Wishes 10/8/11 WP/GF-- Love's First Kiss-- Trip Report Complete

[One_Song]

Next, Jerry brought by Remy's cheese cart. I don't have a picture of it, which is a real shame because it's so pretty. Being the cheese nuts that we are, we sampled a bit of everything.

After the cheese, our desserts came.

Mine was a gorgeous raspberry concoction that came presented two ways

The white bits were sort of meringue like. I absolutely won the dessert round, mine was out of this world!

Brandon had a chocolate pyramid creation

Which he loved.

Rasmus, suddenly at our table, gave us each a dessert wine. These were the best of any of the sweet wines we had on our honeymoon.

After we finished our desserts, Jerry brought by some housemade chocolates and some lollipops (also made by Remy). He also brought a little basket of crunchy, sweet breadstick type things. We sampled the chocolates and breads, but kept the lollipops for later.

 

[One_Song]

And then we were finally done. True to form, we were the last people in the restaurant. Jerry said before we left we had to take a peek in the private room (Remy's equivalent of a chef's table)

Isn't it beautiful?

All in all, I think Remy completely rivals V&A. The latter had fancier foods, more courses, and more options, but Remy was a fraction of the price. The service was outstanding at both, the food was phenomenal at both. If we take another Disney cruise soon, I think we'll go back to Remy (whereas it will be years before we can afford/justify V&A again).

Jerry brought me two roses, which I took back to the room with me

As we walked out of Remy, we passed the entrance to Meridian. We waved to our bartender friend, who shouted "Remember Jaimito!" It was so funny. I think we always will.

Back in our room, this was waiting for us

A note, thanking us for dining with them, and a box of those yummy chocolates (which did not make it past the next day...)

Very sadly, we packed up our things, because we would be disembarking early the next morning. We loved every minute of the cruise, and we did not want to leave.

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

Oh Michelle, your dinner seemed wonderful. (And a much welcome distracting from the very boring papers I am currently grading! Which, oddly enough, are about news literacy.) I'm not much of a seafood fan, but even I would have willingly tried everything you had. The restaurant itself is also just gorgeous!

I am sad, however, that this cruise is coming to an end. Does it HAVE to be over?

 

[tinydancr06]

I'm so sad your cruise report is ending! I've never cruised with DCL before and your amazing report has gotten me so excited for our honeymoon on the Fantasy! You really are such a great writer and I hope your wedding TR never has to end.

 

[Jennifer48]

your review of Remy was fantastic! Thank you so much for taking the time to detail it all!

This TR can't be over yet! I feel like I'm getting to know you two so well as a couple through your wedding and honeymoon!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

We also talked about one of our favorite complaints: the news values of CNN U.S. versus the news values of CNN International. I told you, not cool.

Fi and I have argued about the same thing! No lie (although, admittedly, we have (respectfully) different political leanings which affected the conversation some). That's really funny.

 

[elleinad16]

You have done it again! I really wish I could teleport to the Dream right now. What an exquisite meal.

 

[disney-a-holic]

I cant begin to tell you how much i have been looking forward to your updates - even though i have been very late to join you ...............
your attention to detail, and the way you describe things in such a wonderful way ........................ i love it!!

I for one will be so disapointed when the report is done................ unless you would like a UK friend to share emails with??

Seriously have been captivated with all the romance and fairytale. Maybe its what i have needed in my life right now, all the same, fantastic!!!!!

My sincere best wishes to yourself and your Husband xxx

 

[One_Song]

Oh Michelle, your dinner seemed wonderful. (And a much welcome distracting from the very boring papers I am currently grading! Which, oddly enough, are about news literacy.) I'm not much of a seafood fan, but even I would have willingly tried everything you had. The restaurant itself is also just gorgeous!

I am sad, however, that this cruise is coming to an end. Does it HAVE to be over?

More schools should teach news literacy. It's stunning what some people will believe. Certain members of my family in particular like to argue with me about the reliability of the media. And yet, they only watch one news network (I won't say which, not looking to start any flames, but my journalism school taught us that "real" journalists don't work there... you can probably imagine what it is ) People enjoy calling news biased if it doesn't reflect their own world views.

Sorry, I love to talk about this stuff. Anywoo, Remy was beautiful! We tried to be very open about trying different foods on our honeymoon, and it was so much fun. Remy truly was neck & neck with V&A in our book. I wish we had gone on a longer cruise. It wasn't really an option, this was the only Dream cruise that worked for our schedule.

I'm so sad your cruise report is ending! I've never cruised with DCL before and your amazing report has gotten me so excited for our honeymoon on the Fantasy! You really are such a great writer and I hope your wedding TR never has to end.

