Tarheel Tink
Cosmos mariner-destination unknown
- Joined
- Aug 21, 1999
- Messages
- 1,766
21st Anniversary Trip- Day 6- Friday 5/4/01 Spoodles Breakfast, Epcot, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma!
A beautiful day with no chance of rain forecast. All week has been great temps with highs in the low 80s and
nighttime lows in the 60s. I never once had to use the small hand fan I brought and I can be a real wimp about the
heat. We have a priority seating at 9:30 on the Boardwalk for the Mediterranean restaurant Spoodles breakfast
buffet. We get there by taking the bus to MGM and take the boat. Seeing the hordes of people descending on the
studio gates, were very glad we arent going there that day, the start of Star Wars Weekend. Instead of taking the
boat all the way to the Boardwalk (the boats 3rd stop), we get off at the Swan/Dolphin hotels dock and walk to the
restaurant; a lovely walk with a great view that took about 5 minutes.
As we entered the restaurant, one of their waiters was dashing out; turns out a man left without paying that they
did not find. We were seated immediately and our waiter, Driss, was wonderful in caring for us. He described the
buffet and it was obvious many around us were regulars here. To all who have recommended this buffet, thank you!
It is wonderful and a good bargain. We both ate for less than what one of us would have paid for the Brunch
Among the Flowers that I cancelled and we will be back. We cancelled our late lunch at Teppanyaki in Japan because
we were not hungry due to this meal! All that we tried was delicious and our beverage of choice was refilled as
needed (orange juice for me and coffee for Earl). To the best of my memory, the cold buffet had cereals, milk,
granola, yogurt, muffins, danish, whole fruits, and a fruit salad mixture. The hot buffet had sausage patties, bacon
(a personal weakness), ham slices, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, grits, biscuits, gravy, breakfast pizza, both vegetable
and meat frittatas, a vegetable wrap, Mickey waffles, roasted cubed potatoes, an automatic toaster for bagels,
breads, croissants, jellies, whipped cream cheese, lox, capers, onion slices, and the most incredibly ripe tomato
slices!
Our waiter said if we wished eggs done other than what was offered, to let him know and he would have it made to
order. We left so full (it took 9 hours before we were up for our next meal!) and took the boat from the Boardwalk
to Epcot. World Showcase still had 15 minutes before opening, but we were allowed to walk through a deserted
United Kingdom and Canada, making a great opportunity to take photographs. We were on route to Norway and
were greeted by a smiling line of Norwegian Cast Members as it opened. We went directly on Maelstrom- a water
boat ride showing some Norwegian history and some trolls to boot! We stayed for the short 5 minute film The
Spirit of Norway and then headed to a lecture on container gardening by a woman whom Martha Stewart herself
consults. Amazing how she could put together the strangest combinations of plants in minutes and have the planter
look incredible!
We took the boat to Morocco and walked to America to hear American Vybe, a hip vocal group accompanied by a
bass cello- we always enjoy them. They walk out of the crowd one by one singing so you could be standing next to
one of them like we were! They are the pre-show to American Adventure- a dont miss no matter what country you
come from. The animatronics are beyond compare and for once I didnt tear up (choke up, yes, but no tears).
After we exited, I sat under one of the trees by the flowers and Earl got me a strawberry Kaki Gori from Japan
(shaved ice- very refreshing). It was a great people watching spot and very relaxing. After a while we strolled
through Italy, then Germany where a German cast member took our photo for us. The gardens in China were
lovely and I photographed more including a large troll topiary in Norway. While going through Mexico enjoying
the orchids in the trees, we stopped yet again for margaritas and chose another shady spot to pass the time viewing
the floating gardens and the music. The fountains at Future World were going in time to the music- we saw
numerous fountains working so I guess the rain helped the drought situation to a degree.
