It's Still Disney Magic to Me! A January 2016 Trip Report (PTR included too) Complete

[disneywlf]

I guess I missed a few updates - it looks/sounds like you were having an awesome time at Epcot!
Chip & Dale are always a fun character meet ... they're so funny sometimes!

Congrats on the big move! I'm sure life in Florida will be great, and being so close to Disney is an awesome benefit!

Not to worry about it! I have been quite busy myself, so it has been hard to update as often as I would like. Without a doubt Epcot was awesome and don't worry, there is even more awesomeness to come when I continue my TR. I cannot agree Chip and Dale are absolutely hilarious and I love them!

Thank you without a doubt it will be awesome! I love the area, as I have been there many times in my life and because my maternal grandparents lived nearby and because of this, I came to love the area and South Florida became like a second home to me (I even know the various roadways without consulting a map or GPS), so the move won't be hard at all, as I love the area (the heat never bothered me anyway haha!) and I know all of the best places to go and don't worry, there are many of them . In addition, I am also looking forward to a much lower cost of living as our taxes and home maitenance will be far lower! Without a doubt without a doubt it will be nice to be able to hop in my car, get on the Florida's Turnpike, and be at Disney in a little under 3-hours versus a 30 minute ride to JFK, 2 hours to get there before the flight, 20 minutes at least until takeoff, about 2 hours flying time, about 30 minutes before I leave MCO, and another 30 minutes to Disney, making for around a 6-hour journey at least from NY! What's more? I am looking forward to being able to get discounts for being a Florida resident, which will make my Disney trips far less expensive! Thank you again and I wish you and Beth a Happy Purim!

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 7
Feeling slightly parched still, I made my way to Club Cool, an oasis of free Coca-Cola products from around the world!

Once I entered, I was able to sample the many sodas from around the world...except for one known as the Beverly from Italy. To quote Mater from the "Cars" franchise, "Whatever you do, do not eat the free pistachio ice cream (or drink the Beverly for that matter!)!"

I enjoyed every soda from around the world except the Beverly and my thirst was quench. To my surprise, I bumped into my new friend Debbie from Mineola, who I met at the Magic Kingdom in Pecos Bill the previous day. We were very happy to see each other and she was happy to introduce to her family, including her husband, Jose, her elder daughter, Rebecca, and her younger son, Adam, who were all wonderful like Debbie! They were having a magical time and would soon be riding Test Track and Mission Space. We talked about our days and what our plans were for later and they mentioned that they would be having dinner at Teppan Edo with a 5:15PM ADR. I mentioned that I would be having dinner there too, albeit fifty-five minutes later at 6:10PM. They invited me to have dinner with them, as they came to like me a lot and I felt honored! The only issue would be the fact that I would be dining about an hour later, so I was worried that they would be unable to move my reservation to be with Debbie and her family. They advised to keep my original ADR, in case anything went wrong, but they said just to meet them at around 5:15PM and that there should not be an issue, as they have been able to switch their ADR times many times before. Honored, I decided to join them for dinner and this added to an already amazing day. Since Debbie, Jose, Rebecca, and Jordan still had FP+'s at Mission Space and Test Track and I wanted to catch a performance of British Revolution at the UK pavilion at 3:00PM, we parted ways and agreed to meet for dinner after we exchange phone numbers so we could stay in contact with each other. After leaving Club Cool, I basked in the radiant sunshine and warm temperatures on my walk to the UK pavilion.

Of course, I had to make a stop at our neighbor to the north known as Canada, which is always a beautiful pavilion, with its towering totem-poles, beautiful mountain vistas, and historic buildings.


After stopping in Canada, I made it to the United Kingdom just in time to watch the British Revolution perform.

In the English garden, I took a center spot, which was perfect for watching the performance.
British Revolution uses a different setlist of British Rock songs from various artists, so the performances vary and for this performance, they played "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones, "A Hard Days Night" by The Beatles, "I'll Stop the World and Melt With You" by Modern English, "Birthday" by The Beatles, "Song 2" by Blur, "Girl You Really Got Me Now" by The Kinks, "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

I had a fantastic time rocking out as rock and roll is my favorite genre of music and I thought British Revolution did an excellent job as always as they have a lot of talent and they really know how to get the crowd going! While I originally watched them from the center facing the stage, I moved to the side as my section was not rocking out as much and I moved past the right side of the stage, where other audience members were rocking out too! After their amazing performance, I then had the pleasure of meeting the members of British Revolution, who told me I should become a part of their band as I have the looks of a rock and roller!

After rocking out to British Revolution and meeting the awesome stars, I was ready to explore the UK and other pavilions of the World Showcase as the afternoon was young .

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 8
After rocking out to British Revolution, I still had plenty of time to seize the beautiful day .