Oh, I'm so envious that you are going on the Fantasy! So that means your cruise will be 7 days, right? You will definitely appreciate the extra days-- we never wanted ours to end! From what I've heard, the Dream and the Fantasy are largely the same ship. It will be wonderful!

your review of Remy was fantastic! Thank you so much for taking the time to detail it all!

This TR can't be over yet! I feel like I'm getting to know you two so well as a couple through your wedding and honeymoon!

Thanks! I have 3 days left, and then it really is over. I truly will miss writing it.

Fi and I have argued about the same thing! No lie (although, admittedly, we have (respectfully) different political leanings which affected the conversation some). That's really funny.

Ah, you're my kind of girl! I think Brandon and I are a good match on politics-- agree on the big things, differ on some smaller issues. We're compatible but the conversation is still interesting

You have done it again! I really wish I could teleport to the Dream right now. What an exquisite meal.

I do too!! Brandon and I are missing the cruise pretty intensely! Some days I think I'm close to talking him into another (I'd even take an inside room at this point).

I cant begin to tell you how much i have been looking forward to your updates - even though i have been very late to join you ...............
your attention to detail, and the way you describe things in such a wonderful way ........................ i love it!!

I for one will be so disapointed when the report is done................ unless you would like a UK friend to share emails with??

Seriously have been captivated with all the romance and fairytale. Maybe its what i have needed in my life right now, all the same, fantastic!!!!!

My sincere best wishes to yourself and your Husband xxx

Thank you so much! I am so flattered that you have enjoyed it. I love to chat about Disney things on Facebook-- you can add me there! Michelle Huffman. I'm much better with FB than email!

 

[One_Song]

Honeymoon, Day 8

This morning we (begrudgingly) woke up, dressed, and got our carry on bags ready to disembark. Our suitcases had been picked up overnight (you leave them outside your stateroom door), so we just had a small bag each. We had to be up pretty early; you were required to be off the ship by 8 AM, I think.

We grabbed a quick breakfast in the Club Level lounge and bought some of the pictures the ship photographers had taken of us (the pirate night and the lobby photos). Julia, our wonderful concierge, gave us a gift: a print of Donald, Daisy, and the nephews, made just for the Dream!

(Here it is framed in our house)

The drawing is by Don Williams

(Sorry for the glare)

At the bottom, it says, "There's nothing like a duck in uniform"

We left our tip envelopes with Julia, as well as a feedback sheet. The Dream gave you a little survey to fill out, along with a section to list any exceptional CMs that you had met. We really appreciated that; we always want to tell someone about the CMs that make our trip more special. We listed Julia, Jerry, and Rasmus (if we didn't, he probably would have turned us into vampires, too).

With everything done, we headed down to the lobby and exited the ship

Going through customs was a breeze (we only had to declare as one family ), and we found our suitcases really quickly. Outside, we found the Magical Express bus that would take us to the Contemporary. We were the very first people on the bus, so we took the seats directly in front of the windshield. I hoped this would help me not be queasy on the ride.

 

[One_Song]

The Magical Express was a little stressful. All guests signed up for the ME had received a newsletter the night before about what times the buses left (two different times) with very strict, severe wording that buses would NOT wait for latecomers. We were on the bus about twenty minutes before the listed departure time (the first of the two departure times), but the bus didn't leave for over forty minutes. I was pretty ticked off. I went to the check in stand to complain, where a driver followed me back to the bus and we immediately left

I didn't get sick on this drive, being right by the big front window. Brandon slept most of the way, and I watched old Disney cartoons that the bus was playing.

The Contemporary was the second stop. We had decided to stay at the Contemporary for several reasons. We had been wanting to stay there since we started going to WDW together. I think Brandon was drawn to the theming and architecture. To me, the Contemporary embodies the 90's Disney that I remember from my childhood (I talked about this a little regarding the cruise restaurant Animator's Palate). Maybe it's because we stayed there once when I was little, or maybe because we always ate at Chef Mickey's. Maybe it's because not much has changed at Contemporary. We also were very excited at the prospect of being within walking distance of MK.

We were staying in a Club Level MK view room in the main building. A CM met us down in the lobby, led us up to the CL floor, and handed us over to a different CM for check in. Everything was going pretty smoothly. The CM was telling us about some of the benefits of Contemporary. He said, "We have a great location for getting to the parks-- I mean, if you plan on ever leaving your room."

