Surprised the kids, wife, and my readers w/ a 2 week trip to AoA!(*NEW* 11-7)

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Great Update Dan !! I have never sampled anything as we are always with The groups and I can just imagine how hard it would be to find a booth that had something everyone liked
I have to add F&W on my own to my bucket list!!!

italy seemed to have some really good food that might be a choice next time, most people like italian food.

if you go early in the day like we did, most lines were 0-4 people so they went really really quick.

you can also get money put on a little wrist band thing so that would make it easier for them to wear there own and maybe make the check out process easier?

Great update, Dan.

Odd that Parker didn't want to do the Figment ride. But I guess all those other "dark' things caught up with him. Hopefully by your next visit he'll be more comfortable with all that.

Love the photo of Candi and Noelle walking into Journey into Imagination...Noelle is just so cute.

Glad you finally got to Food & Wine and started to try the booths. Although your first choice would be one of the last things I would try.

yep and we figured it was a safe ride for him so we didnt build it up much mistake on our part, but next time i think i will try and find videos of the rides before we go for him.

she is getting cuter you will have to meet us on a another day trip to chicago when you can walk over from your office again.

we are hopping to go up some day in June during the week for a day trip.

it would not have been my first choice of food either but it was the first booth i went to and i didnt want to have to back track and go back to it later...so i just ate at them as i came to them.

 

[eandesmom]

I had the Trick'n Chicken from that booth and it was outstanding! I'd heard good things about the Chili Colorado. Although you do realize that it's not really "chili"...

Tender and juicy chunks of beef slow simmered in a delicious authentic Mexican style Colorado (red) sauce.

It is one of Jeff's favorite mexican dishes, he gets it all the time!

And he loves chili. So there you go.

The chips looked good to!

Parker's face is priceless in that picture. Ah the beer cozy, I remember this now...

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

oh yes - I had a good long over this.








I don't ALWAYS go left but I go towards Mexico more often than not when I am coming from the entrance. In fact I like going down the path by the Odyessy to get out by Mexico.

where there is a will to get something there is always a way, and a person going to pick it up for you.

i love taking that path to leave the park in the evening as well, much quicker than the bottle neck in the main pathway...also leaves you right by test track when open so you could maybe sneak another ride in there.

Good call on Journey Into Imagination with the way Parker was feeling this trip. Will almost came unglued with some of the effects...the stink and the blast of air that hits you towards the end being the worst! He was looking at a map the other day and telling me he wasn't going to ride it again!

I was impressed by the festival center! I wish I'd have taken a few pictures of it. I didn't realize how nice it would be. We got there too late to enjoy the Chase lounge (I really wanted one of those Illuminations wristbands!).

Which way to go in World Showcase? It depends...we've gone to the right a few times (of course, at least one of those was when we had an ADR in Canada), but we do usually go left. We went left both times we were there this trip. I don't know why - this was the first time we'd ever ridden the boat ride in Mexico, and we did it on the way out!

Looking forward to seeing more of the Food and Wine offerings that I missed...

he didnt like the stink scene last time we went either funny how they think they will never do something when they get bigger.

i didnt know there was a time limit on the lounge but then i can see how it would not be that busy later in the evening.

first ride in mexico? really i have always loved that ride, we even loved it before donald was added to it. i was glad they kept some of the stuff the same in there and just added donald to it.


we had some dishes that we really really liked, hope you enjoy them, next chapter does not have as many but after that we have a pretty good amount.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Love the expression of Parker's face while he is trying to eat his nuggets

Trent not fond of Figment either. He hates when skunk sprays, that blast of air


Looks like a pretty cool set up inside the place where you get your passports and everything is all set up

can't wait for more

that face does say it all, and he doesnt even realize yet how i will embarrass him with pictures as he continues to grow up.


i hope on some future trip to take in a few of the sit down things they have in there, they seem like they would be alot of fun.

thanks for reading along.

