Piglet822
05-11-2008, 01:20 AM
*Updated on 5/13/2008 to add Ghirardelli pictures link*
Ok, so it's actually the 11th because it's 1:00 in the morning :)
I ended up taking a nap, Jim played on the computer and about 5 he woke me up so we could shower and head back out to Epcot. We have ADR's at San Angel for 7:30 and I always like to give myself plenty of time when using Disney transport.
I'm glad I did. We get to the bus stop just as the Epcot bus is pulling up. Unfortunately he hasn't the room for us but promises to call another bus. Ok, not a good start and I'm not thrilled but I understand. He's good as his word though and within minutes another Epcot bus pulls up just for us :D Jim asks him if we will be picking up at POR but the driver tells him that no, we're going straight to the park. Sweet!!!!! Our own private bus.
At the front gate my pass acts up once again (it didn't work earlier in the day either) and the CM goes to get me a replacement ticket. Within minutes we are in the gate and on our way and decide to hit Ellen's Universe of Energy. Again, our timing is perfect. It's the last show of the day and it starts almost immediately after we enter.
It's about 7:18 when we exit and we hustle off to Mexico. We arrive and check and we're seated shortly afterwards. Not a table by the water but close. We start off with the Nachos (very good :thumbsup: ). For dinner Jim has the Combinacion Cozumel which includes grilled beef tenderloin, grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes and vegetables. I decide on the Plato Mexicano which comes with grilled beef tenderloin, a chicken enchilada, a beef flauta, rice, and refried black beans. Everything is delicious but I am unable to finish mine because I am absolutely stuffed. I especially liked our server, her name was Anna. When she brought our bill back (I have DDE) she let us know that the tip was already included but she apologized to us and said she hated having to tell people - I guess she was uncomfortable bringing it up. I assured her that it was fine and that we were aware of it and I really didn't mind provided I received good service which I assured her we had.
We left the restaurant at 8:50 and headed for the exit because we had already decided we wanted to go to DD for a bit. We grab the bus back to POFQ and then head for the boat to DD. Again we are lucky with the transportation because the boat comes not even 5 minutes after we get to the dock. We head over to WOD but not before noticing that Ghirardelli's is open. :yay: We shop a little, Jim gets a couple of things for his boys and now it's time for ice cream.
I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed with the changes that have been made. I took some pictures and will post them tomorrow. When you enter Ghirardelli's the registers are in front of instead of off to the right and there's no queue line like before. There are several lines for each register, much like Pecos Bill and Columbia Harbor House, just to name a couple of CS restaurants. You give your order, you still receive a number and then you wait just like before. There are some new "pipes" running along the ceiling that looks like it's carrying chocolate to the different areas of the shop. Not sure if they are actually working pipes for the AC or such or if it's just decoration. Personally, I think it was more chaotic than before and I don't really see where there's more seating than before. Oh well. The ice cream is still yummy :tasty:
After this we head for the bus stop and after about 5 or 10 minutes the PO bus shows up. Now here's where it got a little weird. OKW and PO share a bus stop at Marketplace. The PO bus had to wait for the OKW bus to finish loading before he could pull in. I'm sitting right there in the scooter, there's no way this guy could miss me, right? WRONG! He pulls up, opens the front door and starts loading. I look at Jim and wonder what's going on? I walk to the door of the bus to let the driver know we have a scooter that needs to be loaded. He says he never saw us!!! He is very nice about it and loads us right away. We finally make it back to the hotel and I had to start packing because this was just a short weekend trip and we must go back home tomorrow. But first we will be having breakfast at Cape May.
I know my reports are not as exciting as some but I want to thank you all for reading them :)
Ghirardelli's New Look (http://community.webshots.com/album/563407490PtZFMq?vhost=community)
Ok, so it's actually the 11th because it's 1:00 in the morning :)
I ended up taking a nap, Jim played on the computer and about 5 he woke me up so we could shower and head back out to Epcot. We have ADR's at San Angel for 7:30 and I always like to give myself plenty of time when using Disney transport.
I'm glad I did. We get to the bus stop just as the Epcot bus is pulling up. Unfortunately he hasn't the room for us but promises to call another bus. Ok, not a good start and I'm not thrilled but I understand. He's good as his word though and within minutes another Epcot bus pulls up just for us :D Jim asks him if we will be picking up at POR but the driver tells him that no, we're going straight to the park. Sweet!!!!! Our own private bus.
At the front gate my pass acts up once again (it didn't work earlier in the day either) and the CM goes to get me a replacement ticket. Within minutes we are in the gate and on our way and decide to hit Ellen's Universe of Energy. Again, our timing is perfect. It's the last show of the day and it starts almost immediately after we enter.
It's about 7:18 when we exit and we hustle off to Mexico. We arrive and check and we're seated shortly afterwards. Not a table by the water but close. We start off with the Nachos (very good :thumbsup: ). For dinner Jim has the Combinacion Cozumel which includes grilled beef tenderloin, grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes and vegetables. I decide on the Plato Mexicano which comes with grilled beef tenderloin, a chicken enchilada, a beef flauta, rice, and refried black beans. Everything is delicious but I am unable to finish mine because I am absolutely stuffed. I especially liked our server, her name was Anna. When she brought our bill back (I have DDE) she let us know that the tip was already included but she apologized to us and said she hated having to tell people - I guess she was uncomfortable bringing it up. I assured her that it was fine and that we were aware of it and I really didn't mind provided I received good service which I assured her we had.
We left the restaurant at 8:50 and headed for the exit because we had already decided we wanted to go to DD for a bit. We grab the bus back to POFQ and then head for the boat to DD. Again we are lucky with the transportation because the boat comes not even 5 minutes after we get to the dock. We head over to WOD but not before noticing that Ghirardelli's is open. :yay: We shop a little, Jim gets a couple of things for his boys and now it's time for ice cream.
I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed with the changes that have been made. I took some pictures and will post them tomorrow. When you enter Ghirardelli's the registers are in front of instead of off to the right and there's no queue line like before. There are several lines for each register, much like Pecos Bill and Columbia Harbor House, just to name a couple of CS restaurants. You give your order, you still receive a number and then you wait just like before. There are some new "pipes" running along the ceiling that looks like it's carrying chocolate to the different areas of the shop. Not sure if they are actually working pipes for the AC or such or if it's just decoration. Personally, I think it was more chaotic than before and I don't really see where there's more seating than before. Oh well. The ice cream is still yummy :tasty:
After this we head for the bus stop and after about 5 or 10 minutes the PO bus shows up. Now here's where it got a little weird. OKW and PO share a bus stop at Marketplace. The PO bus had to wait for the OKW bus to finish loading before he could pull in. I'm sitting right there in the scooter, there's no way this guy could miss me, right? WRONG! He pulls up, opens the front door and starts loading. I look at Jim and wonder what's going on? I walk to the door of the bus to let the driver know we have a scooter that needs to be loaded. He says he never saw us!!! He is very nice about it and loads us right away. We finally make it back to the hotel and I had to start packing because this was just a short weekend trip and we must go back home tomorrow. But first we will be having breakfast at Cape May.
I know my reports are not as exciting as some but I want to thank you all for reading them :)
Ghirardelli's New Look (http://community.webshots.com/album/563407490PtZFMq?vhost=community)