I looked at Brandon to see if he had heard what I had heard. He was looking right back with his eyebrows furrowed. Now, I don't think of myself as a prude. At the wedding reception, when my very tipsy cousin yelled out, "Is it weird that we all know you're about to do it?" I thought it was hilarious. But this guy was a stranger, and he made us feel very uncomfortable. I think when you're paying for CL, you expect perfect service. This was so unprofessional. Another regret I have is that we never had a chance or found a way to report that guy.

We got into our room, just down the hall. It was neat inside, but this was really what you're paying for

How gorgeous is that??

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

Okay, first in your response:

I agree: more schools should teach news literacy. Most of my students have never had an introduction to it before my class, which is rather shocking to me. (I took journalism for 4 years in high school though, so perhaps I am biased.) The director of our First Year English program has a degree in Journalism from Columbia, so she truly loves and believes in it. (I mostly wanted to clarify that I didn't think the papers I was grading were boring because of their subject matter; they were just boring because, well, they were written by freshman college students! ) Anyway, onto the TR!

That duck print is so cute. And I agree, Rasmus certainly would have turned you into a vampire had you not rated him excellently on your card. AND... um, what the heck is up with the Contemporary? That was truly an uncalled for comment.

But sighhhh in regards to your view. Chris was also drawn to BLT because of its architecture too: must be a guy thing!

 

[DisneyBrideCKB]

Michelle dear,
I would love to quote your ENTIRE PJ right here and just comment, "AWESOME" on the whole thing, but that would be a really long post so I hope its alright if I just say I loved your WHOLE experience!

I started reading your PJ two days ago and have done almost nothing since! (I'm not even kidding!)

I started reading it because I am getting married almost a year to the day that y'all did. In the same place, at the same time, with the same number of guests, and with the same number of people in my bridal party. We even had the same venue problems you did, had our engagement dinner at the cali grill, LOVE V&A (and hope to go on our honeymoon too), love club level, and want to spend a couple days in the park and then on a cruise after.

How you worked through these things, some of the solutions you came up with have been SOOOOO inspirational to me. I would never have thought of some of these things, and I hope you don't mind that I'm totally being a copy cat!

In fact just last night my FI and I spent most of our dinner talking about YOUR wedding! And I spent all morning walking him through your pictures! :

Ok that being said....

Thank you for your reviews, because of them I've changed some of my vendors and added others.

So, I just had to say I'm so grateful for your PJ. I know a lot of time and effort went into it and I am here to say it was not in vain!
I can't thank you enough!

 

[lilsqueakrr]

Okay, the print is adorable! Love love love it!

That CM was beyond rude. I would NOT expect to hear anything like that from anyone at Disney. I would call the lobby or something of the sort. Just to be sure that they don't say that to anyone else. Especially not on club level. Ugh. Buttheads.

The view is absolutely GORGEOUS! One day I want to stay in a room with a MK view. One day. <3

Cannot wait to read more!

 

[belle2211]

More schools should teach news literacy. It's stunning what some people will believe. Certain members of my family in particular like to argue with me about the reliability of the media. And yet, they only watch one news network (I won't say which, not looking to start any flames, but my journalism school taught us that "real" journalists don't work there... you can probably imagine what it is ) People enjoy calling news biased if it doesn't reflect their own world views.

ooh! I majored in journalism in college for undergrad and I completely now which station you are talking about! None of us applied to those stations!

Also, as a side note about the Contemporary, I agree with it being nostalgic of the 90's (for me it was the late 80's). Growing up only 2 1/2 hours away, we only stayed at Disney one time (and the rest we always took day trips) but that one week long trip, we stayed at the Contemporary. It was magical. And your view! Amazing!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

I thought I said this already, but apparently I haven't. I *adore* that print. I wonder if I can order one on ebay...

 

[One_Song]

Okay, first in your response:

I agree: more schools should teach news literacy. Most of my students have never had an introduction to it before my class, which is rather shocking to me. (I took journalism for 4 years in high school though, so perhaps I am biased.) The director of our First Year English program has a degree in Journalism from Columbia, so she truly loves and believes in it. (I mostly wanted to clarify that I didn't think the papers I was grading were boring because of their subject matter; they were just boring because, well, they were written by freshman college students! ) Anyway, onto the TR!

That duck print is so cute. And I agree, Rasmus certainly would have turned you into a vampire had you not rated him excellently on your card. AND... um, what the heck is up with the Contemporary? That was truly an uncalled for comment.

But sighhhh in regards to your view. Chris was also drawn to BLT because of its architecture too: must be a guy thing!