Lol!! We actually plan on walking over to AoA the night we arrive. Our flight arrives at 7:30pm. I figured we'd check in, have dinner and walk over to AoA. I want to show DS the cars section

you guys will really enjoy the cars section at night it is neat to see them all lite up at night time.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

I'm excited to see all of your Food and Wine selections. DH & I are going to try F & W this fall. I'm a little worried though because I have the pallet of a 2 year old. Parker's chicken tenders looked very yummy to me but the chili, not so much. I have a feeling I'll end up with chicken tenders while DH samples around the WS.

As for which way I go around WS, it really depends on what my priorities are that day. For example on the Mother & Daughter trip in November, we started on the Canada side because we wanted Fish & Chips for lunch. On my solo trip a few months ago, I started in Mexico because a Fiesta Margarita was the priority.

if you like chili i think you would have liked it, had a really good flavor.

in the rest of the chapters i think you will end up liking some of the things that i post, italy had some really good items that were not out there...

the nice thing about it is that with items only costing a few dollars it is not hard to try a few things you normally would never try a full dish or entree of.

mmm fish and chips are great there....

and so are the margaritas.

My DH and I were just saying that if someone would cook vegan for us we would eat it. Otherwise - forget about it.

I never tried anything at that booth. Next year.

So no Figment for Parker?

His face while eating just about sums it up.

I think the festival center is so cool. glad you guys got the Illuminations bands!

yep worth a try thats for sure. especially if someone else cooks for me.

do you like chili? if so that dish was good, i saw a pic of the "chicken" dish there and it didnt look that great to me...

nope no figment, still have not got a kid to love figment the way i do...but ill get them there, i think i can win noelle over with him.


the center was awesome wish i spent more time in there, but the kids were antsy to get back outside and get going again.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Love your pics.

thanks glad you enjoyed them.

If looks could kill. I didn't even need to read your commentary on this picture -- it was self-evident.


Yes, I fast-forwarded to the 11:40 mark.

glenn you have to realize that i was like 10 or so when i first saw that show, so she was a few years older than me.

i was saying i had a crush on her at that age bud.

I just saw this on another TR also. Is that available to cardholders all year round? If so, do they have special Illuminations seating all the time?



I've done both. Whatever the whim seems to be.



You're a vegan!

i think only during the festival times when the pavilion is open.


no im not a vegan...but i did enjoy the vegan chili.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Yay for heading back to the parks after some relaxing days pooling! Awesome that Parker enjoyed Soarin! Love that ride!!

Awwe, the first pic of Noelle handing the autograph book over is absolutely adorable! Also, nice monorail shirt!!! I love the play area after Figment! And I will totally admit to me and my Mom playing around there last trip! Baha, we’re all kids!

Yay! Food and Wine, I’ve always wanted to go, but I love early Sept so much and then never had enough money for a return trip by November baha! I’m excited to read along with your adventures! Vegan chili! That sounds interested! Glad it was good!

yep nothing like a recharge to the batteries to get going for the second week of vacation.

thanks i love that shirt, my parents got it for me there last trip.

have you ever thought to go later september, still light crowds and you can get in for halloween time to start and food and wine.

I had the Trick'n Chicken from that booth and it was outstanding! I'd heard good things about the Chili Colorado. Although you do realize that it's not really "chili"...

Tender and juicy chunks of beef slow simmered in a delicious authentic Mexican style Colorado (red) sauce.

It is one of Jeff's favorite mexican dishes, he gets it all the time!

And he loves chili. So there you go.

The chips looked good to!

Parker's face is priceless in that picture. Ah the beer cozy, I remember this now...

did you post the chicken pic? i know i just saw it somewhere.

not a chili in the traditional sense, but ill still go with it.

he is a good man, loves the chili.

the chips were good, had a really good crunch to them and were fresh.


yep you were along for the beer cozy brigade.

if you helped find it thanks.
ill need to take a picture of me using it to post.

 

[Poolrat]

where there is a will to get something there is always a way, and a person going to pick it up for you.

i love taking that path to leave the park in the evening as well, much quicker than the bottle neck in the main pathway...also leaves you right by test track when open so you could maybe sneak another ride in there.
.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Chapter 51. Lets continue this food party shall we.

After i finished eating up my Vegan dish, we saw that duffy was just coming back out for some meet and greets.

This is a short version of the official book, and video that plays at night in the rooms.

