A Salute to All Nations...But Mostly Walt Disney World! A June '12 TR UPDATE 8/9!

[Epaima]

Yay for the short walk to Hollywood Studios! I also dream of staying in the Hollywood Tower Hotel!

I love that walk to Hollywood Studios; it is such a good feeling to be able to walk to a Disney park from your hotel! That's probably one of the biggest reasons I love the Epcot area resorts!

 

[Epaima]

Chapter Four: Star Wars Weekends!

When we last left, we were on our way to Hollywood Studios. What I didn't yet mention is that part of the reason we chose the week we did was so that we could experience Star Wars Weekends for the first time. I'm a pretty big Star Wars fan, in that I will always watch the movies whenever they are on TV and have many of the lines memorized. I was also Princess Leia for Halloween when I was five (hair buns and all!) Needless to say, visiting Disney World when SWW was happening has been at the top of my list for quite a while.

(Please ignore my scary brother in the background. And yes, I know that in the movies Leia never used a lightsaber. She also never carried a glow in the dark hunny pot, but I was a little kid and I wanted to have both)

Originally the plan was to do SWW on Sunday the 10th, but a certain hard-to-get dining reservation was for that day at lunch, meaning we would miss the main parade. So we moved to Saturday! However, I could not for the life of me remember what time the parade was to start at (Oops!) The one CM told us 3:00 or something like that ( the Pixar Pals one). I knew that wasn't right and that the actual time was closer to noon.

So we decided to go to everyone's favorite place in Hollywood Studios to get cupcakes: Starring Rolls Cafe!

I had never ever had a cupcake from here before, but knew how good they are from reading the cupcake thread on the food board and all the Frump trip reports. I even made a list before we left of the various cupcakes I really wanted to try. Also, my sister made a souvenir request of a R2-D2 mug. Thus, our first Disney food choices were selected.

A Diet Coke in an R2-D2 mug (technically it was in a paper cup, which was nice because then the inside wasn't all sticky to take home) and a chocolate peanut butter Darth Vader cupcake.

That cupcake was one of the best I have ever had in my life! The cake part was nice and chocolatey, while still being moist (a problem I think a lot of chocolate cakes have is dryness). The frosting was a good peanut butter, without being too sugary (you know what I mean). And then they cover it in some sort of chocolate sprinkle things. Yum. Just Yum.

After splitting that giant delicious cupcake, my mom and I lined up for the parade. While we were eating our food on the patio outside SRC, the loudspeakers made an announcement for the special parade which was starting in just 15 minutes!

The parade was really awesome! The costumes were fantastic and it was so cool to be able to see some of my favorite characters come to life! However, we were in our spots 10 minutes ahead with only a few people around us (aka the people in front of us). Once the parade started, swarms of people came around us, making it dreadfully hot especially because we were already in the sun! A lot of these people tried to push in front, which was unfair because I know that some people waited for a very long time to get their good spots. I managed to film the parade, but it was very difficult because of the heat (and very gross-so much sweat )

After that I told my mom we had to find a way to cool off, so we picked one of my favorite rides, The Great Movie Ride! It was a pleasant way to spend about half an hour (line included) in the air conditioning. And, we got the cowboy played by a girl which was a first for us!

We then tried to do an animation class, but the line was just too long for our tastes.

Following this we went to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which my mom and I hadn't done for over ten years! It was very enjoyable, but Ariel's voice was very nasally and not all that pleasant to listen to

During the time we were on The Great Movie Ride, we received the text that our room was ready! We started making our way to the park exit by walk of walking through some of the gift shops. We of course looked through all the merchandise, especially the Star Wars items. Now, remember I love Star Wars, in particular Princess Leia (Halloween costume) and Queen Amidala/Padme (I had paper dolls, Barbie-sized fashion dolls, figurines, and a t-shirt of her). They had Leia and Amidala rubber fashion dolls (like Polly Pockets and the ones they have for all the princesses, Tinker Bell, and Minnie). I was in heaven! They have all the clothes they wore from the movies! We bought those, and the CMs working there told us that Darth's Mall wasn't too crowded and that we should check that out.

Darth's Mall is HUGE! It is basically this giant air conditioned tent they set up right behind Rock'n'Roller Coaster and it is filled with Star Wars merchandise. There is also a character meet and greet in there, and we had to do that to get the full SWW experience. When we got in line, Luke Skywalker was out meeting people which I thought was pretty cool. Right about as we got to the front, he went to go chill with Han or something and out came one of my childhood heroes, Princess Leia (wahoo!) We even got to move ahead of some people because they had already met her and were waiting for someone different (keep in mind its like a half an hour line and the character rotations are about 45 minutes). These people are diehard fans!

Here are the pictures!

And then one of just me with her.

(Can you tell which one I got from the Photopass website because I blinked in the one I have from my camera? (hint: the second one))

I was already beyond happy with the merchandise we had already bought, so we left Darth's Mall empty handed. We had a lot of fun though just looking at everything, especially the artwork that is super expensive!

