First Solo Trip to WDW for Food and Wine & Hurricane Matthew - OCT 2016 Updated 12/30 Post #165-167

[dhorner233]

That is so cool that you have your picture at Epcot! I'll have to look for you next time I'm there! I liked the signs/posters/art work announcing the Festival. That's a good idea to mention/picture some of the special foods. Made me want every one of them

And what a great idea to watch the fireworks from the ferry landing. Were you able to hear the program? I need to get a remote. I've been setting the timer for like 2 seconds but would love to be more precise. Loved your pictures of the fireworks!

 

[franandaj]

Fun idea to test out the MB and ride the Monorail to Epcot. The pictures from the T&TC were great. What was that filter that you and PIO have for taking the long fireworks trails shots? I really need to get me one of those!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Totally understand the UO viewpoint, Bret. If you're not into the UO rides, then it doesn't make sense to go at all. My family is now getting to the stage where the UO rides are much more interesting to them than the Disney rides. Crazy, right?
I'm hoping Avatar and Star Wars will tip the balance a little next time we go.

Great firework pictures. Seems like it is a good spot for fireworks shooting, without having to be in the MK stalking a spot.

And I was amused by the F&W Australian poster. At least, they featured Uluru rather than the Opera House or the Bridge.

 

[PrincessInOz]

What was that filter that you and PIO have for taking the long fireworks trails shots?

It's a Neutral Density (ND) filter. I currently have the Hoya HMC 2-stop ND filter, the Hoya HMC 9-stop filter and the B&W 6-stop filter in my bag. I've been using the 2-stop filter in previous years and moved to the 9-stop filter all this year. I figured I wanted the 6-stop filter as well for something in-between. Most photogs would have the 3, 6 and 9-stop filter in their bags.

 

[franandaj]

It's a Neutral Density (ND) filter. I currently have the Hoya HMC 2-stop ND filter, the Hoya HMC 9-stop filter and the B&W 6-stop filter in my bag. I've been using the 2-stop filter in previous years and moved to the 9-stop filter all this year. I figured I wanted the 6-stop filter as well for something in-between. Most photogs would have the 3, 6 and 9-stop filter in their bags.

Thanks! I passed the information on to Fran and hopefully she will buy me one.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am not good with thrill rides and therefore there is very little for me to do at Universal.

I would love to see all the Harry Potter stuff, but with the high cost of the tickets, I have never been able to justify t.

That looks like a very good spot and I really enjoyed the fireworks photos.

It is amazing how people are affected differently by time zone changes. When I came from Disneyland to Walt Disney World, I was suddenly able to stay until park closing which I had never managed before.

Corinna

I can go on those rides but over the years with my equipment, it is hard to go on rides while solo. I will go on them when i have other people with me. But all of those rides are more intense over the Disney rides.

I know what you meant and I wouldn't justify of paying that much just for a few hours where i would use that money at the Disney parks.

The T&TC is a nice place to watch the fireworks at night if you don't have a ticket.

I was affected a little that day since we didn't go to bed until around 1am EST and i got up early. I could have spent some time at the Disney parks that day but i wanted to get some rest.

That is so cool that you have your picture at Epcot! I'll have to look for you next time I'm there! I liked the signs/posters/art work announcing the Festival. That's a good idea to mention/picture some of the special foods. Made me want every one of them

And what a great idea to watch the fireworks from the ferry landing. Were you able to hear the program? I need to get a remote. I've been setting the timer for like 2 seconds but would love to be more precise. Loved your pictures of the fireworks!

I was glad to do the Leave a Legacy tile back in 2001 where it is discontinued today. My tile is on the right hand side when entering Epcot underneath the Monorail column which is West 6 - D - 6. Every year, Epcot has a new sign for the F&W Festival and the one's with the posters is a good way to promote those dishes.

It was fun to watch the fireworks from the Ferryboat dock area that night. Yes, there was music in the background which made it even more special where it wasn't the same without the music. You will need a remote to do long exposure shots or take the chance of pushing the button and moving the camera which will make the picture blurry. Thanks Denise.

Fun idea to test out the MB and ride the Monorail to Epcot. The pictures from the T&TC were great. What was that filter that you and PIO have for taking the long fireworks trails shots? I really need to get me one of those!

