estherhead
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- Dec 28, 2004
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Don't just wave, come over and say "Hey!"
And if we don't see you, have a GREAT TIME!!!!!
Suzy and Perla Skip the Lines Again: From roughing it to the lap of luxury
- Thread starter estherhead
- Start date
Don't just wave, come over and say "Hey!"
And if we don't see you, have a GREAT TIME!!!!!
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
After our bizarre evening of wonderful food, wonderful music, wonderful alcohol, and puke we were ready for our day at Epcot. This was a rope drop day and we were ready for it. I put the girls hair in pigtails so I could use these cool hair clips I made:
I was very proud of these ones and LOVED the way they look. But they did drive me crazy as the clips have no resistance and so easily slide right out. Good thing I loved looking at them so much, otherwise I would have lost one for sure.
Since we had been basically eating Poptarts for breakfast since the beginning of this trip it didn't bother me to allow my kids to eat Starring Rolls cupcakes for breakfast this day. I can't remember exactly what these are but I believe, from left to right: Butterfinger, Red Velvet, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and I have no idea.
I had read here on the Dis that Butterfinger was the clear winner of flavors. This was not my opinion. My opinion is in this order: Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, Butterfinger. Followed by, obviously, the flavor that was so amazing I have no idea what it was. Perhaps it wasn't even a cupcake. We also bought a napolean and maybe a brownie. Regardless, we had four boxes with sweet things that are allowed to take the place of breakfast when on vacation.
After our super healthy breakfast, we headed out. Suzy, of course, wanted to walk. And many followed her lead. I led a small group of rebels onto the super slow Friendship boat:
We had a lovely and relaxing time, being quizzed by Buzz, of course.
Here is the cute little scene that greeted us when we arrived:
If you cannot decide whether to walk or ride in the a.m. here is what you need to know: If we had not been with them, we would have been 5 people behind them. But remember, this is 8:30 a.m. in a not super crazy time (just a crazy time.) So your results may vary. Though I'm guessing at 8:30 at Epcot's secondary gate, you'd still be a-ok riding the boat. Go team boat!
After being let into the park (yes they do have bag check at the International Gateway) we started our mosey through England. As you well know, I was LOVING the Flower and Garden show so the following photo will come as not surprise:
Mulan is not necessarily a morning person, so this wasn't what she wanted to do. But this garden was darling and had big teacups tilted on their side (and some left upright) and filled with flowers. I'm not crazy about tires as flower containers, nor really giant wooden buckets they do out here in the country near me. But if I had access to giant styrofoam teacups painted like china, you can be sure I would tip them over and fill them with flowers.
Look. Look at this. This is a cement and ugly part of Epcot. It could be hideous. But is it?
Nope. Pop up a butterfly tent, and put pods of flowers in a pond of water and voila. Amazing.
The following photo was an innocent picture of Donald I took for Boo that his handler happened to get in. I put it in here because we were standing at the rope and once Donald joined the other fab five, this handler came to talk to us. Normally, I love talking to Disney CM. But seriously, this guy was quite strange and kinda ruined my rope drop experience as he talked through everything happening and not it a random way that you can just ignore but in that needy kind of way that requires a tremendous amount of effort on the listeners. My girls were being annoyed so I just took over the duty of talking to him. Trying without being too rude to keep snapping a few photos of the fab five.
Look who got special Donald attention:
This family of the day seemed to be having a good time:
The rope drop from the International Gateway is way better than from the other side as you can actually see and hear it. I've been to rope drop many a time at Epcot and never really realized what the show was about.
Suzy separated from us and went to the left side to do the Soarin' stampede. We were on the other side to rush to Test Track. The lady in charge of the actual rope rolled it up way ahead of time and then went up and down the row explain to everyone there was an imaginary rope being held up. This confused me since I knew for a fact she had a real rope. Why not just leave the real rope up and leave our imaginations alone? Why make more work for yourself and all of us? Normally this probably wouldn't bother me but I already had a lot of jobs. I am always Mom and official photographer but I also was entertainer of CM's and now had to imagine fake ropes and keep my children behind the fake rope. It was rather stressful, to be honest.
But then we were off with the half going to Test Track.
And sooner than later:
This was not my best TT ride. It stopped on the speed test and then we crawled up that hill and then didn't go really fast outside. It was irritating to say the least.