Until next time, thanks for reading!
​

 

[MEK]

That's such a cute picture of you in your Halloween costume. Why the heck can't Princess Leia carry a lightsaber?

The cupcake is adorable. I had no idea they made star wars themed cupcakes in starring rolls. It almost looks too cute to eat. Almost!

Great pics. Your dress is very cute!

OK, ready to see the room!

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Oooooohhhh...I love these pictures!!!

The last time we were there we stayed at the BWI concierge-level and your pictures bring me right back there!

 

[Epaima]

That's such a cute picture of you in your Halloween costume. Why the heck can't Princess Leia carry a lightsaber?

The cupcake is adorable. I had no idea they made star wars themed cupcakes in starring rolls. It almost looks too cute to eat. Almost!

Great pics. Your dress is very cute!

OK, ready to see the room!

Aww thanks! And you're totally right about the lightsaber and Leia!

I believe Starring Rolls and a few other places have a special cupcake just for Star Wars Weekends. I always feel bad about eating things that are really cute or pretty (until I taste them !)

I was going to include the room in this update, but I got a little wordy! The next update should be up tomorrow!

Oooooohhhh...I love these pictures!!!

The last time we were there we stayed at the BWI concierge-level and your pictures bring me right back there!

Thank you! I'm glad the pictures have been able to take you back! There will be some more later in the TR that will take you back even more!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

OMG! I so want that mug! I can't believe that I am going to have to brave June at the world to get one. Might have to check ebay.......

 

[Epaima]

OMG! I so want that mug! I can't believe that I am going to have to brave June at the world to get one. Might have to check ebay.......

It truly is an awesome mug! I almost kept it for myself, but in the end gave it to my sister like she asked.

Hopefully you are able to acquire one someday!

 

[Epaima]

Chapter Five: The Room at Last!

Sorry that this one is a little bit shorter than the others!

To get back to Boardwalk to see our room for the first time, my mom and I decided to try out another mode of transportation, the Friendship boats!

Boardwalk is the last stop before Epcot and the first after it, so coming from HS, we decided to get off at the Swan and Dolphin. It was a five minute walk from there to the resort, whereas the boat took an additional ten minutes.

Luckily for my mom, our room was number 3303 (I think- I didn't actually write it down, but I know that it is just threes and zeros). This room was the first room on the left by the elevator!

We entered, found our luggage, and set down our recent purchases. Then I took some photos before we rumpled everything up.

I know these pictures seem very dark, but the room did not feel this way at all.

This was the pullout sofa which we didn't use, but apparently you do not have to remove the cushions to make it a bed. This astonished my mom a great deal (she kept commenting on it over and over again)

I immediately put Stacey on after this picture was taken. Gotta hear those Disney must-dos!

Unfortunately I never took a picture of the view from the room, but I can describe it. We overlooked the main clown pool, but a tree was blocking our view so we could not actually see the clown slide. Our room was in between the yellow and maroon sections of paneling on the outside, which made it easy to identify.

Once we got all our clothes placed in the drawers nicely, we took some time to relax, because it was now almost three. We had been up since 5 am that morning with less than five hours of sleep. We both napped for a little bit. Before that, my mom read a book and I played with my new dolls by dressing them up (it's ok to act and play like a child when
at Disney in my opinion).

Feeling refreshed, we both cleaned and got ready for a very special dinner!

​

 

[marDgreen88]

Hey! I'm joining in! Your TR is awesome so far. OH, and I have to mention that I live about an hour from William and Mary, and have a few friends that go/have gone there! Can't wait to read more!

 

[MEK]

My room was near the elevator too, but I kept getting out of the elevator and walking the wrong way.

Glad you are all settled in. There are times when a nap is just want you gotta do! I did not know the sofa bed came out all as one unit without taking the cushions off. Interesting.

 

[Motocross Tink]

Love the friendship boats! Sounds like you had a great room and location!!

 

[Epaima]

Hey! I'm joining in! Your TR is awesome so far. OH, and I have to mention that I live about an hour from William and Mary, and have a few friends that go/have gone there! Can't wait to read more!

Yay! I hope you enjoy reading. I always love to hear about connections people have to W&M, so it's great that you have many

My room was near the elevator too, but I kept getting out of the elevator and walking the wrong way.

Glad you are all settled in. There are times when a nap is just want you gotta do! I did not know the sofa bed came out all as one unit without taking the cushions off. Interesting.

I honesty don't think we ever walked the wrong way. In retrospect now, I am really surprised at that fact. That's so funny that it happened to you!

Naps are one the best things, in my opinion. The sofabed was definitely interesting

Love the friendship boats! Sounds like you had a great room and location!!

Friendship boats are so nice, except for when there's a big storm

Thanks! We loved the room a lot!

 

[unbrelievable]

Joining in! I'd love a mother/daughter trip sometime, but my mom has insisted she's not going back until she has grandkids to take.

