It's ALL About the Food (We go to WDW to eat and drink!!) ~ October 2009 TR - The DIS Discussion Forums

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 08:33 PM

This has now become my Trip Report, so if you have been following along and want to jump right to the report itself, here is a link to where it all starts to happen. Below that link is where I will link to specific days or event. Hope that helps!

Thanks again for reading!

Trip Report Starts Here!

Day 1 - F&W Grazing

Day 2 - Friends, Seminars and more Grazing

Day 3 - Ch-ch-ch-Changes...

Day 4 - Eating, drinking and Wishes.. oh, my!

Day 5 - What do you mean NO wine?? But there's Port!

Day 6 - My Lord, it's hot!

Day 7 - I HATE today!

And this is what we thought...

It is time for serious planning for our annual Food & Wine Festival (F&W) trip. So that means it is time for an annual pre-trip report!

Introductions are in order:

Me - 58 year old lover of WDW and all things there. Food, wine, restaurants, parks, attractions, events, resorts, people, smells, shows, planning... there you have it! I have an annual pass (AP) and have been to WDW more than 60 times.

myBob - 59 year old DH who likes the resorts where he can read, food and beer (not necessarily in that order). That's about it. He has an AP and has been to WDW more than 25 times.

Dates - October 2-8, 2009

Digs - Beach Club Villas (we are not DVC owners, we just play them in this trip report). We have Tables in Wonderland (TiW) but our DVC friend booked the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) just in case we decide it works well for us. We canceled the DDP and will go strictly with our TiW 20% discount. Seems the best for our eating habits.

This is our 12th year to be at WDW during this event. We love it. There is so much to do and we get to come without our grown DDs who love WDW almost as much as I do (usually) and get to plan what we want to do and splurge a little because it is just the two of us.

We booked a Bounceback offer at BC last year when we were at the Poly but have the before-mentioned friend with DVC points to rent and she was able to get us a 1BR at BCV so we decided that would be our way to go. We requested an "Epcot view" meaning we want to be on that end of the resort so we can easily use that back walkway into the International Gateway for quick access to the World Showcase.

We are meeting lots of friends when we are there this time. This makes me very happy because part of my enjoyment of WDW is the sharing with those I love.

Here is what we have planned so far:

We fly out of Baltimore on Friday, October 2 in the morning so we will drive up from our home in Virginia south of DC the night before and spend the night at a Park 'n' Fly so we don't have to fight that nasty I-95 traffic that morning. We should arrive at MCO about 11:00 and have decided to use a Towncar company. Last Christmas we used

ray Transportation and they were wonderful getting our DDs to us for the holiday so we have opted to use them again. They offer a free 30 minute grocery stop which means we don't have to ship anything down with us. The DIS doesn't like the name of the company, apparently, as it was ******ed out. I used my own version of their name.

We have booked and re-booked and tweaked ADRs numerous times. myBob read the Festival brochure (came in the mail while I was at MagicMeets 2009 this weekend) from cover to cover this morning and said that he really wanted to spend more time at World Showcase eating. We never got to everything last year and I missed that part of it too.

In the past we have done Signature Dinners, Party for the Senses (PFTS), Food & Wine Pairings and many presentations and seminars. This year things are tighter economically and Disney has thought it a great time (insert as much sarcasm here as you can muster) to raise prices.

So I will not be on the phone on Tuesday to book any special events this year. I did consider the Bordeaux Regional Luncheon at Bistro for myself only, but a friend I was going to go with can't make it, so I am not going to that without myBob and alone. It is not that I don't want to go alone, exactly, but when one spends over $100 for lunch one wants to know with whom one will be dining. (At least this "one" wants to know.) Instead, we are going to go back to our roots, so to speak, and intend to experience the F&W Festival like we did the first couple of years: pigging out at the kiosks and finding a demonstration or two that appeals to us that day. We will start each day at the Festival Welcome Center with our glass of bubbly. Probably prosecco as that is our favorite these days. So....

Here is what we have decided on as of 2:15 pm on Friday, August 28, 2009.

(changes are in red)

Eats and Drinks

Friday, October 2 - early lunch at F&W kiosks, possibly the Starship concert, dinner at Chefs de France with friends. It has been 10 years since we have eaten here.

