Kiara's Not So Scary "Surprise" thread 2 Day 3 part 7 MNSSHP part 4 updated 12/16 About This Page:

[ilovedisney0_0]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yeahthat.gif[/img] Although after reading of Kiara's reaction to them, I think my DD would appreciate never seeing one! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shameonyou.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[award]

Great update!! Love Kiara's smile in the Tower of Terror one!!! More please!

[lindawdw]

What a great update! Kiara really got into posing with the Power Rangers. Sounds like you all had a magical day together. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[PrincessSharon]

Great update, Nala! Sorry Kiara got freaked out by the love bugs. Yuck! Though, the screaming like a little girl got a good chuckle out of me. Glad Kiara got to meet the PRs and I love her superhero poses! Can't wait for more!

[disneydani]

Another great update! Sorry about the Love Bugs, sounds like Kiara put on quite a performance! Your afternoon pics at MGM are wonderful, so glad Kiara is feeling the magic! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Minnie Lor]

Love her reaction to the love bugs and to the PR. She's a doll!

[Nala]

As we left MGM, we were faced with the decision of how to get from here to there. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] We had the option of a bus or a boat. Since we had never taken a boat from MGM to Epcot, we decided to give it a shot. The line was rather long, but a boat was making it’s way to the dock and we were sure we would make it on it. As we started to make our way down the ramp, a sign with all of the stops listed caught our attention. Listed on it was two parks, and about eighteen resorts. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] OK, so it was only four or five. Not knowing the order of the stops, and knowing our luck of our stop being the last on the route, we jumped out of line and headed for the bus stop. This turned out to be a good idea as an Epcot bus arrived shortly and we were at the gate just a few moments later. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

We had time before our ADR at Le Cellier, and since Grumpy declined a ride on MS, we decided to check out the new and improved Club Cool. I have to say, I really missed the old entrance through the ice age and thought the place looked like nothing more than a Coke gift shop with a few free samples. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] What was worse, is there was no Beverly! That kind of took the wind out of my sails as I couldn’t trick Kiara into trying it. But, they did have some really cool Coke items for sale. Had we had more time to spend, I could have done some serious damage in there. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

We headed for Canada and as we approached the WSC entrance we noticed booths and small pockets of crowds around them. It appeared the F&W festival had started early which shocked me as it wasn’t supposed to open until the following day. We later learned from our server at Le Cellier that they were having a “soft opening” that day. Something to remember for future trips. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] We found our way to the check in podium at Le Cellier, stood behind several people without ADRs who were turned away, and our turn came to give our name. We were on the list and told it would be about ten to twenty minutes before we would be seated. I was handed one of those buzzy, flashy things and Grumpy went to park the stroller and we prepared to find something to entertain Kiara while we waited. Just as he got her out of the stroller our buzzy, flashy thing started going wild. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] So much for the wait! We stepped inside and were escorted to our table.

Our server was with us promptly and took our drink order. Grumpy and I decided that since dinner was free, a bottle of wine was in order. (so much for saving money with the free dining thing!) With the help of our server, we selected a semi dry white and were quite happy with the choice. And yes, I know white wine does not go with red meat, but neither of us was in the mood for a heavy red. Plus, I knew I was going to order a seafood appetizer, which paired well with the white wine, so it was all good. Our server brought out our bottle and Kiara’s drink, as well as the breadsticks, and then took our order.

Grumpy selected the beef tenderloin, I went for the shrimp cocktail with wasabi, and Kiara selected the cheese soup. Thankfully, we had the breadsticks to tide us over until our appetizers came as they took quite a while to get to the table. Once they arrived, we all dove in and everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Grumpy and Kiara both raved about theirs and while I loved the wasabi in mine, the shrimp was way over cooked. We finished our first course, the dishes were cleared away and we waited for the main course to arrive. Our service, while very friendly, was not very prompt.

After a bit of a wait (quite a bit of a wait) our main course finally arrived. Grumpy had order the New York strip and after one bite proclaimed it the best steak he had ever had at WDW. Kiara was enjoying her kiddie steak and I had the mushroom filet. While the two of them were impressed with their entrees, I was less than impressed. My filet was over cooked, and while it was very, very tender, it was very tasteless. But, the meal was free, and I was not about to complain. Nor did I leave anything on my plate, so it couldn’t have been that bad.