I could not help but notice that Winnie the Pooh and Tigger were meeting in the rear of the Toy Soldier shop. I joined the line, which was not too long. While I was in line, I chatted with a very nice family from North Carolina about all the characters we met. They had met the "Fab Five," Anna and Elsa, and Aladdin and Jasmine among others while so far, I had met the "Fab Five," Aladdin and Jasmine, Anna and Elsa, Baymax, and Chip and Dale. In addition, we somehow also talked about our love for automobiles, as the young boy in the family mentioned that he had a toy car and his dad had a Chevy pick-up. I mentioned that I have a Mercedes, but sadly, I do not have a pick-up (though I wouldn't mind ). Our fun conversation definitely passed the time while Pooh and Tigger took a brief Hunny break, as it was now their turn to meet Pooh and Tigger. They had a wonderful time meeting them and after about a fifteen minute wait, I had the pleasure of meeting Pooh and Tigger, which was wonderful as always! I had the pleasure of receiving a big bear hug from Pooh and bouncing with Tigger!

After meeting Pooh and Tigger, I exited through the gift-shop (eer Toy Soldier) and marveled at the Winnie the Pooh books they had by A.E. Mine as well as the many books on The Beatles.

While I was perusing the gift shop, one of the CMs at the register complimented me on my Yellow Submarine shirt, which was pretty cool as it led to a very nice conversation about rock and roll. The CM mentioned that she was a Beatles fan and I added that The Beatles are my favorite band, but that I also love The Clash, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and The Kinks among British rock and rollers. She agreed that those were all excellent bands and that she listens to them whenever she can. However, she had to get back to work as there were more people waiting to check out, so I did not want to keep her too long. While I loved the souvenirs they had in the Toy Soldiers, there was nothing that spoke to me or my wallet at the moment, so I left the Toy Soldier to check out more of the United Kingdom pavilion. Of course, how could I not call home from jolly old England?

I loved this tea kettle hidden among the plants!

Once I was done visiting the United Kingdom, I then crossed the English Channel (or should I say International Gateway) to visit France.

En-route, I could feel my phone vibrating, so I took it out of my pocket and saw that mom was calling. All was well, but she wanted to check up on me. I told her that I was having an awesome day, as I had done more fun things like meeting Chip and Dale, sampling free Coca-Cola products from around the world at Club Cool, rocking out to British Revolution, meeting Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and now, heading for France. Mom was happy and I then told her that there was a high chance I would be having dinner earlier than planned, as Debbie and her family invited me to join them for dinner at Teppan Edo, where we would both be eating. Mom could not have been happier, as she loved that I would be with very nice people . As I was walking and talking, I could see that I was approaching France, which looked absolutely magnifique!

While we were talking, I joked with her that I should text my Uncle and her brother the picture above that I had taken, as he travels to Paris on business regularly and I thought maybe he would get a kick out of the fact that I was in Paris . However, I do not think he would fall for it, as while the detail of Epcot's France pavilion est superb, I doubt the real Paris has weather this nice at this time of year, so he would be suspect. Nevertheless, we both had a good laugh. Since we both had to do things, we agreed to speak to each other later and I continued to enjoy France!

I walked around France, marveling at its beautiful buildings and walking its cobblestone streets, making me feel like I had left Central Florida for Paris! I saw that there were many people taking pictures in front of the fountain in front of the France pavilion, so I decided to join in, as I could not refuse this opportunity. After a short wait, I then had the pleasure of meeting the PhotoPass CM, who was from Hawaii. She was very nice and we talked a bit about Hawaii, as I would not mind visiting it one day and she agreed, saying how beautiful the Honolulu area is . In addition, she stated that while it was warm now, especially compared to New York, she said that Hawaii was warm at this time of year, as it was close to 80-degree temperatures. As we were conversing, she got this awesome picture .

Next, I wanted to go into L'Artisan des Glaces, as I wanted to find out if their ice cream had egg, as I had heard marvelous things about it and if it did not, I wanted to enjoy dessert there. Unfortunately, the line was long, so I never got to find out, so I decided that I would come back later. After that, I noticed that Belle was meeting, but I was not able to meet her sadly, as her line was lengthy and this was her last meet and greet of the day. While I was bummed, things happen for a reason and I wanted to catch a performance of Voices of Liberty at about 4:40PM if I am not mistaken, at The American Adventure, as I had heard amazing things about them! Since I still had about 20 minutes until their performance, I decided to visit some more countries and head to Voices of Liberty . Where do I go next? Here's a hint, it is a former French colony.