On our way to make some final plant purchases from the festival vendors, we got a paper cone of cinnamon pecans
to share along the way. All the festival vendors we spoke with were informative and very friendly, like Disney cast
members. We slowly exit Future World, strolling and talking, finally taking our bus to our room at Oak Manor. We
napped for a few hours before driving about 10 minutes to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The car in front of us was
turned away at the gate to the lodge; they mean it when they say you have to be staying there or have priority
seatings at one of the restaurants! When we left, we saw them turning away a car again.
This place is very impressive. Those who have booked to stay here should be delighted with their choice. Although
it has just opened, the landscaping looks as though it has been there for years and the whole appearance is very
realistic. The architecture is fascinating to look at and we wandered around taking photos, stopping outside to view
the animals on the savanna (zebras, giraffes, various cattle and antelopes, ostrich and storks). From the look of
things, many of the rooms have good views of the savanna from their balconies. Some rods criss-crossing each
other form an unobtrusive barrier to keep the animals from getting too close to the lodge; you have to look close to
see them.
We checked out the gift shop; it is a great store and the biggest one Ive seen at any of the resorts with so many
things offered! By the way, this is the resort to wear any animal print clothing you have- a large percentage of men
and women were. Safari wear is apparently way in here!
We went to Boma to check in for our priority seating. We received a pager and were paged in about 10-15 minutes.
Notice the baskets on the wall opposite the check in- they are made from telephone wires! The hostess let the
people waiting know that if you did not have a priority seating, it would be at least 45 minutes. One man got pretty rude
and told her I see plenty of empty tables! Yeah, the people are at the buffet, bright one!
Our DU agent/consultant, Carole Annette, had just returned from a stay here and she recommended the Boma
buffet to us. Another big thanks! We spent an hour and a half hear trying to be adventurous in tasting the various
dishes and had some very definite favorites. The flank steak is incredible- best we have ever had! The servers at the
stations seemed very proud of the dishes and were very informative. We both commented on the fellow who carved
the flank steak and pork loin- he seemed delighted to be there and acted like there was nowhere else he would
rather be. What a great attitude to have about your job!
Our particular favorites were the flank steak (never thought I would vote it over prime rib, but that is how good it
was), the marinated vegetable grilled on kabobs, a corn/chicken/potato chowder, and an incredible dessert spread
(loved the zebra dome and chewy chocolate mousse). Our Ethiopian waiter kept our table cleared, glasses full,
answered questions and giggled charmingly. We ordered a Kenyan coffee press pot for $4.95 that held 3 cups of
coffee that was very rich and delicious. We never felt rushed and had a leisurely time. The place stayed busy and is
by no means a quiet place, but we had no problem conversing in normal tones. We voted on a definite return on
our next trip!
Leaving the lodge after sunset was beautiful with the lighting and the bush music Disney is so famous for. It was a
short drive back to Oak Manor to relax and mentally prepare to check out tomorrow. We are so pleased with our
stay, having done most of our planned itinerary and finally covering Epcot to my satisfaction- it took 4 half days to
do it and we bypassed attractions we didnt absolutely love or had just done 5 months ago in December. If I lived
nearby, I could spend the day at Epcot just sitting around and enjoying the various entertainment offered in all the
countries and Future World.
We are rested, relaxed and have enjoyed some incredible meals. We have survived a week with no sunburn,
blisters, injuries or illness so that is a big plus! We had no bad experiences except for the usual annoyances of some
instances of bad parenting and oblivious people who stop in groups to read maps in the middle of the walkway,
blocking all. Why dont they use common courtesy and step to the side? (big sigh). Note to self- it will never
happen so get used to it!
We use express check out and stop on our way out at Downtown Disney to get some travel meals for lunch at the
Gourmet Pantry and some creeping fig plugs for my topiary at home I had let dry out (oops). Glad to see the
fountains going, we take the drive back to the real world reluctantly and fortunately, uneventfully! Ive been home
just one day and miss it already! Im doing some massive laundry, LOL! What a shock to cook again!
Well, December isnt THAT far away, is it? My newly purchased screensaver 2000 with about 100 images is fun to
watch- a Belz outlet find that is a self install in 10 seconds CD! What images it shows- gorgeous! The mickey
toiletries will be a constant memory (for years, possibly! What a haul!).
