Lizzybear
03-26-2008, 10:22 AM
September 14th 2007 (Day 2)
Up at 5am, darn that pesky jetlag! Set off for Epcot at 8 (drove there, this would become a habit as the novelty of the automatic and driving on the right was just too exciting for me, I think I need to get out more..!)
http://a207.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/44/l_9e370579c73a2c4623a0a0171af54156.jpg
Pretty!
We had an 8:30 ADR at Akershus so we went through the special turnstile with the myriad of mini princesses (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique must be making a killing!!) and grabbed an autograph book on the way to the restaurant. It was really cool to see Epcot so empty, i've always thought if I ever have a Disney wedding that i'd choose the Epcot photo package over the Magic Kingdom one as it’s such a lovely park. When we checked into Akershus we queued up for a picture with Belle first which I ended up buying (hey I never got to do this stuff when I was a kid so i'm making up for it now, God help any daughters I have they'll be princessed to death without a doubt..!) and then we were seated. Our server Per was really nice and attentive, it was no problem to split the skillet (I quite fancied some meat!) and Steve loved the breakfast potatoes. I thought the Norwegian selection on the buffet was fab, the brown wedge cheese especially was lovely with the thin 'wrap' type bread they have. The other princesses we saw were Mulan (definitely the best, she was so into character and just loads of fun!), Mary Poppins, Ariel and Aurora.
http://a326.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/28/l_579ecdb700cd93d7b31c0e8609eec295.jpg
Mulan was the only princess Steve would entertain having a picture with
http://a533.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/44/l_ebabe400c0fb0c7681b7d7ce3a0d3844.jpg
Having pictures taken with glamorous princesses when you’re suffering the Florida shiny skin and frizzy hair syndrome is never a good move!
http://a530.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/l_feace56e68d035fc2e8e23b6da94e6a1.jpg
Tummies suitably filled (9:30ish) we headed back to Future World to ride Soarin' which apparently had a 30 minute wait but we didn't wait longer than 20. We were on the back row which in my opinion gives a slightly lesser experience but we still enjoyed it. Next was the new Nemo ride which was OK:
http://a747.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/101/l_c3e6511b43ae53442703a6aa078ec7b2.jpg
We were in the mood for characters next so Character Connection it was. In the queue I gave a little girl a princess Minnie pin from my lanyard as I could see her eyeing it up and we chatted to her and her mum for a bit while we waited. Soon it was our turn:
http://a804.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/13/l_1730b116b64cd637f7dbe84e651ee8fb.jpg
http://a212.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_5e29f7445a6adcb53992f9af6651dcb3.jpg
http://a985.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/66/l_8b09bc8af3ac3f676b84221b6b7fa240.jpg
http://a662.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_5403df2c071f9cfdc47fc57aaa457735.jpg
http://a938.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/32/l_94b77cb51b2c7cb8d393a50d940e9e79.jpg
We saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Chip and Dale were definitely the best: They were looking in my bag for snacks and miming that I should get a tattoo of them on my 'bare' arm. Even the nearby CMs were laughing and we were really pleased to get such great character interaction for a park meet as they're usually a bit rushed. Definitely a magical memory!
(Continued)
Next I made my first of many pin purchases of the holiday and we headed to Club Cool where I did the obligatory tricking of unsuspecting boyfriend into trying Beverly, oh the hilarity! He got a frozen coke with a snack credit to take the taste away and we got a FP for Mission Space (one of the very few of the holiday) and went on Test Track using the single rider queue:
http://a636.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/118/l_9f87b4d20e469afc4de88ed991914523.jpg
Maybe when you win the lottery dear...
http://a671.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/14/l_dd5b941ca3f50dfb507ad068f31627f6.jpg
By now we were starting to feel tired but we didn't want to leave the park for a break or we just knew we'd end up calling it a day so instead we went on Living With The Land which we both found really interesting. It had changed a bit since I last went on it in 2002:
http://a890.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/66/l_d788c4e347d000b6db822579172b7291.jpg
Aww baby gators
http://a286.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/114/l_43b2a6423f909d97e5bfdb7040392605.jpg
Yum, one of these for my yard please!
http://a669.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/76/l_440ccc6fc1d1c3623c666cdf74586bf4.jpg
Cute!
After this we headed over to the World Showcase:
http://a629.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/16/l_7abcc42c0ae28cb76e19c201d0f8d994.jpg
I'm not sure if he was trying to get a picture of me or the building?!