I had to try out the MB to make sure it worked since it was my first time trying it out. Glad to try it out that afternoon and at Epcot. I always enjoy riding the Monorail from the T&TC to Epcot and back especially when going on in Epcot. Just as PiO posted that I did used a Neutral Density Filter for the fireworks. Since i used the Nikon 70-200 f/4 lens that night, the filter i used was a Tiffen 67mm ND 0.9 3 stop filter for the fireworks that night. That was a cheap ND filter where i barely used the 67mm filter for the fireworks which are the Tamron 17-50mm 72mm filter and Tokina 11-16mm at 77mm filter. I have just one filter for each different size filter and plan on getting some different stop ND filters for the fireworks but I just go with what I have for now in my bag. Like PiO mentioned that it will depend on what kind of stop you want.

Totally understand the UO viewpoint, Bret. If you're not into the UO rides, then it doesn't make sense to go at all. My family is now getting to the stage where the UO rides are much more interesting to them than the Disney rides. Crazy, right?
I'm hoping Avatar and Star Wars will tip the balance a little next time we go.

Great firework pictures. Seems like it is a good spot for fireworks shooting, without having to be in the MK stalking a spot.

And I was amused by the F&W Australian poster. At least, they featured Uluru rather than the Opera House or the Bridge.

I know what you meant, i only wanted to go to UO just for Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express. Going to Hogsmeade was a bonus in order to get some pictures but I would not pay $150 for UO in my opinion especially where you can go on the rides. But i was not that type of person to go on those rides which are like Amusement park rides for some of them. But UO has made them more theme which is good but it is not the same for me. That is crazy for your family which likes UO rides over the Disney rides but the UO rides are more thrilling over the Disney rides.

That will be for sure with Pandora the World of Avatar and Star Wars Land. Don't forget about Toy Story Land for DHS as well which will help in the near future along with Rivers of Life at AK.

Thank you PiO. Watching the fireworks from the T&TC is nice along with getting shots where you can get more in the picture then being at the park. At least you won't have heads in the way in the pictures.

When I saw the poster of Australia, i knew that you were going to comment about it.

Thanks! I passed the information on to Fran and hopefully she will buy me one.

Hoping that Fran will be able to buy you one of those ND filters.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 4 – October 19, 2015 – Part 1

Solo Morning at Epcot​

It was now time to go to the Disney Parks for the first day. I didn’t count Epcot on Sunday since I was there only for less than an hour just to test out my MagicBand and get some quickie shots of the front. Not only was this the first full day at the parks, but it will also be my first full day to try out the FastPass+ at the parks. I didn’t get to use the FP+ on Saturday of the trip as originally planned with the bump and the late night. So I was looking forward to trying out the FP+ that morning since I have some FP+ to use.

My dad and our neighbors didn’t want to go to Epcot first thing in the morning at 9am, so I just went by myself to Epcot that morning before 9am so I can get an early start.

I got to Epcot around 9:05am that morning which was a little late but it was close to opening time not like a rope drop.


I went on in and put my MB right next to the scanner along with my finger and I head on in Epcot with no problem. The only thing I have an issue with the scanner is that it can take some time for people that are scanning their MB’s and might take longer than expected. But it is quite fast with a card or a MB.

The first thing I did was head on over to see the picture with my brother and me at the Leave a Legacy tile.

Now I head on in the parka and the first thing I did was head on over to Spaceship Earth. When I made my FP+ ressie, I wanted to get a FP+ for Illuminations that night but I wasn’t successful to get one. But that didn’t count as one of the Tier B FP+ but I did get a FP+ for Spaceship Earth that morning which I didn’t have to get one but it would be perfect to start off the FP+ with.


The scanner was right next to the entrance of the standby queue and FP+ queue which was easy and then walking on in, there was another scanner and I put my MB right next to it and walked in with no problem. I was puzzled at first with another scanner in the queue but it did make sense to make sure that it was correct.

It was less than 5 minutes to get on the ride and here are my pictures from Spaceship Earth. There were times where the pictures didn’t turned out really well as I have thought when I looked at them. I had the 35mm f/1.8 on my body during the ride experience.


















I always enjoy riding Spaceship Earth when I am at Epcot which is one of my must do rides. Not much has changed to Spaceship Earth since my last visit in 2012.

After SE, I head on over to the Land to ride Living with the Land with the standby queue. I had another FP+ that morning which was Test Track 2.0. So I had some time to kill until my FP+ was ready that morning.


It was only a 5 minute wait to get on Living with the Land while Soarin was at 40 minutes. I still am puzzled why Soarin has a long wait time where Disney California Adventure wait time can be in the 5 to 20 minute in the morning time.

Living with the Land pictures.














