Aulani to WDW: The Lurkyloos' Anniversary Vow Renewal: THRILLING CONCLUSION 8/5!

[lurkyloo]

We pretty much never go to this part of Downtown Disney, and we didn’t that day either. Instead we just stayed on the boat (which earned us the stink-eye from our crusty skipper, for some reason) and rode back to Old Key West.

I’ve never had any interest in staying in the boonies of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, but it looks downright idyllic from the water.

“Pssst! Hey, buddy! Wanna know Disney’s best-kept secret?”

Oooh! More treehouse!

I dunno... maybe it was foolish to waste a couple hours of a three-day trip floating to Downtown Disney and back, but at least we were knocking another thing off the list of Things I Never Let Patrick Do!

OK, so when we got back to the hotel, we got all dolled up for our anniversary party in Epcot. Ever since I’d learned you can do events at the tiny Italy Overlook, I’d been desperate for an excuse to hold one there. Why not re-celebrate our anniversary while we were at WDW? The catch is, you can’t have food there cuz they think there’s no room to set it up (I disagree—surely one guy and a TV tray would fit on the wrap-around part of the balcony!). On the other hand, this makes it THE cheapest private viewing area for IllumiNations—all you pay is the $150 venue fee. ... On the third hand, $150 is kind of a lot to pay to stand around watching a show everyone else is seeing for free... Hmmmm....

ANYWAY, to round out the evening, I added a reservation at the brand-new Monsieur Paul (née Bistro de Paris) and town car service to and from Epcot—just to make it seem more like an event and less like we were paying one hundred and fifty clams to stand around watching a show everyone else was seeing for free... Plus, we got to ride around backstage!

We met the town car down at the Contemporary’s valet stand and were whisked backstage at Epcot to the France gate. Our event guide met us and escorted us to the restaurant, then took a powder while we had dinner. Patrick was good and didn’t sneak any shots backstage, so the first thing you get to see is this:

I wasn’t sure I’d like the new decor at Monsieur Paul, just cuz I kinda like how late-’70s/early-’80s the restaurant used to feel. It was practically like stepping back in time. But they used a very light hand in the makeover.

 

[lurkyloo]

We’ve watched IllumiNations from our table at this restaurant before, and it’s a neat perspective. But we were excited to have a new viewing spot to look forward to that night.

Our server was super-gregarious—like, way friendlier than even LA servers, and that’s the town where they’ll practically sit in your lap while taking your order! Maybe he was trying to single-handedly obliterate the stereotype of French rudeness?

Two tiny cheese puffs as an amuse bouche...

Patrick had never had escargot before, so we started with the ravioli.

Raviole d'escargots, creme au persil - Escargot raviole, cream of parsley

It was nice! You could barely tell it had escargot in it, but depending on where you stand on the whole snails-in-your-food thing, that might be a bonus! For our main course, we split the filet with mushroom crust and mashed potatoes. I think even if you’re not a mushroom fan you’d like this, cuz they’re so finely minced that the topping is more “crust” than mushroom.

Filet de boeuf grille forestier, puree de pomme de terre, sauce Bordelaise - Grilled beef tenderloin with mushroom crust, mashed potatoes, Bordelaise sauce

The mashed potatoes came in a bowl on the side and were practically like soup, but they sure tasted good!

We decided to pass on $13 dessert cuz we still had cake back in the room, but here’s the menu for you:

They also brought us this cute little basically empty plate to celebrate our anniversary.

Happy 5th birthday to our marriage!

After dinner, we made our own way to Italy Overlook. Our guide was waiting to open the gate for us and let us climb the stairs.

It’s a pretty neat view even without the fireworks! Great for people watching, although a bunch of them watched us right back, pointing and staring. Our guide hung out next to the streetlight most of the time, but occasionally he wandered off. At one point, some official-looking person bustled over and made like she was going to climb the stairs to tell us to get down, but then our event guide reappeared and set her straight. I asked him about it later, and he said she’d wanted to use the spot for “guest recovery” (i.e., to placate some angry guests with a nifty fireworks viewing spot. Guess I know how to get up there for free next time!)

