A pregnant mama, Mr. Crazypants, and Ga-Gae celebrate Epcots 30th! TR LINK-10/16!

[CandleontheWater]

Ok, so yesterday there was some news out of Food and Wine headquarters (wouldn't that be a fun place to live!)

Apparently there is going to be a new kiosk- the Terra marketplace- with- get this- an ALL VEGAN MENU!

Seriously!

I mean, I have nothing against vegans, I went to a very progressive college after all, but out of all the delicious food and alcohol to choose from, great minds at Disney decided to go with fake chicken and "cashew cheese". ewww! Well at least there will be one booth without a long line!

In other, better news, there also will be Florida market place (fingers crossed for fried shrimp and maybe blackened grouper!) and newly crafted beverages for kids!

Normally kids drinks would not catch my eye, since I tend to gravitate towards the adult variety, but since that won't be happening this trip, I'm all for a few fun, fruity, non-alcoholic drinks!

Also we got some news from the refurb roundup that the Country Bears will be hibernatin' during out trip!

Bummer! I'm all for showing the bears some love, but Everett does enjoy the show, and I know I am going to appreciate every opportunity to get in the A/C and off my feet. Guess what Everett- you're sitting through the Hall of Presidents!

So some good news, some bad news, and some bizarre news (cashew cheese????) about our upcoming trip!

What do you all think?

 

[marDgreen88]

Cashew CHEESE? That may be the most disgusting thing I've ever heard.

Bummer that Country Bears will be closed, but who knows... maybe Everett will really enjoy Hall of Presidents?? You may have a young historian in the making!

 

[amandaw]

I read that about the new offerings for F&W, too. My thoughts were pretty much the same as yours. I think I said to myself, "Well, I know one kiosk we don't need to stop at."

I thought I saw that Country Bears was going to be down during our trip but wasn't sure. I'm ashamed to say that I have not brought Reid to that yet. Oh well.....another year!

 

[shan23877]

I read that too. My thought was pretty much "EWWWWW, Why?" I have a friend who's vegan, and her food always looks kinda gross.

Hall of Presidents huh? Well, I like it, but I'm not sure it'll be Everett's cup of tea

Yay for some new N/A drinks. It's like they knew you were pregnant!

 

[vikkii19]

I definitely won't be in that vegan line.

I was on the fence for DD and the country bears, thinking she might be scared, so I guess that made my decision for me.

I've already worked it out with DH that on October 1st, if DD can't hang long enough for illuminations, he'll go back to the room with her so I can stay in Epcot

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow, a vegan booth? Well, I hope it is popular enough that it draws some of the crowd away from the good stuff. I would challenge you to try this cashew cheese, just to report back to us about it in the TR... then again, you're pregnant, so that might not be such a good idea.

That's a shame that the Country Bears will be getting a refurb when you're there. I don't think I could ever do a Disney World trip without seeing it... granted it isn't the best show ever, but I remember loving it when I was about Everett's age, and I just always have to see it.

 

[khertz]

Dare I say it, I might actually be a little excited if Country Bears is down by the time we get there so I don't have to sit through it?

 

[amazingact21]

A FL marketplace sounds like a great idea, along with children's drinks, but I agree with you on the vegan front. I mean, I guess the great thing about WDW is that there's something for everyone, so I'm sure if there are any vegan visiting during F&W, they'll appreciate it. (Not for me, though.)

 

[fitgirl36]

Ok, so yesterday there was some news out of Food and Wine headquarters (wouldn't that be a fun place to live!)

Apparently there is going to be a new kiosk- the Terra marketplace- with- get this- an ALL VEGAN MENU!

Seriously!

I mean, I have nothing against vegans, I went to a very progressive college after all, but out of all the delicious food and alcohol to choose from, great minds at Disney decided to go with fake chicken and "cashew cheese". ewww! Well at least there will be one booth without a long line!

In other, better news, there also will be Florida market place (fingers crossed for fried shrimp and maybe blackened grouper!) and newly crafted beverages for kids!

