Am I Up to the Challenge of the 2014 F&WF? Bring on the Food!

[kimmar067]

"Jambo, and Welcome to the 'Kingdom'!"

Honestly, when it comes to the transportation system of WDW, we find that we've always been relatively blessed. It is a rare occasion that we wait more than 10 or 15 minutes for any bus to any location, whether it be to a park or 'back home' to our resort, and this time was no exception:

....as you can see, I barely ha time to capture 3 moments of minutia before boarding our bus back to AKL. I was giddy with anticipation, knowing that the CM when we had checked in already had revealed to us that we would be located in Zebra Trail - hardly known for housing standard rooms of any kind, so I was looking forward to our view upon arrival. Well, Pixie Dust does have its price - we wound up in Room 3546, and let me tell you, it was not the kind of walk that I was going to look forward to after long days in a park, but I made the best of the situation and ambled along the corridor, snapping shots here and there:

....using our MickeyBand to open the door, I can say that I was happily surprised, if not thoroughly impressed. This is the view we encountered upon entering the room. I can assure you, we never grew tired of that view! I also noted how lovely the new linens look. I wasn't particularly fond of those multi-colored bedspreads and I think that the lighter bedsheets and coverings give the room a lighter airiness to them:

 

[Sherrkel]

The room looks great, we've taken a gamble requesting Kudu trail for our standard booked rooms (put in request 3rd floor) - I don't know if the potential longer walk at the price of maybe getting a view of the savannah/animals is going to work out - but I'll probably only get to this resort once so try to make the most of it!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great view from the room. Hope that your feet were up to the challenge of walking to/from the room each day.

 

[kimmar067]

.....my feet were.....as for my KNEES.....wellllllll.......

 

[usnuzuloose]

I can't make promises, I have had a hard time keeping up with poor PIO and Alison. So if I miss you will have a good time.

 

[kimmar067]

...So if I miss you will have a good time.

....um, what?

 

[tlovesdis]

following along...

 

[franandaj]

Hmmmm...a Kimmar's TR. It will be an interesting read and challenge to see if this one gets finished! I'll be back to read.

 

[kimmar067]

If I could walk with the animals, talk with the animals. Grunt, squeak, squawk with the animals;
And they could squeak and squawk and speak and talk to-o-o-o-o me-e-e-e-ee!"

.....I sat on our deck, taking in the view, and seeing if I could identify what four-legged creatures [and two] roamed the savannah before me. Of course, directly below is the 'people pen'. It seems, though, that different animals venture on different parts of the Uzima Savannah throughout the day, so we had the advantage of peeking in on the foraging habits of the elegant giraffes, the sturdy ankole cattle, and various species of antelope:

The sun was slowly moving to the west, and streaming directly upon my right arm, leaving its hot-spot, so, while my DH dozed off watching [what else?] the Weather Channel, I decided to make my way to the human watering hole - otherwise known as the pool...

[next post - Page 3 ~ Post #31]​

 

[kimmar067]

Hmmmm...a Kimmar's TR. It will be an interesting read and challenge to see if this one gets finished! I'll be back to read.

....wait. I didn't even get to the FOOD PORN yet.....yes, that's right - you heard me.


food. porn.

 

[kimmar067]

"Marco-o-o-o-oo-o, Polo-o-o-o-oo.......funny, I don't think they know that game."

....I hurried to the bin that houses the white pool towels. As usual, they were gleaming white and fairly warm; I guessed that they had been recently washed and dried. Anyhow, I grabbed two of them, of course, not because I was going to need any since I would only be venturing about calf-deep into the blue waters of Uzima Springs pool ( hey, at least I could say that I went into the pool ) As I scanned the pool area, I quickly noticed that there was not a lounge chair to be had anywhere - I'm not too naive to think that many had been claimed in the early morning hours, only to be left by their occupants, but I wasn't about to play Devil's Advocate and decide who no longer needed their 'saved' space. I circumnavigated the entire pool area until I found a somewhat semi-secluded area - right across from the flamingo pond, where there were two small children attempting to play "Marco Polo" with its inhabitants. They were of British descent, judging by the accent. I thought it was rather cute that they tried so valiantly to extort the services of those pink-feathered friends. To their chagrin, not a one paid them any mind:

....while the pool atmosphere was so enticing and relaxing by nature, I no longer could stand the intense rays of the October Florida sun, so I glanced one last time around the pool [knowing this visit would be my last for a long while] and returned to the room. We needed to be getting ready to meet with our friends for our 5:45 ADR at the Yachtsman, and a meal that I was really looking forward to.....

 

[PrincessInOz]

When you had posted earlier that you were leaving the PARKS to head to your room, I thought....wow!

But seeing the animals wandering around from the balcony view, I'm thinking WOW! I think I would have left the parks to watch the animals as well.