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 9
Happy April Fools Day! After touring the Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, I now had time to tour until I would get to see Voices of Liberty at The American Adventure. Where would I go next? I went to Morocco, which was the former French colony I was referring to in my previous post and was conveniently located next to the French pavilion. When I arrived, I was immediately awestruck by how exotic and beautiful the pavilion was, with its towering minarets and detailed tilework, which made me feel more like I was in Morocco than in Central Florida .


I ventured further through the pavilion, easily getting lost in its exotic and enchanting atmosphere. Of course, I just had to stop and take a picture with this cool camel.

I ventured towards the back of the Morocco pavilion further. It was there I caught eye of this beautiful mosaic. It had bright and colorful Moroccan tiles with a small fountain in the middle and a hanging lamp from the ceiling. I found this to be very enchanting!

I then entered one of the shops, known as Casablanca Carpet. I loved it, as I loved the one-of-a-kind souvenirs that you would not find in your typical Disney gift shop. I loved the the giant carpet that was hanging, with its mostly purple color and curved yellow lines going through it as well as plush pillows and multi-colored tapestries. In addition, how could you not love the mannequin, which was very cool .

In Casablanca Carpets, I met a lovely CM, who was manning the shop. We talked a bit about Morocco, as I was curious about it and hoped to visit it someday. She said that it is an absolutely beautiful country and that I could not go wrong visiting Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, she said that I must also visit Marrakech, as she feels that it best represents Morocco as it is a hair less touristy than Casablanca. I told her I would not mind visiting Marrakech, as I always like to get a more local perspective of wherever I visit. After our wonderful conversation, I explored Morocco a little more and then headed for the American Adventure, first saying Konnichiwa to Japan, where I would soon be eating dinner.


I then arrived at The American Adventure, with a building that almost harkens back to Colonial Philadelphia in the 1700s with its brickwork, front porch with tall columns, and of course, red, white, and blue!

Unfortunately, the performance of Voices of Liberty that I wanted to see was cancelled due to a private event, which was dismaying to myself and a female guest. Mike from Ohio, the CM who was manning the front of the attraction, could not have been more apologetic and did an excellent job handling the situation. While I did not directly interact with him at first, I kind of overheard the conversation as he said that there would be another Voices of Liberty performance during the 5:00PM hour (I do not remember if it was 5:15PM or 5:30PM?). In addition, because he knew that this lady was upset, he even offered her something extra as he wanted to go out of his way to make her happy. The lady declined his offer, as she said it was not his fault and felt he could not have been nicer! In addition, she said she would have no problem waiting for the next Voices of Liberty performance. After this, I went up to Mike, as I wanted to commend him for his excellent customer service and he was very thankful! We chatted for a little bit and I told him that while I wanted to wait for the next performance, I would not be able to as I would be having dinner soon. He understood and I told him that I would go to Guest Relations at the end of the day, as I wanted to make sure that Mike was commended for his exemplary service, which has been a trend on this trip based on my experience. He was very thankful and wished me a magical evening. Next trip, I will have to see Voices of Liberty. I then made my way back to Japan, since dinner was nearing, but was stopped in my tracks at the Italy pavilion. What was it that stopped me in my tracks? Stay tuned!

 

[fallonkendra]

I just wanted you to know I'm joining in on reading about your trip! I've only made it to the end of the second page, but I promise to finish reading first chance I get! I love your attention to detail, you must take really excellent notes while you're there! I was actually in Magic Kingdom on January 11th, I wonder if we crossed paths at any point without even realizing it?!

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 10
After visiting The American Adventure, I made it to Italy!

In Italy, I was stopped in my tracks by Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro, a group of performers who wave flags to Italian music in the courtyard of the Italy pavilion. I thought the performance, along with the flags and music, were bellissimo and this would be a performance that I would catch again when I am in Epcot!




After this excellent performance, it was getting close to dinner, so I decided to head back to Japan, enjoying the beautiful sunshine along the World Showcase Lagoon.

By the time I had arrived back in Japan, it was close to 5:00PM, so I still had 15 minutes until I had to meet Debbie and her family for dinner. Since I still had time, what would be a better way to relax until that time than by visiting the back of the Japan pavilion? I find that this is one of the most relaxing areas of any Disney theme park that I have been to, as it is off of the beaten path and the natural beauty, thanks to the rock work, waterfalls, bonsai trees, and koi ponds make it so serene!

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses...eer watch the koi.

How could you not love this bonsai tree?

After a beautiful time at the Japan pavilion, it was very close to 5:15PM, so I headed to the front podium of Teppan Edo, where Debbie, her husband, Jose, and her children Rebecca and Adam were very happy to see me again! We were assisted by Aoi, a very sweet, soft-spoken, and professional CM who took care of reservations at the front podium. To our delight, she had no problem adding me to Debbie's reservation and canceling my reservation, which was awesome! However, our table was not ready yet, so Aoi gave Debbie a buzzer and we took advantage of the time we had by enjoying some retail therapy at Mitsukoshi.