See, you could TOTALLY fit a dessert table back here ...Or at least a peanut vendor!

I’d considered bringing our cake up there in a Tupperware, or maybe getting gelato on the way over, and I still think that would be the way to make Italy Overlook the perfect anniversary spot. But in the end, we just stood around taking photos til the show started.


We weren’t the only ones having a party in Italy that night!

Oh my gosh that tree’s on FIRE!!! Oh, wait...

 

[lurkyloo]

And then fireworks happened! By the looks of it, I wasn’t quite ready with the camera when they started, hopefully because Patrick was distracting me with anniversary smooches!

That’s Wishes going off at the Magic Kingdom—Italy Overlook is a great spot for seeing both shows simultaneously!

Wishes in the background again!

 

[lurkyloo]

I feel like my silhouette should be playing the saxophone in this shot...

I gotta, say, man... I know I’m always on about being as close to the water as possible for IllumiNations, but I loved the perspective we got on the show from up that high. I think that if you are a hobby photographer, it would be worth the venue fee just for the amazing shots you can get from up there.

We stayed up there as long as we could, and our event guide didn’t rush us. But eventually we knew we had to go down and meet our town car, which picked us up behind American Adventure. Then it was back home to polish off our cake, watch the Electrical Water Pageant, and take six bazillion of Patricia LeJeune’s bobby pins outta my hair.

Up Next: Last Day at Disney!

 

[LittleBoPeep]

Hi Lurkyloo... I've loved reading all of your trip reports over the years, but this is the first time I'm popping in to post on one. We have always loved the Illuminations view from Italy... we try to stake out a spot there on every trip, but this spot takes it to a whole new level, quite literally!

How would one go about making a reservation for this spot? As you can see we're celebrating our anniversary in a couple of weeks, and this would be a wonderful surprise for DH.

TIA!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hey, thanks for posting! OK, so to book an event you need to go through Disney Catered Events (321-939-7278), who will assign you a planner at the resort where you're staying. Yours may have to look up Italy Overlook, as many of them don't even know it's an option. Let me know if you have any trouble with them, and I'll give you some tips for getting through. Sometimes they try to discourage small groups from booking events, but this will be SO easy for them to plan, there's no reason they can't help you out.

 

[LittleBoPeep]

Thank you so much for the info! I am waiting to hear from the one of the salespersons from my resort area, but the person I spoke with told me that it would be $500, since the minimum charge is for 10 people. I told them my understanding was that it was rented for $150... they said they would check further into it and get back with me later today or tomorrow. Hopefully it will work out!

Regardless, thank you for the info!

 

[DizneyDogs]

This hidden dragon shot reminds me of the dragon from the now defunct BraviSEAmo! show at TDS

 

[lurkyloo]

Thank you so much for the info! I am waiting to hear from the one of the salespersons from my resort area, but the person I spoke with told me that it would be $500, since the minimum charge is for 10 people. I told them my understanding was that it was rented for $150... they said they would check further into it and get back with me later today or tomorrow. Hopefully it will work out!

Yeah, the per-person charges are for food and viewing fees. Since no food may be served at that location, you won't have to worry about that $500, just the $150 venue-rental fee. And if you'll have park tickets or APs, you won't have to pay the $12.95/person viewing fee either.

This hidden dragon shot reminds me of the dragon from the now defunct BraviSEAmo! show at TDS

Whoa... I didn't even see the dragon til you mentioned it! Cool!

 

[MEK]

I stayed in this exact treehouse. How do I know? Because that darn tree was in all my view shots!

The weird thing about the treehouses is the immediate surroundings are not all that pretty. It really does look like an upscale camp ground. There is no view, but the inside of the treehouses are just lovely.

I love OKW. It's got such a great vibe. Glad you crossed something off your....er, I mean Patrick's bucket list.

