Is it a bad sign for the vacation when you faint on the plane? COMPLETED!

[TarzansKat]

What a bummer that you had some less than stellar CMs at the Kidcot booths. We've always had a great experience, so it must have been an off day or something.

Thank you so much for your copious pictures and review of the Food and Wine Festival Booths. There are some things on your list that I'm really interested in trying this year, so it's nice to have another opinion to go on.

I'm all for the taking lots of pictures too, like you said, you never know when something will change/close.

And on your DH loving Disney because of the flexibility! Sounds like there are more trips in your future.

As always, Liam is a cutie pie! I love the picture of him in his stroller.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm sure I'm alone in this, but I don't have much of a desire to visit Epcot during the F&W festival. Wine I like, but I'm definitely not a foodie! I'm so picky I'd probably have a hard time finding stuff I'd enjoy. But thanks for the reviews.

Not to mention that F&W makes WS crowded. IMO the best place to try new foods is on a cruise. Royal Caribbean in fact. If you don't like what you ordered they'll just go get you something else.

I'm sure you know that Cat Cora has opened a restaurant on the Boardwalk--Kouzzina! Can't wait to try it. She's kinda good looking...

Yes I do. And she is good looking....but I don't think she'd be interested in you. She likes the ladies....

Thank you so much for your copious pictures and review of the Food and Wine Festival Booths. There are some things on your list that I'm really interested in trying this year, so it's nice to have another opinion to go on.

We have a whole other day at Disney to go.....maybe you'll get even more F&W mini reviews.....

And on your DH loving Disney because of the flexibility! Sounds like there are more trips in your future.

Between that comment and his other comment about me making more solo trips...yeah I think I have more Disney in my future. I just wish I would have bought DVC when I had the chance.

 

[If U Had Wings]

We checked out Innoventions. I wanted to see the EPCOT 25th Anniversary Gallery but it was closed. And I was rather bummed.

It's too bad that you missed the display. I spent some time there last year while I was waiting to meet up with LL. I got a big kick out of seeing the opening day CM costumes. They were so badly 80's.

Next we headed to the old Wonders of Life Pavilion for the F&W Fest Center. (Side note: I am so happy that during my 2002 trip with my friend that we spent so time in here and did everything but the Making of Me. It hasn’t been open since and I doubt it ever will again….that’s why I think I take so many random pictures….you never know when it will be the last time you see it “like it was”.)

I can't even remember the last time I got to see anything at the Wonders of Life Pavillion. Maybe 1997? Even then though, I think it was only partially open. I think I only really remember everything being open back in 1988. (My first Epcot trip). I used to love the Cranium Command ride. I wish they could have moved that somewhere else. It's a shame what happened to that pavillion.

It had started raining at this point…and would off and on for the rest of the day. Here’s Liam’s stroller covered in a $1 poncho….the $35 brand-new-for-the-trip stroller cover is in the basket underneath…it still hasn’t been used.

Whatever works, right? I'd think the poncho would be easier to just throw on.

My general impression was not the greatest. I guess I thought the food would be more gourmet. That was a mistake on my part to think that. Yes it is a Food and Wine Festival but it is still Disney we’re talking about and its still food that has to be mass produced. Secondly I was pregnant….there wasn’t anything I couldn’t eat because of it, but I couldn’t drink. Third, I’m allergic to tree nuts….lots of the dessert samples had nuts in them so there goes a lot of the sweet treats. Fourth, DH was kinda being a bummer about trying things…..that took a bit of the fun out of it. All that being said: I personally wouldn’t book a vacation just to go to F&W but I am excited to be going during my up coming solo trip.

At least you got more out of the booths than I did on my 2007 trip. We were so stuffed from eating on the DDP that we had no room to eat any of the stuff at the booths. Lesson learned though, next time I'm there during the F&WF, no DDP! I think the only thing I actually had from the booths was cheddar cheese soup and maple creme brulee, both from the Canada booth.

McDonald’s French Fries $2.87

I was craving them something bad and they hit the spot!

I swear they do something to them down there. I never crave them at home, but whenever I walk by them in Disney I always want them. And for some reason they always taste so much better down there too.

 

[MagicShell]

"Choose your own adventure" sounds like fun. A nap sounds great! I have very seldom allowed myself to do that at WDW. I'm afraid I will miss something I guess. Great pictures of Liam, of course.

 

[jordanyosh]

Yes I do. And she is good looking....but I don't think she'd be interested in you. She likes the ladies....

Oh...that's too bad. Well..the female population is happy now...

 

[Charleston Princess]

I love the picture of Liam in the stroller! He has this look on his face that is just adorable!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I wish they would do something with that Wonders of Life pavillion, it's kinda sad that it just sits there. I wonder why they even closed it-it seemed to have popular reviews...

The pic of Liam in his stroller is so cute! Has he changed/grown up alot since the trip?

We completely missed the Pearville section - looks like a neat kid area!

 

[KathyRN137]

I second that! I'm "wondering" what will become of that pavilion...

Sounds like you were able to sample a lot of foods! I've been down during F&W twice now and we always seem to avoid WS in the evenings because it gets so crowded!

Billy loved the Pearville Fair... did Liam like looking at himself in the stretching mirrors?? Those were a riot!

How fun to get a pic with a celebrity chef like Cat!! I hope her new restaurant will be kid-friendly...


Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Heidi,

WoL pav I loved the old Goofy cartoons they showed in there...



I have never been to the F&W F, but I can see the turn off for various things w/ that early prego feeling...glad you get a second go at it again!

I think the kid cot stations are hit or miss too.

Scrappie

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

I missed some of that stuff form when I was there.

I cannot wait to try Cat's place in October. I have a reservation.

