schumigirl
It's a bit of a roodie doodie word for lady parts
- Joined
- May 15, 2007
Margaritaville was very quiet, you could have got a table anywhere without a reservation no problems. We prefer to sit at the bar, however we had been told you can only order appetisers at the bar now, but that suited us as that was all we wanted today.
There`s always a good atmosphere in here, although today was possibly the quietest we have ever seen this place. Usually even at lunchtime it`s loud and mobbed.
We ordered our long awaited for Blackberry Margaritas, and Tom wanted a mango one.....and they didn`t disappoint. We remembered the barman from our previous visits and he gives a very good pour!!
We did ask for a paper menu rather than the scanny thing which I don`t like at all....I can see why they do it of course, but we asked everywhere for a paper menu this trip and it was never a problem.
We had always enjoyed the lava lava shrimp and the boneless chicken wings, which yes, aren`t really wings, but they`re tasty enough for what they are. I will say however, there was a distinct lack of lava on top of the shrimp looking at past pictures........it was fine though, hardly worth complaining about.
The food was decent, nothing outstanding but nice enough......we prefer to have a drink here rather than eat, although the main meals have always been lovely.
We finished up and popped into IOA for a few rides as it was still early, we did Dr Doom and saw that they have got rid of the secondary belt that had been there last few years....I have to say, I did feel better with the extra belt , it`s just the harness now which for the first time on that ride, I did feel more nervous than excited!! But, it was of course fine and although it`s a short ride, very short, it is fun.
Next up was Spiderman, and this was an odd one......the regular line was massive, so we of course went into the EP which took us a weird and wonderful way we hadn`t gone before.
The line took us round to the right of the building but outside......then round some of the regular line before we ended up back where you enter at the beginning for the EP line.......odd, but it was still a darn load faster than the regular line....
Always a good ride though, we really enjoy this one.
Leaving the park, we had never seen as many folks piling in through the gates as we saw today.....holy moly.....it was like first thing in the morning and we were glad to be leaving!
We had plans to meet up with a friend who works here for a couple of hours, so after that we went back to our room and got showered and changed before heading up to the Club Lounge for a couple of hours.
Before that though we popped down to the lobby to see someone we`ve known for a few years when he started as a suprvisor in the Club Lounge, we clicked instantly and he is the nicest of guys. He`s now one of the front office managers, so we asked if he was available and he came out a few minutes later.....it was so good to see him again. We do keep in touch between trips which is lovely, but seeing him is so much nicer. It was so busy but we did manage a catch up and would see him over our trip anyway.
We went up to the lounge then which is always nice and peaceful just before they start serving food which is now between 5pm and 7pm. We got in just before the rush started tonight.
Quite dull at this time of day to see the view of the new hotels, but it does look better at night when everything down I Drive area is lit up. It`s quite spectacular to see the Eye, the Swingtower and now the new Drop Tower all lit up at night......
The Lounge is one of our favourite places. It`s a lovely place to chat and catch up with folks either from the staff and other guests too. It`s always been the friendliest of places and I would recommend anyone try it out if they`re not sure. Service and atmosphere are truly excellent and they make everyone feel very welcome.
They also cater well for anyone with allergies, you only need to let them know and they`ll have you sorted out before you know it.
Many do make meals out the appetisers and use it as their evening meals during their trip.
We don`t use the lounge for dinner, but will have a little taster of the food such as cheese with some wine. We much prefer to eat out in the many wonderful options around the resorts/hotels/surrounding areas and there is so much choice......but we do enjoy a glass or two of wine and enjoy the social aspect of the lounge too, the staff are wonderful and look after everyone so well.
There are always salad options, crudites, crackers, assorted cheeses and a hot option. Tonight it was meatballs with pasta, and we did try one and it was nice, it was certainly popular with folks. Pasta isn`t a dish we ever eat anyway, so we didn`t try the pasta, but the cheese is always nice....especially the spicy one.
They have changed their wine options since we were last there, the reds are nice but the whites are definitely not for us. They have brought in a Moscato and the Chardonnay are both far too sweet for me too.
I`m not a fan of any sweet wine, I tend to find they all taste like sugared water and not at all like real wine, so it`s not something I`d ever enjoy.
I asked for a Chardonnay and took it back up as I thought they had given me Moscato by mistake.......nope, it was the Chardonnay, so it was red for us for the rest of the trip. The reds were both pleasant.
They have also stopped doing the hard liquor now, it`s purely wine and beers and one cider as an option. They also offer mimosa`s at breakfast now too.
We sat chatting for most of our time up there, and one of the supervisors who we have known for a long time, told us they were doing the Tree lighting Ceremony in the lobby at 6pm.