 

[luckylady]

I'm in for the read. Love that you treated your mo to an M&D trip. DD and I hope to take one sometime after fall semester for her. Can't wait to hear more. Ahhh the boats nice way to get back from EPCOT and HS.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Thanks for the toom pics! Brings back memories of our March 2011 trip. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[Epaima]

Joining in! I'd love a mother/daughter trip sometime, but my mom has insisted she's not going back until she has grandkids to take.

Welcome!

That's too bad that your mom is insisting on waiting. My mom once tried something similar until I explained that she would be waiting a very long time. She then agreed that going now instead of waiting seemed more favorable

I'm in for the read. Love that you treated your mo to an M&D trip. DD and I hope to take one sometime after fall semester for her. Can't wait to hear more. Ahhh the boats nice way to get back from EPCOT and HS.

Glad to have you joining!

That's so wonderful that you want to take a M&D trip! Hopefully everything works out well, and I'm sure appreciate looking forward to it during those stressful exams (I know I did!)

I love the Friendship boats They always seem the best after spending some time in the parks!

Thanks for the toom pics! Brings back memories of our March 2011 trip. Looking forward to reading more.

I'm glad you enjoyed them! I always get nostalgic for past trips when I see similar rooms or pictures of the hotel, just like you

 

[Epaima]

Chapter Six: First Signature Experience!

After resting in our room for some time, we decided that we were getting hungry and headed out to our first ADR of the trip!

As we were walking to the bus stop, it started pouring rain! Luckily the path to the bus stops is covered (something I really like about the deluxe resorts), but soon the rain started creeping into the stop. Everyone in the huddled together in the center. As soon as the Magic Kingdom bus came, we immediately got on.

As the bus was driving along, it was still very cloudy and rainy. We arrived at the Magic Kingdom, and transferred to a Wilderness Lodge bus that was already waiting. In this whole rain storm, we did not get wet at all (that takes some skills. I was very proud of this fact).

As we were going to the Wilderness Lodge, a sideways rainbow appeared between the Conteporary and Bay Lake Tower!

How pretty! (even with the glare from the bus window)

We entered into my mom's favorite resort and headed to our first signature dining experience, Artist Point! (My mom loves the Pacific Northwest, so this was one of her special birthday meals!)

Since we had originally planned on the bus transportation taking longer, we arrived and checked in a half an hour early. We must have arrived right as the restaurant opened, because they took us in immediately and no one was there!

We were able to get a table in the one corner by two windows. Because it was still very cloudy from the rain, it felt like we were really sitting in the wilderness of the Pacific.

Our lovely view of the rock work outside!

Our waitress here was excellent! The service is really great at signatures if ever server is like her!

She brought out our waters and bread (sourdough, maybe?) with volcanic sea salt. I love Disney bread, and this combination was delicious.

(Ps. I feel really bad about not having like any food pictures, so I am going to use some from the Disney Food blog. You guys should check that place out - It's AMAZING!)

My mom and I decided that we would not be ordering appetizers, so that we could be sure to leave room for dessert. However, my mom had wanted to try the Portobello soup, so our server brought us complimentary cups. They were very small, but enough for us to get the full flavor. That soup was delicious (and I don't like mushrooms at all!)

For our entrees, my mom ordered the roasted buffalo tenderloin. She LOVED it.

(you can totally tell that these pictures aren't mine because of how good they are!)

I ordered the crispy buttermilk-dipped airline chicken. This was very good. It came with herb spätzle, which is one my absolute favorite things to eat (it's a type of German egg noodle). My only complaint about this dish is that there so much food! I could barely eat half of it!

For dessert, we both knew that we were going to share the Artist Point Cobbler. It was super yummy! And our server made it also complimentary for us because we were celebrating my Mom's birthday. She also brought out a glass of champagne for my mom and sparkling cider for me! (Seriously, one of the best servers we have ever had! She even gave us a DVC discount just because we were staying in a DVC room!)

We left Artist Point feeling very full and happy. My mom still raves about this meal today and I'm glad we got to go there, just because it made her so happy.

Happy reading until next time
​

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Yeah for the great meal and good transportation mojo. We only DVC at the WL, but have never eater at AP. Guess I need to plan another trip so I can work it in.

 

[Epaima]

Yeah for the great meal and good transportation mojo. We only DVC at the WL, but have never eater at AP. Guess I need to plan another trip so I can work it in.

I think it was some of that Disney magic working!

My mom's favorite resort is WL, so eventually we hope to stay there someday. AP is definitely someplace you should visit (especially if it means planning another trip )

 

[MEK]

Was the sofa bed comfortable at the BWV? One of us will be using it in October because its a girl's trip.

Dinner at AP sounds like a great way to kick off a vacation. We ate there in December (second time) and loved it. The first time my DH and I were celebrating an anniversary and they made us feel like celebrities. It was wonderful. So glad you and your mom enjoyed your meal.