Once done with Test Track Team Perla left Team Suzy at Universe of Energy. We had met Tinkerbell one time before. Boo always wants to meet Tink and never has but it always has an hour+ line which I am unwilling to stand in ever again. But Tinkerbell was at Epcot for the F&G show with three of her other fairy friends. So we decided to do it. I don't think Tink fits in well at Epcot. But they made her an adorable garden and did their very best to make it work.
Universe of Energy wait:
Tinkerbell wait:
So glad I have girls!
The playground they put in behind where you meet Tink:
There were two lines for Tink, one for Tink and Terrance and a second for bonus fairies. They were parallel to each other. I'd heard quite a bit of whining on the boards that it is totally unfair to do it this way and you should be able to stand in one line and meet all four. This whining confused me once there as everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE split their adults and half waited in one and the other half waited in the other. I guess this would only punish single parents traveling alone with their kids. That is a bummer. But there wasn't really room here for one long line.
So Donald and the girls waited in the Tink line. This bummed me out a little as I had wanted to meet Tink. But Donald wanted to meet Tink AND Vidia and was insistant that he get to have his photo with them.
Here is Donald's list of important characters to get his photo with:
Jasmine
Pocahantas
Tinkerbell
Vidia
Are there any other scantily clad girl face characters? No? Then that is the end of the list.
So I stood in the other line. I stood with a mom whose dh was in the armed forces and their entire family was at WDW (they lived in Georgia) for one last big to do before she & her 3 kids moved to Germany. She said her house was 100% packed ready to store or ship. They would go home for 2 days after WDW and then that was it. They wouldn't see the extended family for two years. It was a nice conversation and she was a great lady. She was a teacher and already had a job lined up for herself in Germany at the school where her kids would go.
It was enjoyable enough that the 45 minutes total we spent meeting the fairies flew by.
OK, hold on. I'm a picture count.
I was very proud of these ones and LOVED the way they look. But they did drive me crazy as the clips have no resistance and so easily slide right out. Good thing I loved looking at them so much, otherwise I would have lost one for sure.
Since we had been basically eating Poptarts for breakfast since the beginning of this trip it didn't bother me to allow my kids to eat Starring Rolls cupcakes for breakfast this day. I can't remember exactly what these are but I believe, from left to right: Butterfinger, Red Velvet, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and I have no idea.
I had read here on the Dis that Butterfinger was the clear winner of flavors. This was not my opinion. My opinion is in this order: Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, Butterfinger. Followed by, obviously, the flavor that was so amazing I have no idea what it was. Perhaps it wasn't even a cupcake. We also bought a napolean and maybe a brownie. Regardless, we had four boxes with sweet things that are allowed to take the place of breakfast when on vacation.
After our super healthy breakfast, we headed out. Suzy, of course, wanted to walk. And many followed her lead. I led a small group of rebels onto the super slow Friendship boat:
We had a lovely and relaxing time, being quizzed by Buzz, of course.
Here is the cute little scene that greeted us when we arrived:
If you cannot decide whether to walk or ride in the a.m. here is what you need to know: If we had not been with them, we would have been 5 people behind them. But remember, this is 8:30 a.m. in a not super crazy time (just a crazy time.) So your results may vary. Though I'm guessing at 8:30 at Epcot's secondary gate, you'd still be a-ok riding the boat. Go team boat!
After being let into the park (yes they do have bag check at the International Gateway) we started our mosey through England. As you well know, I was LOVING the Flower and Garden show so the following photo will come as not surprise:
Mulan is not necessarily a morning person, so this wasn't what she wanted to do. But this garden was darling and had big teacups tilted on their side (and some left upright) and filled with flowers. I'm not crazy about tires as flower containers, nor really giant wooden buckets they do out here in the country near me. But if I had access to giant styrofoam teacups painted like china, you can be sure I would tip them over and fill them with flowers.
Look. Look at this. This is a cement and ugly part of Epcot. It could be hideous. But is it?
Nope. Pop up a butterfly tent, and put pods of flowers in a pond of water and voila. Amazing.
The following photo was an innocent picture of Donald I took for Boo that his handler happened to get in. I put it in here because we were standing at the rope and once Donald joined the other fab five, this handler came to talk to us. Normally, I love talking to Disney CM. But seriously, this guy was quite strange and kinda ruined my rope drop experience as he talked through everything happening and not it a random way that you can just ignore but in that needy kind of way that requires a tremendous amount of effort on the listeners. My girls were being annoyed so I just took over the duty of talking to him. Trying without being too rude to keep snapping a few photos of the fab five.