Im not sure exactly when he turned into Duffy bear, but when parker was born 5 years ago, he got a bear but it was then called my first disney bear.

well last year Noelle got one that says my first Duffy bear. so sometime in the middle he officially changed over to duffy bear, even though the bears are identical to each other.

the kids were really excited to meet him having watched his night time show the last few days.

he was very soft and cuddly.

Our next food booth that we came to was the Caribbean booth.

i was looking forward to the ropa vieja with the cilantro rice, the pics that i saw of it before we left looked very good.

I can say that this was one of the best dishes i had there. and probably the best seasoned and flavored beef pot roast type dish i have had.


it was very tender and the flavors were awesome. the rice was very good as well, and i had to fight noelle off to save me some.

if she found something she liked she would just hover around at our legs and open her mouth like a little bird waiting for another bite of it.

I was still eating my last dish so i passed on the Australia food.

although i was tempted to get the Shrimp on the Barbie, just because it is fun to say in an ace ventura accent.

I almost got a Taco in Mexico, but figured i can eat tacos any time, and also the kids had wanted to start the Kid Cot stations in the countries, so i settled for a picture and moved on.

We found the Kid Cot station and parker started up his around the world craft.

Noelle also got a Duffy to take around the world but found another use for it.

She would flap it really fast. Just like this

And occasionally find something to smack with it.

Talk about picture taking timing.

It was time for us to head into the Mexico Small World.

Well as most of you know that inside pavilian is dark, i have no idea how you can see your food in there to eat, but anyway when we told parker we were going on its a small world type ride, he was not having any of it.

Now this is a situation where i could have taken him out and left, or forced him on, I KNEW he would love this ride if he just gave it a chance, so I saw that there was NO LINE at all, a walk on, so i picked him up despite his displeasure with me, and carried him onto the ride, he didnt like that and with his crying you could tell...but i pushed through it, and let him hide at my feet for the start of it, as soon as we were in the temple and he heard donald he stopped and looked up, he then loved it and really enjoyed it.

So despite have a short time of a little tantrum, i made the call to push through and go for it and was glad i did, it was a great new ride for him.

Once we were done with the ride, we saw that donald was greeting outside of mexico, who are we to pass that one up.


Parker waiting patiently to go hug the daylights out of his buddy.

He said since he just got his autograph a little bit ago he just wanted to see him and get a picture with him.

I am never one to turn down a donald hug or picture so i hopped in with him.

After the meet and greet was done, we had another set of fast passes to use up for Soarin, so we headed off that way since parker was really wanting to ride that again.

One the way over, I saw the Craft Beer booth and since it was getting hot out we stopped for a drink.

We both enjoy the Abita Purple Haze beer and it is 100% better in draft than a bottle from the store, so we both wanted that, not ones to share, i picked us up each a 12 oz sample of it...candi said 12? i said well 6oz is only a few sips...and it is a long walk over to Soarin.

here are the rest of the beers they offer at this booth

Candi took our little tag up to get our drinks.

And a picture of the our pour master

With beers in hand, we headed off to Soarin.

I had a theory to test and sure enough the walk from the Craft Beer tent which is at the entrance to World Showcase to Soarin is just the right amount of time to drink a 12oz beer.

While Parker and I headed in to ride Soarin, candi and noelle went to the seasons to get Noelle a lunch.

Parker and I got all the way to the Walking in to our seats when he says I gotta p**p.

So i grabbed him and walked out quickly, i was carrying him and also dodging all of the people who just left the ride in front of us, the CM told me that they would give me a pass to get back in, so the bathroom it was.

With that behind us, we ventured back into the line and back to the fast pass line and waited again down the little hallway to get back on.

When we got off the ride, and found candi and noelle she asked if we rode twice since we were gone so long, and i told her sort of and what happened.

So with our Third Soarin ride for the day done and lunch complete for the kids we headed back towards world showcase to continue our culinary food and wine tour.

Coming up in the next chapter we hit up the next food booths.

 

[Poolrat]

I was still eating my last dish so i passed on the Australia food.

That Lamb chop is fabulous. The first year on the DDP I had a few of those. YUM - I was not crazy about the stuff on top but the lambchop itself was delicious.