The remodel on the bistro looks lovely. I was there last summer and had a fab seat by the window for Illuminations. Loved it. I like the makeover "light". The light fixtures look lovely.

Nice spot for Illuminations. You really need get a very unique view.

Service recovery, eh? I wonder how I can get myself in need of some service recovery?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow! So excited you had a chance to experience the Italy overlook. I saw a couple viewing Illuminations from up there a few nights ago. They had a guide with the glow stick thingy so I'm assuming they booked it as opposed to "guest recovery." How many people do you think would fit up there? I take it there isn't a room around the corner that opens up. I think this and the pagoda in Japan (Bonsai Terrace?) are my two wish list items for a smaller event. Now I just need to dream up an occasion.

The wedding expo looked like fun. My inner geek loved the R2D2 cake as well as the Haunted Mansion cake but have to agree I prefer traditional (as opposed to "experimental" flavors). Did you ever imagine back when you were planning your own amazing wedding that you'd become a Disney weddings (and cake) expert with a website, book, podcast etc?? So cool!

You two sure do pack a lot into your trips and always look like you, in the wise words of Stacy, "have a fun time doing."

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome pics!

 

[Mom2m&k]

I am in LOVE with that yellow cake with the flowers and your anniversary cake! So very pretty...still so sad my one (well two since they lost the first order) cake experience was not great.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I am an occasional Lurkyloo lurker...I checked out your wedding trip report years ago and loved it! Having just returned from a 17 day odyssey to Los Angeles, DLR, Kauai and Oahu, I was very excited to read your anniversary trip report. I LOVE it!!! Your pictures of everything are just amazing. We did almost the same stuff you did on Oahu. Had to leave out a couple of things (PCC, the Ranch tour, Shangri La) b/c we were only there for 4 days and had two teens with us (DD14, DS16) so we didn't do as many museums. We did hike Diamond Head and spent a full day on Waikiki Beach complete with a catamaran sail (awesome!). You packed so much more in! I'm impressed.

Did I saw your pictures are amazing? I am not a big picture taker. I'm trying to be better about it and take more photos. Have just a point & shoot camera and it is hit or miss (could have something to do with the inept operator maybe). Your pics put mine to shame! I want to steal them and say they are my vacation photos! Just kidding....sort of.

Favorites so far:
*That you wore something similar to your wedding day jewelry at your vow renewal - so pretty!
*The pics of your DH in new Fantasyland posing as one of the angular kids in the original concept drawings - very funny!
*That he won the spear tossing contest at the PCC.

Congratulations on the 5 year mark. May your next 5 be just as wonderful!

ETA: I too got picked to be Madame Wardrobe at ETWB this past June! You are right...the key to getting chosen is to belt it out like an opera singer (even if you can't sing a lick). I totally embarrassed those teenagers of mine!

 

[lurkyloo]

I stayed in this exact treehouse. How do I know? Because that darn tree was in all my view shots!

That's so funny! Interesting about the lack of a view from inside. It does seem like with decor that rustic you should see sweeping valleys or a lake or something.

Wow! So excited you had a chance to experience the Italy overlook. I saw a couple viewing Illuminations from up there a few nights ago. They had a guide with the glow stick thingy so I'm assuming they booked it as opposed to "guest recovery." How many people do you think would fit up there? I take it there isn't a room around the corner that opens up. I think this and the pagoda in Japan (Bonsai Terrace?) are my two wish list items for a smaller event. Now I just need to dream up an occasion.

Yeah, I think there's a fake window or a door around the corner, but no place to go into. Our planner made it sound like they think 10 people can fit on the balcony (maybe including the stairs?) but I'd say 5 would be a tight squeeze.

Awesome pics!

Thanks!

I am in LOVE with that yellow cake with the flowers and your anniversary cake! So very pretty...still so sad my one (well two since they lost the first order) cake experience was not great.

I recommend the Contemporary for your next cakeI've had nothing but great experiences with them, and they do the cakes for the MK, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness too, so you have plenty of options!