 

[TarzansKat]

Definitely looking forward to more mini reviews.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I swear they do something to them down there. I never crave them at home, but whenever I walk by them in Disney I always want them. And for some reason they always taste so much better down there too.

I *think* all the McDonalds food is gone from the parks. Bummer for parents with really picky kids, as least they always had the nuggets and fries as a backup.

"Choose your own adventure" sounds like fun. A nap sounds great! I have very seldom allowed myself to do that at WDW. I'm afraid I will miss something I guess. Great pictures of Liam, of course.

We were missing stuff left and right so a nap was easy to do this vacation

I love the picture of Liam in the stroller! He has this look on his face that is just adorable!!!

I think he was eating a cracker!

I wish they would do something with that Wonders of Life pavillion, it's kinda sad that it just sits there. I wonder why they even closed it-it seemed to have popular reviews...

WoL lost it's corp. sponsor and I guess Disney doesn't what to pay for having it open.

Billy loved the Pearville Fair... did Liam like looking at himself in the stretching mirrors?? Those were a riot!

How fun to get a pic with a celebrity chef like Cat!! I hope her new restaurant will be kid-friendly...


Kathy

Yes Liam did like the mirrors.

From what I've seen of the menus at the New Cat Cora restaurant ....Ksomethingorother....it looks kid friendly....the dinning room hasn't changed much.

Hi Heidi,

WoL pav I loved the old Goofy cartoons they showed in there...

Scrappie

We did ALL the health thingies in there...I remember us having the place to yourselves for the most part.

great update and pics.

I missed some of that stuff form when I was there.

I cannot wait to try Cat's place in October. I have a reservation.

I see pictures of stuff all the time from Disney and am like "where is that? why haven't I seen/done that?"

Definitely looking forward to more mini reviews.

Are you trying to tell me to get my butt moving for the next update?????

 

[TarzansKat]

Are you trying to tell me to get my butt moving for the next update?????

I didn't think my hinting was that agressive, but if you'd like, I could always throw in one of these guys.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Day 9 Monday November 3, 2008

Day Nine. The last full day at Disney. A 10 day trip makes for a great vacation, but a really long TR. I’ll be going heavy on the pictures and light on the words. (If I was to do a TR for my solo October 2009 trip that’s the style I think I would do it in.)

Breakfast was in the room. Bagels and English muffins in our $4 toaster; which by the way didn’t make it in the luggage home….too much new Disney stuff to pack.

We were going with our original plans of Epcot today.

We got there just after rope drop and headed straight for the Seas. Liam enjoyed the Seagulls outside again and we decided to try the Nemo ride…how scary could that be right? (Toddler Tip: strollers are not allowed in the building)

Nemo ride….ummmmm…it could have been worse…sharks, eels and very dark in some spots. Liam managed to get thru it. Then he explored the Bruce the Shark area.

We wanted to see Turtle Talk with Crush (a first for all of us). Liam had done pretty well with the Monsters Inc. show so we figured it would be OK. Again we sat in the last row, way to the left so we could leave if needed. DH and I loved it….very cute. Liam did get a little restless during the show and I didn’t think to been juice with us since I wasn’t expecting not to have the stroller. But I handed Liam a pen and some paper and he was all set.


Queue area for Crush

You can see Liam with his glow stick….he had one every day to help with the dark parts of the rides we did try. The glow stick had saved our ride on the TTA earlier in the week.

We spent the rest of our time looking at the different tanks.

Next we stopped by the Land Pavilion to grab Soarin’ FastPasses for later. I can even tell you that we got the FPs at 1019am and the return time was for 1230pm….how’s that for Disney geek!

Our touring plans lead us to Imagination! We skipped the Figment ride. I love that little purple dragon but DH thought Liam had gotten his one ride in for the day. So instead we took him over to play in the musical interactive area. He loved it. And he was pretty well contained so that is always a plus with a little one. Pregnant Mama was already getting tired of standing so I sat down on the floor…

Before leaving the area we used the best bathroom in Epcot…maybe all of WDW. My peep Jordan knows where this was taken. Do you??

Next stop…Canada. I had seen so many pretty pictures of Canada here on the DIS that I needed to explore it properly for the first time.

Coming up soon…..food and shopping….and then I think more shopping. See why that toaster didn’t make it home?!?

 

[MRYPPNS]

Here's the addition to our house as of this past Friday. DH worked on it this weekend (as he does every weekend) but I don't have newer photos yet.

New Pictures of Liam and Danica:

 

[Sarilas]

Look how beautiful Danica is! Congratulations!

 

[Native NYer]

The glow sticks for the dark rides are a great idea! My nephew, who's 14 months, didn't seem to mind the dark this trip. But I fear next year's trip is a different story!

I can't wait to see your purchases from Disney shopping!!!

Liam and Danica are too cute!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Look how beautiful Danica is! Congratulations!

Thank you. She's a delightful baby.

The glow sticks for the dark rides are a great idea! My nephew, who's 14 months, didn't seem to mind the dark this trip. But I fear next year's trip is a different story!

I can't wait to see your purchases from Disney shopping!!!

Liam and Danica are too cute!

Kids about that age seem to go back and forth on how they react to Disney.

Thanks about L & D.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sounds like your last day was off to a pretty good start! Can't wait to find out what you bought!

Liam and Danica are just adorable!!! Such happy little angels!!! How are Liam's speech lessons?

 

[jenjolt]

WOW Heidi the house is coming along very nicely!!!!! Your hubby does amazing work!!

The pictures of the kids are so cute...look how much Liam has grown in less than a year!!! WOW and Danica is just gorgeous...she's going to be a heartbreaker!

Glad you guys got off to a good start on your last day!! I absolutely love shopping at Disney so I can't wait to see what you found and what you bought to replace the toaster LOL!!!

Great update!!!