Saturday, October 3 - lunch at Tusker House with friends (we enjoyed it last year), both of us will do the Beam Distillery seminar (!! !!) and then I am going to go to Warren Brown's culinary demonstration and wine presentation alone, late dinner at Flying Fish

Sunday, October 4 - breakfast at Kouzzina (new for us, and everyone else!), I am doing the Concha y Toro Wine Seminar, dinner at Raglan Road (love this place)

Monday, October 5 - breakfast in the villa, lunch at Sci-Fi (new for us), I am doing the King Estate Wine Seminar, dinner at the F&W kiosks, Wishes Dessert Buffet

Tuesday, October 6 - breakfast in the villa or Beaches & Cream, I am doing the Milbrandt Wine Seminar and the Taste of Puglia Wine Seminar and will grab something to eat at the kiosks, Bob will have lunch at Hurricane Hanna's or wherever he wants, dinner at Kouzzina, possibly dessert at the F&W kiosks

Wednesday, October 7 - breakfast at Fresh (we try to go here every couple of trips... we enjoy the variety!), lunch at the F&W kiosks with friends, possibly the Better Than Ezra concert, dinner at Todd English's bluezooTM (this is our first time here and I am very excited!)

Thursday, October 8 - possibly lunch at Rose & Crown (myBob likes their Shepherd's Pie and they only serve it at lunch. Last two times we were there we had dinner ADRs), or we may eat lunch at ESPN, and ending with a snack at the kiosks before we leave for home that evening

More to come later. Thanks for reading!

ChelleinNC · 08-09-2009, 08:41 PM

I'm in

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChelleinNC

I'm in

YAY!!

Someone is actually reading!

Thanks, Chelle!

Blueeyes101817 · 08-09-2009, 09:07 PM

Im in too Elin!! I love reading about my friend's disney plans!

whogirl'smom · 08-09-2009, 09:07 PM

I saw your link and I'm here!

jeminni · 08-09-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whogirl'smom

I saw your link and I'm here!

me too

hmgray95 · 08-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Count me in as well!

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueeyes101817

Im in too Elin!! I love reading about my friend's disney plans!

Quote:

Originally Posted by whogirl'smom

I saw your link and I'm here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeminni

me too

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmgray95

Count me in as well!

YAY!

Now to live up to "Those Who Came Before"

Thanks for reading, everyone!

hmgray95 · 08-09-2009, 09:14 PM

Bridget, I love your new avatar!

oybolshoi · 08-09-2009, 09:18 PM

Bendy is here, reporting for duty!

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmgray95

Bridget, I love your new avatar!

It is cute, and I don't even like cats, Bridget!

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

Bendy is here, reporting for duty!

Thanks for coming on board, Brenda!

lovesdumbo · 08-09-2009, 09:41 PM

Sounds awesome! Breakfast at Beaches & Cream sounds fun!

PNO4TE · 08-09-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovesdumbo

Sounds awesome! Breakfast at Beaches & Cream sounds fun!

Hi, Bernadette.

I hope they are still offering breakfast there in October!

Tink rules · 08-09-2009, 09:57 PM

Friendies checking in!!!!

