Go Big Or Go Home! – Day 07

Day 7 of our vaction. Today will be the day that we finally check into Disney to kick start our Disney package. So happy and grateful that we managed to secure the Free Dining promotion again this year.

We checked out of Home2Suites and made our way to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. We had stayed here on our trip back in 2014 and had fond memories of this place.

The lobby was a familiar sight. We were greeted with friendly smiles and the check-in was a breeze since we have already done our online check-in. We were given our Magic Bands and we were good to go.

However, our room was not ready yet. The resort was undergoing a major refurbishment. A small number of rooms were completed. We had hope to get one of those rooms which was a long shot. However, we were pleasantly surprised that we were allocated a room in the Casitas section. The Casitas housed the Preferred Rooms in three of its buildings. Our room was at the next building making it very close to the El Centro (the main building)!

Next, we picked up our Resort Refillable Mugs, each choosing our favourite colours. We can use these mugs at the Quick Service restaurants to fill up the beverages for our next 14 days. This is one of the perks of getting a Disney package.

We wasted no time and made our way to Magic Kingdom. Ashley had wanted to start with Magic Kingdom and I acceded to her request. We took the Monorail this time to the Ticketing and Transportation Center. This is the faster route as opposed to the Ferry.

After our bag checks and upon scanning our Magic Bands, we found ourselves at the Main Street!

Before exploring the park, I had an important mission to fulfill. It was commonly known among Disney veterans that you could secure additional Fastpasses using Magic Bands from your previous trips if your current trip is booked under another account.

So we looked for the nearest FP Kiosk at the City Hall and I used another 2 sets of Magic Bands from our previous trip to secure another 6 FPs each. This would mean that we have a total of 9 FPs each a day and we need not queue for any attraction. Mission accomplished and our happy faces.

With that, we found the Photopass photographer and posed for our mandatory shots in front of the majestic Cinderella Castle. As with our previous trips, we have purchased the Memory Maker package this time as well.

So glad that this photographer could do Magic Shots too!

We were famished and headed for lunch at Columbia Harbour House. This marks the start of our Free Dining. We each ordered our mains and swopped two desserts for the  Clam Chowder. We were extremely satisfied!

Our first ride – Seven Dwars Mine Train.

It’s a small world

We walked around Magic Kingdom and it was not very crowded.

We took our favourite ride – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and watched Country Bear Jamboree.

Splash Mountain – another of our favourite ride.

Soon it was time for Festival of Fantasy Parade. We found ourselves a good spot and snacked on Churros.

After the parade, we had our must have Funnel Cake at Sleepy Hollow.

And headed over to Mainstreet for our Starbucks fix. Jarod loves redeeming snack credits from Starbucks. He could order Trenta size which is not available here in Singapore, on top of adding shots all for one snack credit. Ashley loves the Black Tea Lemonade (BTL).

Our next ride – Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Under The Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

We also took the Pirates of the Carribean Ride and stopped for pressed pennies. Ashley loves the pressed penny machines and has a collection.

Soon, it was time to leave Magic Kingdom as it had a special event – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas. It was a good time to visit Magic Kingdom on those days because of smaller crowds as the visitors had to vacate the park by 7pm.

We headed towards California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

California Grill  is truly a masterpiece of fine dining. The restaurant features classic cuisine with a California fusion twist that makes for an experience that is simultaneously conventional, but also a bit adventurous. Since it is a Signature Restaurant, it will cost you two credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

This was our first time dining here despite having gone to WDW for a few years. We checked in at the podium on the second floor and were then escorted to the elevator that took us to the fifteenth floor. The table setting was minimally smart and stylish, with signature California Grill napkins laid.

Our server promptly brought us the bread service, which was a whole wheat roll and a rosemary focaccia. We enjoyed the focaccia as it had a hint of sweetness with butter. The butter had fancy salt added.

California Grill is known for many things and sushi is near the top of that list. We tried the Dragon Roll and it lived up to the hype.

California Grill is also known to offer a delicious assortment of Flatbreads, prepared in the oak-fired oven.

We chose the Rotisserie Chicken Flatbread, a combination of Roasted Chicken, Tomato and Corn Salsa, Pepper Jack Cheese, Queso Fresco, and Spicy Crema. The serving was big enough to be a meal for one and the mix of flovours was amazing.

We ordered two entrees as we intended to use only four dining credits with this meal. ZA ordered the Wild Caught Alaskan Halibut. He thought the Halibut was really good.

Jarod ordered the Oak-fired Filet of Beef. The beef was tender and incredibly flavourful, and the accompanying mashed potatoes were the perfect compliment to the meat.

For dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Pudding Cake and the Key Lime Cheesecake. They were both decadent.

Ashley’s Kids’ Meal came with dessert too and she chose Cookies ‘n Cream.

But dinner was not the only reason we went to California Grill.

Come for the food, but stay for the fireworks!

The vantage point at California Grill is pretty special. We stayed and watched the Holiday Wishes. One thing to note, if you had dined here earlier, you could always return later in the evening for the show, but be sure to keep the dining receipt as proof.

After the fireworks, we were exhausted and retreated to our resort for the much needed rest. we had a corner room overlooking Disney’s Hollywood Studios.