About after five minutes in Mitsukoshi, our buzzer went off and we headed to Teppan Edo, excited for our dinner! Will Teppan Edo be as excellent as on my previous trip? Stay tuned!

 

[disneywlf]

I just wanted you to know I'm joining in on reading about your trip! I've only made it to the end of the second page, but I promise to finish reading first chance I get! I love your attention to detail, you must take really excellent notes while you're there! I was actually in Magic Kingdom on January 11th, I wonder if we crossed paths at any point without even realizing it?!

Hi fallonkendra and welcome! Thank you for finding my trip report and I am glad to have you onboard! Don't worry about it, I like to take everything in in smaller doses myself. I appreciate your compliments and I do my best to remember all of the details, as I find that they bring back many memories later on . I take notes on some things, but for others, I can use photos and other stuff to remember people I dealt with and other things I have encountered and vice-versa. Whoa! Who knows? Maybe we did cross paths without even realizing. That would have been pretty cool! Thank you again and I look forward to reading your trip report!

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 11
After enjoying retail therapy at Mitsukoshi, our table was ready and I was soon at Teppan Edo with Debbie, Jose, Rebecca, and Adam. Just like I remembered, I found Teppan Edo's atmosphere to be warm, inviting, immaculate, sleek, and authentic.

Once inside, we were greeted by two kimono-clad hostesses, who were very sweet! We were escorted to our table, where we were only seated with a couple from Boston, who had participated in the Marathon and were happy to share about their experiences with us. We were then greeted by Ene, our waitress, who was wonderful as well as she was bubbly and efficient. She took our beverage orders and I opted for an Iced Green Tea. At that time, she noted that I had food allergies and arranged to have the manager, Kin, take care of everything. About a minute later, Kin, a Japanese manager who was middle-aged with glasses and dressed in a business suit came out to greet me. He could not have been nicer and was very accommodating. He asked me if I needed my food cooked separately from a regular grill, in case there is a risk of cross-contamination? I said he did not have to do that, as cleaning the grill is good enough for me. In addition, I told him he did not need to provide me with gluten-free soy sauce, as for some reason, I am fine with regular soy sauce, since it contains a trace amount of gluten at most. I also asked if I could get a Sushi Sampler from the sushi bar, as I had it on my last visit and loved it. He said he would be happy to do it, but he wanted to make sure that there would not be a risk of cross-contamination as some of the sushi dishes use mayo (egg allergy) and tempura flakes (wheat allergy) in some form, so he offered to check with the sushi bar. It turned out they would be able to prepare my Nigiri separately, sans the Spicy Tuna and California Rolls, as they had mayo, so a Sushi Sampler it was! In addition, I ordered Tori (Boneless Chicken Breast) with no udon noodles (they gave me extra vegetables instead) and steamed white rice instead of sukiyaki beef rice (as a matter of preference and other people did this too.). Once again, Teppan Edo started off on the right foot, impressing with their excellent service! We first received our salads (now included with entrees at Teppan Edo) and it made for an excellent start, as the greens were crisp, the tomato was sweet and pleasantly acidic, and the ginger dressing was tangy. This was also washed down with a refreshing Iced Green Tea.

After enjoying my salad, I then received my Sushi Sampler, which was fantastic! It was beautifully presented and I found the Salmon Nigiri to be pristine, as it had a satiny sheen and a buttery mouth feel. The Tuna Nigiri was also delicious, as it was soft, moist, and meaty.

Ene then removed our plates from our salad and appetizer courses and refill our beverages as needed, of course, careful not to rush us and not be too attentive. Before I move on, I must give Ene a shout-out as just like the last time I dined here, she provided excellent service, as she was not only very friendly and efficient without making us feel rushed, she also had the perfect balance of being attentive without being intrusive, adding to an excellent meal. Without further adieu, Chef Koichi from Myoko, Japan introduced himself and he was very friendly, funny, and charismatic. He started off by confirming our orders (including giving me all of the sauces except the one which has a mayo base), which were all perfect and he fired up the grill, first placing vegetables which included zucchini, onions, and a mixture of cabbage and carrots.

As Koichi was chopping vegetables, he then made an onion volcano and since it was almost like building a snowman to him, he just had to burst into a rendition of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" from "Frozen." I loved this and it while Teppan Edo may not use pyrotechnic tricks like some other hibachi restaurants I have been to (due to Reedy Creek fire regulations which prohibit indoor fires), he definitely set our laughter in flames and added an awesome dose of Disney magic by singing "Do You Want to Build a Snowman." And the onion volcano erupted! Mazel-tov!