08-09-2009, 08:33 PM	#1
PNO4TE DIS Musician Piano Teacher Can't stay awake at night for the "hen parties" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 25,652	It's ALL About the Food (We go to WDW to eat and drink!!) ~ October 2009 TR This has now become my Trip Report, so if you have been following along and want to jump right to the report itself, here is a link to where it all starts to happen. Below that link is where I will link to specific days or event. Hope that helps! Thanks again for reading! Trip Report Starts Here! Day 1 - F&W Grazing Day 2 - Friends, Seminars and more Grazing Day 3 - Ch-ch-ch-Changes... Day 4 - Eating, drinking and Wishes.. oh, my! Day 5 - What do you mean NO wine?? But there's Port! Day 6 - My Lord, it's hot! Day 7 - I HATE today! And this is what we thought... It is time for serious planning for our annual Food & Wine Festival (F&W) trip. So that means it is time for an annual pre-trip report! Introductions are in order: Me - 58 year old lover of WDW and all things there. Food, wine, restaurants, parks, attractions, events, resorts, people, smells, shows, planning... there you have it! I have an annual pass (AP) and have been to WDW more than 60 times. myBob - 59 year old DH who likes the resorts where he can read, food and beer (not necessarily in that order). That's about it. He has an AP and has been to WDW more than 25 times. Dates - October 2-8, 2009 Digs - Beach Club Villas (we are not DVC owners, we just play them in this trip report). We have Tables in Wonderland (TiW) but our DVC friend booked the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) just in case we decide it works well for us. We canceled the DDP and will go strictly with our TiW 20% discount. Seems the best for our eating habits. This is our 12th year to be at WDW during this event. We love it. There is so much to do and we get to come without our grown DDs who love WDW almost as much as I do (usually) and get to plan what we want to do and splurge a little because it is just the two of us. We booked a Bounceback offer at BC last year when we were at the Poly but have the before-mentioned friend with DVC points to rent and she was able to get us a 1BR at BCV so we decided that would be our way to go. We requested an "Epcot view" meaning we want to be on that end of the resort so we can easily use that back walkway into the International Gateway for quick access to the World Showcase. We are meeting lots of friends when we are there this time. This makes me very happy because part of my enjoyment of WDW is the sharing with those I love. Here is what we have planned so far: We fly out of Baltimore on Friday, October 2 in the morning so we will drive up from our home in Virginia south of DC the night before and spend the night at a Park 'n' Fly so we don't have to fight that nasty I-95 traffic that morning. We should arrive at MCO about 11:00 and have decided to use a Towncar company. Last Christmas we used ray Transportation and they were wonderful getting our DDs to us for the holiday so we have opted to use them again. They offer a free 30 minute grocery stop which means we don't have to ship anything down with us. The DIS doesn't like the name of the company, apparently, as it was *****ed out. I used my own version of their name. We have booked and re-booked and tweaked ADRs numerous times. myBob read the Festival brochure (came in the mail while I was at MagicMeets 2009 this weekend) from cover to cover this morning and said that he really wanted to spend more time at World Showcase eating. We never got to everything last year and I missed that part of it too. In the past we have done Signature Dinners, Party for the Senses (PFTS), Food & Wine Pairings and many presentations and seminars. This year things are tighter economically and Disney has thought it a great time (insert as much sarcasm here as you can muster) to raise prices. So I will not be on the phone on Tuesday to book any special events this year. I did consider the Bordeaux Regional Luncheon at Bistro for myself only, but a friend I was going to go with can't make it, so I am not going to that without myBob and alone. It is not that I don't want to go alone, exactly, but when one spends over $100 for lunch one wants to know with whom one will be dining. (At least this "one" wants to know.) Instead, we are going to go back to our roots, so to speak, and intend to experience the F&W Festival like we did the first couple of years: pigging out at the kiosks and finding a demonstration or two that appeals to us that day. We will start each day at the Festival Welcome Center with our glass of bubbly. Probably prosecco as that is our favorite these days. So.... Here is what we have decided on as of 2:15 pm on Friday, August 28, 2009.* (changes are in red) Eats and Drinks Friday, October 2 - early lunch at F&W kiosks, possibly the Starship concert, dinner at Chefs de France with friends. It has been 10 years since we have eaten here. Saturday, October 3 - lunch at Tusker House with friends (we enjoyed it last year), both of us will do the Beam Distillery seminar (!! !!) and then I am going to go to Warren Brown's culinary demonstration and wine presentation alone, late dinner at Flying Fish Sunday, October 4 - breakfast at Kouzzina (new for us, and everyone else!), I am doing the Concha y Toro Wine Seminar, dinner at Raglan Road (love this place) Monday, October 5 - breakfast in the villa, lunch at Sci-Fi (new for us), I am doing the King Estate Wine Seminar, dinner at the F&W kiosks, Wishes Dessert Buffet Tuesday, October 6 - breakfast in the villa or Beaches & Cream, I am doing the Milbrandt Wine Seminar and the Taste of Puglia Wine Seminar and will grab something to eat at the kiosks, Bob will have lunch at Hurricane Hanna's or wherever he wants, dinner at Kouzzina, possibly dessert at the F&W kiosks Wednesday, October 7 - breakfast at Fresh (we try to go here every couple of trips... we enjoy the variety!), lunch at the F&W kiosks with friends, possibly the Better Than Ezra concert, dinner at Todd English's bluezooTM (this is our first time here and I am very excited!) Thursday, October 8 - possibly lunch at Rose & Crown (myBob likes their Shepherd's Pie and they only serve it at lunch. Last two times we were there we had dinner ADRs), or we may eat lunch at ESPN, and ending with a snack at the kiosks before we leave for home that evening More to come later. Thanks for reading! __________________ Elin Making our lists and checking them thrice! UPDATE 1/17/09 - Days 7 & 8 are FINALLY done! "Music... this is the favorite passion of my soul." ~ Thomas Jefferson In memory of June. 09/04/06. "Keep the board going for me while I'm gone..." Last edited by PNO4TE; 10-20-2009 at 01:51 PM. Reason: Need more food... and transportation... and booze... in different orders and in massive quantities ;) with a 20% discount!