I am an occasional Lurkyloo lurker...I checked out your wedding trip report years ago and loved it! Having just returned from a 17 day odyssey to Los Angeles, DLR, Kauai and Oahu, I was very excited to read your anniversary trip report. I LOVE it!!! Your pictures of everything are just amazing. We did almost the same stuff you did on Oahu. Had to leave out a couple of things (PCC, the Ranch tour, Shangri La) b/c we were only there for 4 days and had two teens with us (DD14, DS16) so we didn't do as many museums. We did hike Diamond Head and spent a full day on Waikiki Beach complete with a catamaran sail (awesome!). You packed so much more in! I'm impressed.

Did I saw your pictures are amazing? I am not a big picture taker. I'm trying to be better about it and take more photos. Have just a point & shoot camera and it is hit or miss (could have something to do with the inept operator maybe). Your pics put mine to shame! I want to steal them and say they are my vacation photos! Just kidding....sort of.

Favorites so far:
*That you wore something similar to your wedding day jewelry at your vow renewal - so pretty!
*The pics of your DH in new Fantasyland posing as one of the angular kids in the original concept drawings - very funny!
*That he won the spear tossing contest at the PCC.

Congratulations on the 5 year mark. May your next 5 be just as wonderful!

ETA: I too got picked to be Madame Wardrobe at ETWB this past June! You are right...the key to getting chosen is to belt it out like an opera singer (even if you can't sing a lick). I totally embarrassed those teenagers of mine!

Welcome out of lurkdom! And thanks for the kind words! It sounds like you guys had an awesome West Coast trip. Do you think Diamond Head is do-able for slightly out-of-shape types like me? I'd heard that you have to get there at dawn to beat the crowds and that they make you park so far away, it's a hike just to get to the trail head... kinda scared me off.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Welcome out of lurkdom! And thanks for the kind words! It sounds like you guys had an awesome West Coast trip. Do you think Diamond Head is do-able for slightly out-of-shape types like me? I'd heard that you have to get there at dawn to beat the crowds and that they make you park so far away, it's a hike just to get to the trail head... kinda scared me off.

We did Diamond Head "all wrong" according to the book. The plan was to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center the morning we flew from Kauai to Oahu. Plans changed b/c we got lost in Waikiki, got lost trying to find parking after we checked in to our hotel (those one way streets are the devil), had problems printing the extra Entertainment Book coupons for PCC. After all that frustration it was a little late to be heading to the North Shore and the kids didn't want to do the "fake polynesian thing", as they called it.

So we bagged it and drove to Diamond Head, at 2:00 PM, with no water, with DD wearing flip flops. We were very unprepared! I at least pulled my hiking boots out of my luggage before we checked it at the hotel (room wasn't ready yet). I asked DD if she wanted to get her sneakers and she said no. Oh well!

When we got there the parking lot was only half full...no problems there. But it was pretty hot...so the no water thing was a bummer. Despite being parched we all made it up to the very top - even me. I am 47, and weigh about 50 lbs more than I should so my kids and husband dusted me. I just went at my own pace, and took regular breaks....kept telling myself I was the little train that could...I think I can, I think I can. The view was so worth it!

 

[chepic]

Just want to say that I would love to be your personal asst. I am sure you need one by now!!!!!!!!!! I would be excellent. I always have said I don't need to the be boss, just the indispensable assistant!!!

Cheryl

 

[aboveH20]

So glad Patrick got his boat ride -- it seems like it ups the odds of a 10th anniversary trip.

Back in the day I ate at The Restaurant Formerly Known as Bistro de Paris. I don't mind them changing the name, because Americans associate bistro with casual. I used to think Bistro was downstairs and Les Chefs was the fancier upstairs one. BUT, I don't like the new name. I'm not French (although I was in Montreal last weekend) and monsieur is not necessarliy an easy word to pronounce -- silent n and a nice "whistle" on the s. (Remember, I already said I'm not French and I don't get any kickbacks from Rosetta Stone .)