Next, Chef Koichi prepared some spinach and next, he added the proteins to the grill, which included chicken, steak, and shrimp. He then added oil, spices and if I remember correctly, he also added garlic, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lemon. Unlike some other hibachi restaurants I have been to, he did not use butter with the proteins, except for the shrimp, which is something I like as while I have nothing against butter, I feel that if proteins are high quality, they can stand on their own. Anyway, I thought that Chef Koichi's knife skills were impressive and he definitely had a ball!

After Chef Koichi's fantastic performance, I then had the chance to tuck into my food. Once again, I was impressed, as the quality was excellent and the portion size was generous. The chicken was juicy, tender, moist and complemented by the flavors of pleasantly piquant seasoning and zesty lemon juice. The onions were sweet and tangy, the zucchini was pleasantly smoky due to the cooking method, the cabbage was leafy, and the carrots were sweet and crunchy. Also, the rice was fluffy and well-cooked and went perfectly with the mustard and soy-based sauces that accompany the meal. Overall, another impressive meal!

After this satisfying meal, I then thought about dessert, and while I had originally planned to go to L'Artisan Des Glaces in France, seeing that Debbie and her family were ordering dessert here, I contemplated ordering Soft Serve Ice Cream. I asked Ene if the ice cream had eggs and she was happy to find out by checking with Kin, who in turn checked with the kitchen. To my delight, the ice cream was egg free, so I ordered a dish of Green Tea/Vanilla Soft-Serve Ice Cream. It made for a fantastic dessert, as the vanilla was mild and sweet and the green tea was refreshing. In addition, the texture was creamy and while the ice cream was cold, it was not too icy. All in all, it was fantastic!

With everything, my dinner came out to about $50 in change, which was definitely worth it as the food was excellent, the service was very friendly and efficient, and I thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere! What's more, it was nice having dinner with new friends! After we were all finished, I used the restroom and headed out for more adventures with Debbie and her family. Where would we go next with about 2.5 hours until closing? Find out soon!

 

[SarahDisney]

Sounds like you had some great adventures in World Showcase!
It's awesome that you got to eat with your new friend Debbie & her family! Making new friends is one of my favorite parts of a Disney vacation, so I'm always excited to hear about other people who make friends on trips and end up spending a lot time with those friends!
Sounds like you had a great experience at Teppan Edo! I always love it when the service at a restaurant is great and the people there seem to really enjoy their jobs. And good food is always a plus

 

[disneywlf]

Sounds like you had some great adventures in World Showcase!
It's awesome that you got to eat with your new friend Debbie & her family! Making new friends is one of my favorite parts of a Disney vacation, so I'm always excited to hear about other people who make friends on trips and end up spending a lot time with those friends!
Sounds like you had a great experience at Teppan Edo! I always love it when the service at a restaurant is great and the people there seem to really enjoy their jobs. And good food is always a plus

Thank you Sarah! I definitely had some wonderful adventures in the World Showcase and I have to admit, it is easy to get lost there as there are so many hidden treasures within the pavilions, particularly Morocco and Japan in my book! Thank you we had a wonderful time and being able to eat with Debbie and her family was definitely the cherry on the ice cream sundae, as they are wonderful people! I cannot agree more making new friends and even getting to spend more time with them is definitely one of the best parts of any vacation! Hopefully, I will get to see them again sometime as they do not live too far from me and I even bumped into Debbie when I was grocery shopping in the real world, which was awesome! Teppan Edo was wonderful and I have to admit, this experience "ain't no passing craze" (I could not resist quoting "The Lion King") as when I went to Teppan Edo in January 2014, it was also a stellar experience! Hope that all is well with you and I looking forward to reading more of your adventures soon!

 

[fallonkendra]

I am finally all caught up on your adventures!

I actually ate a gluten-free diet for over 4 years so I know how difficult it can be to eat at restaurants sometimes. I'm so impressed by how well the chefs take care of someone with food allergies though! I went back to eating gluten at the request of my doctor after I was diagnosed with Crohn's, so I was able to eat whatever I wanted on our trip, but it's good to know how many options there are at Disney!

I love that you go to eat supper with your new friend Debbie and her family! How crazy that you've seen her at a grocery store at home too!

I can't wait to hear how the rest of your time at Disney went!

 

[disneywlf]

I am finally all caught up on your adventures!

I actually ate a gluten-free diet for over 4 years so I know how difficult it can be to eat at restaurants sometimes. I'm so impressed by how well the chefs take care of someone with food allergies though! I went back to eating gluten at the request of my doctor after I was diagnosed with Crohn's, so I was able to eat whatever I wanted on our trip, but it's good to know how many options there are at Disney!

I love that you go to eat supper with your new friend Debbie and her family! How crazy that you've seen her at a grocery store at home too!

I can't wait to hear how the rest of your time at Disney went!