Tarheel Tink signing off.....
A beautiful day with no chance of rain forecast. All week has been great temps with highs in the low 80s and
nighttime lows in the 60s. I never once had to use the small hand fan I brought and I can be a real wimp about the
heat. We have a priority seating at 9:30 on the Boardwalk for the Mediterranean restaurant Spoodles breakfast
buffet. We get there by taking the bus to MGM and take the boat. Seeing the hordes of people descending on the
studio gates, were very glad we arent going there that day, the start of Star Wars Weekend. Instead of taking the
boat all the way to the Boardwalk (the boats 3rd stop), we get off at the Swan/Dolphin hotels dock and walk to the
restaurant; a lovely walk with a great view that took about 5 minutes.
As we entered the restaurant, one of their waiters was dashing out; turns out a man left without paying that they
did not find. We were seated immediately and our waiter, Driss, was wonderful in caring for us. He described the
buffet and it was obvious many around us were regulars here. To all who have recommended this buffet, thank you!
It is wonderful and a good bargain. We both ate for less than what one of us would have paid for the Brunch
Among the Flowers that I cancelled and we will be back. We cancelled our late lunch at Teppanyaki in Japan because
we were not hungry due to this meal! All that we tried was delicious and our beverage of choice was refilled as
needed (orange juice for me and coffee for Earl). To the best of my memory, the cold buffet had cereals, milk,
granola, yogurt, muffins, danish, whole fruits, and a fruit salad mixture. The hot buffet had sausage patties, bacon
(a personal weakness), ham slices, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, grits, biscuits, gravy, breakfast pizza, both vegetable
and meat frittatas, a vegetable wrap, Mickey waffles, roasted cubed potatoes, an automatic toaster for bagels,
breads, croissants, jellies, whipped cream cheese, lox, capers, onion slices, and the most incredibly ripe tomato
slices!
Our waiter said if we wished eggs done other than what was offered, to let him know and he would have it made to
order. We left so full (it took 9 hours before we were up for our next meal!) and took the boat from the Boardwalk
to Epcot. World Showcase still had 15 minutes before opening, but we were allowed to walk through a deserted
United Kingdom and Canada, making a great opportunity to take photographs. We were on route to Norway and
were greeted by a smiling line of Norwegian Cast Members as it opened. We went directly on Maelstrom- a water
boat ride showing some Norwegian history and some trolls to boot! We stayed for the short 5 minute film The
Spirit of Norway and then headed to a lecture on container gardening by a woman whom Martha Stewart herself
consults. Amazing how she could put together the strangest combinations of plants in minutes and have the planter
look incredible!
We took the boat to Morocco and walked to America to hear American Vybe, a hip vocal group accompanied by a
bass cello- we always enjoy them. They walk out of the crowd one by one singing so you could be standing next to
one of them like we were! They are the pre-show to American Adventure- a dont miss no matter what country you
come from. The animatronics are beyond compare and for once I didnt tear up (choke up, yes, but no tears).
After we exited, I sat under one of the trees by the flowers and Earl got me a strawberry Kaki Gori from Japan
(shaved ice- very refreshing). It was a great people watching spot and very relaxing. After a while we strolled
through Italy, then Germany where a German cast member took our photo for us. The gardens in China were
lovely and I photographed more including a large troll topiary in Norway. While going through Mexico enjoying
the orchids in the trees, we stopped yet again for margaritas and chose another shady spot to pass the time viewing
the floating gardens and the music. The fountains at Future World were going in time to the music- we saw
numerous fountains working so I guess the rain helped the drought situation to a degree.
On our way to make some final plant purchases from the festival vendors, we got a paper cone of cinnamon pecans
to share along the way. All the festival vendors we spoke with were informative and very friendly, like Disney cast
members. We slowly exit Future World, strolling and talking, finally taking our bus to our room at Oak Manor. We
napped for a few hours before driving about 10 minutes to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The car in front of us was
turned away at the gate to the lodge; they mean it when they say you have to be staying there or have priority
seatings at one of the restaurants! When we left, we saw them turning away a car again.