And I think "guest recovery" is my new favorite Disney phrase. I'm awaiting the first time I get to use it -- or better yet, be a beneficiary of it.


I'm loving all of your photoed updates. Somehow they're both relaxing and invigorating. Such a joy to read, remember, and relive.

 

[lurkyloo]

When we got there the parking lot was only half full...no problems there. But it was pretty hot...so the no water thing was a bummer. Despite being parched we all made it up to the very top - even me. I am 47, and weigh about 50 lbs more than I should so my kids and husband dusted me. I just went at my own pace, and took regular breaks....kept telling myself I was the little train that could...I think I can, I think I can. The view was so worth it!

This is great stuff to keep in mind for next time! (water: check! hat: check! "I think I can": check!)

Just want to say that I would love to be your personal asst. I am sure you need one by now!!!!!!!!!! I would be excellent. I always have said I don't need to the be boss, just the indispensable assistant!!!

When I can afford one, you'll be at the top of my list!

So glad Patrick got his boat ride -- it seems like it ups the odds of a 10th anniversary trip.

Back in the day I ate at The Restaurant Formerly Known as Bistro de Paris. I don't mind them changing the name, because Americans associate bistro with casual. I used to think Bistro was downstairs and Les Chefs was the fancier upstairs one.

ME TOO!!!! I was always getting the two restaurants mixed up! And I also think the new name is just... dorky. It sounds like a French hairdresser or something. Anyway, glad you're enjoying the report!

 

[lurkyloo]

Last day at Disney! After being away from home for two weeks (almost three, if you count our pre-anniversary trip to Pennsylvania for DISer InkedUpMomma’s wedding and Disney California Adventure for a photoshoot with the Roots!), I was ready to go home.

But first, we woke up and staggered downstairs to The Wave to meet pal and fellow Disney bride Jonni for brunch. The Wave’s vaguely Southern-style breakfast buffet is my favorite at Walt Disney World, and Jonni and I are trying to make a tradition of eating there whenever we’re in town at the same time. So far we’re 2 for 2!

I guess we were all too hungry to take any food photos, but I can guarantee you I had sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter, cheddar-bacon grits, a biscuit and gravy, more bacon and hashbrowns, and I probably put an egg benedict on my plate because I’d forgotten how weird The Wave’s hollandaise sauce is. It’s always fun to see Jonni because she shares our interest in vintage, well, everything. I think the last time we’d met up with her was for the Queen Mary’s 75th anniversary party. This time she told us about her efforts to bring together two museums—one dedicated to explorers Osa & Martin Johnson and the other a Florida aviation museum that holds two of the planes they used on their explorations—to launch a joint exhibit. Jonni always does the most interesting stuff!

After breakfast Patrick and I went back up to our room to finish packing and check out. Any ideas on why I made Patrick take this photo...?

A) I thought up a funny caption for the Massage/Health Club icon, which I’ve since forgotten

B) I wanted to remember our room number

C) I thought I might need to make a phone call later

After we’d dropped our stuff at Bell Services, we took the monorail around to the Magic Kingdom to meet Twitter pal @zzgator for a Citrus Swirl. Things we saw along the way include...

I should warn you now that the few photos we took on our last day are kinda random. It was sorta hot and SUPER crowded and we spent most of our time wandering aimlessly (again!) trying to find things to do that didn’t have massive lines.

Well, this one doesn’t have a line!

Heck, we can even do THIS if we want to!

Lines? Check. Standing around in the blazing sun? Check. PASS-a-dena!!!

It was fun to meet @zzgator for reals this time—I think the first time I was passing her as she stood in line in the blazing sun for something. This day, none of us had anyplace we needed to be for a while, so we ended up wandering aimlessly together.

Here’s a shot of us together—I’m the taller one...

Here’s a ride we didn’t go on together

Even Small World had a 35-minute wait, so we ended up hanging out with all the air-conditioned-nap-takers in the Hall of Presidents.