I never knew they were doing such a thing, and neither did many folks as they hadn`t broadcast it was happening, I`m guessing to avoid a large crowd of people gathering in the one area. But, nevertheless I was going to head down to watch with her as she wanted to see it too.
It was very nice and cute.......the singers and dancers are the ones who performed at the Luau usually, so it was nice to see them here again.
There was no obvious lights being switched on as they couldn`t turn the lobby lights out in case guests wandering around slipped or similar....but it was still lovely and the music was very good and of the season too. I was glad to have come down and seen it and it was more or less just Allison and I for most of it.
I went back up to the lounge to collect my husband who hadn`t wanted to come down to see it, and then we headed down to Orchids for dinner.
We had met Maria earlier and told her we were eating here tonight, she said she`d reserves us a nice table....and she did indeed.
We did like the look of the new to us chandelier, we hadn`t seen it lit up at night properly, and it was very nice. They had revamped this lounge beautifully......again, some love it some don`t. We do like it.
We ordered a bottle of wine and perused the menu, although we more or less knew what we were having.....we are creatures of habit at times.
Miso soup to start is beautiful......it`s very healthy and I do feel it does you good as you eat it.......this one is especially nice. But, we do enjoy Orchids over most of the other sushi places we have tried around the area. The chef has worked here for years as have some of the other staff and he really knows his stuff.
Close up pics are never good!!! But, I like this one anyway......
We had ordered two old favourites, Dynamite and Volcano sushi`s....we also ordered the Chef`s dish of the day and a side of smoked salmon which we love.....and it was all beautiful.
It`s beautifully served and only ever the freshest of ingredients....never disappoints and tonight was no different.
The ambiance of the place is lovely and Maria popped back and forward to chat which was lovely, she really is a star and has some of the best people skills, as well as being lovely.
We didn`t want dessert tonight, but instead we headed back over to Strong Water for a cocktail. Yes, I think there is a magnet pulling us over there.......
We sat at a table tonight and we asked Lenny to make us up a drink of his choice, and again, it was sublime......I do love the newer sour cherries they`re using as a garnish now.....tasty!!
The cocktail was lovely, but we only had the one tonight, said our goodnights to everyone and walked back home again.....we were really wearing a path in the carpets this trip!
Saw we`d had an email from Kyle earlier with some pictures of the terrible weather they were having back home.....wow!!! Snow and high winds were the order of the day.....I was so glad we were here!
I forget which time we ended up falling into bed, but it was later than planned, but I knew we`d sleep well again.
We`d had the best day!
There`s always a good atmosphere in here, although today was possibly the quietest we have ever seen this place. Usually even at lunchtime it`s loud and mobbed.
We ordered our long awaited for Blackberry Margaritas, and Tom wanted a mango one.....and they didn`t disappoint. We remembered the barman from our previous visits and he gives a very good pour!!
We did ask for a paper menu rather than the scanny thing which I don`t like at all....I can see why they do it of course, but we asked everywhere for a paper menu this trip and it was never a problem.
We had always enjoyed the lava lava shrimp and the boneless chicken wings, which yes, aren`t really wings, but they`re tasty enough for what they are. I will say however, there was a distinct lack of lava on top of the shrimp looking at past pictures........it was fine though, hardly worth complaining about.
The food was decent, nothing outstanding but nice enough......we prefer to have a drink here rather than eat, although the main meals have always been lovely.
We finished up and popped into IOA for a few rides as it was still early, we did Dr Doom and saw that they have got rid of the secondary belt that had been there last few years....I have to say, I did feel better with the extra belt , it`s just the harness now which for the first time on that ride, I did feel more nervous than excited!! But, it was of course fine and although it`s a short ride, very short, it is fun.
Next up was Spiderman, and this was an odd one......the regular line was massive, so we of course went into the EP which took us a weird and wonderful way we hadn`t gone before.
The line took us round to the right of the building but outside......then round some of the regular line before we ended up back where you enter at the beginning for the EP line.......odd, but it was still a darn load faster than the regular line....
Always a good ride though, we really enjoy this one.
Leaving the park, we had never seen as many folks piling in through the gates as we saw today.....holy moly.....it was like first thing in the morning and we were glad to be leaving!
We had plans to meet up with a friend who works here for a couple of hours, so after that we went back to our room and got showered and changed before heading up to the Club Lounge for a couple of hours.
Before that though we popped down to the lobby to see someone we`ve known for a few years when he started as a suprvisor in the Club Lounge, we clicked instantly and he is the nicest of guys. He`s now one of the front office managers, so we asked if he was available and he came out a few minutes later.....it was so good to see him again. We do keep in touch between trips which is lovely, but seeing him is so much nicer. It was so busy but we did manage a catch up and would see him over our trip anyway.