I'm wondering......is there a picture of the Kimmar-Babe in Baywatch bikini playing Maarcoooo-Polooooo????

 

[kimmar067]

....nope.





[no bathing suits THIS trip.... ]

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like a good start so far.

Where are your DH's overalls?

Food porn?????

 

[kimmar067]

yes.

food porn.

 

[kimmar067]

"Why Do I Feel Like I Just Ran a Marathon? Oh Yeah, Because I Just DID..."

A brief 7-minute wait, and the DHS bus approached the bus depot, letting off its guests returning from a fun-filled day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We climbed aboard, with the intent of walking to the dock directly to the right of the DHS entrance, and hopping a 'friend'ship to take a leisurely ride to Crescent Lake, where our destination was The Yachtsman, located in the heart of the BC/YC. We hopped on to the end of the line, where there were many other would-be passengers awaiting the arrival of a ferry to transport them also. However, it was slow in getting there. We had allotted plenty of time for the transportation process, but this was soon-becoming ridiculous. Finally, after the better part of 20 minutes, a boat appeared on the horizon. Had we been 4 persons sooner, we would have been able to board that's ferry. It was not to be, and to make matters worse, the captain informed us that the next one wouldn't be arriving for at least another 15 or 20 minutes. Now time was of the essence, and we really needed to make our way to the Beach Club....

....I mentioned to my DH that there is a walking path along the river that eventually leads to the S/D/BW area so he started to head in that direction, wondering why we hadn't just done that in the first place....well, that leisurely, meandering stroll turned out to be an intense power-walk, which resulted in a sharp burning sensation in my thighs and calves with each ensuing step. And what kind of joggers and runners ventured upon this same path? Apparently ones who were bedecked with plumes, costumes, and other oddities. Sorry, but I never got that memo, the Run in a Disguise memo....weird. I mean, REALLY weird. To make it more so, most of them seemed to be emanating from the area where the [cue the Psycho shower scene music] <unmentionable> pool is located......yes, that is correct ~ I have an intense aversion to those white-faced, bulbous-nosed, big-shoed, baggy-pantsed, red-coifed guys. Especially when they are larger-than-life ones who spew out kiddies and adults alike frolicking in lavish portentous pools....

By the time we reached the bridge near Jellyrolls, the gap between my DH and I had grown considerably, with me meekly droning, "...go on. Save yourself. Just leave me behind. I'll get there when I get there......" It was at this point where he happened upon an awesome dude in one of those golf-cart thingies (I'm guessing he was a maintenance worker, by the name of Alan, although his tag clearly said "Joe", but it is my estimation that THAT is another story altogether...) Bless his heart - he told us to hop on and he proceeded to drive us smack dab to the door. No, literally. He almost attempted at jumping the few steps, but I convinced him otherwise that I'd survive, and hopped off that most wonderful mode of transportation....Sir, it is with utter gratitude that I salute you...well, that is, until the last statement he uttered before pulling away was "An even BETTER place to eat is at the Flying Fish." That, my friends, was my SECOND choice for ADR's....oh....great. My legs were on fire, sweat was puddling from a stream of perspiration down my back, and now I have doubts on whether I made a good choice for dinner.....

 

[EJ4Disney]

I'm here!! Great start!! I can't wait to read the rest.

 

[wdwnut61]

That is a hike ! When we were staying at the BWI the CM pointed it out and told us it just a short walk to HS yea right

Did you make it to dinner on time?

 

[kimmar067]

"I Know I am Going to Enjoy This Evening's Meal. Well, I've Got Two Words ~ FOOD PORN"

We hurried around the bend and along the corridor to the podium of The Yachtsman, and there sat our friends who had only arrived mere minutes earlier. Of course, I had to side-step into the ladies room to cool myself off, after experiencing such a haughty work-out. Hey, I've heard of burning off calories AFTER a meal, but before? Ridiculous. Just for that, I deserved TWO desserts! We were immediately seated in a waiting area of sorts. Actually, it was kind of like a landlubber's version of picking out a lobster from the lobster tank:

....the maitre'd soon lead us to our table, which turned out to be the perfect spot:

....I mean, really - the view couldn't be beat...it was soon after we were seated that our waiter for the evening, John, introduced himself and, not long after that, we were sipping some wonderful wines. The ambiance was terrific, the conversation was light, the service was impeccable, and the food was nothing short of uh-MAY-zing!

....I promise you, there WAS more food porn, but something happened between that meal and this post.....too much wine. The only thing that made it more perfect was that it was topped off with some absolutely SUPERB creme brûlée`....

 

[PrincessInOz]

WOW! You walked from DHS to the Boardwalk? DH has NEVER been able to persuade me to do that. Well done on managing to hitch a ride on one of those golf cart things.


I need to put the Yachtsman on my list for next time. The steak there always looks so appetising.

So.....where's the creme brulee porn????