Look who got special Donald attention:
This family of the day seemed to be having a good time:
The rope drop from the International Gateway is way better than from the other side as you can actually see and hear it. I've been to rope drop many a time at Epcot and never really realized what the show was about.
Suzy separated from us and went to the left side to do the Soarin' stampede. We were on the other side to rush to Test Track. The lady in charge of the actual rope rolled it up way ahead of time and then went up and down the row explain to everyone there was an imaginary rope being held up. This confused me since I knew for a fact she had a real rope. Why not just leave the real rope up and leave our imaginations alone? Why make more work for yourself and all of us? Normally this probably wouldn't bother me but I already had a lot of jobs. I am always Mom and official photographer but I also was entertainer of CM's and now had to imagine fake ropes and keep my children behind the fake rope. It was rather stressful, to be honest.
But then we were off with the half going to Test Track.
And sooner than later:
This was not my best TT ride. It stopped on the speed test and then we crawled up that hill and then didn't go really fast outside. It was irritating to say the least.
Once done with Test Track Team Perla left Team Suzy at Universe of Energy. We had met Tinkerbell one time before. Boo always wants to meet Tink and never has but it always has an hour+ line which I am unwilling to stand in ever again. But Tinkerbell was at Epcot for the F&G show with three of her other fairy friends. So we decided to do it. I don't think Tink fits in well at Epcot. But they made her an adorable garden and did their very best to make it work.
Universe of Energy wait:
Tinkerbell wait:
So glad I have girls!
The playground they put in behind where you meet Tink:
There were two lines for Tink, one for Tink and Terrance and a second for bonus fairies. They were parallel to each other. I'd heard quite a bit of whining on the boards that it is totally unfair to do it this way and you should be able to stand in one line and meet all four. This whining confused me once there as everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE split their adults and half waited in one and the other half waited in the other. I guess this would only punish single parents traveling alone with their kids. That is a bummer. But there wasn't really room here for one long line.
So Donald and the girls waited in the Tink line. This bummed me out a little as I had wanted to meet Tink. But Donald wanted to meet Tink AND Vidia and was insistant that he get to have his photo with them.
Here is Donald's list of important characters to get his photo with:
Jasmine
Pocahantas
Tinkerbell
Vidia
Are there any other scantily clad girl face characters? No? Then that is the end of the list.
So I stood in the other line. I stood with a mom whose dh was in the armed forces and their entire family was at WDW (they lived in Georgia) for one last big to do before she & her 3 kids moved to Germany. She said her house was 100% packed ready to store or ship. They would go home for 2 days after WDW and then that was it. They wouldn't see the extended family for two years. It was a nice conversation and she was a great lady. She was a teacher and already had a job lined up for herself in Germany at the school where her kids would go.
It was enjoyable enough that the 45 minutes total we spent meeting the fairies flew by.
OK, hold on. I'm a picture count.
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
And then they were at Tink:
Tink loved our Buzz Lightyear pen.
Here was my view of this:
Donald let them have their moment:
And then had his:
I'm an adult woman. I do not understand the joy of meeting scantily clad girls pretending to be fairies and princesses. I do understand and experience the joy of meeting (and especially hugging) small women dressing in giant stuffed mouse and bear costumes pretending to be Mickey and Pooh. So I don't judge.
Universe of Energy ended just as we were getting ready to meet Vidia. I texted Charming and told him to come over and meet the fake princesses who were truly cute girls. But he stuck with his family.
Look at this adorable tiny little fairy house:
Vidia turned out to be in a real, covering outfit. But she was of full of personality Donald still wanted to meet her. Plus, there was always Rosetta. The girls loved these fairies:
I got my pic taken with them too:
But no family shot. Donald wanted his OWN time. He wanted to get a rise out of Vidia because he loved her so much and he, too, is evil. But she loved him too much to be mean.
This was fun, the whole experience was fun. The garden was gorgeous. The fairies were great. The line was fun. It was a lovely way to start the day.
We then went to a Boo fave. Imagination:
For one brief moment (so I brief I couldn't get Suzy's slow starting camera on in time) only we were playing with the musical instruments.