08-09-2009, 08:41 PM	#2
ChelleinNC Say "Hi" to Art the Greeter for me! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stallings, NC Posts: 3,741	I'm in __________________ I'm blogging! Check out my Walt Disney World Travels Blog--- Trip Reports, Food Reviews and Planning Tips Follow me on Twitter- DisTravelGirl I've been BOO'd by MickeyNicki! Next Trip-Home Sweet Home SSR June 2010! Planning is half the fun! Sweet 16 @ HHI Nov 09,July 09-BCV & DCL,Nov/Dec 08-OKW,Oct O8-HHI June 08-SSR, Dec 07- BWV, June, 07- SSR, Aug, 06- Beach Club, April 04-HHI, Oct 03- Swan/Wilderness Lodge, Dec, 02- Beach Club/Poly, June, 02- Beach Club, Dec, 01- Beach Club,-- Time Warp (Day trips only) --, Oct, 1991- Disney Cruise (Big Red Boat)/Polynesian [Honeymoon!], Summer 1990- MKCP!, 1987- Off Site, 1983- Off Site

08-09-2009, 09:07 PM	#4
Blueeyes101817 Diehard Cowboys fan! Tag trading will not be as profitable as pin trading Being watched Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 23,700	Im in too Elin!! I love reading about my friend's disney plans! __________________

08-09-2009, 09:07 PM	#5
whogirl'smom Any leftover grumpiness can be taken care of by a little wine Like a box of Cheez-its, I couldn't put it down Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 3,026	I saw your link and I'm here! __________________ whogirl'smom whogirl'sdad whogirl Morris

08-09-2009, 09:18 PM	#10
oybolshoi You say vacation addict like it's a bad thing...Viva le Mochaccino!!! Trips on painted lines in parking lots Plankton's evil minion Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: OFallon, Missouri Posts: 10,727	Bendy is here, reporting for duty! __________________ 2009 Food Reviews: Pie That Brownie, Fruitcake! 2008 Food Reviews: We Smelled It; It Had to be Eaten! 2007 Food Reviews: Hungry are the Damned!! 2007 Food Reviews: The Food was not Undelicious! 2006 Food Reviews: As God As My Witness, I'll Never Be Hungry Again! Join us on the community board for non-Disney food porn and continued good-time tomfoolery: Bendy Friendies V.3 Feeling Adventurous? Visit Our Food & Travel Blog: Gastropod Travels

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08-09-2009, 09:13 PM	#7
hmgray95 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC Posts: 552	Count me in as well!

08-09-2009, 09:14 PM	#9
hmgray95 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC Posts: 552	Bridget, I love your new avatar!

08-09-2009, 09:41 PM	#13
lovesdumbo DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 9,775	Sounds awesome! Breakfast at Beaches & Cream sounds fun! __________________ 1976-1/2 day off site; Dec 1994 Dolphin; Oct 1996 Buena Vista Palace; Dec 1996 POR/Dolphin; Nov 1997 Ft Wilderness Cabins; Nov 1998 BWV-studio; Dec 2001 YC; Oct 2002 Poly-LVC; Jan 2004 Poly-LVC; Oct 2004 Poly-LVC;Aug 05 ASMo; Oct 2005 Poly-GVC; May 06 POFQ; May 06 Pop; Aug 06 POFQ; Dec 06 CR; May 2007 Pop; Aug 07 POR; Nov 07 Pop; Jan 08 Pop; May 2008 Pop; Aug 08 ASMu Family Suite; Jan 09 Poly; May 2009 AKL CL; Aug 2009 Poly LVCL; Dec 2009 Pop; Jan 2010 AKL CL

08-09-2009, 09:57 PM	#15
Tink rules The kids in my family sometimes think I walk on water... the rest of the time they know I'm their nutty AUNT!!! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 11,824	Friendies checking in!!!! __________________ MichelleAll it takes is faith, trust and a little bit of PIXIE DUST!!! Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten. This is my family. I found it, all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good. Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, she's up!" 1972 - 1986.... Various times while visiting Gram and Gramps!!! 1986 - Off Site Sheraton 192...With Beverly 1987 - Same but this time with Mom 1994 - Poly with Em 1996 - Disney Institute & Poly & Grand Floridian w/Mom 2000 - Grand Floridian w/M 2005 - AS Music & Grand Floridian w/Mom The GRAND Tour!!! Panama Canal WB Repo Cruise 5/2008

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