CBFETT & Family - Port Orleans Riverside 2011

[CBFETT]

How about another set or two today?

Set 7

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Down the waterslide at Dabloon Lagoon!

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Cars 2

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Waiting for Food at Teppan Edo.

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More Star Wars Parade. Aurra Sing.

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ARF Trooper.

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Pin Store DTD.

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Checking out the Animals at AKL.

[CBFETT]

Set 8

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The back of AKL. Very beautiful Resort!

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Totem Pole at WL

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Wooden Horse Race at WCC.

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Sleeping Beauty is still her all time favorite princess, even if it does change from time to time.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1742_00.jpg

Lego Woody! If I had known you could do this as a kid I might have never given up my legos!

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WL. I could stay here. Very cool looking!

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A little EPCOT photo of me and DW.

[CBFETT]

Set 9

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Inside Mission Space. And I ride the non spinning version. And proud of it.

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Silly Donald! At Rope Drop at EPCOT.

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Snow White and the Seven Lego Dwarfs.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1749_00.jpg

Snow White and the Seven Lego Dwarfs Part II.

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Tusker House Safari Donald Breakfast.

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Hey, it's Tough to be a bug!

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Waiting for Expedition Everest to reopen after rain and lightning.

[CBFETT]

P.S - There is still more to come!

[CBFETT]

What the heck one more set I'm on a roll!

Set 10 - Dedicated to Star Tours 2.0!

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A call to Battle!

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Greeted by StormTroopers. I have a bad feeling about this!

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Getting scanned.

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Defective! Our old buddy Captain Rex!

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Astromech Droids! Love them!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1610.jpg

And another.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1611.jpg

And another.

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One more

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And the set!

[CBFETT]

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1612.jpg

Here is that one more!.

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Love the new color scheme.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1605.jpg

Bad picture I know. But C-3PO right where he should be!

[Tater]

Great photos!

[ssmerdel]

Great shots CBFETT. :) Looks like you guys had an awesome time. I missed going this summer and not seeing Star Wars weekend. I will be there next year for sure.

[CBFETT]

Thank you Tater and ssmerdel! We had a blast! Your going to Love Star Tours 2.0 ssmerdel! A++++++++ Ride now!

How about some more?

Set 11

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More Star Wars Parade.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1635.jpg

And more!

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Darth Goofy hamming it up!

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DTD

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Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1658.jpg

R2 D2

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Legion of Scout Troopers.

[CBFETT]

Set 12

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The whole gang!

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Jango Fett!

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Snowspeeder.

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Cool.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1694.jpg

A young sith apprentice with his new custom built lightsaber.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1714.jpg

DHS at night.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1733_00.jpg

A picture of the Totem Pole at WL without Mickey's head cut off in the picture.

[CBFETT]

Set 13

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What a ham!

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Lego Buzz

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To infinity and beyond lego!

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Safari Mickey

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Minnie love at EPCOT Rope Drop

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This boy love the Duck!

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And his twin brother loves the Mouse just as much!

[CBFETT]

Set 14

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The other princess.

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Boba Fett

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First time riding Dinosaur! His brother and sister still not yet.

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New Mickey Feet Slippers

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Finally a great look and shot of the beautiful animal it only took four trips to get it. :)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/cbfett/POR%202011/100_1769_00.jpg

Safari Goofy

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Safari Daisy looking sharp!

[CBFETT]

Ok, that's all the pictures folks! I hope you enjoyed them as much as we liked taking them! Next up is the Trip Summary, Top 10, Resort and Restaurant reviews! May take a few days. But I have promised myself to get it done this time!

[arnoldvb]

Great pics!!! Thanks for sharing!

[TinaMouse]

Oh you have got me excited about ST 2.0!!!! YAY! Loved the shot coming down Doubloon Lagoon and of you and the Mrs. at EE. GREAT photos!

[CBFETT]

Oh you have got me excited about ST 2.0!!!! YAY! Loved the shot coming down Doubloon Lagoon and of you and the Mrs. at EE. GREAT photos!

Thank you Tina! You are going to love Star Tours 2.0! It really is awesome!

OK Time for that Trip Summary.

Resort - Port Orleans Riverside - Grade - B
Now this was our third time staying at POR. Second time in the Alligator Bayou section. The first time we felt like the room was really cramped for our party of 5. It felt like everyone was on top of each other. Not to mention with the Double Bed size we had to get rails for the boys bed because they kept falling out. This time we got a room with a connecting door which made a huge difference. It gave us about 10 - 12 extra feet of room space which made a HUGE difference! We were able to bring our blow up mattress which the kids love, so with the trundle bed every child had their on bed. They rotated so everyone got to use each bed. It felt more spacious. We were located on the West side in building 25, first floor. A little farther from the main pool, but right next to a quiet pool which was great during mid day breaks. The buses, well, let's just say that you would expect more buses at a resort of this size. They really seemed to be running slowly. Ended up using our car to save time. (More in my Top 10 to come). The pool is very nice, really good water slide for a moderate. The food court was adequate, nothing special but plenty of choices and taste. The store at the front is one of my favorites! Themed really well with the Disney Characters and lots of great merchandise variety! Although the big water wheel was only working for the last two days of the trip.