Hidden Mickey:
Suzy typing in my email for Boo's hard work designing:
And now you must all wait till I come back to write more. Because do you know where I am right now? Disney World. And today is another Epcot day for me! So you got all you'll get from me today.
Tink loved our Buzz Lightyear pen.
Here was my view of this:
Donald let them have their moment:
And then had his:
I'm an adult woman. I do not understand the joy of meeting scantily clad girls pretending to be fairies and princesses. I do understand and experience the joy of meeting (and especially hugging) small women dressing in giant stuffed mouse and bear costumes pretending to be Mickey and Pooh. So I don't judge.
Universe of Energy ended just as we were getting ready to meet Vidia. I texted Charming and told him to come over and meet the fake princesses who were truly cute girls. But he stuck with his family.
Look at this adorable tiny little fairy house:
Vidia turned out to be in a real, covering outfit. But she was of full of personality Donald still wanted to meet her. Plus, there was always Rosetta. The girls loved these fairies:
I got my pic taken with them too:
But no family shot. Donald wanted his OWN time. He wanted to get a rise out of Vidia because he loved her so much and he, too, is evil. But she loved him too much to be mean.
This was fun, the whole experience was fun. The garden was gorgeous. The fairies were great. The line was fun. It was a lovely way to start the day.
We then went to a Boo fave. Imagination:
For one brief moment (so I brief I couldn't get Suzy's slow starting camera on in time) only we were playing with the musical instruments.
Hidden Mickey:
Suzy typing in my email for Boo's hard work designing:
And now you must all wait till I come back to write more. Because do you know where I am right now? Disney World. And today is another Epcot day for me! So you got all you'll get from me today.
Wow! I'm amazed you found time to post an update. Hope you are having a wonderful week at Disney.
Loved the girls' hairbows. They are too cute!
I enjoyed reading about rope drop at Epcot. I think we were still standing at the turnstiles and missed the opening show. Sorry about the CM though. Your pics of the flowers are great. That is too funny that Donald had to have his own pictures with the fairies!! I wish we could have met Tink, but there were just too many things on our to-do list to stand in her line this time. Can't wait to read about the rest of your Epcot day and your newest TR when you get back home!
Loved the girls' hairbows. They are too cute!
I enjoyed reading about rope drop at Epcot. I think we were still standing at the turnstiles and missed the opening show. Sorry about the CM though. Your pics of the flowers are great. That is too funny that Donald had to have his own pictures with the fairies!! I wish we could have met Tink, but there were just too many things on our to-do list to stand in her line this time. Can't wait to read about the rest of your Epcot day and your newest TR when you get back home!
taymaesmom
DIS Veteran
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- Feb 13, 2006
- Messages
- 607
Yay! Thanks for the update! I was beginning to have withdrawals! I love your trip reports so much! Enjoy the rest of your trip, can't wait to read that report too!
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
It is too hot. I don't mind too much, as long as we keep having ac breaks. But Suzy and two of her boys are cranky in the heat. It is a totally different dynamic than when we are normally here. In September it is hot but not crowded. And in March it is crowded but not hot. The combo certainly adds another dimension.
Also, I believe that more people are new in March and June and in June there are a ton of new people in large groups. This makes navigating parks very tricky as HUGE amounts of people stop dead in front of you. I've never had this happen this much before in one trip. I'm an excellent stroller driver but even still I have nicked two sets of ankles. One because the lady stopped dead and I simply could not get stopped. The other because a guy leapt right ahead of me because he was trying to escape from another person not knowing what to do. That time he and I nearly ended in a pile with the stroller on the ground.
But I can't tell you any of these stories. Because they belong in a different TR!
I'm glad I wasn't the only one!
We wore those hairbows again yesterday and twice someone asked where we bought them. Donald says I need to start an Etsy site.
Thanks!
I'm hoping to finish this TR on our beach portion of this vacation starting Saturday. Because now I need to work on THIS trip report that we are currently on.
marymac123
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 11, 2009
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- 661
That's funny-we had that CM Aug last year in Epcot waiting in line for the Disney Visa photo spot. And, he was needy, annoying, bossy, grumpy and annoying that day.
It was that longest 10 minutes of my trip!
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
That's funny-we had that CM Aug last year in Epcot waiting in line for the Disney Visa photo spot. And, he was needy, annoying, bossy, grumpy and annoying that day.
