A Post Open-Heart Surgery/Anniversary Trip Report!!! Updated 5/30 PTR started!!

[Jennifer48]

I so thought of you when he brought that home!!! You definitely need to try it! He picked it up in Target.

I checked my local supermarket last night and they only had SpongeBob. I'll have to check Target next! I told DH about them and he rolled his eyes at me

 

[Jennifer48]

Ohhh I forgot to tell you something. We drink Snapple at my house and there are "real facts" on every Snapple cap. DH had one the other day that said "the plastic piece at the end of a shoelace is called an aglet." We both laughed and said "we already knew that!"

Is it stuck in your head now?!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ohhh I forgot to tell you something. We drink Snapple at my house and there are "real facts" on every Snapple cap. DH had one the other day that said "the plastic piece at the end of a shoelace is called an aglet." We both laughed and said "we already knew that!"

Is it stuck in your head now?!

My kids know this too. Actually, they impressed my DH with their aglet knowledge. He was all "cool, where did you learn that?" And they replied with "on tv, we learn everything on tv!" Nice. What makes it even worse is that we homeschool soooo that reflects kinda poorly on me I think...

 

[Jennifer48]

My kids know this too. Actually, they impressed my DH with their aglet knowledge. He was all "cool, where did you learn that?" And they replied with "on tv, we learn everything on tv!" Nice. What makes it even worse is that we homeschool soooo that reflects kinda poorly on me I think...

I don't think it reflects poorly on you at all! I'm 30 yrs old and I learned what an aglet was from P&F too! Public schools are crap in MA

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Yay for the good Dr. Appointment! And the P&F Mac and Cheese Wingnut is a pretty awesome DBF

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I checked my local supermarket last night and they only had SpongeBob. I'll have to check Target next! I told DH about them and he rolled his eyes at me

Oh, Spongebob is DEFINITELY not the same!!! And I'm sure if I picked up the P&F box on my own accord, I'd be getting an eye roll from Wingnut as well!

Ohhh I forgot to tell you something. We drink Snapple at my house and there are "real facts" on every Snapple cap. DH had one the other day that said "the plastic piece at the end of a shoelace is called an aglet." We both laughed and said "we already knew that!"

Is it stuck in your head now?!

That's awesome, I didn't know Snapple did their research on the Disney channel! Hahaha. "Tying the world together..."

My kids know this too. Actually, they impressed my DH with their aglet knowledge. He was all "cool, where did you learn that?" And they replied with "on tv, we learn everything on tv!" Nice. What makes it even worse is that we homeschool soooo that reflects kinda poorly on me I think...

I don't think it reflects poorly on you at all! I'm 30 yrs old and I learned what an aglet was from P&F too! Public schools are crap in MA

Hahaha awww don't worry, it's not a reflection on you! Maybe you just need to add catchy songs to the homeschooling syllabus! Oooh, or concerts, a la the aglet episode!

Yay for the good Dr. Appointment! And the P&F Mac and Cheese Wingnut is a pretty awesome DBF

Thanks!!! He definitely is!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I don't think it reflects poorly on you at all! I'm 30 yrs old and I learned what an aglet was from P&F too! Public schools are crap in MA

Hahaha awww don't worry, it's not a reflection on you! Maybe you just need to add catchy songs to the homeschooling syllabus! Oooh, or concerts, a la the aglet episode!

Ya, maybe that's where I'm going wrong, lol! I need to teach them catchy songs about Latin, grammar and Math! Instead of singing a-g-l-e-t I can have them sing Latin conjugations! That just might work. Goodness knows they sing that other P&F song enough too...gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you!! Oh great, now it's stuck in my head.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Ya, maybe that's where I'm going wrong, lol! I need to teach them catchy songs about Latin, grammar and Math! Instead of singing a-g-l-e-t I can have them sing Latin congugations! That just might work. Goodness knows they sing that other P&F song enough too...gitchee gitchee goo means that I love you!! Oh great, now it's stuck in my head.

Those songs are pretty catchy! Did your girls ever watch Hannah Montana? I'm reminded of the Bone Dance song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Waxf9KZWpM

There's your biology song right there!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Those songs are pretty catchy! Did your girls ever watch Hannah Montana? I'm reminded of the Bone Dance song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Waxf9KZWpM

There's your biology song right there!

Oh yes, they know that song too! Heck, so do I. Instant biology class, yup. Who says tv shows can't be educational?

Guess what I started reading last night?? The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World! It's really, REALLY good. I'm sure I'll bore my entire family to death with all of my useless WDW knowledge. Good thing they love me regardless, right? Have you seen that book "Project Future"? Looks pretty good, I have it in my Amazon shopping cart. Along with several other geeky Disney books...