Restaurants:

Pizzaria UNO - A - Yes not a Disney spot but if your looking for a good offsite restaurant with excellent service and REAL Chicago Deep Dish Pizza this place is for you! It has never disappointed and just right off Disney property.

Wolfgang Puck Cafe - B+ - OK what to expect from a World Famous Chef, Iron Chef at DTD. Food was good, not great as I had expected. Lacked that extra punch. Atmosphere was cool, not too loud but it was the service that brought this one down. Had to ask other server for things we had already asked our server for mutilple times. I would go back, but not a favorite.

Boma - F - Plain and simply we hated it! Food was bland and tasteless. We are foodies and wanted to try it, heard great things, but not one of us liked it at all. I ended up getting a hamburger from Pecos Bill's later because I was so hungry. It was a beautiful place, but this one we will never go back to.

Teppan Edo - C+ - Typical Hibachi style Japanese restaurant. Master chef was good, entertaining, did all the tricks, but had better food locally here in Atlanta. Decor is what you'd expect. I expected more from Disney.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - A+ - By far the best meal of the trip! Everyone loved the food! The atmosphere was fun, our server engaging without being overbearing. Loved the decor. The ketchup trick was fun and so was the Wooden horse race. Definately a favorite and we would go back!

San Angel Inn - B- - Absolutely loved the atmosphere, decor. Just a great setting to eat in. However, we kind of got a table tucked away a bit and didn't have the best view. Food was fair to good, margaritas passed my test and liked the Tequilia tasting offerings. We would go back, but not a favorite.

Donald Safari Breakfast at the Tusker House - B - Basic breakfast buffet food offerings, good interaction with the characters, they were not rushed with the kids. Solid B for what it was. Crystal Palace still has the best breakfast buffet IMO.

Via Napoli - B- - Yes petesimac was right the noise at this place at dinner was very loud. But we really liked the food and thought the pizza was delicious! We all had plenty to eat and didn't think the prices were that out of line. Decor could have been better and we had a hard time understanding our server and she had a hard time understanding us. Which made things interesting. Bottom line if you are coming here thinking American style pizza, throw that notion out the window. That is not what this place is. But we liked the different taste or a more traditional Italian Pizza. We would go back, but no hurry. Tuttu Italia is calling our name and a favorite!

Next Stop is My Top 10 things I learned/experienced this trip.

[TinaMouse]

Loved the ratings!!!!

[CBFETT]

TOP 10 things I learned/experienced on our WDW Vacation

10. Splash Mountain needs to TLC. Several Anamotronics and effects not working. Examples include Brer Fox mouth not moving at all although you hear his voice, bouncing Brer Rabbit down, then working, then down again, the arching water effect in the laughing place down, and the water effect under the turtles in the same scene not working.
9. Black Tarp on BTMRR still up. Although I here it has been fixed.
8. The new queue for The Haunted Manshion while interesting and somewhat neat, ehhh.
7. The Finding Nemo – The Musical at AK was very well done and cool! However, once was plenty unless we need a heat break.
6. Dinoland at AK needs a makeover! The carnival games you need to pay extra for and theme just doesn't fit AK.
5. The water slide at POFQ while very elaborately decorated and cool, the slide is weak. My 6 year old twins boys got bored with it and called it lame. The Waterslide at POR even though not as fancy décor wise didn't receive the same reaction from the kids.
4. If you are ever at the TTC and the MK express monorail line is off the charts long, oh look over there, the resort monorail line is walk on in and it stops at the MK as well!
3. We found the bus system, very painful this trip. Didn't seem to have enough buses going to POR for a resort of that size. Also, at two or three of the parks, the bus stop for POR is the farthest from the park entrance. Since we had our own car, we found it was much faster to just get in it and drive to the parks or resorts for dinner. It saved us time, waiting, and we could go/leave when we were ready. And parking is free! Following the signs were no problem, although, we have driven around plenty of times prior.
2. We definitely missed staying at the Poly this trip! Third time at POR and I think we are done with it. It's a fine resort, don't get me wrong. But the Poly is just head and shoulders better! We stayed at POR because of the free dining, we could have afforded the Poly but tried to save a few bucks. Not next time. Now, I will say I would love to stay at one of the suites at CSR and that would cost the same as a deluxe so maybe that next time. Or maybe just the Poly. :)
1. The new Star Tours 2.0 is a A++++ ride now! It is such a blast! Great effects, changing story each time, 3D was cool not overdone. We all know the 1.0 was and had gotten stale. The film was showing wear and tear. This new one rocks! We saw all of the different sequences after only five rides. Of course we didn't see all 54 possibilities. And on two of the rides both my DW and one DTS (Disney Twin Son) were the Rebel Spies! Disney and George got this one right!

P.S. - Typhoon Lagoon is a complete blast! Well worth the extra cost! Crush and Gusher Rocks!

OK, I did it. Finally did a Picture and Summary/Top 10 Trip Report. YAY! I hope you all enjoyed it!

[TinaMouse]

Thank you!!! ;)