44 DAYS TO GO . . .

     THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2011

     NOW THAT YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WHAT YOUR PACKING.  FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE EATING.  HOW?  IT'S AMAZING HOW DETAILED THE INFORMATION OUT THERE IS ALREADY ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT ON YOUR CRUISE.
     FOR STARTERS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE MENUS OF EVERY RESTAURANT IN THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE ROTATIONAL DINING, INCLUDING ALL THOSE ON THE DISNEY DREAM; ANIMATOR'S PALATE, ENCHANTED GARDEN, & ROYAL PALACE.  THE MENUS STAY THE SAME EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE YOU ARE ROTATING THROUGH A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT EVERY NIGHT AND NOT SEEING THE SAME MENU.  EACH PERSON EACH NIGHT SEES A DIFFERENT MENU.  SO YOU CAN GO ON THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE WEBSITE (http://www.disney.cruise.go.com/) AND LOOK AT YOUR PARTICULAR SHIP AND EACH PARTICULAR RESTAURANT AND SEE THE INDIVIDUAL MENUS.  THE DISBOARDS AND OTHER WEBSITES ON-LINE HAVE ACTUAL PICTURES OF THE CURRENT MENUS ON-BOARD AS WELL.  THEY HAVE THE DRINK SPECIALS, THE APPETIZERS, THE SOUPS AND SALADS, THE MAIN COURSES AND SIDES, BREADS, AND DESSERTS ALL LISTED SO YOU AND YOUR PARTY CAN START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY ORDER IN ADVANCE.  THE REAL ADVANTAGE HERE IS TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO EAT IN ADVANCE AND PLAN AROUND IT, WITHOUT FEELING RUSHED OR PRESSURED ON THE SPOT.  THE MENUS ARE DEFINITELY MORE REFINED DINING.  THEY'RE CLOSER TO GOURMET THAN THEY ARE TO AVERAGE AMERICAN.  SO THOSE OF US WITHOUT COMPLETELY REFINED PALATES MAY FIND IT HARDER TO PICK SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL LIKE.  OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN HAVE DINNER AT THE COUNTER SERVICE SPOTS OR GO TO THE BUFFET ON DECK (WHICH IS WAITER SERVICE AT DINNER) IF YOU FIND YOU JUST WONT LIKE YOUR MEAL, BUT IT'S WELL WORTH TRYING.  THE AMBIANCE, THE SERVICE, THE "SHOW" OF IT ALL, AND THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE GREAT CHEFS SERVE YOU MEALS YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EAT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD CHERISH.  LOOK AT EVERY MENU.  SEE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE.  YOU CAN ALWAYS ORDER BASIC STEAK OR CHICKEN OFF OF THE MENU ANY NIGHT AT ANY RESTAURANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAINT OF HEART.
     I'VE DONE EXACTLY THIS ALREADY.  WANT AN EXAMPLE?  MY SON AND I ARE ALLERGIC TO MUSHROOMS.  I ALREADY KNOW WHAT MEALS OR COURSES HAVE THEM IN THEM AND KNOW TO AVOID THEM.  EVEN BETTER IS THAT MY SON GOT TO LOOK AT THE MENUS (HE'LL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING) AND PICTURES OF COURSES SO HE COULD PICK EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED.  IT SURPRISED EVEN ME.  A GOLD AND RED BEET CARPACCIO?  DOUBLE BAKED SPINACH SOUFLEE'?!  BUT HE GOT TO READ EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, AND SEE PICTURES OF THEM AS WELL.  NO MYSTERY AT ALL.  TELL ME THAT ISN'T AN ADVANTAGE.  NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PICKY EATERS, LIKE MY BROTHER AND HIS BOYS, YOU CAN AVOID SOME HEADACHES AND INEVITABLE COMPLAINING JUST BY PLANNING AHEAD A LITTLE.  THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN FOR THE MEAT AND POTATOES CROWD.  SO DON'T JUST SAY IT'S DIFFERENT AND I DON'T WANT IT.  TAKE THE TIME TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CHOICES ARE AND YOU MIGHT JUST SURPRISE EVEN YOURSELF.
     SEA YA REAL SOON!   ºOº
TONIGHT'S MOVIE IS "SONG OF THE SOUTH".  GREAT FLICK ALTHOUGH DISNEY DOESN'T EVEN ADMIT TO MAKING IT ANYMORE!  lol