An Aussie's Journey. Our final meal before coming home (food porn)....the last post!

[SoonerGirl]

You're just moving right along! I love your pictures of Riverside, that is the one moderate that I haven't stayed in yet - it looks really beautiful.

Sounds like you had a fun couple of hours at MK, that pic of AstroOrbiter is really cool

[kschafer]

I just realize today you started your TR and you are zooming right along!! At least I'm here on time for the margarita meet

[cdotla]

Great report so far! Loved the updates from California. Sounds like you guys had a couple of packed days at the start of your trip...and something tells me you likely didn't slow down given that you had been away from WDW for so many years - lots to catch up on!

So, did you luck out at JCrew?

Can't wait to hear more!

[Good Ol Gal]

great pictures! What kind of camera do you use?

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by Ms. Shuttergirl

Ooooh the resort looks lovely. I love the scenery around the water, so nice.

The main pool was good too. We didn't take any photos as we were having too much fun! But I wish we had...

Originally Posted by bobbiwoz

I'm enjoying your pictures and TR! Great job!

Bobbi

Hello Bobbi! Thanks. Good Ol Gal wants me to spend a bit more time in here rather than on other threads I might actually think about it....

Originally Posted by Adrienne

fellow aussie subbing in

Adrienne. Always nice to meet another fellow Aussie.

Originally Posted by SoonerGirl

You're just moving right along! I love your pictures of Riverside, that is the one moderate that I haven't stayed in yet - it looks really beautiful.

Sounds like you had a fun couple of hours at MK, that pic of AstroOrbiter is really cool

I'd like to be able to stay in every resort!! I better go back to robbing banks!

Yes, MK was a lot of fun on this night.

Originally Posted by kschafer

I just realize today you started your TR and you are zooming right along!! At least I'm here on time for the margarita meet

Hey there Katie. Your timing for the margarita meet is impeccable, as always! I seriously undertook photos this time round. We've only ended up with about 900 photos...unlike some that have over 3000!!! So, it makes it easier to write the TR when I don't have such a wide selection to pick from

Originally Posted by cdotla

Great report so far! Loved the updates from California. Sounds like you guys had a couple of packed days at the start of your trip...and something tells me you likely didn't slow down given that you had been away from WDW for so many years - lots to catch up on!

So, did you luck out at JCrew?

Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks! I bought a navy dress, a black top and a pair of shorts at J Crew.
I was mindful of your shopping tips but the store didn't stock any other colour for the navy dress and they had the top in white. Given how clumsy I am, I figured that I was more likely to be wearing food on the white top rather than wearing the top...

Originally Posted by Good Ol Gal

great pictures! What kind of camera do you use?

Thanks. We purchased a brand spanking new digital SLR Canon for the trip - the Canon T2i.
I spent some time on the photography board trying to work out the best settings to take various shots. We did try some of them out but I can't remember which settings were which.

[PrincessInOz]

We first need to talk about Breakfast at POR
This shot was taken at night but it gives you an idea of the seating at the POR foodcourt.

[NOTE: I'm playing with different photo sizes in photobucket; so I'm hoping that the food pics will be a bigger size.]

On the QS dining plan, you can order this as a snack for breakfast.

You can also get muffins, croissants and slices of bread from the bakery section of the foodcourt as a snack. But DH and I just love our oatmeal and we found that we could minimise the sugar intake this way. By Aussie standards, this is the equivalent of cooking about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of oatmeal.

We also ordered cook to order omelettes and DS had loads of mickey waffles for breakfast. I even ordered the bacon and eggs one morning...all these were worth one counter service meal.
I remember taking the photos (as the omelettes were porn worthy) but they seem to have disappeared in the ethernet. This is the closest we've got of the mickey waffles at POR.

I know....it is hard to make out.

These things were a god-send!

Oh yeah - the mug was handy to have as well
It was included as part of the QSDP. We could use the mug for unlimited drinks which included a basic selection of teas, soda and milk....and yes, that black drink that seems to be coffee. We made full use of the mugs at POR and more than got our money's worth for hot tea, cocoa and soda.
[To the US readers...apologies for any slander on your coffee...I couldn't help myself .]

Breakfast all done...time to head for a park. Today is Cinco de Mayo and I have a DisMeet date at Epcot.
We waited for a bus....

...and 5 buses and 15 minutes later, the right one came along.


[Up next - Epcot and that Cinco Meet]

[PrincessInOz]

Epcot is probably most likely my favourite park at WDW. Why? Because I can walk around the world in less than 80 minutes….okay, only if I run. And I can eat my way around the world in 80 hours. It’s also the one park that to me is “only at the World” as most of the other parks at WDW can be experienced in SoCal in one form or another.

When we picked the date, I was delighted to be planning a trip in May because this meant that I would get to see Epcot at one of the “events” – the Flower and Garden Show.
And I hooked in with a crowd of May-ers that were planning a DisMeet at noon on the 5th of May for Cinco de Mayo; and the meet was happening at Mexico…over margaritas. Trip planning does not get any better than this. My thanks to kschafer for organizing the meet (reference: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2403199)

We got to the park at about 9.20 am. Excitement levels hit overdrive when we got off the bus (and after bag check and fingerprinting) and I saw this…

Marshmallows are so my thing....although I’m not overly fond of the floral print that Daisy was wearing.

