Tea, Mouse and House - THREAD 4 - COMPLETE! About This Page:

[luvdduck]

Great updates Cheryl!!!
Bluezoo sounds and looks soooo good!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] And I just love your dining reviews!
Great photos of the Beach Club and Spectro! I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] Spectromagic!!!
Can't wait for more! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[chezp]

Sunday 4 December – part two: we’re going to get our money’s worth!

The drive was very smooth and I managed to get some photos on the way:


The Gaylord Palms resort


Tampa



The bridge between Tampa and St. Petersburg

Getting there was also very easy – surprisingly so, as whenever we’ve been to Busch Gardens in Tampa, we’ve always got lost. Tropicana Fields was where Cirque du Soleil had set up their big top and it couldn’t have been easier to find the place, with signs telling us exactly which exit to get off at for parking. Of course, having Tapis Rouge tickets, we had reserved parking, which saved us the $10 parking fee and we were right by the big top.




Now, the next issue would be getting in. When I had ordered the tickets, I received an e-mail confirming my order and saying that my tickets would be e-mailed to me, but I never received anything. I was a bit worried by this, but figured that with the confirmation, I should be able to get in and so it was proved, although we had to go to the box office to pick up our tickets.

That sorted out, we went in to the Tapis Rouge tent – and what a great experience it was, well worth every penny we paid for it. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] We were greeted with wine and champagne and then there were appetisers. At first, I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t find much, as everything that seemed to come round on trays had meat in it, but when we got up to the buffet, there was sushi, along with flatbread, biscuits and cheese. They were very clever and didn’t have any plates out, so people couldn’t take too much in one go, as all you had were your hands to carry the food in.

We managed and as soon as we had been up once, we went up again and again, so we got our money’s worth out of the food. I also managed to have something like four glasses of wine and large ones at that! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I guess I got my money’s worth on that count as well. We wandered round, looking at the exhibits about Cirque du Soleil and at the merchandise and before we knew it, it was time to go in, so we headed off to take our seats.









Boy, what good seats they were. We were in row B, four rows back from the stage and in seats one and two, central to the stage. We couldn’t have had better seats. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] I even got one of the musicians stroke my head as he went past. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Fortunately, the clowns left me alone though!

As for the show, it was superb, as we’d expect from Cirque du Soleil. We had already seen it on DVD and so we knew we liked it and we had an idea of what to expect, but like La Nouba, they obviously change it around, as there were bits in it that neither of us could remember from the DVD. I think perhaps my only criticism is that they tried a little bit too hard with the storyline. There were quite a few arty scenes, trying to tell the story. There were so many stand out performances, with a lot of high wire acts, but my favourites had to be the two British guys (we know they’re British from the DVD of how this show was put together) on the bungee cords and the Russian swings at the end. They were just spectacular and had my jaw dropping on the floor with the moves they made. Unbelievable.

As with all the Cirque shows, the time just flew by and before we knew it, they were taking their final bows. We had earlier been told that the premiere party was tonight and that the cast from La Nouba would be coming down for that. How neat is that! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] I guess that maybe why La Nouba was going dark for a week or so from tonight.

We also found out on the way that this show will next go to Australia and New Zealand and I guess that we will get it after that, so I expect we’ll see it in London in 2007. The guy we chatted to on the way out was great. He was French Canadian and you could just see the passion he has for Cirque. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours and well worth the money and the time it took to drive here.

Next: time for some ice cream and we explore a new bit of the Beach Club

[chezp]

Sunday 4 December – part three: time for some ice cream and we explore a new bit of the Beach Club

Getting out of the cark park was interesting. The exit wasn’t very clearly marked for starters, but then it took about 10 minutes to get out and through the various traffic lanes. I dread to think how long it took if you weren’t in Tapis Rouge parking and in the general section. Soon enough though, we were moving and it was like that the whole way back to Disney. We had an uneventful drive, although on the way there and back, we couldn’t believe the number of police cars we saw. It looks like they’re taking speeding very seriously here, so we stuck rigidly to the limit.