Isn't it funny how you remember people you have these tiny little moments with. It's like the Photopass lady at AK that I adore. I see her what? Once a year at the most? For less than 5 minutes, have no conversation with her, and am not there to see her. But I recognize her every single time. And am excited to see her.
knitster
DIS Veteran
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- Sep 19, 2010
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- 636
Oh, I wonder if she's the same PP lady we had when we met Donald at AK? Loved her!
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
Perhaps. She's always over there with those Camp Minnie Mickey characters and she tries so hard to capture special moments.
Are you home yet?I think I am going through withdrawals from the Suzy and Perla clan! No pressure or anything though.
Nope! Still on vacation. But I do think I'm going to try to put up a new chapter today. It's driving me crazy to have this TR still going when I'm all excited to tell you about THIS trip!
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
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- 3,394
Donald, at this point, was forced to watch Captain E.O. Suzy and I thoroughly loved it, as you all know. Being a music lover and the same age as us, we thought he would enjoy it. But we were wrong. He hated it.
While he was doing that, we were doing the imagination ride & messed around at the Land pavilion. And then it was time to ride a very exciting Soarin': Jack-Jack and Boo's first time! And we got row one too. In the middle. Exciting, exciting.
Our family group of 11 perfectly filled this row and we all had huge smiles on our faces.
Look how tiny she looks.
After we flew through California, it was time to walk to Norway. We split from the big kids and they all went off to Innovations. That alone made me happy as Innovations annoys me. It is a lovely concept and VERY loved by our children. And individually each thing in those two buildings are wonderful. I love the Piggy Bank thing, the Sum of All Thrills, The Fire House, the Visa Mickey spot, etc. etc. But here are my problems with Innovations:
1) I can't find my children, it is impossible to supervise them.
2) There are a lot of other children who sometimes are not overly interested in sharing/obeying rules.
3) Cell phone service is sketchy at best in the middle of the buildings.
4) They are loud in an unpleasing way and you cannot escape.
There are other reasons. But those are the biggest. So any time I can get out of the stress of being a parent in there, I do. Someday in the future when all our kids are above the age of ten, I, too, will go in Innovations and play my own games and enjoy it. But now, I just AVOID!
So Charming, Mulan, and Buzz all have cell phones and are responsible (mostly) and we left them with Ariel to enjoy. We took McQueen, Jack, and Boo to meet princesses. This may not make much sense, since McQueen and Jack are both boys. But really it was Suzy's idea as she wanted Donald and Milo to eat the food there, knowing they would enjoy it, and also Jack-Jack REALLY wanted to meet Ariel and with Ariel's Grotto gone, it was the easiest way. Jack LOVED Ariel starting this winter after they watched the Little Mermaid.
We ordered our drinks and headed up to the buffet:
If you wonder if you will like the food here it is simple to answer. Do you like good cheese? Flavorful bread (not just white )? Salmon? Do you like fresh salad? Do you like home cooking, like meatloaf or sausage with sauerkraut or things floating in cream sauce?
Really, not many Americans know a lot about Norwegian food. But you don't need to be afraid of it. The spices may be slightly different, but the basics are very common to the American palate.
This, I believe is the venison sausage and cabbage. It was enjoyed (not my meal) and I didn't taste it. So I can have no comment except to say that if you like Reuben sandwiches, this certainly would be in your range of likes.
This is the mushroom stuffed pasta, Donald's choice. Verbally when asked he said the EXACT same thing he always says: "It was alright." Said in a monotone as if to indicate it was mediocre at best. However, he ate every single bite and sopped up the sauce with his bread. That, to me, indicates way more than a mediocre alright. Donald is an extremely unreliable food critic.
And this is my entree:
Traditional Kjottkake - Ground Beef and Pork Dumplings served with Mashed Potatoes, seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce
YUM! I loved this so much I asked for the recipe. The waiter went and asked but returned to tell me that the recipe he was giving me was untrue. That they used to be frozen and this was that recipe which came from the place they bought them. But that the ones they had been making since January were a combination that the head chef and partners had come up with based on their mom's traditional recipes and it isn't written anywhere. So he told me I ought to just look it up on line and try and make a traditional one from there.
And when I got home that is exactly what I did. It was DELISH! Donald simply said, "It was alright," in a pitiful nonchalant way but Mulan, Ariel, and myself LOVED them. So much that I completely altered forever my meatball and loaf recipes that I had been making for 20 years. And I believe they are MUCH better now. My meatloaf recipe is based on these creamy balls of deliciousness. And my meatball recipe is full out Italian which I found on Allrecipes.