After getting off Living with the Land which is a nice ride to go on and see all the different plants and fish, it was time to go on to the next activity that morning.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 4 – October 19, 2015 – Part 2

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Center and the Other Party Arrived along with DISer @jedijill​

After finishing up with Living with the Land, the time for Test Track 2.0 wasn’t ready so I decided to go on over to the Food & Wine Festival Center which is at the former Wonders of Life pavilion.

I had to walk from one part of the park to the other since the Festival Center was on the East side of Epcot while I was on the West side. My FP+ for Test Track was not till 10:30am so I had time to kill until it was time to use the FP+.


I entered the Festival Center and looked at the merchandise first.








The Festival Center also had the areas for the special events during the F&W Festival. We didn’t do any special events during the trip which there aren’t any food addicts. Back in 2012, I did Party for the Senses with my brother, DAW and my other relatives.


While I was in the Festival Center, I went in “The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar” hosted by Ghirardelli exhibit.


When I went in the exhibit, I had to check out the chocolate displays of Frozen.


Up


Avengers


Star Wars VII


Jungle Book


Disney Nature’s Monkey Kingdom


After exiting the Festival Center, I head on over to Test Track 2.0 to ride it since I have a FP+ and it was time.


Just when I was about to go in the queue for TT, I got a phone call and it was my dad and he told me that they were now in the parking lot and are walking on over to the entrance. Talk about bad luck since I was about to ride TT and now they were already here. So I had to drop out of not riding TT. It was tough at first but I had to get to the front entrance since I have my dad’s park ticket with me. Well not on me but I had to be at the ticket booth to claim it with him.

So I head on over back to the front entrance to meet up with them. While on the way out, I took some more random pics.


Back at the front entrance.




I met up with them and we had to get in a ticket booth queue to get my dad’s ticket. It took a while to get the ticket that morning. Park tickets are not become any cheaper today just like at the DLR which is almost $100 to get in while the MK is at $105 and the other parks at $97.


When they got their tickets and entered Epcot, our neighbors got a few pictures in front of the entrance sign while I took some pictures of them along with the CM photographer.

Then we head on over to my Leave a Legacy tile picture which is one of the rare pictures of me during the trip.


We first head on over to the Festival Center where they all wanted to see it and I also was meeting a DISer that day where she was in the park and we coordinated to meet up sometime that day and it would be perfect to meet her at the Festival Center.


When we got on in the Festival Center, Aiko wanted to get a hat since it would be a bright day today at Epcot and it helped me a lot with someone else to talk to when looking at the merchandise. I did buy a Epcot F&W Annual Passholder shirt which was nice since there aren’t too many times AP merchandise to get.

While we were looking around, I met up with Jill @jedijill since she was there during the same time as me. It was the first time to meet Jill in person and we had a nice conversation while in the Festival Center.

She was doing a lot of things that day while we were planning on going to a lot of different kiosks during the F&W Festival. We parted ways at the Festival Center and we are now on our way to try out the different food at World Showplace since World Showplace is now open at 11am.

We head on out and head on over to World Showcase. It was nice to meet Jill that day at Epcot which she was there the same time as me. It is nice to meet other people especially on the DISboards where I have met other people these last few years and it will be nice to meet more in the near future.

That is it for this post and stay tune for what food we ate at the F&W Festival.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[dolphingirl47]

Regarding the two scanners for Fastpass, this seemed a little strange to me, too, but actually they always have had this double check system and Disneyland still does as they check your Fastpass when you first enter the line and then again when you get to the point were the Fastpass line merges onto the loading area.

It was only a 5 minute wait to get on Living with the Land while Soarin was at 40 minutes.

40 minutes for Soarin is great for Epcot and no, I don't get it either why the lines are so long there and so much shorter in California.

When I went in the exhibit, I had to check out the chocolate displays of Frozen.

I loved all the chocolate displays.

Talk about bad luck since I was about to ride TT and now they were already here. So I had to drop out of not riding TT.

What a shame that you missed out on this.

Corinna

 

[dhorner233]

Do they have a single rider option for Soarin' I think they do. I always go for the single rider lines. They move pretty quickly.

I have decided I need to ride every ride twice. Once with my new lens (1.8? without looking) and once with my regular little zoom. I'm not going to dig them out to make sure I have the numbers right.

Sorry you missed Test Track! It's hard to coordinate what you are doing with a big group of people.

That's so nice you got to meet Jill in person! I have really enjoyed meeting fellow Disboarders at the parks!

Can't wait to see what you get to eat!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Do they have a single rider option for Soarin'

Unfortunately they don't at Walt Disney World. I love the single rider line for Soarin at California Adventure.