Once back on Disney property, we were hungry, despite our earlier snacks. So where else could we go, but over to Beaches and Cream? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I thought that we would have quite a wait, as there were quite a few people outside, but once we said that we would have a seat at the counter, we were straight in. I was glad to be seated ahead of the obnoxious woman who knew more than the servers did. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] She kept telling them that there was an empty booth that she could have. They kept telling her that it was all hers once they had cleared it and cleaned up properly, but she kept arguing with them. Stupid woman. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]



I went for a hot fudge sundae and Mark had a hot dog with a side order of sauerkraut. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not, so it was put on the side for him and it’s just as well that it was, as he didn’t like it at all. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] While there, we were treated to the sight of the Cast Members preparing a Kitchen Sink dessert and by the time we left, the family of six who had ordered it had finished it all. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Fair play to them! I told Mark that we need to do a PassPorter meet and see if we can polish one of those things off. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]




Creating a Kitchen Sink!

A slightly smaller dessert – my hot fudge sundae! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

Once again, it was a very good meal – except for the sauerkraut [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] - and good service, very quick. We saw the girl who had served us a couple of nights earlier and had told us to come back just for dessert. This time, I was able to tell her that I had done just as she’d told us! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Beaches and Cream:

Entrée N/A 7
Dessert 9 N/A
Service 9 9
Atmosphere 9 9
Value for money 9 8½

Average score: 8.69

From there, we headed back to the room, but I saw that Ariel’s was open, so I had to pop in for a look. In all the times we’ve stayed here, I’ve never seen this place, it’s usually either closed or is being used for special events, like weddings.





As Mark said, it’s a nice place, but not somewhere that I would want to celebrate my wedding in. It’s not got enough heart to it. With just a couple of stops for photos on the way back to the room…




… and it was straight to bed when we got in. It had been another long, but very enjoyable, day for us.

Today we walked 2.3 miles
The weather today was very warm and sunny with temperatures in the 80’s.
The best thing today was having the Tapis Rouge tickets for Varekai.
The worst thing today was getting lost on the way to the Premium Outlets and Michael’s.
The funniest thing today was the clowns at Varekai.
Today we tried Varekai
And the result was it’s probably Cirque’s best touring shows, see it if you can! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
The most magical moment today was walking into the Tapis Rouge for the first time.

Next: what’s happened to Melissa and Andy? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

Great updates Cheryl [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Glad you enjoyed Cirque [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] And what great seats you got for Spectro as well! Too bad they shortened the parade [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[DawnDenise]

Wow...I just got caught up on four updates!! What a great time you are having! Love all the pictures! More please!!

[lauren-roxy]

Got all caught up on your updates Cheryl!! Your pictures are beautiful!! Glad you enjoyed the show !! Can't wait to read more!!!

[Minnie Lor]

[ QUOTE ]
Got all caught up on your updates Cheryl!! Your pictures are beautiful!! Glad you enjoyed the show !! Can't wait to read more!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Yep! Me too!

[DopeyGirl]

Holy cow those pics of the ice cream made me hungry! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

I know what you mean about Spectro and it being shortened!!! We saw it the night of the 5th and Chernabog was missing then too! Sure takes a big chunk out of the middle of the parade, it does! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

GREAT updates and photos! Sounds like your seats for Cirque were fantastic!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple"> Great updates Cheryl![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]
That Illuminations meet turned out great considering most of it was done via cell phone and at the spur of the moment!
It was such a blast to spend the extra time with you guys at Spectro.
The "Tapis Rouge" option sounds so cool! I'm glad you got your money's worth![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
Be seeing you in October, buddy![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] </font>

[PrincessSharon]

Wonderful updates and pictures, as usual! Hurry back with more, please!

[mestitch]

Didn't you love Varekai!! We thought it was amazing when it was here!!

And your Hot Fudge Sundae [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I'm drooling here.....

[2princessmom]

Great updates! I just love the Cirque! Verakai is coming and I so want to go but we are saving for Disney!

Can't wait for more!

[from ny to wdw]

Finally caught up! You take wonderful pictures and between the pics and the way you describe everything, it feels as if I'm there with everyone. Seems like everyone had so much fun together!

[katspjs]

I'm all caught up now. Great reports and I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] all the pictures. You all looked like you had such fun! You're hot fudge sundae looks delish! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/facelick.gif[/img]

[disneyfan4994]

Your ice cream looks yummy! Can't wait to hear more. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]