We really did come to this restaurant for the food, as you can tell. But the huge majority of people were there simply for the princesses, food being a tiny part of it for them. We were sitting next to door they appear from and were the first table. I was excited as this had worked in our favor at the Cinderella 1900 Park Faire. But I was soon to discover it was annoying as this window was right there meaning with my broken camera and Suzy's slow starting camera I constantly either missed the first magical moments of them arriving, or got a terrible photo with the bright window behind them. But I'll share the few moments we captured:
Aurora was first, she arrived just seconds after our food. And had to scoot the chair in just to get a spot to hang out with our kids:
We had about 2 minutes to settle in to eating when Cinderella arrived. As you can see Jack-Jack was a bit frustrated by this and just wanted to eat, even though he really did want to meet her.
Ariel was next. Jack-Jack was very excited to see her but you can't tell from our pitiful photos:
Look at Boo in this one. She's so excited she can't stand it:
And here you see her special moment with Jack:
And Boo. I loved when they kneeled down as then I could get a decent picture away from the window:
Snow White was darling. And as you can see we switched Jack-Jack and McQueen at some point as our seating was just not working with the food/princess dynamic.
Once we had met all the princesses and they had finished their rounds, they had a little procession through the restaurant. Snow White, I believe, came and collected our children assuring us someone would bring them back to us. I used this time to lick my plate clean.
However, the procession ended and no one did bring our children back. Snow White was visiting other tables and the moments stretched on. It IS a confusing place with lots of little rooms. We were just about to send out a search party when they came back:
We phoned the other kids and they were doing great and having a grand time.
Boo and I popped into this very tiny bathroom, we paid, and headed out to enjoy more Epcot.
LOVE Akershus!
While he was doing that, we were doing the imagination ride & messed around at the Land pavilion. And then it was time to ride a very exciting Soarin': Jack-Jack and Boo's first time! And we got row one too. In the middle. Exciting, exciting.
Our family group of 11 perfectly filled this row and we all had huge smiles on our faces.
Look how tiny she looks.
After we flew through California, it was time to walk to Norway. We split from the big kids and they all went off to Innovations. That alone made me happy as Innovations annoys me. It is a lovely concept and VERY loved by our children. And individually each thing in those two buildings are wonderful. I love the Piggy Bank thing, the Sum of All Thrills, The Fire House, the Visa Mickey spot, etc. etc. But here are my problems with Innovations:
1) I can't find my children, it is impossible to supervise them.
2) There are a lot of other children who sometimes are not overly interested in sharing/obeying rules.
3) Cell phone service is sketchy at best in the middle of the buildings.
4) They are loud in an unpleasing way and you cannot escape.
There are other reasons. But those are the biggest. So any time I can get out of the stress of being a parent in there, I do. Someday in the future when all our kids are above the age of ten, I, too, will go in Innovations and play my own games and enjoy it. But now, I just AVOID!
So Charming, Mulan, and Buzz all have cell phones and are responsible (mostly) and we left them with Ariel to enjoy. We took McQueen, Jack, and Boo to meet princesses. This may not make much sense, since McQueen and Jack are both boys. But really it was Suzy's idea as she wanted Donald and Milo to eat the food there, knowing they would enjoy it, and also Jack-Jack REALLY wanted to meet Ariel and with Ariel's Grotto gone, it was the easiest way. Jack LOVED Ariel starting this winter after they watched the Little Mermaid.
We ordered our drinks and headed up to the buffet:
If you wonder if you will like the food here it is simple to answer. Do you like good cheese? Flavorful bread (not just white )? Salmon? Do you like fresh salad? Do you like home cooking, like meatloaf or sausage with sauerkraut or things floating in cream sauce?
Really, not many Americans know a lot about Norwegian food. But you don't need to be afraid of it. The spices may be slightly different, but the basics are very common to the American palate.
This, I believe is the venison sausage and cabbage. It was enjoyed (not my meal) and I didn't taste it. So I can have no comment except to say that if you like Reuben sandwiches, this certainly would be in your range of likes.
This is the mushroom stuffed pasta, Donald's choice. Verbally when asked he said the EXACT same thing he always says: "It was alright." Said in a monotone as if to indicate it was mediocre at best. However, he ate every single bite and sopped up the sauce with his bread. That, to me, indicates way more than a mediocre alright. Donald is an extremely unreliable food critic.