We finished up and it was time for dessert. And time to add to the bounty in our refrigerator. While Grumpy had no room for dessert, he did select the whiskey cake to go, but Kiara and I elected to do dessert at the table. I ordered the berry cobbler and Kiara had the chocolate “moose“. Again, it took forever for this course to get to our table. But, when dessert finally arrived, it was a big hit with both of us. Kiara wasted no time diving into her “moose” and was quite miffed that I made her put its tongue (that she had ripped out) back so I could take a picture. Hence the look on her face in this picture.



It was time for the bill and after we flagged down our server, who had long since forgotten us, we settled up. While our final receipt had all zeros, I did see the copy that showed the total of our meal. It was somewhere close to $140, not including the bottle of wine, which was on a separate receipt. And, something I hadn’t noticed the night before at Boma, the receipt for the wine also included an 18% gratuity already tacked on. I signed the slips and we made our way out of Le Cellier.

As soon as we were out of the restaurant it was apparent that the crowds were forming for Illuminations. We had about a half an hour to make it out of the park before the night sky was filled with the one thing that would terrify Kiara, aka, fireworks. We made a quick stop at the restrooms and then beat a steady path to the exit. The only thing that slowed us down was the chance for me to take a night shot of SE.


Grumpy agreed to stop and wait and as we moved closer even volunteered to take a shot or two for me.



We made our way to the front of the park, turned in the stroller and were on our way out when someone caught our eye. A Photopass photographer with a perfect shot of SE in the background. So we stopped and struck a pose or two. And I am glad we did!


We found our way out and made it to the bus stop, but not in time to avoid the fireworks. As we were waiting for a bus, Illuminations erupted in the sky and poor Kiara stood with not one, but two sets of hands over her ears, hers and mine. Thankfully, a bus came soon after the first fireworks went off and we were safely inside where they could no longer be heard. We arrived back at the AKL within minutes and within minutes of being in our room, Kiara begged to go swimming. Grumpy and I were both ready to drop on the bed and cal it a night, but neither of us could turn Kiara’s pleas down. We donned our swim wear, headed to the pool and I (being the H2O intolerant parent) watched Grumpy and Kiara play in the water. But, since I was in swim wear, I did seek out the hot tub and Kiara decided to join me. The water was wonderfully hot and felt so good after a long day of walking through the parks. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.

We were able to pull Kiara out of the hot tub without much of a fight, (I think the hot water sedated her as much as it did me) and headed back to the room to call it a night. It had been a perfect Disney day, but it was time to call it a night as the next day would require us to be rested. Tomorrow was our first experience of MNNSHP and I wanted us all to be rested and ready!

Up next: Making the WRONG choice for transportation to the MK

Dessert count in our refrigerator: 6, with the newest addition of Grumpy’s whiskey cake.

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Nala! Love the picture with Kiara and the chocolate "moose". That was the best dessert ever [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] What a great day! Glad there wasn't a long wait for the bus!

I'll come back to see the rest of the pics after you've got them uploaded [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[DyanKJ130]

It absolutely was a perfect Disney day for your family!! Not liking the sound of your transportation choice. Hope it's not too bad!

[DrDolphin]

Such a wonderful update!! Dinner sounded wonderful!

[disneydani]

What a yummy sounding dinner, sorry the service was slowed. I love the pics of SE, the photopass one of all three of you is wonderful. You and DH are troopers to be swimming after such an exhaustive day. Hope the water soothed you all into a deep sleep.

[Meggera]

I laughed at Kiara's reaction to the love bugs for, I admit, that would have been my reaction as a little girl, too. I can't stand them! I can handle them a little better as an adult, though. (Sometimes. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img])

Sorry you weren't so pleased with Le Cellier. We have never eaten there but would like to try it sometime.

Your SE pics are gorgeous! More please!

[WDWfan]

Nala - Love your family picture with SE! Sorry the service wasn't better at LeCellier. That hot tub sounds delightful. It is a great way to unwind at the end of the day.

[mattnkatsmum]

Sounds like you've had a perfect day. And I agree! The SE photos are wonderful!

[chezp]

I think, despite the fact that you weren't safely on board the bus for the first of the fireworks, you made the right decision in getting those night-time shots and the Photopass photo - they're all wonderful! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]