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oh yes, they know that song too! Heck, so do I. Instant biology class, yup. Who says tv shows can't be educational?

Guess what I started reading last night?? The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World! It's really, REALLY good. I'm sure I'll bore my entire family to death with all of my useless WDW knowledge. Good thing they love me regardless, right? Have you seen that book "Project Future"? Looks pretty good, I have it in my Amazon shopping cart. Along with several other geeky Disney books...

Hahaha hey, I've always enjoyed the educational powers of TV!

Ahhh I'm so excited you're enjoying The Hidden Magic! Isn't it awesome?? Don't you feel like a Disney genius while reading it? Hahaha. I haven't seen Project Future, is that a good one too? I'd love to get more Disney books, especially since The Hidden Magic was a gift for my Dad, and now it's still at my parent's house! Where am I going to rack up all of my obscure Disney facts (beyond all of the Disney sites I visit constantly every day?)

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

When we last left Wingnut, he was in bed, fully engaged in the epic battle of "Wingnut vs Foliage". And for a little bit, I was getting nervous that foliage was going to win, hands down.

But Wingnut is resilient. And determined. An onslaught of allergies wasn't going to stop him from enjoying the last evening of our trip.

Wingnut rested for awhile, and woke up feeling significantly better, and all ready for dinner.

"You sure?" I probably asked him close to 47 times.

"Yep," he pinned on his anniversary button, laced up his sneakers, and was ready to go.

Hey, who am I to stand in the way of a man and his lamb burger?

Yup, tonight's dinner was at Kouzzina, one that Wingnut was very excited for. We had eaten dinner here during the trip the year before, and we had both really enjoyed it. Wingnut had been tracking this menu online in particular, specifically the presence of the lamb burger (originally it was a full-size burger, then it reappeared as a part of a trio. I think there also may have been some harrowing moments where it disappeared from the menu too. We try to block out these sadder menu moments, such as when the Coffee and Koeksisters dessert vanished from the Jiko menu before our trip - the food item Wingnut had most been looking forward to.

Speaking of Jiko, did anyone else notice that the filet is back to being accompanied by the mac and cheese? I'm becoming increasingly bitter that I didn't get to try it in this incarnation (fingerling potatoes here).

Time for a picture!



So by this time, Wingnut and I had made our way over to the Boardwalk. I'm pretty sure we took a boat over.

Oh how I love the Boardwalk. I'd love to live here. I'd live in the little Crest O' The Wave Building. It's spunky.



Wingnut and I arrived a bit early for our reservation, and Kouzzina wasn't even open yet. So we decided to meander around the little souvenirs and sundries there (I'm going to guess that it's called the Screen Door). While looking at the things there (which I like to convince myself are ever-so-slightly different than the souvenirs in other places. Just a teensy bit. Alright, maybe just the displays are different. ) I found a ring I liked, and Wingnut bought it for me.



Isn't it cute?? Ignore my dry skin.

Back to the Boardwalk, more meandering and sitting and photographing.

Ooh look my new home







How can you not love it here? In my mind, the Epcot resort area is the perfect place to stay.





And then Kouzzina opened!



(This is during the opening cheer)

While at dinner, Wingnut and I discussed what we wanted to do (if anything) that evening. Wingnut insisted that he was feeling much better, and the Osborne Lights were mentioned.

We had seen the Lights the year before (multiple times, actually), and knew how awesome they are. We decided to go to DHS after dinner and take a walk through their illuminated glory.

We stepped back onto the Boardwalk, and noticed that the Friendship boat launch line was a bit long. Okay, people want to see the lights, I get it. We waited on the line, and a boat pulled up, taking only 10 people aboard.

The line inched forward.

Another boat pulled up, again, only taking 10 people aboard. I looked inside the boat, and it was nowhere near full. Wingnut and I began to theorize on what was going on. We decided that they were spacing out the amount of people that could get on at the Boardwalk, to make room for a couple of people from the Yacht Club, and then the Swan/Dolphin. But I couldn't figure out what the big draw to DHS was.

Until I pulled out the obsessively-made schedule I had created awhile back.

"OH NO IT'S A FANTASMIC NIGHT!"

This is why we plan, people, this is why we plan. See where winging it gets us?

We tried to decide what would be the best course of action. So it's a Fantasmic night, how bad could it be? (I'm sensing the Dis crowd yelling at me from experience over that sentence hahaha). We had no interest in seeing Fantasmic, we'd just scoot over to the lights and go home.

The third boat pulled up, and we got aboard. Did I mention that they cut off the line to the second boat frustratingly close to us? I hate that.