We did the circuit and got a rainbow kaki gori and pretzel to share on the way round:
http://a190.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_e5ae8ea0deac7d727232a783ca514c9d.jpg
Holy excessive salt batman! We ended up brushing most of it off
By now our Mission Space FP was well into the time so we went there and did the orange side, mega! Next we did Journey To Imagination which was cute and Soarin' again (40 minutes on the timer, 20 to wait) This time we asked for a front row seat, definitely better!
It was now time for our Coral Reef ADR so we headed over there and were seated 20 minutes late (it's definitely a popular one, there were loads of people waiting and the restaurant was packed) Our server was Edward and he was really fab, he took the time to talk through the menu with us and told Steve what he could have/what could be modified to be veggie. We both ordered the sour apple freeze as our drink which was really lovely:
http://a31.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_e7cb0d587322f9aef1fe0d92b296c02e.jpg
For our starters I had the mixed greens with key lime vinaigrette and Steve had the curried cauliflower soup (both on Edward's recommendation, Steve was a little apprehensive about the soup at first but it ended up being on of his favourite dishes of the holiday)
http://a902.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/12/l_5fd43fd2250d2440f3daf7b3442d5985.jpg
http://a387.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/7/l_e27cad1341f237b6c10dcaffade43c0a.jpg
(Continued)
For the main course I had the Catfish with cheese grits:
http://a580.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/69/l_bbb51cae4a99555c18d4d935ea56d04b.jpg
I know it looks awful (I mush my food up like a kid so that doesn't help) but it was really tasty, quite a 'kick' to it and different from anything i've ever had before but i'm really glad I chose it, another one of Edward's recommendations!
Steve had the vegetarian risotto which he really enjoyed:
http://a839.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/121/l_5c70e925727c7b56450ee2ca3a17d836.jpg
Barely lasted enough time for the picture!
For dessert we both had the chocolate wave which was divine:
http://a284.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/30/l_6edfee784b16b9d7af3ef10d40ac0ffb.jpg
My only regret is we were flagging as the other courses were so rich and neither of us finished it, I could just go for it now! We left an extra tip as we felt the service was excellent especially considering how busy he was. I know everyone raves about Le Cellier and we would like to try it next time but I definitely think Coral Reef is an excellent theme park restaurant and one i'd recommend without hesitation. After dinner we drove back to the resort and were greeted by another towelimal:
http://a775.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/l_5080b53178517a213403008b2205549e.jpg
Since the pool was closed due to an impending storm we were in bed by 9:30pm.
Up at 5am, darn that pesky jetlag! Set off for Epcot at 8 (drove there, this would become a habit as the novelty of the automatic and driving on the right was just too exciting for me, I think I need to get out more..!)
http://a207.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/44/l_9e370579c73a2c4623a0a0171af54156.jpg
Pretty!
We had an 8:30 ADR at Akershus so we went through the special turnstile with the myriad of mini princesses (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique must be making a killing!!) and grabbed an autograph book on the way to the restaurant. It was really cool to see Epcot so empty, i've always thought if I ever have a Disney wedding that i'd choose the Epcot photo package over the Magic Kingdom one as it’s such a lovely park. When we checked into Akershus we queued up for a picture with Belle first which I ended up buying (hey I never got to do this stuff when I was a kid so i'm making up for it now, God help any daughters I have they'll be princessed to death without a doubt..!) and then we were seated. Our server Per was really nice and attentive, it was no problem to split the skillet (I quite fancied some meat!) and Steve loved the breakfast potatoes. I thought the Norwegian selection on the buffet was fab, the brown wedge cheese especially was lovely with the thin 'wrap' type bread they have. The other princesses we saw were Mulan (definitely the best, she was so into character and just loads of fun!), Mary Poppins, Ariel and Aurora.
http://a326.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/28/l_579ecdb700cd93d7b31c0e8609eec295.jpg
Mulan was the only princess Steve would entertain having a picture with
http://a533.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/44/l_ebabe400c0fb0c7681b7d7ce3a0d3844.jpg
Having pictures taken with glamorous princesses when you’re suffering the Florida shiny skin and frizzy hair syndrome is never a good move!