And this is my entree:
Traditional Kjottkake - Ground Beef and Pork Dumplings served with Mashed Potatoes, seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce
YUM! I loved this so much I asked for the recipe. The waiter went and asked but returned to tell me that the recipe he was giving me was untrue. That they used to be frozen and this was that recipe which came from the place they bought them. But that the ones they had been making since January were a combination that the head chef and partners had come up with based on their mom's traditional recipes and it isn't written anywhere. So he told me I ought to just look it up on line and try and make a traditional one from there.
And when I got home that is exactly what I did. It was DELISH! Donald simply said, "It was alright," in a pitiful nonchalant way but Mulan, Ariel, and myself LOVED them. So much that I completely altered forever my meatball and loaf recipes that I had been making for 20 years. And I believe they are MUCH better now. My meatloaf recipe is based on these creamy balls of deliciousness. And my meatball recipe is full out Italian which I found on Allrecipes.
We really did come to this restaurant for the food, as you can tell. But the huge majority of people were there simply for the princesses, food being a tiny part of it for them. We were sitting next to door they appear from and were the first table. I was excited as this had worked in our favor at the Cinderella 1900 Park Faire. But I was soon to discover it was annoying as this window was right there meaning with my broken camera and Suzy's slow starting camera I constantly either missed the first magical moments of them arriving, or got a terrible photo with the bright window behind them. But I'll share the few moments we captured:
Aurora was first, she arrived just seconds after our food. And had to scoot the chair in just to get a spot to hang out with our kids:
We had about 2 minutes to settle in to eating when Cinderella arrived. As you can see Jack-Jack was a bit frustrated by this and just wanted to eat, even though he really did want to meet her.
Ariel was next. Jack-Jack was very excited to see her but you can't tell from our pitiful photos:
Look at Boo in this one. She's so excited she can't stand it:
And here you see her special moment with Jack:
And Boo. I loved when they kneeled down as then I could get a decent picture away from the window:
Snow White was darling. And as you can see we switched Jack-Jack and McQueen at some point as our seating was just not working with the food/princess dynamic.
Once we had met all the princesses and they had finished their rounds, they had a little procession through the restaurant. Snow White, I believe, came and collected our children assuring us someone would bring them back to us. I used this time to lick my plate clean.
However, the procession ended and no one did bring our children back. Snow White was visiting other tables and the moments stretched on. It IS a confusing place with lots of little rooms. We were just about to send out a search party when they came back:
We phoned the other kids and they were doing great and having a grand time.
Boo and I popped into this very tiny bathroom, we paid, and headed out to enjoy more Epcot.
LOVE Akershus!
Hooray!!!! Thanks for the update!! I enjoyed reading about your meal at Askerhus. I had read so many bad reviews that I had marked it off my list of things to try on our next trip, but after reading your review, I am going to put it back on. I want to try those meatball/dumplings that you had. Innovations must be pretty interesting to draw the older kids to it instead of a meal with the princesses.
So how did Boo and Jack-Jack feel about Soarin'?
I want to try those meatball/dumplings that you had. Innovations must be pretty interesting to draw the older kids to it instead of a meal with the princesses. So how did Boo and Jack-Jack feel about Soarin'?
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
Here is the recipe our server gave us which was NOT right. This is copied from All Ears. I didn't even try to make it. I knew it was wrong:
Ingredients
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef
2 ounces minced shallots
2 ounces minced capers
5 ounces steamed beets
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
to taste kosher salt
to taste pepper
olive oil
Method
Steam beets just until knife tender, peel and small dice. Mince all vegetables and mix all ingredients together. Test a small amount for seasoning. Form 1 to 1 ½ ounce portion patties. Pan fry in olive oil to medium well.
Note: Canned beets can be used.
I have NO INTEREST in the above recipe.
Here is the recipe I made that I found online:
Ingredients
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup dry bread crumbs
* 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon each ground ginger, nutmeg and allspice
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 2 pounds lean ground beef
* 1 pound ground pork
*
GRAVY:
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3 cups beef broth
* 1 cup red wine
* 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
* Dash cayenne pepper
* Dash white pepper
Directions
* In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, bread crumbs, onion and seasonings. Let stand until crumbs absorb milk. Add meat; stir until well blended. Shape into 1-in. meatballs.