Normally kids drinks would not catch my eye, since I tend to gravitate towards the adult variety, but since that won't be happening this trip, I'm all for a few fun, fruity, non-alcoholic drinks!

Also we got some news from the refurb roundup that the Country Bears will be hibernatin' during out trip!

Bummer! I'm all for showing the bears some love, but Everett does enjoy the show, and I know I am going to appreciate every opportunity to get in the A/C and off my feet. Guess what Everett- you're sitting through the Hall of Presidents!

So some good news, some bad news, and some bizarre news (cashew cheese????) about our upcoming trip!

What do you all think?

My opinion on vegan...more power to ya! I could NEVER become a vegan! I read it twice and still don't get it...cashew cheese? It can't be real cheese with cashews because cheese isn't vegan, so it's cheese made out of cashews?!?

Yeah, let us know how Everett likes the HOP, I'm thinking you'll be scheduling that during his nap time?!? I thought about taking Lily into HOP on our last trip (I have a rule though I don't want to learn on vacation) and I'm sure I would learn something in there since history isn't my cup of tea! Oh yeah, and I figured I would have to take a wiggly, whiny 20 month old out of the show while it was going on! So two big reasons why that attraction was a no on our list!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Cashew CHEESE? That may be the most disgusting thing I've ever heard.

Bummer that Country Bears will be closed, but who knows... maybe Everett will really enjoy Hall of Presidents?? You may have a young historian in the making!

I don't know if I'll actually be brave enough to take him inside, I guess it will depend on how much my feet hurt/how hot it is.

I did take him when he was 4 months old, and he was not a fan. I had to resort to feeding him through the show to keep him quiet. Come to think of it, that strategy may work this time around as well!

I read that about the new offerings for F&W, too. My thoughts were pretty much the same as yours. I think I said to myself, "Well, I know one kiosk we don't need to stop at."

I thought I saw that Country Bears was going to be down during our trip but wasn't sure. I'm ashamed to say that I have not brought Reid to that yet. Oh well.....another year!

Well at least that is one place I don't have to worry about spending money, right?

You guys should take Reid sometime! I didn't expect Everett to enjoy it (because I secretly think it is a little boring) but he got into it!

I read that too. My thought was pretty much "EWWWWW, Why?" I have a friend who's vegan, and her food always looks kinda gross.

Hall of Presidents huh? Well, I like it, but I'm not sure it'll be Everett's cup of tea

Yay for some new N/A drinks. It's like they knew you were pregnant!

I mean, I have been known to eat a bocca chicken patty from time to time, but it isn't in my top most favorite foods list. I agree that most vegan food tries really hard, but mostly just looks gross.

I'll definitely be reporting back about the N/A drinks, I hope they are yummy!

I definitely won't be in that vegan line.

I was on the fence for DD and the country bears, thinking she might be scared, so I guess that made my decision for me.

I've already worked it out with DH that on October 1st, if DD can't hang long enough for illuminations, he'll go back to the room with her so I can stay in Epcot

That sounds like a good deal to me! I bet they'll do a some special tag for Epcot's birthday, so you wouldn't want to miss Illuminations!

I don't think your DD would be scared of the Country Bears, the show doesn't have any dark or especially loud parts. In fact, I think the audio in the theatre is kinda wonky, and its really not loud enough at all.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Wow, a vegan booth? Well, I hope it is popular enough that it draws some of the crowd away from the good stuff. I would challenge you to try this cashew cheese, just to report back to us about it in the TR... then again, you're pregnant, so that might not be such a good idea.

That's a shame that the Country Bears will be getting a refurb when you're there. I don't think I could ever do a Disney World trip without seeing it... granted it isn't the best show ever, but I remember loving it when I was about Everett's age, and I just always have to see it.

You know, if I wasn't pregnant, and you got a few drinks in me, I might be game for some cashew cheese, but that ain't going to be happening this trip. I'll have to stick to chugging Beverly if I want to up the gross factor of the TR!

Dare I say it, I might actually be a little excited if Country Bears is down by the time we get there so I don't have to sit through it?

That is really funny!