Hi fallonkendra! I did not know you ate a gluten-free diet for over 4 years. It's true, eating at restaurants isn't always easy, but I find that about 90% of the time in my experience, they are willing to accommodate me . I cannot agree more the Disney chefs are absolutely amazing at taking care of people with food allergies . I am glad that you are able to eat whatever you want as believe me, while I am still able to eat a lot of foods, there are still things that I am allergic to that I crave! I absolutely agree the amount of options at Disney are overwhelming almost!

Same here it was amazing to have dinner with great new friends and I agree, it was pretty crazy to bump into her at the grocery store, as we both live close to the same grocery store. I guess it is a small world after all haha! I will have to contact her soon though and I hope she is doing well!

Hope to post more update(s) by this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled!

 

[fallonkendra]

Hi fallonkendra! I did not know you ate a gluten-free diet for over 4 years. It's true, eating at restaurants isn't always easy, but I find that about 90% of the time in my experience, they are willing to accommodate me . I cannot agree more the Disney chefs are absolutely amazing at taking care of people with food allergies . I am glad that you are able to eat whatever you want as believe me, while I am still able to eat a lot of foods, there are still things that I am allergic to that I crave! I absolutely agree the amount of options at Disney are overwhelming almost!

I was still in the hospital when the doctors told me to go back to eating gluten, so I immediately sent my mom to Tim Horton's to buy me one of their chocolate chip muffins haha - those things are amazing! Then, later that day my best friend showed up with a box of Timbits for me (Tim Horton's version of a doughnut hole). I think I ordered pizza 3 or 4 times over the next week, because gluten-free pizza always seems healthy, I wanted that so-greasy-you-need-to-dab-it-with-a-napkin pizza. That being said, I definitely feel better when I eat small to limited amounts of gluten.

I think you mentioned an allergy to eggs as well... they never bothered me until about 3 years ago. I'm fine with eggs being baked into something, but if I just eat scrambled eggs or an omelet, I'm in pain for days. It's terrible.

I'll be on the lookout for your next update!

 

[disneywlf]

I was still in the hospital when the doctors told me to go back to eating gluten, so I immediately sent my mom to Tim Horton's to buy me one of their chocolate chip muffins haha - those things are amazing! Then, later that day my best friend showed up with a box of Timbits for me (Tim Horton's version of a doughnut hole). I think I ordered pizza 3 or 4 times over the next week, because gluten-free pizza always seems healthy, I wanted that so-greasy-you-need-to-dab-it-with-a-napkin pizza. That being said, I definitely feel better when I eat small to limited amounts of gluten.

I think you mentioned an allergy to eggs as well... they never bothered me until about 3 years ago. I'm fine with eggs being baked into something, but if I just eat scrambled eggs or an omelet, I'm in pain for days. It's terrible.

I'll be on the lookout for your next update!

Mmmmm that sounds delicious! I have never tried the chocolate chip muffins or Timbits, however, there are some Tim Hortons locations in the Northeastern U.S. and I have tried one of their frozen coffee drinks, which are as good as the frozen coffee drinks offered by Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts! I would not mind eating more than just the cheese and toppings off of a regular pizza, but the closest I have come to eating the whole pizza would be the Amy's Frozen Rice Crust Frozen Pizzas, which are pretty good! Still, it would be nice to have some gluten, but I am thankful that you are feeling better!

You got it! I have an allergy to eggs indeed. Sometimes, it is not always easy as eggs can be a hidden ingredient in something, but if I am careful, all is well! Sucks that scrambled eggs or an omelet give you pain though! Look forward to reading more fallonkendra!

 

[xDisneyAngelx]

I always wanted to eat at Teppan Edo. :-(

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 12
After our delicious dinner, I went with Debbie and her family for some more retail therapy at Mitsukoshi! I enjoyed looking around in Mitsukoshi, with its many items for sale not found in other Disney shops and also talking to the many bubbly and talkative CMs. However, while we were looking, Debbie's daughter, Rebecca, had her eye on the prize...er pearl, as she wanted to purchase a pearl in a necklace. This made for a lovely souvenir, as there was a nice exclusivity to it and I loved the fanfare that accompanied the purchase. This gave me an idea to get mom a pearl, as she is a fan of jewelry. Ironically, she called at that moment as she wanted to check up on me. I told her that all was very well as I had a wonderful dinner with amazing people and was now enjoying the evening by shopping and enjoying more things at Epcot. Mom was very happy and I asked her how she would like a pearl for one of her gifts? She was very thankful, but declined, as she had her eyes on another prize. The prize that she had her eye on was a stuffed Minnie from Mouse Gear, one of her favorite souvenir stores in WDW! I told her I would be happy to get her a stuffed Minnie and would call her after Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, as I planned on stopping at Mouse Gear afterwards before I would head back to the hotel. Mom was thankful and told me to enjoy the rest of my evening and that we would talk later. After about 15 minutes in Mitsukoshi, we were greeted by a beautiful evening sky along with a slightly nippy temperature.

