Jim, Sheila, Donna and I ate dinner at the Yacht Club Galley on Sunday, Nov. 18th.  We have eaten here many times, but never for dinner.  The menu was very diversified and Muthea, our server, was very knowledgeable about the many items on the menu.  Muthea also offered to make us raspberry iced tea and raspberry lemonade, even though neither was on the menu.  According to her, “This is Disney and anything is possible!”

We did not order any appetizers, but the fresh-baked cheese biscuits are to die for!

 Sheila and Donna had the grilled pork chop with mushroom sauce, parsnip and apple bread pudding and green beans ($18.99).  They both proclaimed the parsnip and apple bread pudding delicious even though they had thought the combo different before tasting.  They also indicated that the mushroom sauce was just the right touch with the chop and that the chop and green beans were both cooked to perfection.

Jim had the pan seared halibut with Colcannon potatoes, Virginia ham and lemon butter sauce ($16.99).  The Virginia ham was folded into the Colcannon potatoes together with lettuce.  The lemon butter sauce was not too tart and the halibut was delectable.

 I had originally intended to order the pork chop after perusing the menus I had printed off the internet in anticipation of our trip, but Muthea indicated that the special that night was prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes ($20.99)  and I had not had prime rib in ages.  The meat came out perfectly cooked (medium rare), although I have to admit that it was a trifle tough, even though it tasted wonderful.

Having left no room for dessert, we were getting ready to suitably reward Muthea (as a DDE member, I usually tip the amount of the 20% discount, but Muthea deserved an extra “bonus”), when another cast member in charge of the Galley, came by with four small treats to take home thanking us for our patronage.  It was a small (approx 3″ long) loaf consisting of a bread made with pumpkins, walnuts and carrots.  We saw no one else get this type of treatment, so I’m not sure if that is a sporadic giveaway or something more continuous.

All-in-all, the meal was excellent and we will definitely eat here on future trips!

Nanci Wright, Trips The Wright Way, LLC

We checked into the Beach Club Villas (BCV) Sunday, November 18, 2007.  Here are a few changes since the last time I was at the BCV (10/06):

1 - On our way into the Beach Club lobby, I just caught a glimpse of a new sign stating that DVC members could proceed directly to the Villas for check-in.  We proceeded into the lobby and were immediately greeted by three cast members.  When I told Vic that we were here to check into the Villas, he escorted us to the temporary check-in desk in the lobby of the Villas even though I told him we had been there before and knew the route.  What a nice touch!  Check-in went very smoothly and quickly (we were the only ones checking in there even though the porte cochere was filled with people arriving for check-in and, believe it or not, our Villa was ready at 2:45 pm.  In response to my query, Darvin indicated that this temporary check-in had been up and running for about two months as a “pilot program” and that Disney would be surveying DVC guests to see if this check-in would be made permanent.  If so, a more elaborate check-in area would be forthcoming.  Hopefully, this will be one pilot that will remain.

 2 - Also, there are now two ping pong tables outside between the boardwalk entrance to the Beach Club and Stormalong Bay.  These were in frequent use during our trips around the boardwalk last night and this morning.

Nanci Wright, Trips The Wright Way, LLC

The handicap staterooms found on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic are HUGE!  I was in 6154 on both the Wonder and the Magic and the balcony alone could have been used for a dance floor!  The one drawback on the balcony was that it was not clear (see-through) so someone short like me (4′10″) and using an ECV had to sit right next to the railing to see anything besides sky!  The extra room in both the stateroom itself and on the balcony was worth the sight-impairment though for ease of using an ECV or a wheelchair in the room.  Even the bathroom is generously sized although I am fortunate and do not need to use my ECV in the bathroom.

This handicap stateroom also had an extra storage room off of the living area for ease of storage since the closets are rather high and hard to reach for someone confined to a wheelchair or ECV.

TIP:  If you are traveling alone or a companion is not readily available, please ask for assistance in getting down a life vest from the top shelf of the closet before the mandatory fire drill at 4:00 pm before the ship sets sail on the first day of the cruise.

Nanci Wright, Trips The Wright Way, LLC

Hi everyone!  I am a seasoned Disney traveler with over 40 trips to Disney since its opening in 1971.  I am currently training to become a travel consultant, with specializations in Disney travel, handicapped travel, cruising and corporate travel.  Over the next few weeks I will be writing about my favorite subject, Disney, and giving you insight from my current trip (11/18/07 - 12/02/07).  I hope you enjoy all of the Disney tidbits, tips and general info and will consider using my travel service, Trips The Wright Way, LLC, when you are ready to plan your next vacation in 2008 (even if it isn’t to the Happiest Place on Earth)!

 Enjoy!

Nanci Wright

 PS — If you or someone you know is interested in accessible traveling (for both business or pleasure), please also visit my other blog at AccessibleGetaways.com.