A FL marketplace sounds like a great idea, along with children's drinks, but I agree with you on the vegan front. I mean, I guess the great thing about WDW is that there's something for everyone, so I'm sure if there are any vegan visiting during F&W, they'll appreciate it. (Not for me, though.)

I am sure if I was vegan I'd be happy, but you'd never catch me dead become vegan. My vegan friends at college pretty much only ate: salad, rice, beans, and french fries. That sounds like the worst diet ever!

There is a cupcake place close to my house that actually makes vegan cupcakes. They look so pathetic and shriveled next to their full flavor companions. I just feel sorry for them! (I'm talking about the cupcakes- not actual vegans )

My opinion on vegan...more power to ya! I could NEVER become a vegan! I read it twice and still don't get it...cashew cheese? It can't be real cheese with cashews because cheese isn't vegan, so it's cheese made out of cashews?!?

Yeah, let us know how Everett likes the HOP, I'm thinking you'll be scheduling that during his nap time?!? I thought about taking Lily into HOP on our last trip (I have a rule though I don't want to learn on vacation) and I'm sure I would learn something in there since history isn't my cup of tea! Oh yeah, and I figured I would have to take a wiggly, whiny 20 month old out of the show while it was going on! So two big reasons why that attraction was a no on our list!

Yes, I'm envisioning a cheese-like substance made of compressed cashews (doesn't that sound even more appealing! ) I remember my vegan friends in college always had their fridges stuffed with Rice Dream Ice cream substitute (ice cream-like substance made of liquified rice). If you can make ice cream out of rice, I guess you can make cheese out of cashews, but I don't even want to think about how that happens!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Huh. I mean, I'm not AGAINST cashew cheese, but you'd think that Disney might pick something else alongside it than fake chicken. There's a ton of fantastic vegan dishes that don't attempt to fake meat, they're just vegan on their own. Would you try the cashew cheese to say that you had?

 

[amandaw]

Well at least that is one place I don't have to worry about spending money, right?

Exactly!

You guys should take Reid sometime! I didn't expect Everett to enjoy it (because I secretly think it is a little boring) but he got into it!

I probably never took him because I find it boring, too. But, I guess I need to just do it one of these trips before he's too old.

 

[ladylyons]

Awwww No Country Bears!! My DH would make me cancel a trip because of that. He loves the Bears and really wishes they were still in Disneyland. On a good note I did get him to agree to a trip for our 10 year Anniversary in May 2014!!

Yeah I agree with everyone else. I just don't understand vegan. Sorry!! Have fun trying all the kids drinks!! That is new territory for this mom! They order it, they drink it is how I look at it.

 

[fi46re129]

Vegan.. huh.. Im all down for whatever floats your boat but cashew cheese??? We have a vegan restaurant in town and Ive seen the menu... there is a lot of yummy sounding dishes so I'm surprised they would go with this..

I wonder how much they will change the bears?! Have a feeling I will find out in March with the 3 little nieces in tow.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Huh. I mean, I'm not AGAINST cashew cheese, but you'd think that Disney might pick something else alongside it than fake chicken. There's a ton of fantastic vegan dishes that don't attempt to fake meat, they're just vegan on their own. Would you try the cashew cheese to say that you had?

Yes, I agree. I mean, I think a nice vegetable curry would have been fine- they didn't have to add fake meat to the dish!

I don't think I'm going to be trying any cashew cheese, not even for bragging rights!

Exactly!
I probably never took him because I find it boring, too. But, I guess I need to just do it one of these trips before he's too old.

You guys should give it a try, I bet he would find it cute!

Awwww No Country Bears!! My DH would make me cancel a trip because of that. He loves the Bears and really wishes they were still in Disneyland. On a good note I did get him to agree to a trip for our 10 year Anniversary in May 2014!!

Yeah I agree with everyone else. I just don't understand vegan. Sorry!! Have fun trying all the kids drinks!! That is new territory for this mom! They order it, they drink it is how I look at it.

Congrats on planning a 10 year anniversary trip! Are you guys going to Disneyland? I'd love to get out there, maybe in a year or two!