Our next plan of attack was to head to Germany, as Debbie and her family wanted to stop in at Karamell-Kuche for some sweet treats. Along the way, we passed The American Adventure.

Followed by Italy.

I knew that we were not at all far from Germany, as we passed the model trains that are located in between Germany and Italy.

Finally, we arrived in Germany, which is one of my favorite pavilions thanks to its theming, neat souvenir shops, and wonderful CMs!

Our first stop in Germany was at Karamell-Kuche, which was tantalizing with the sweet smell of caramel. In the display case were many caramel and chocolate enrobe treats, such as fruits like strawberries and apples and popcorn to name a few types of treats. While the treats looked absolutely delicious, I was still full from my sumptuous dinner, so I did not purchase anything. However, Jose, Debbie's husband and Adam, her son, purchased some caramel corn if I am not mistaken. Next, we went in to the next door souvenir shop, where I could not get over the beer themed souvenirs!

Not far away, I noticed Weinkeller, a small bar in the back of the store. I knew of this place thanks to my past visits as well as a very good write-up from The Unofficial Guide on places to imbibe in Epcot. The Weinkeller appealed to me as I do not drink beer due to my gluten allergy, so when I do drink, I usually like wine. Based on my past experiences, I happen to like Riesling, thanks to its sweet and fruity flavors, and the Weinkeller was the place to get it! In addition, since it was Debbie and Jose's 17th Anniversary on this trip, I asked them if I could get them any drinks? They declined, but told me to enjoy! At the bar, I met Annike, who I believe was from outside of Munich if I am not mistaken. Annike was very friendly, welcoming, and extremely knowledgeable about wine. As we were chatting, she noticed my AMG (high performance line of Mercedes-Benz) sweatshirt, which I had gotten thanks to a family member who brought it back for me after visiting the Mercedes-Benz factory in Tuscaloosa, AL. Somehow, we got into a conversation about German cars, and she mentioned that she liked Benzes a lot, as they are very luxurious and well-made cars and I happily agreed, based on my experiences with them. Also, she said that Stuttgart, where the Mercedes-Benz factory is located, is a beautiful small city as it feels even more historic than the larger German cities. After this conversation, she then chose a riesling and I took her recommendation, which proved to be excellent, as the light, sweet, and fruity flavors made for a delicious drink along with the Mozart Balls (chocolates filled with marzipan) that I purchased!

After our time in Germany, we then visited China. This is another beautiful pavilion, as its architecture definitely conveys the history and grandeur of Ancient China!

Once we arrived at China, we saw Reflections of China, which is a movie showing the various landscapes of China along with narration from Li Bai, a Tang Dynasty poet. What's more? The movie is in Circle-Vision 360 degree film, which makes it even more exciting. Having seen this attraction for the first time, I was glad that I had the chance, as the narration was excellent and the effects and scenes made you feel like you were there, as you saw the diversity of the different places in China including The Great Wall, The Yellow River, and the bustling cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Overall, this one attraction I was glad to discover and I would definitely see it again the next time I visit Epcot! After exploring China for a bit, I then invited Debbie and her family to visit Mexico, as I wanted to explore the pavilion and ride The Gran Fiesta Tour: Starring the Three Caballeros. They already went, so they politely declined. I told them I would head back to Germany with them, as we were going to watch the fireworks there later anyway. They said not to worry and to come back and meet them in Germany, as I had not had a chance to go to Mexico, as there was still about an hour until Illuminations. With their blessing, I thanked them and headed to Mexico.

When I entered the Mexican pavilion, these historic carvings caught my eye, as they conveyed the artistic history of Mexico!

However, what more will I find in the Mexican pavilion? Keep on reading for more updates!

 

[disneywlf]

I always wanted to eat at Teppan Edo. :-(

I wish you could go sometime! I know you would love it as the food is delicious, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is festive! Where have you eaten in Epcot? In case you are curious, I have also dined at these places in Epcot: January 2005 (Tempura Kiku (predecessor to Tokyo Dining)), November 2007 (Sunshine Seasons and Katsura Grill), January 2011 (Sunshine Seasons), January 2012 (Sunshine Seasons and Tangierine Cafe), January 2014 (Kringla Bakeri og Kafe, Les Halles Boulangerie, and Teppan Edo), and January 2016 (Teppan Edo and Weinkeller). Hope you try Teppan Edo xDisneyAngelx!