Corinna

 

[dhorner233]

Unfortunately they don't at Walt Disney World. I love the single rider line for Soarin at California Adventure.

Corinna

And the single rider option for Radiator Springs and California Screaming'!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Don't forget about Toy Story Land for DHS

We caught TSL in Hong Kong. If it is roughly the same, it won't be a selling point.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I still am puzzled why Soarin has a long wait time where Disney California Adventure wait time can be in the 5 to 20 minute in the morning time.

That's easy. WS isn't opened till 11 am so there is only FW to explore. And there really aren't that many attractions/rides in FW at Epcot at that time of day. This, and TT, are probably the ones to get one.
There are a heap more options at DCA first thing in the morning to spread the load. And these days, everyone heads to Cars Land first up.

I was about to go in the queue for TT, I got a phone call and it was my dad and he told me that they were now in the parking lot and are walking on over to the entrance. Talk about bad luck

Ouch! That is super bad timing.

It was the first time to meet Jill in person and we had a nice conversation while in the Festival Center.

YAY for another DisMeet. Nice picture of the two of you.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Regarding the two scanners for Fastpass, this seemed a little strange to me, too, but actually they always have had this double check system and Disneyland still does as they check your Fastpass when you first enter the line and then again when you get to the point were the Fastpass line merges onto the loading area.

40 minutes for Soarin is great for Epcot and no, I don't get it either why the lines are so long there and so much shorter in California.

I loved all the chocolate displays.

What a shame that you missed out on this.

Corinna

It did at first but I remember the way DL does it with their FP where you show it at the front of the entrance of the ride/show and you give it to the next CM in the middle of the queue where it is a double check system. So it does make sense to have that to make sure that it is legit.

40 minutes is way too long for Soarin at Epcot which DCA is way less than that. Glad that Soarin is not that bad at DCA where riding it at Epcot (unless you have a FP+) make sense.

The chocolate displays are very neat.

I had to be there for them so I might try it one day when I go back to Florida.

Do they have a single rider option for Soarin' I think they do. I always go for the single rider lines. They move pretty quickly.

I have decided I need to ride every ride twice. Once with my new lens (1.8? without looking) and once with my regular little zoom. I'm not going to dig them out to make sure I have the numbers right.

Sorry you missed Test Track! It's hard to coordinate what you are doing with a big group of people.

That's so nice you got to meet Jill in person! I have really enjoyed meeting fellow Disboarders at the parks!

Can't wait to see what you get to eat!!

Just as Corinna mentioned that there is a single rider queue for Soarin. Glad that the DLR have those single rider queues.

Going on every ride twice can be done depends on how many days you are going to the park as well as the crowds which can be daunting. Hope you enjoy your new lens when you use it at the parks or someplace.

It is no problem. I wanted to ride it but I can deal without it since it is a version of RSR at DCA. But it will be fun to ride it one day.

It was nice to meet Jill in person and spend a few minutes until we did our things at Epcot that day. I bet she had a great time.

We caught TSL in Hong Kong. If it is roughly the same, it won't be a selling point.

That's easy. WS isn't opened till 11 am so there is only FW to explore. And there really aren't that many attractions/rides in FW at Epcot at that time of day. This, and TT, are probably the ones to get one.
There are a heap more options at DCA first thing in the morning to spread the load. And these days, everyone heads to Cars Land first up.

Ouch! That is super bad timing.

YAY for another DisMeet. Nice picture of the two of you.

It might not be a selling point since it already exists at another Disney park but it will be nice to see when it comes to Florida.

Going on the rides the first two hours is a must do at FW while WS is closed. It is not about the rides when I am at Epcot which I do enjoy going around and seeing all the interesting things to do. The ride that I have to go on when I am at Epcot is Spaceship Earth. I know what you mean with RSR at DCA gets a lot of people and it clears out places like TSMM at Paraidse Pier which doesn't have those long queues during TSMM first few years and when DCA opened at 10am on the busy days.

It was bad timing but it was okay. I will ride TT one day when I go back to Florida.

Thanks. It was nice to meet Jill on that day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 4 – October 19, 2015 – Part 3

Chow time at the Food & Wine Festival Part 1​

After I met Jill at the Food & Wine Festival Center at the former Wonders of Life pavilion, the five of us started to head on over to World Showcase for the Food & Wine Festival. I was really looking again to trying all the different food at the F&W Festival. I am not a drinker so I am not planning on drinking any Champaign, wine or beer.

The walk from Future World to World Showcase is quite long but it is nice to walk around the park.