DH could have spent all morning taking photographs and we have a gazillion shots of the topiaries out front. But I was keen to get into Future World in search for excitement and airconditioning….the heat and humidity at this hour was severely testing my comfort factor. It ended up being a day in the 90’s.

I rushed off to get fast passes for Test Track and left the boys hanging around in Innoventions.

The Sum of All Parts looked fun; so I had to have a go myself. The boys must have did this about 5 times!

We then rushed off to Test track

where the stand-by line was 10 minutes. So we queued.


We had to strap ourselves in like the test dummies we passed on the way in. I sure hope we don't end up with their fate and injuries.

I know we hit a top speed of 64.3 mph….at least I think that was the number that I saw. I can’t exactly say for sure as we rushed on by so fast.

When we finished, our Fast Pass window had come up and I rushed off to Soarin’ to claim the next set of Fast Passes.
Of course we did the Test track again using the Fast Passes…I kept seeing a 64.3 mph figure but again can’t confirm or deny as we rushed on by so fast.

And then it was time for the Cinco meet. So I left the boys to their own devices and rushed off here.


I couldn’t wait to order my lime margarita

It was wonderful to see real faces and smiles on the early May Dis planners. I think about a dozen people showed up. Our margaritas sure had a great time chatting to each other.


I was about 30 minutes late…so the party was well underway. I realized that all that running around in the heat and going in and out of air conditioning was bringing on a headache! I didn’t know it at the time, but this was to develop into a major cold that I’ve brought home with me.

I do have a photo with about 5 other Dis-ers. I think I have one with kschafer, soonergirl, kcandbella, hundredacrewood and I believe the last person in the group is you manntra. cdotla was also there on the day but I missed grabbing a shot with her.

Here's the shot at that was taken towards the time I left the meet. I'm real sorry that I didn't get one earlier with cdotla and also of Kangaand2roos. Many thanks to soonergirl's mum for taking the shot.

Kschafer - that t-shirt looks fabulous! I loved seeing it in your PTR but I think it looks GREAT in real life!

After a while, it was time to see what the boys had been up to. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable leaving them alone for too long…And I knew I was right.

There had been some major cheating going on without me!

OMG! Mickey! How could you do this to me?


Didn’t feel so bad about Pluto – I caught up with him at MK.


Minnie also cheated on me!


As did Goofy…


And I can’t even look at this one!


Et tu, Chip N Dale??


I needed consolation…and Sunshine Seasons provided me with the right fortification.

The salmon, brown rice and carrots was teamed with a pesto that was delicious. We also got some fruit (dessert) and water under the QS dining plan. I haven’t realized it until now – but we’ve eaten a lot of fish to date!

We got on to Soarin’ using our fast passes (5 minutes is a breeze) after the late lunch – the stand-by queue was out to 90 minutes by 3 pm and I realized that there was a lot of people in Epcot on this day.

My headache was killing me by this stage and given the crowd, I suggested that we get back home for a swim and head back out again in the evening. The boys had still not seen the World Showcase. But first, a stop by Test Track for another round of fast passes....just in case.

The pool at POR is good. We had so much fun that we forgot to take pictures of the pool and the slide.

[Up next – a fly-by visit for Fish and Chips]

[DisneyFirefly]

Aside from the headache, it looks like you had a good day The salmon you got at Sunshine Seasons looks fabulous, and I don't even like fish (unless it's still swimming or in stick form, anyway... I'm weird)!

[hjd0411]

Welcome home! Hope your flight was good.
I am still here, but leave on Wed, so tomorrow is our last day! So sorry I couldn't get to the 2nd meet, but timing was all wrong.
I am loving your photos - the new camera is doing a fine job (not to mention the person behind it!)
Sorry to hear you got sick - I'm surprised that it hasn't happened to us yet - in and out of a/c all the time takes its toll!!
The weather is still hot, and we had a good storm this afternoon!
OK - I look forward to your continuing story!
Keep up the good work!!

[shushh]

Great report! We're staying at the POR in Dec and glad to hear of experiences of fellow Aussies. Photos are fantastic too! Looks like the new camera got put to good use.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

It's great to finally put a face to the name. You have a beautiful smile.

I am liking the slightly larger pictures that you are putting in now, it is much better for seeing the details. And that margarita looks heavenly.

I love the marshmallow shots of Daisy, how beautiful those flower displays must have been IRL.

Sorry to hear about the headache, maybe you should have had more margaritas hahahahaha.

[kschafer]

Waiting for that group shot since several people had cameras out, I didn't bother so I need a copy

[SoonerGirl]

I don't think it's necessary to apologize for speaking ill of the coffee at WDW, I'm not a coffee drinker, but tons of people complain that it is awful - My DH & Mom are among that group!

I have no problem with you posting the picture from our meet, I was planning on posting the one I have.......

It was really great to be able to meet you that day

I can't believe your boys went to visit all the characters without you!

[jenniferkeala808]

Hey!! I subbied the other day but haven't had the chance to catch up until now!! Great pics of everything!! I love that "house" of yours! LOL! especially with those pretty fireworks over them. Glad you got to go to the Cinco meet...sorry I missed it...it was our last day and we stayed at MK all day!! Hope it was fun! I have to agree, it was a little crowded than predicted! Can't wait for more pics!!

[ehsmum]

Loving your trip report so far! I agree, the bigger photos are much easier to see. Sorry to hear that you got sick. I would be uspet at the others meeting the characters without me too!