Well as most of you know that inside pavilian is dark, i have no idea how you can see your food in there to eat, but anyway when we told parker we were going on its a small world type ride, he was not having any of it.

Now this is a situation where i could have taken him out and left, or forced him on, I KNEW he would love this ride if he just gave it a chance, so I saw that there was NO LINE at all, a walk on, so i picked him up despite his displeasure with me, and carried him onto the ride, he didnt like that and with his crying you could tell...but i pushed through it, and let him hide at my feet for the start of it, as soon as we were in the temple and he heard donald he stopped and looked up, he then loved it and really enjoyed it.

So despite have a short time of a little tantrum, i made the call to push through and go for it and was glad i did, it was a great new ride for him.

Once we were done with the ride, we saw that donald was greeting outside of mexico, who are we to pass that one up.

Glad you made the correct decision. It is so hard when your child is saying he is afraid and won't try something and can't convince him other than forcing the issue. I am glad he came around.

One the way over, I saw the Craft Beer booth and since it was getting hot out we stopped for a drink.

We both enjoy the Abita Purple Haze beer and it is 100% better in draft than a bottle from the store, so we both wanted that, not ones to share, i picked us up each a 12 oz sample of it...candi said 12? i said well 6oz is only a few sips...and it is a long walk over to Soarin.

here are the rest of the beers they offer at this booth
I had a theory to test and sure enough the walk from the Craft Beer tent which is at the entrance to World Showcase to Soarin is just the right amount of time to drink a 12oz beer.

I am glad you tested that theory.

Parker and I got all the way to the Walking in to our seats when he says I gotta p**p.

So i grabbed him and walked out quickly, i was carrying him and also dodging all of the people who just left the ride in front of us, the CM told me that they would give me a pass to get back in, so the bathroom it was.

With that behind us, we ventured back into the line and back to the fast pass line and waited again down the little hallway to get back on.

Of course he says that at the most inopportune time. Great save by the way.

And to the choice of words

 

[englishrose47]

Great F & W pix !!! I love the Boat Ride in Mexico !!! Once when we were on it Steph saw the painting of the HighRise buildings and said look NEW YORK!!Judy said "She's Blonde " !!!!

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Glad Parker liked the ride once it got started. We enjoyed that one for the first time this trip...it was a hit!

We didn't get to the Carribbean booth, but that looked pretty darn good! I have to go back and check my notes...I got a shredded meat dish somewhere, but it wasn't that one. I can picture Noelle standing there with the little bird mouth. They're hard to resist that way!

 

[tinkgurl]

I can't wait to try the F&W Festival! All your food looks good. And how cute is that picture of you feeding Noelle a bite?!

That's great that you were able to get back on Soarin' after a quick bathroom run!

 

[Trentmom]

Love the pics of Duffy and the Storybook. Trent has Duffy and adores him still

Poor Candi getting swatted by Noelle

Glad you were able to Get Parker on Gran Fiesta Ride and he loved it

Can't wait for more

 

[TheMaxRebo]

finally caught up

Just wanted to say hoe much I am enjoying your trip report and your family. We have kids almost the same age (though reverse - our daughter is older) and are going this fall so this is like a primer for our trip

When we go we always go during the Food and Wine Festival - so glad that you are enjoying it.

Oh, and not that I am an expert or anything, but you have some of the best photos I have seen in any trip/dining reports on here - enjoy the artistic ones

 

[Z28KatCar]

Just caught up on your TR, awesome! Cant wait to read more about your trip!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Food and Wine here we come.

We were really looking forward to this event on the trip.

That does look like a lot of fun. Someday...

Our first stop was to go into Journey into imagination.

Wait, what?

We made it about half way through the line when he decided that it was not for him, no way no how no talking to get me through it dad...

Probably because he remembered that it was Journey Into Imagination.

Then it was a stop at one of my personal favorites from growing up. the jumping water streams and water balls.

Those are classic. They never get old.

If this photo doesnt say dad stop taking pics of me it is just nuggets i dont know what does

now this is not a flattering pic of candi but it shows the free beverage station they had set up.

Any Beverly?

I told her i loved it, she said "you know that is vegan. "

me

well, it was good.

i was looking forward to the ropa vieja with the cilantro rice, the pics that i saw of it before we left looked very good.