While walking on over to WS, there were signs that has pictures and descriptions of the F&W Festival from the previous years. I only went once in 2012 of the 20 years and can’t believe we haven’t done more times which the food is really good. But I am a Christmas person when going to WDW so I still would prefer the holiday season over the F&W Festival if I had to choose one event.








The one thing that I feared the most when coming to Epcot for the F&W Festival is for WS to be crowded on a Monday. When we passed by the first kiosk which was Scotland and there was already a queue backed up. It was not that bad but I can imagine the popular ones like Canada, France, etc.


Menu for Scotland


Scotland iosk


Next one was the Hawaii kiosk


Hawaii menu


Desserts & Champagne kiosk


Desserts & Champagne menu


The Festival Shop which has some merchandise outside of the F&W Festival Center and the stands walking on over to WS.


Greece kiosk


Greece menu


Ann got the Chicken Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce


When I went on over to the Canada kiosk, I feared the most with the huge crowds and it was busy. I almost waited about 10 minutes in the queue to get my food.


I saw Remy on the Canada kiosk which was neat to see.


Canada kiosk


Canada menu


I love going to the Canada kiosk when I went in 2012 for the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup which Is my favorite. There are a lot of great choices to eat from the “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon and the soup.

I bought three orders of the soup and filet mignon for my dad and our neighbors.


Everyone enjoyed the soup the most since I always enjoy getting the soup at the Canada kiosk.

View of World Showcase lagoon

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 4 – October 19, 2015 – Part 4

Chow time at the Food & Wine Festival Part 2​

After we finished our food from Canada and Greece, we started to walk around World Showcase to the next area. While we were walking, my dad wanted to go to Le Cellier Steakhouse to see if there was any openings that day. I told him that it was hard to get in at Le Cellier.


I knew at the beginning that it was going to be hard to get in as a walkup even online but he wanted to try and see if we can get in. As expected, there wasn’t anything opened and he was told to call them instead of just walking up. I told him about that before the trip but he didn’t believe it until he tried it.

While we were in Canada, we head on over to see O’Canada! the circle-vision 360 movie. Aiko wanted to see O’Canada circle-vision movie which you see a documentary of Canada.


It took a while to get in O’Canada to see the movie and it was great as always every time I go and see that video.

We walked on out and back on over to WS to see all the different F&W Festival kiosks. The next one was Ireland.




United Kingdom pavilion is always interested when I am walking around this pavilion at Epcot.


It was a little busy at United Kingdom pavilion but it wasn’t like in 2012 when we went on a weekend.




Now we were in France and once again it was busy but the queues were not that busy for the France kiosk.




France menu


Dennis bought a Boeuf Bourguignon – Braised short ribs in cabernet sauvignon with mashed potatoes


Ann also got an Ice Pop Pomme. We are all enjoying the F&W Festival that afternoon.


We kept on walking with the food and drinks in hand to the next areas of Epcot. The next one was the Brazil stand which we just passed by since there was nothing that we wanted.


Brazil menu


The next kiosk was the Belgium. This was the kiosk that I was recommend by a lot of people on the boards to try the Belgian waffles. So it was an easy choice to go on in the queue for the Belgium kiosk.

Belgium menu


Belgium kiosk


Seeing the CM’s cook the food at the Belgium kiosk


I got the Belgian waffle with the berry compote and whipped cream and the one that I enjoyed the most during the F&W Festival was the potato and leek waffle with beer-braised beef and smoked gouda cream. At first they were surprised to see a savory Belgian waffle and they tried it and were amazed of how good it was for $4.25. Ann was in the queue to get one. I really like the potato and leek waffle as one of my favorite dishes during the F&W Festival.


So we stared to go on and we are now at the Japan pavilion.


Japan kiosk


Japan menu


Some random pics from the Japan pavilion






That is it for this post and I will have more from the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot that afternoon.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[dhorner233]

Beautiful day! Beautiful pictures! Thanks for the menus. I could have found something at every kiosk that I wanted to taste. I totally enjoyed the festival when I was lucky enough to go a couple of years ago.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oooh! Food porn.
Love your selections so far at F&W. Those waffles are surprisingly good, aren't they?

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

[franandaj]

I'm glad you liked the beef and leek waffle at the Belgium pavilion, that was a big surprise for us. We liked all three, but the savory one was especially good! I can't believe you left the line for Test Track to meet your Dad to enter the park. He should have at least let you ride, but I can understand.

Glad you got to meet Jill as well!

I hope you have a safe drive down tomorrow and looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!