 

[SarahDisney]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time walking around with Debbie and her family! I never knew there was a bar in the souvenir shop in Germany ... that's good to know! (I'm not a big drinker, but it's never a bad thing to know where all the bars are)
I've never seen Reflections of China, but I think I might try to see it on my next trip - it definitely sounds like an enjoyable attraction!

 

[disneywlf]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time walking around with Debbie and her family! I never knew there was a bar in the souvenir shop in Germany ... that's good to know! (I'm not a big drinker, but it's never a bad thing to know where all the bars are)
I've never seen Reflections of China, but I think I might try to see it on my next trip - it definitely sounds like an enjoyable attraction!

Thank you Sarah! It could not have been a more awesome time! The bar is kind of hidden, so it's a bit hard to find at first, but if you have a keen eye, you will definitely find it! I definitely agree with you that while we are not big drinkers, it never hurts to know where all the bars are in case you do want to imbibe.
If it were not for the fact that I were with Debbie and her family, I don't know if I would have seen it either only because I like enjoying the pavilions for themselves, but I definitely enjoyed Reflections of China and I have no doubt you would too!

 

[disneywlf]

Around the World in 10 hours: Epcot 1/12/2016 Part 13
After checking out the historic wood carvings and other exhibits centered on Mexico's history, I then made my way towards The Gran Fiesta Tour: Starring the Three Caballeros. However, first, I just had to stop at the Plaza de Los Amigos. I love it here as it has a bustling feel and I love the informal feel, thanks to its many different kiosks selling all sorts of souvenirs related to Mexico! In addition, the dim lighting also adds a certain festivity too, as it allows for comfortable lighting to add to the atmosphere.

Of course, I then headed to The Gran Fiesta Tour: Starring The Three Caballeros! Lucky for me, despite a five-minute standby wait, I was able to walk right on.


We then set sail to find Donald Duck, as he just had to ditch the Three Caballeros to explore Mexico haha!Now I don't blame Donald Duck for wanting to tour Mexico, but at the same time, he should have stayed with the group. Anyway, we first passed the pyramid adjoining San Angel Inn, which was stunning and majestic!

Along the way, we passed through various areas of Mexico along with Jose Carioca and Panchito Pistoles, as we tried to find Donald. He was quite elusive as we traveled through Mexico, but eventually, we found him! The timing could not have been more perfect as we found Donald just in time for The Three Caballeros concert in Mexico City, which would take place under a firework-lit sky! While this a simple attraction, I still love it as it is festive and relaxing, making it an attraction that I love to see while visiting Epcot. On my way out of the Mexican pavilion, I also just had to stop and try on a sombrero!

After having a very festive time in Mexico, I then made my way back to Germany, where Debbie and her family had snagged a spot near the rail with a perfect, unobstructed view of World Showcase Lagoon! I always enjoy watching Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, as the pyrotechnics are amazing and a lovely brotherhood of man message!


After Illuminations, it was now about 9:15PM. Since I wanted to go to Mousegear on my way out of Epcot, I parted ways with Debbie and her family, thanking them for a wonderful time! They asked me where I would be the next day, as they wanted to try and meet me again. I told them I would be at the Magic Kingdom most of the day and they replied that they would be there as well until their dinner ADR at Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. I told them that I would stay in touch by text and we wished each other a good night. I then made my way to Mouse Gear, where I experienced a near state of hypnosis thanks to the huge selection of Disney souvenirs! Inside, I found a very nice CM named Linda from Wantagh, NY. Immediately, I just had to strike up a conversation with her, as she is a fellow Long Islander and from a town about 15-20 minutes southeast of where I live. She mentioned that she moved to FL as her daughter got a job in dance in the Orlando area and also, NY was getting expensive, so she moved to an area known as Davenport, which is very nice and not that far from WDW and she loves it! I asked her about new plush Minnies and she found a Disney Parks 2016 Minnie Mouse Plush Medium! I called mom and told her of my find and she was curious, so she asked me to text her a picture. I was more than happy to and when mom saw it, she was in love, so I decided to purchase it. I thanked Linda for her excellent help and then went to the register, where Bruna, a bubbly and efficient CM from Brazil, was happy to take care of my purchase. I was able to use ApplePay on my iPhone once again, which was pretty awesome and afterwards, I was on my way out. On my way out, I stopped at Guest Relations, where I complimented Michael, the CM who I met at The American Adventure earlier and I mentioned that all of the staff I encountered were excellent, and they were very thankful for my feedback, as the CMs definitely do an excellent job in my opinion and keep the Disney magic going! Once I exited, I caught a 10:00PM bus back to the Buena Vista Palace, Wyndham, and Best Western. About 20-minutes later, I arrived back at the Buena Vista Palace. When I got back to my room, I called my mom, got ready, and went to bed at about 11:00PM. It was a magical day and I was looking forward to another magical day at the Magic Kingdom the next morning!