We went up to the lounge then which is always nice and peaceful just before they start serving food which is now between 5pm and 7pm. We got in just before the rush started tonight.
Quite dull at this time of day to see the view of the new hotels, but it does look better at night when everything down I Drive area is lit up. It`s quite spectacular to see the Eye, the Swingtower and now the new Drop Tower all lit up at night......
The Lounge is one of our favourite places. It`s a lovely place to chat and catch up with folks either from the staff and other guests too. It`s always been the friendliest of places and I would recommend anyone try it out if they`re not sure. Service and atmosphere are truly excellent and they make everyone feel very welcome.
They also cater well for anyone with allergies, you only need to let them know and they`ll have you sorted out before you know it.
Many do make meals out the appetisers and use it as their evening meals during their trip.
We don`t use the lounge for dinner, but will have a little taster of the food such as cheese with some wine. We much prefer to eat out in the many wonderful options around the resorts/hotels/surrounding areas and there is so much choice......but we do enjoy a glass or two of wine and enjoy the social aspect of the lounge too, the staff are wonderful and look after everyone so well.
There are always salad options, crudites, crackers, assorted cheeses and a hot option. Tonight it was meatballs with pasta, and we did try one and it was nice, it was certainly popular with folks. Pasta isn`t a dish we ever eat anyway, so we didn`t try the pasta, but the cheese is always nice....especially the spicy one.
They have changed their wine options since we were last there, the reds are nice but the whites are definitely not for us. They have brought in a Moscato and the Chardonnay are both far too sweet for me too.
I`m not a fan of any sweet wine, I tend to find they all taste like sugared water and not at all like real wine, so it`s not something I`d ever enjoy.
I asked for a Chardonnay and took it back up as I thought they had given me Moscato by mistake.......nope, it was the Chardonnay, so it was red for us for the rest of the trip. The reds were both pleasant.
They have also stopped doing the hard liquor now, it`s purely wine and beers and one cider as an option. They also offer mimosa`s at breakfast now too.
We sat chatting for most of our time up there, and one of the supervisors who we have known for a long time, told us they were doing the Tree lighting Ceremony in the lobby at 6pm.
I never knew they were doing such a thing, and neither did many folks as they hadn`t broadcast it was happening, I`m guessing to avoid a large crowd of people gathering in the one area. But, nevertheless I was going to head down to watch with her as she wanted to see it too.
It was very nice and cute.......the singers and dancers are the ones who performed at the Luau usually, so it was nice to see them here again.
There was no obvious lights being switched on as they couldn`t turn the lobby lights out in case guests wandering around slipped or similar....but it was still lovely and the music was very good and of the season too. I was glad to have come down and seen it and it was more or less just Allison and I for most of it.
I went back up to the lounge to collect my husband who hadn`t wanted to come down to see it, and then we headed down to Orchids for dinner.
We had met Maria earlier and told her we were eating here tonight, she said she`d reserves us a nice table....and she did indeed.
We did like the look of the new to us chandelier, we hadn`t seen it lit up at night properly, and it was very nice. They had revamped this lounge beautifully......again, some love it some don`t. We do like it.
We ordered a bottle of wine and perused the menu, although we more or less knew what we were having.....we are creatures of habit at times.
Miso soup to start is beautiful......it`s very healthy and I do feel it does you good as you eat it.......this one is especially nice. But, we do enjoy Orchids over most of the other sushi places we have tried around the area. The chef has worked here for years as have some of the other staff and he really knows his stuff.
Close up pics are never good!!! But, I like this one anyway......
We had ordered two old favourites, Dynamite and Volcano sushi`s....we also ordered the Chef`s dish of the day and a side of smoked salmon which we love.....and it was all beautiful.
It`s beautifully served and only ever the freshest of ingredients....never disappoints and tonight was no different.
The ambiance of the place is lovely and Maria popped back and forward to chat which was lovely, she really is a star and has some of the best people skills, as well as being lovely.
We didn`t want dessert tonight, but instead we headed back over to Strong Water for a cocktail. Yes, I think there is a magnet pulling us over there.......
We sat at a table tonight and we asked Lenny to make us up a drink of his choice, and again, it was sublime......I do love the newer sour cherries they`re using as a garnish now.....tasty!!
The cocktail was lovely, but we only had the one tonight, said our goodnights to everyone and walked back home again.....we were really wearing a path in the carpets this trip!
Saw we`d had an email from Kyle earlier with some pictures of the terrible weather they were having back home.....wow!!! Snow and high winds were the order of the day.....I was so glad we were here!
I forget which time we ended up falling into bed, but it was later than planned, but I knew we`d sleep well again.
We`d had the best day!