Anything written by freshmen is awful, totally agree. When I look at my old writings, I'm embarrassed that anyone ever read them. I guess boys really go for that minimalist/art deco/whatever you call it design. I love Disney architecture too, but more along the lines of tiki torches and Great Ceremonial Houses...

Michelle dear,
I would love to quote your ENTIRE PJ right here and just comment, "AWESOME" on the whole thing, but that would be a really long post so I hope its alright if I just say I loved your WHOLE experience!

I started reading your PJ two days ago and have done almost nothing since! (I'm not even kidding!)

I started reading it because I am getting married almost a year to the day that y'all did. In the same place, at the same time, with the same number of guests, and with the same number of people in my bridal party. We even had the same venue problems you did, had our engagement dinner at the cali grill, LOVE V&A (and hope to go on our honeymoon too), love club level, and want to spend a couple days in the park and then on a cruise after.

How you worked through these things, some of the solutions you came up with have been SOOOOO inspirational to me. I would never have thought of some of these things, and I hope you don't mind that I'm totally being a copy cat!

In fact just last night my FI and I spent most of our dinner talking about YOUR wedding! And I spent all morning walking him through your pictures! :

Ok that being said....

Thank you for your reviews, because of them I've changed some of my vendors and added others.

So, I just had to say I'm so grateful for your PJ. I know a lot of time and effort went into it and I am here to say it was not in vain!
I can't thank you enough!

Thank you so, so much! I truly appreciate your kind words. I am so glad if it brings you any inspiration; I certainly gleaned ideas from other brides. That is one of the many things I love about the Disboards-- we all help each other really perfect our plans. Are you going to keep a PJ? I would love to follow along! Enjoy your planning!

Okay, the print is adorable! Love love love it!

That CM was beyond rude. I would NOT expect to hear anything like that from anyone at Disney. I would call the lobby or something of the sort. Just to be sure that they don't say that to anyone else. Especially not on club level. Ugh. Buttheads.

The view is absolutely GORGEOUS! One day I want to stay in a room with a MK view. One day. <3

Cannot wait to read more!

Isn't the print too cute? I've already talked about how I love little Disney souvenirs around the house, so I was totally excited when we opened it! You know, the more time that passes, the more ruffled my feathers are over that CM comment. Disney's whole image is clean cut, approachable, and friendly. That was just crazy. We almost flipped out over the view; on our normal Disney trips, we're just excited if the view is not of a parking lot!!

ooh! I majored in journalism in college for undergrad and I completely now which station you are talking about! None of us applied to those stations!

Also, as a side note about the Contemporary, I agree with it being nostalgic of the 90's (for me it was the late 80's). Growing up only 2 1/2 hours away, we only stayed at Disney one time (and the rest we always took day trips) but that one week long trip, we stayed at the Contemporary. It was magical. And your view! Amazing!

I grew up in Panama City, which is about 6 hours away. Close enough to go about two or three times a year. When I was very young, we always stayed at a Howard Johnson, but I don't remember it. After that, we were almost always at the Polynesian. I know that's partly why it's my favorite: nostalgia. As an adult, I do think Contemporary has the best overall dining options. That is one huge plus. I might be a bigger fan generally if the grounds were more attractive... it's kinda ugly out back!

I thought I said this already, but apparently I haven't. I *adore* that print. I wonder if I can order one on ebay...

I tried to be cool and find it for you, but all I could find was this Rescuers one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Crui...116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c46df174

Which is cute (especially in that Disney-movies-no-one-knows kind of way), but the seller is suffering from the delusion that a second-hand print of a drawing is worth $130. Nope.

 

[DisneyBrideCKB]

Originally Posted by One Song
we all help each other really perfect our plans. Are you going to keep a PJ? I would love to follow along! Enjoy your planning!

I can't tell you how much money you saved me already! Not to mention how much you've put me at ease. I was SOOOO nervous about not getting a trial hair and makeup session until 2 days before the wedding, but because of your rave reviews of Beaute Speciale I am willing to give them a go. In fact just put down my deposit today!

I would love to start a PJ, but it won't let me post pictures yet. I guess I don't have enough posts. I'll let you know when I have one up and running. I would love some followers.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I just read through your report and wow, what a magical Wedding and Honeymoon! DH and I also went to WDW for our honeymoon a few months ago

 

[DisneyBrideCKB]

Well, you convinced me.. I officially started my PJ. I'm not sure if anyone will read it, but here goes nothing! I just loved yours so much that maybe I can help someone like you helped me!

I can't post the link yet, but you can find me under "planning our happily ever after" and "Kathryn & Charles, WDW wishes wedding, WP/GF, 10/6/12"

I'm kinda excited to get feed back!