading along with you........and glad you all had such a wonderful trip again.........

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Thank you very much for reading and posting as I went a long. hopefully will do another after our May trip.

stephensmum said:

Really enjoyed your report, thanks so much. Your little girl is growing up so quickly, I know you've said in past reports that's she's tall & I guess that could make her look older. She has some lovely clothes, I liked the green dress.

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[/URL]

stephensmum said:

[URL='http://www.disboards.com/dial://135024']The cruise sounds wonderful, have you booked the same one for 2017?
Glad to hear the operation was so successfull, sounds like you've had quite a rough time of it.
Best wishes & I look forward to hearing about your next one, isn't that far off now.[/URL]

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[URL='http://www.disboards.com/dial://135024']

Thank you. Yes she is tall, the green dress is from M & S and age 12-13. Cruise is booked as a 7 night western Caribbean for 2016, being sensible it is not going to happen so we will move it to a 2017 one when dates are released. DD will be at secondary school Sept 16 so our nice October 2 week holidays will stop. Was wondering about May 17 after her SATS exams but we shall see.

Still breathing well 9 months later.[/URL][/U][/URL][/U][/URL]

Thanks for sharing! I finally finished your TR, looks like you had a great trip. Now I'm hoping 3 parks days will be enough for our 1st Universal trip, there is definitely lots we are excited to try. The cruise looks like a great birthday present I think I need to talk to DH ;-)

woodynjessiesmomma said:

Thanks for sharing! I finally finished your TR, looks like you had a great trip. Now I'm hoping 3 parks days will be enough for our 1st Universal trip, there is definitely lots we are excited to try. The cruise looks like a great birthday present I think I need to talk to DH ;-)

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Thanks for reading. You will pack lots of fun into 3 days. The cruise was a great belated birthday present, made turning 40 a bit easier.

Thank you for sharing, your dd is such an angel. Your is one of several bad reviews of PO's so it's off my list and you made me realize how much money we're going to save with the preferred AP THNX again

figmentfan423 said:

Thank you for sharing, your dd is such an angel. Your is one of several bad reviews of PO's so it's off my list and you made me realize how much money we're going to save with the preferred AP THNX again

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Thanks for reading, yes preferred AP was good and I soon got into the habit of showing it. I think I only forgot once to show it.

Really enjoyed reading your TR. Loved all of the pics! Will definitely use it as a reference when planning our trip this summer. for sharing your trip with us!