This place is very impressive. Those who have booked to stay here should be delighted with their choice. Although
it has just opened, the landscaping looks as though it has been there for years and the whole appearance is very
realistic. The architecture is fascinating to look at and we wandered around taking photos, stopping outside to view
the animals on the savanna (zebras, giraffes, various cattle and antelopes, ostrich and storks). From the look of
things, many of the rooms have good views of the savanna from their balconies. Some rods criss-crossing each
other form an unobtrusive barrier to keep the animals from getting too close to the lodge; you have to look close to
see them.
We checked out the gift shop; it is a great store and the biggest one Ive seen at any of the resorts with so many
things offered! By the way, this is the resort to wear any animal print clothing you have- a large percentage of men
and women were. Safari wear is apparently way in here!
We went to Boma to check in for our priority seating. We received a pager and were paged in about 10-15 minutes.
Notice the baskets on the wall opposite the check in- they are made from telephone wires! The hostess let the
people waiting know that if you did not have a priority seating, it would be at least 45 minutes. One man got pretty rude
and told her I see plenty of empty tables! Yeah, the people are at the buffet, bright one!
Our DU agent/consultant, Carole Annette, had just returned from a stay here and she recommended the Boma
buffet to us. Another big thanks! We spent an hour and a half hear trying to be adventurous in tasting the various
dishes and had some very definite favorites. The flank steak is incredible- best we have ever had! The servers at the
stations seemed very proud of the dishes and were very informative. We both commented on the fellow who carved
the flank steak and pork loin- he seemed delighted to be there and acted like there was nowhere else he would
rather be. What a great attitude to have about your job!
Our particular favorites were the flank steak (never thought I would vote it over prime rib, but that is how good it
was), the marinated vegetable grilled on kabobs, a corn/chicken/potato chowder, and an incredible dessert spread
(loved the zebra dome and chewy chocolate mousse). Our Ethiopian waiter kept our table cleared, glasses full,
answered questions and giggled charmingly. We ordered a Kenyan coffee press pot for $4.95 that held 3 cups of
coffee that was very rich and delicious. We never felt rushed and had a leisurely time. The place stayed busy and is
by no means a quiet place, but we had no problem conversing in normal tones. We voted on a definite return on
our next trip!
Leaving the lodge after sunset was beautiful with the lighting and the bush music Disney is so famous for. It was a
short drive back to Oak Manor to relax and mentally prepare to check out tomorrow. We are so pleased with our
stay, having done most of our planned itinerary and finally covering Epcot to my satisfaction- it took 4 half days to
do it and we bypassed attractions we didnt absolutely love or had just done 5 months ago in December. If I lived
nearby, I could spend the day at Epcot just sitting around and enjoying the various entertainment offered in all the
countries and Future World.
We are rested, relaxed and have enjoyed some incredible meals. We have survived a week with no sunburn,
blisters, injuries or illness so that is a big plus! We had no bad experiences except for the usual annoyances of some
instances of bad parenting and oblivious people who stop in groups to read maps in the middle of the walkway,
blocking all. Why dont they use common courtesy and step to the side? (big sigh). Note to self- it will never
happen so get used to it!
We use express check out and stop on our way out at Downtown Disney to get some travel meals for lunch at the
Gourmet Pantry and some creeping fig plugs for my topiary at home I had let dry out (oops). Glad to see the
fountains going, we take the drive back to the real world reluctantly and fortunately, uneventfully! Ive been home
just one day and miss it already! Im doing some massive laundry, LOL! What a shock to cook again!
Well, December isnt THAT far away, is it? My newly purchased screensaver 2000 with about 100 images is fun to
watch- a Belz outlet find that is a self install in 10 seconds CD! What images it shows- gorgeous! The mickey
toiletries will be a constant memory (for years, possibly! What a haul!).
Tarheel Tink signing off.....