http://a530.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/l_feace56e68d035fc2e8e23b6da94e6a1.jpg
Tummies suitably filled (9:30ish) we headed back to Future World to ride Soarin' which apparently had a 30 minute wait but we didn't wait longer than 20. We were on the back row which in my opinion gives a slightly lesser experience but we still enjoyed it. Next was the new Nemo ride which was OK:
http://a747.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/101/l_c3e6511b43ae53442703a6aa078ec7b2.jpg
We were in the mood for characters next so Character Connection it was. In the queue I gave a little girl a princess Minnie pin from my lanyard as I could see her eyeing it up and we chatted to her and her mum for a bit while we waited. Soon it was our turn:
http://a804.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/13/l_1730b116b64cd637f7dbe84e651ee8fb.jpg
http://a212.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_5e29f7445a6adcb53992f9af6651dcb3.jpg
http://a985.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/66/l_8b09bc8af3ac3f676b84221b6b7fa240.jpg
http://a662.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_5403df2c071f9cfdc47fc57aaa457735.jpg
http://a938.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/32/l_94b77cb51b2c7cb8d393a50d940e9e79.jpg
We saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Chip and Dale were definitely the best: They were looking in my bag for snacks and miming that I should get a tattoo of them on my 'bare' arm. Even the nearby CMs were laughing and we were really pleased to get such great character interaction for a park meet as they're usually a bit rushed. Definitely a magical memory!
(Continued)
Next I made my first of many pin purchases of the holiday and we headed to Club Cool where I did the obligatory tricking of unsuspecting boyfriend into trying Beverly, oh the hilarity! He got a frozen coke with a snack credit to take the taste away and we got a FP for Mission Space (one of the very few of the holiday) and went on Test Track using the single rider queue:
http://a636.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/118/l_9f87b4d20e469afc4de88ed991914523.jpg
Maybe when you win the lottery dear...
http://a671.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/14/l_dd5b941ca3f50dfb507ad068f31627f6.jpg
By now we were starting to feel tired but we didn't want to leave the park for a break or we just knew we'd end up calling it a day so instead we went on Living With The Land which we both found really interesting. It had changed a bit since I last went on it in 2002:
http://a890.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/66/l_d788c4e347d000b6db822579172b7291.jpg
Aww baby gators
http://a286.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/114/l_43b2a6423f909d97e5bfdb7040392605.jpg
Yum, one of these for my yard please!
http://a669.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/76/l_440ccc6fc1d1c3623c666cdf74586bf4.jpg
Cute!
After this we headed over to the World Showcase:
http://a629.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/16/l_7abcc42c0ae28cb76e19c201d0f8d994.jpg
I'm not sure if he was trying to get a picture of me or the building?!
We did the circuit and got a rainbow kaki gori and pretzel to share on the way round:
http://a190.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_e5ae8ea0deac7d727232a783ca514c9d.jpg
Holy excessive salt batman! We ended up brushing most of it off
By now our Mission Space FP was well into the time so we went there and did the orange side, mega! Next we did Journey To Imagination which was cute and Soarin' again (40 minutes on the timer, 20 to wait) This time we asked for a front row seat, definitely better!
It was now time for our Coral Reef ADR so we headed over there and were seated 20 minutes late (it's definitely a popular one, there were loads of people waiting and the restaurant was packed) Our server was Edward and he was really fab, he took the time to talk through the menu with us and told Steve what he could have/what could be modified to be veggie. We both ordered the sour apple freeze as our drink which was really lovely:
http://a31.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_e7cb0d587322f9aef1fe0d92b296c02e.jpg
For our starters I had the mixed greens with key lime vinaigrette and Steve had the curried cauliflower soup (both on Edward's recommendation, Steve was a little apprehensive about the soup at first but it ended up being on of his favourite dishes of the holiday)
http://a902.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/12/l_5fd43fd2250d2440f3daf7b3442d5985.jpg
http://a387.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/7/l_e27cad1341f237b6c10dcaffade43c0a.jpg
(Continued)
For the main course I had the Catfish with cheese grits:
http://a580.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/69/l_bbb51cae4a99555c18d4d935ea56d04b.jpg
I know it looks awful (I mush my food up like a kid so that doesn't help) but it was really tasty, quite a 'kick' to it and different from anything i've ever had before but i'm really glad I chose it, another one of Edward's recommendations!
Steve had the vegetarian risotto which he really enjoyed:
http://a839.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/121/l_5c70e925727c7b56450ee2ca3a17d836.jpg
Barely lasted enough time for the picture!
For dessert we both had the chocolate wave which was divine:
http://a284.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/30/l_6edfee784b16b9d7af3ef10d40ac0ffb.jpg
My only regret is we were flagging as the other courses were so rich and neither of us finished it, I could just go for it now! We left an extra tip as we felt the service was excellent especially considering how busy he was. I know everyone raves about Le Cellier and we would like to try it next time but I definitely think Coral Reef is an excellent theme park restaurant and one i'd recommend without hesitation. After dinner we drove back to the resort and were greeted by another towelimal:
http://a775.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/l_5080b53178517a213403008b2205549e.jpg
Since the pool was closed due to an impending storm we were in bed by 9:30pm.