But back to the boat. It was packed. PACKED! (on a high note, I FINALLY get to use that smilie!) Wingnut and I then sailed to the Yacht Club, where about 2 people got off, and a bunch of people crowded on.

While en route to the Swan/Dolphin, I began to think that if this was how unbearably crowded the BOAT was, what was DHS going to be like? Was this adventure worth it?

I knew the answer right away.

"Let's get off at the Swan/Dolphin," I said to Wingnut. "It's packed here. It's going to be packed there. We'll go to the candy store in the Dolphin instead, and go home."

Wingnut made absolutely sure that I was fine not going to the lights, then he agreed, and we squeezed out of the boat at the next dock.

Oh, the candy store in the Dolphin? Have you ever been there? It's called Sugar3 (Sugar Cubed), it's "upstairs" off of the main lobby, and it has a smattering of vintage candies and other fun things. It's not very large, but it's a cute little respite from the usual Disney merchandise. Wingnut fell in love with the store during our past trip (I'm mentioning that a lot in this update, aren't I?), and I had kept saying we should come back and visit, but the Dolphin isn't exactly somewhere you swing by a lot, particularly when on the Dining Plan.

So we made our way upstairs, and I believe the year in between had made Wingnut's impression of the store even more lofty, or their selection had dwindled, because it was a bit of a disappointment (still a bunch of cute things, but I think the novelty of seeing the store for the first time had worn off).

After that, we decided to head back to the Yacht Club. There was a boat there, but we chose to walk back (fearing the crowds again), and we amazingly beat the boat to the Yacht Club (by this point, we were walking quite slowly ).

Next up: the last day of our trip

 

[glennbo123]

Nice update Stringbean. Sounds like a fun evening of just wandering around, like you're on vacation or something!

I also read your Kouzzina review, which was a great review. It still hasn't popped into my list of "must do's", but that lamb burger sounds enticing.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I would like to be your neighbor, living at the Boardwalk! Such a great atmosphere!

By the way, on the Jiko filet w/ mac and cheese... I was just at Jiko last week ( ) and it is still served with the fingerling potatoes.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Sara, your updates are soem of the best around here on the TR threads!

Wingnut should really have received a special pin that said something to the effect of "best wheelchair/allergy suffering guest ever"! So glad he was feeling up to dinner at Kouzzina. I can you right now, my DH would have been all over that lamb burger. He loves lamb and burgers so really, how can you go wrong?

Your ring is so cute! Nice purchase.

Bummer about the change in plans. Isn't it funny how you make these precise, grandiose plans and then forget about them?? I've been known to do that... (We actually stayed at Epcot from before park opening till park closing on our first day. So stupid and our feet paid the price for it. I hang my head in shame.)

Smart move though, to nix the HS lights and head elsewhere. I hate that sardine packed feeling too.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Hahaha hey, I've always enjoyed the educational powers of TV!

Ahhh I'm so excited you're enjoying The Hidden Magic! Isn't it awesome?? Don't you feel like a Disney genius while reading it? Hahaha. I haven't seen Project Future, is that a good one too? I'd love to get more Disney books, especially since The Hidden Magic was a gift for my Dad, and now it's still at my parent's house! Where am I going to rack up all of my obscure Disney facts (beyond all of the Disney sites I visit constantly every day?)

Oops, forgot to comment on this!

Oh yes, The Hidden Magic is an excellent read so far. I'm loving it! Those little interesting details are such fun!

I've not read Project Future but someone else on the DIS recommended it. It looks good. I can't recall, do you have the Imagineering Field Guide books? Those are awesome too.

Pretty much most of my Amazon cart is Disney related books! I suppose that tips the scales into firm, Disney nerd-ville, yes??

 

[MEK]

By the way, on the Jiko filet w/ mac and cheese... I was just at Jiko last week ( ) and it is still served with the fingerling potatoes.

Yup. fingerling potatoes - no mac and cheese. But the filet was scrumptious and my tuna app was delicious. It was still a lovely meal.

I am glad wingnut's allergies improved enough to enjoy a nice dinner. The whole boat thing sounds terrible. I think those boats are so claustrophobic. You probably made a good choice. I mean - if you couldn't see the lights, candy sounds like an excellent backup plan.

 

[MeMom]

So pretty!

 

[Nermel9]

Just found your TR last night, and read the whole thing, so now I'm joining, even though it's almost over! I'm so glad your surgery went well and everything looked good at your last dr. visit!

I haven't read all of your dining reviews yet, but I did read the one from breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe, and now I really want to go there on my October trip!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Nice update Stringbean. Sounds like a fun evening of just wandering around, like you're on vacation or something!