I can say that this was one of the best dishes i had there. and probably the best seasoned and flavored beef pot roast type dish i have had.

Not quite as vegan, either.

if she found something she liked she would just hover around at our legs and open her mouth like a little bird waiting for another bite of it.

although i was tempted to get the Shrimp on the Barbie, just because it is fun to say in an ace ventura accent.

You're from Austria? Have another shrimp on the barbie!

Noelle also got a Duffy to take around the world but found another use for it.

She would flap it really fast. Just like this


And occasionally find something to smack with it.

It was time for us to head into the Mexico Small World.

Well as most of you know that inside pavilian is dark, i have no idea how you can see your food in there to eat, but anyway when we told parker we were going on its a small world type ride, he was not having any of it.

Probably because you said it was like It's a Small World.

So despite have a short time of a little tantrum, i made the call to push through and go for it and was glad i did, it was a great new ride for him.

Good call! Can't give in to fear all the time.

here are the rest of the beers they offer at this booth

I've had that berry weiss before. You wouldn't even know it's a beer. Pretty good, though.

I had a theory to test and sure enough the walk from the Craft Beer tent which is at the entrance to World Showcase to Soarin is just the right amount of time to drink a 12oz beer.

It's this kind of selfless research effort that your TR readers really appreciate.

 

[Elianor]

Thank you so much for the pics of menu boards and the food! I do love some good food porn!

Not to mention it gives me lovely ideas for what to make for dinner this week!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

That Lamb chop is fabulous. The first year on the DDP I had a few of those. YUM - I was not crazy about the stuff on top but the lambchop itself was delicious.


Glad you made the correct decision. It is so hard when your child is saying he is afraid and won't try something and can't convince him other than forcing the issue. I am glad he came around.


I am glad you tested that theory.


Of course he says that at the most inopportune time. Great save by the way.

And to the choice of words

yah the description of the topping had me thrown off as well.




always happy to test a theory that someone might or might not be thinking about.




i was just happy they gave us another set of fast passes to get back in.
you caught that ehh

Great F & W pix !!! I love the Boat Ride in Mexico !!! Once when we were on it Steph saw the painting of the HighRise buildings and said look NEW YORK!!Judy said "She's Blonde " !!!!

thats funny.

Glad Parker liked the ride once it got started. We enjoyed that one for the first time this trip...it was a hit!

We didn't get to the Carribbean booth, but that looked pretty darn good! I have to go back and check my notes...I got a shredded meat dish somewhere, but it wasn't that one. I can picture Noelle standing there with the little bird mouth. They're hard to resist that way!

hmm, another shredded beef? i cant think of any other ones i saw.

yep the little birdies get you every time.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

I can't wait to try the F&W Festival! All your food looks good. And how cute is that picture of you feeding Noelle a bite?!

That's great that you were able to get back on Soarin' after a quick bathroom run!

we really enjoyed the food...there is much more good food coming up.

i liked that they let you get back on for unforseen things like that...im sure it happens all the time for them.

Love the pics of Duffy and the Storybook. Trent has Duffy and adores him still

Poor Candi getting swatted by Noelle

Glad you were able to Get Parker on Gran Fiesta Ride and he loved it

Can't wait for more

he really is a cute bear, the kids love them.

im glad he rode it as well, helped him see that not everything is scary as it may seem.

finally caught up

Just wanted to say hoe much I am enjoying your trip report and your family. We have kids almost the same age (though reverse - our daughter is older) and are going this fall so this is like a primer for our trip

When we go we always go during the Food and Wine Festival - so glad that you are enjoying it.

Oh, and not that I am an expert or anything, but you have some of the best photos I have seen in any trip/dining reports on here - enjoy the artistic ones

thanks for reading along

glad you can use this as a pre trip warm up.

thats great you have been to many of the food and wine times we really enjoyed it.

i saw that they announced some free dinning days for sept this year, do they overlap with your trip?

well i would have to call you an expert then if you say that they are good pictures, i try to make sure we have more than just the look her at the camera and smile pictures, try and catch more of the action live shots of what is going on and expressions.