Vegan.. huh.. Im all down for whatever floats your boat but cashew cheese??? We have a vegan restaurant in town and Ive seen the menu... there is a lot of yummy sounding dishes so I'm surprised they would go with this..

I wonder how much they will change the bears?! Have a feeling I will find out in March with the 3 little nieces in tow.

I heard some rumors that they might shorten the show, but I really hope not. I'm just hoping for some maintenance and maybe a sound upgrade. I like the length and content of the show now, please Disney, don't mess with a good thing!

 

[CandleontheWater]

So, sorry I haven't been to active around here lately. Things have gotten really busy with the impending move, and I'm spending lots of time packing, and when I'm not doing that I'm complaining about packing. Both are pretty time consuming!

We've got a little over a week left here in Alexandria, and I'm making good progress sorting out the things I'm going to take with me to CT, the things that are going into storage, the things that are going to Goodwill, and the things that are going in the garbage (please God, don't let me mix up my piles! )

My parents and my brother and his wife are coming down this weekend to pack up stuff and take it back to CT. I have all the things they are going to take in garbage bags in the living room, so it looks like I have a living room full of garbage! Truthfully, I am SO LUCKY I have the awesome family that I do, I don't know what I would do without them! They are going above and beyond to help me out and I am so appreciative!

I'm really looking forward to this all being over, DH and I are stressed out, the cats are freaking out, and Everett has been royally out of sorts.

So that means, I really am super looking forward to my Disney escape!

I'll fill you all in on some of the nitty gritty, and then slowly reveal the itinerary (or lack thereof )

So, we're going to be at WDW from Sept 25th- Oct 2nd and we'll be staying at....

THE CONTEMPORARY!
(photos courtesy of Wikipedia and allears.net)

I was able to get an awesome military discount so we will be living the dream in my favorite resort. We'll be in the tower, in a bay lake view room, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some pixie dust, you never know, right! They didn't have any theme park view rooms available with the military discount, so I wasn't able to book that.

I haven't stayed at the Contemporary since 1986, so I am thrilled, and I know that Everett is going to be over the moon with staying at the "mou choo-choo" hotel.

Originally I had booked the Contemporary because I thought I was going to be solo with Everett for the first three days of the trip. My mom decided that she didn't want me traveling alone and pregnant, so she's going to come the whole time, just work remote Tue, Wed, and Thurs. She's thrilled, because working on her laptop by the Contemporary pool sure beats a day in the office!

Yup, this view sure beat the one outside of her office window!

The main draw of the Contemporary (other than just being simply awesome) was that I could take the monorail to both the MK and Epcot, and not have to worry about a stroller on the bus. Making sure Everett doesn't run out into traffic while simultaneously folding a stroller may be out of the range of my abilities.

Ok, so now that's the when and the where! I'll let you in on the how and the what(are we going to do all week) in a later update.

Oh and if you guys are interested I could fill you in on a mini-trip DH and I are going to take for our anniversary before he leaves for deployment. Its noting grandiose, but I think it will be fun, and nice to get away and spend some time together.

Thanks for sticking with me!

 

[amandaw]

I'm so completely jealous that you're staying at the Contemporary! But, since I like you, I'm also extremely happy for you!

I think it's a fantastic location for y'all! I mean, it really can't be beat!

I would love to hear about the Anniversary trip!

And that's so wonderful that your family is being so helpful with the move. I definitely understand the whole packing/complaining about packing thing. Then, you move & you get to unpack/complain about unpacking. We've been settled for about a week now & I'm still complaining about the move.

I do hope that everything goes very smoothly for y'alls move!

 

[fitgirl36]

Good luck with the move, thank goodness for your awesome family! The stress must be over the top for you! I'm sticking around to hear how the move goes and how your trip planning is taking shape. I hope you are feeling well too!

 

[marDgreen88]

Best wishes on your move! I know packing for college can be stressful, so I can't even fathom packing an entire house!

Hooray for the Contemporary! I'm excited for you to be staying there. "Mon-choo-choo" is the cutest thing I've heard in a while... how precious!

I'd love to hear about your getaway trip!