I also read your Kouzzina review, which was a great review. It still hasn't popped into my list of "must do's", but that lamb burger sounds enticing.

Thanks!! Hahaha it's funny when you just take a relaxing stroll in Disney, so much of the planning and vacation are like an intricately-planned mission!

Kouzzina is a great time, I'd definitely recommend it! If you're not sure about it, maybe try it for breakfast, they have a great menu then too!

I would like to be your neighbor, living at the Boardwalk! Such a great atmosphere!

By the way, on the Jiko filet w/ mac and cheese... I was just at Jiko last week ( ) and it is still served with the fingerling potatoes.

Hahaha sounds good! I think that it really is one of my favorite places ever.

Hmm, I wonder why I thought the elusive mac and cheese had returned?? Is that what you had? The potatoes aren't a bad accompaniment, but I heard the mac and cheese is pretty awesome.

Sara, your updates are soem of the best around here on the TR threads!

Wingnut should really have received a special pin that said something to the effect of "best wheelchair/allergy suffering guest ever"! So glad he was feeling up to dinner at Kouzzina. I can you right now, my DH would have been all over that lamb burger. He loves lamb and burgers so really, how can you go wrong?

Your ring is so cute! Nice purchase.

Bummer about the change in plans. Isn't it funny how you make these precise, grandiose plans and then forget about them?? I've been known to do that... (We actually stayed at Epcot from before park opening till park closing on our first day. So stupid and our feet paid the price for it. I hang my head in shame.)

Smart move though, to nix the HS lights and head elsewhere. I hate that sardine packed feeling too.

Awww thank you Molly!!!

Oh I swear Wingnut deserved a medal or a trophy or something after this trip! The poor thing. His reward was allergy medication when we got home .

Wingnut LOVES the lamb burger at Kouzzina. I think he would definitely contemplate getting the trio comprised of all little lamb burgers lol.

Hahaha I don't mind changing plans (I would ABSOLUTELY do the same thing as you, stay in Epcot all day and not be able to move the day after ), but I even had spreadsheets! (Oh yes, I did.) All of my preparation went out the window on the Friendship boat launch.

Oh, and I knew as soon as we were being even more jammed onto that boat that going to the park was a bad plan. I hate crowds, and navigating the wheelchair would have probably been near impossible.

Oops, forgot to comment on this!

Oh yes, The Hidden Magic is an excellent read so far. I'm loving it! Those little interesting details are such fun!

I've not read Project Future but someone else on the DIS recommended it. It looks good. I can't recall, do you have the Imagineering Field Guide books? Those are awesome too.

Pretty much most of my Amazon cart is Disney related books! I suppose that tips the scales into firm, Disney nerd-ville, yes??

I don't have those, they sound like a fun read too!

My entire existence is Disney nerd-ville, don't worry! I was trying to locate the little Mickey-shaped measuring spoons online, and they kept being out of stock on disneystore.com. You should have seen me the day these little spoons were finally available. I probably looked like someone who just won the Super Bowl .

Yup. fingerling potatoes - no mac and cheese. But the filet was scrumptious and my tuna app was delicious. It was still a lovely meal.

I am glad wingnut's allergies improved enough to enjoy a nice dinner. The whole boat thing sounds terrible. I think those boats are so claustrophobic. You probably made a good choice. I mean - if you couldn't see the lights, candy sounds like an excellent backup plan.

The filet is great, isn't it? I loved Jiko, it was our favorite meal of the trip!

The boat was just sooo crazy that night! Normally I have no problem with the boats, but when it's standing room only, it just gets so uncomfortable in there!

Candy is definitely my favorite backup plan. No wait, a Napoleon from France is my favorite backup plan! (Candy is a close second, though )

So pretty!

Just found your TR last night, and read the whole thing, so now I'm joining, even though it's almost over! I'm so glad your surgery went well and everything looked good at your last dr. visit!

I haven't read all of your dining reviews yet, but I did read the one from breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe, and now I really want to go there on my October trip!

Welcome!! Thank you!!

The Grand Floridian Cafe breakfast was really great, it's a lovely restaurant, and the food was delicious (highly recommend the steak and eggs there!). My only forewarning is that the service is a bit on the slow side, so I wouldn't go there if you plan on rushing out to a park or somewhere! But it's definitely worth going!

 

[Jennifer48]

ring = adorable!

DH & I fell in love with the Boardwalk last year when we stayed there. We'll be your neighbors!

Do you have any pictures of Sugar^3? I've never heard of it before! Good idea not going to DHS but I figured you would have ended up at Epcot!

Oh and your review of Kouzzina sounds delish! DH & I tried breakfast there but we might have to try dinner!