* Place meatballs on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 400° until browned, about 18 minutes; drain. Set aside.
* For gravy, in a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour and brown lightly. Slowly add broth and wine; cook and stir until smooth and thickened. Blend in the cream, cayenne and white peppers. Gently stir in meatballs; heat through but do not boil. Yield: about 16 servings.
This was AMAZING!!!!! The only difference is I halved this as I was only feeding 5. Also, I didn't make 1 inch meatballs. I made the giant hamburger sized meatballs so they would look just like the Epcot ones. I also made delish mashed potato recipe, very basic, potatoes, warm milk, butter, salt and pepper. Yummmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! EXACTLY like the Akershus version.
Next time I'm making 16 servings and having friends over! Also, the Akershus one had a berry compote thing which did add and if I served this to guests, I would make a sweet cranberry sauce. It would be so decadent and perfect with this. And turn it into an American/Norway meatball.
Ingredients
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef
2 ounces minced shallots
2 ounces minced capers
5 ounces steamed beets
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
to taste kosher salt
to taste pepper
olive oil
Method
Steam beets just until knife tender, peel and small dice. Mince all vegetables and mix all ingredients together. Test a small amount for seasoning. Form 1 to 1 ½ ounce portion patties. Pan fry in olive oil to medium well.
Note: Canned beets can be used.
I have NO INTEREST in the above recipe.
Here is the recipe I made that I found online:
Ingredients
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup dry bread crumbs
* 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon each ground ginger, nutmeg and allspice
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 2 pounds lean ground beef
* 1 pound ground pork
*
GRAVY:
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3 cups beef broth
* 1 cup red wine
* 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
* Dash cayenne pepper
* Dash white pepper
Directions
* In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, bread crumbs, onion and seasonings. Let stand until crumbs absorb milk. Add meat; stir until well blended. Shape into 1-in. meatballs.
* Place meatballs on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 400° until browned, about 18 minutes; drain. Set aside.
* For gravy, in a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour and brown lightly. Slowly add broth and wine; cook and stir until smooth and thickened. Blend in the cream, cayenne and white peppers. Gently stir in meatballs; heat through but do not boil. Yield: about 16 servings.
This was AMAZING!!!!! The only difference is I halved this as I was only feeding 5. Also, I didn't make 1 inch meatballs. I made the giant hamburger sized meatballs so they would look just like the Epcot ones. I also made delish mashed potato recipe, very basic, potatoes, warm milk, butter, salt and pepper. Yummmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! EXACTLY like the Akershus version.
Next time I'm making 16 servings and having friends over! Also, the Akershus one had a berry compote thing which did add and if I served this to guests, I would make a sweet cranberry sauce. It would be so decadent and perfect with this. And turn it into an American/Norway meatball.
estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
Innovations can be summed up in one word: Overstimulation.
Thank you for the update......I was going through withdrawls!!!
Hooray!!!! Thanks for the update!! I enjoyed reading about your meal at Askerhus. I had read so many bad reviews that I had marked it off my list of things to try on our next trip, but after reading your review, I am going to put it back on.
So how did Boo and Jack-Jack feel about Soarin'?
I've read bad reviews as well and I actually wrote one the first time we went for breakfast. But because that was all my fault (long story) I knew I wanted to give it another try because the princess interaction was delightful and the place is gorgeous. So when we went with my mom, I just knew I wanted to come back. I wanted to go again this time when I walked by.
Try it. We like it. WAY better than 1900 Park Faire.
taymaesmom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2006
- Messages
- 607
After reading your earlier post and drooling over your dinner I googled the recipe and picked up the ingredients since I was headed to the store anyway. I am so excited to try this, of course dh asked me what it was and I had no idea how to pronounce it! I'm going to compare your recipe and mine and see which sounds the best, thanks!
I honestly can say I never had the desire to eat Norwegian food but now I might have to add Akerhaus to our December trip. My ADR date is in 9 days and I am just so torn on where I want to eat this trip, we usually try to only do 2 TS meals as we hate have to work around a set time.
I honestly can say I never had the desire to eat Norwegian food but now I might have to add Akerhaus to our December trip. My ADR date is in 9 days and I am just so torn on where I want to eat this trip, we usually try to only do 2 TS meals as we hate have to work around a set time.
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