Boo to You...and Food & Wine Too! - October 26 to November 2, 2012 Updated Post #282

[PrincessInOz]

Nice! Food porn and the Gran Fiesta tour. I liked the empanada's as well. I'm surprised to see the lamb chop with chips on top. That's NOT how we eat it downunder!

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
What a nice day at EPCOT. So glad the lines weren't as awful as your previous day at the F&W festival.

I'm enjoying your trip report as always.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice! Food porn and the Gran Fiesta tour. I liked the empanada's as well. I'm surprised to see the lamb chop with chips on top. That's NOT how we eat it downunder!

THe food porn was really nice as well as the Gran Fiesta tour. The empanada's were very and it was a good thing that we got some that day. The lamb chop had some chips on top to give it a crunch taste.

Hi Bret,
What a nice day at EPCOT. So glad the lines weren't as awful as your previous day at the F&W festival.

I'm enjoying your trip report as always.

TK

Hi TK,

It was a great day at EPCOT where the lines at the F&W festival were manageable than the other day where the lines were long. But as you know that we had to go at EPCOT on Saturday for the Party for the Senses event that day. We would assume that this day would be even easier than the other day.

Thank you TK.

The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 4​

On the last update, we are in the Mexico Pavilion riding the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros ride. Before we went on the Gran Fiesta Tour, we have ate at a few stands during the Food & Wine Festival. We do plan on eating at more stands later that day but first we are on the GFT.

Now more pictures from the Gran Fiesta Tour

The Three Caballeros of Jose, Panchito and Donald

It is so fun to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour at the Mexico pavilion since it is an easy ride to go on and see Jose and Panchito where you don’t see them on any rides at the Disney parks. Well the only time I have seen Jose and Panchito was during Mickey’s Soundsational Parade at Disneyland. They are part of the Mexico float with Donald which is nice to see them instead of the Gran Fiesta ride.

After the ride was over, we head on over to the vendor stands at the Mexico pavilion to look at while some of us have used the restroom.

When we met up, we head on out of the Mexico pavilion and moved on to our next pavilion. While we were outside, the park was not that crowded which was a good sign where it wasn’t that busy like Saturday. For people that didn’t follow the Saturday part of the trip where we had to come to EPCOT was that we had a special event at EPCOT on Saturday called Party for the Senses. So we had to go that day since some of our party members only had one day park tickets. Back to the trip report.

We were now passing through the Norway pavilion which was not that busy and saw the Scandinavia stand which didn’t have anyone in the wait time.

The next ride for us Maelstrom which is a more intense boat ride that takes you through a Viking village and a mythical forest where we will encounter trolls.

The wait time for Maelstrom was only 5 minutes or less which was usual during the off season at EPCOT.

So we head on Maelstrom. I didn’t get any pictures inside Maelstrom since I didn’t want my camera to get wet. I have gotten a little splash on Maelstrom in the past when I rode this ride. Some of my party members didn’t like the ride when we got off since some of them got wet. But it was fun to ride Maelstrom. After getting off the ride we were in the theater watching a film about Norway. It did took quite a while to watch it and after that we were in the store looking at all merchandise.

We then head on out of Norway and over to the next pavilion which was China. All of our family members are Chinese and they have been to China. But they want to see the China pavilion to see what the difference between the two. While we were in the area, we looked at the China stand which had little wait.

Now we are entering the China pavilion. The work on the pavilion which amazes me every time I see it where the Imagineers did a great job on the details of the buildings.

After walking through, we decided to go and see Reflection of China a 360 Circle Vision film shown in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. My aunt and uncles have been to China in the past and they wanted to see the show which is something that they wanted to do when we went to the China pavilion. We had to wait a while until the next show. My uncles and aunts enjoyed the show which showed them some videos of China they have visited.

When the show was over, we are on the back side of the China pavilion and by the Yonh Feng Shandian shop which had a lot of different Chinese merchandise.

Now we were leaving the China pavilion and over to the next pavilion which was towards Germany. But on the way, there are more different stands to look at if we want to stop in and get something that day. The day was very nice and clear that it would be a perfect night to watch Illuminations where we didn’t see it the other day.

Now passing by the South Korea stand which had some interesting food choices. But no one wanted to try the food at that stand.

The next stand that was in the area was the South Africa stand.

We are now approaching Germany and the next stand was the Cheese stand

My party was not that interested in the cheese stand so we passed by it. We are now entering Germany pavilion and I wanted to go to the Germany stand to get something that I wanted to try when I looked at the menu. But that will be on the next post what I have got that day.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice! Looks like you had lots of time to enjoy F&W without the crowds. Love the pictures of the menus.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice! Looks like you had lots of time to enjoy F&W without the crowds. Love the pictures of the menus.

We did enjoy the time at WS and the crowds at the F&W stands were not that long. We could have stayed and did more that night but we wanted to go around WS and see the rest of the pavilions.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 5​

On the last update, we were walking around World Showcase lagoon checking all of the different pavilions that we have missed the last time we were at EPCOT. Also it was a great opportunity to go around WS to try some of the different food stands during the Food and Wine Festival. We passed through some stands but we didn’t stop. We just passed by the Cheese stand around Germany and now let’s get back to the trip report.

We were just entering Germany after passing through the Cheese stand. My uncles were intrigued by the Cheese stand but they didn’t want to stop at that stand and get some food. But when we were by Germany, they wanted to go to the Brewer’s Collection to try out some beer while I wanted to try something at the Germany stand.

I head on over towards the Germany stand to get the apple strudel which I have read before coming to EPCOT which is one of the dishes that I wanted to try at the Germany stand. Good thing that the stand wasn’t that long so it was going to be easy to go through the queue and get one.

I got the apple strudel with Werther’s original karamel sauce and vanilla ice cream. It was a little small but the strudel was very good.

My uncles got a Radeberger Pilsner and Schofferhofer Grapefruit beer at the Brewer’s Collection stand.

We all walked passed by Germany pavilion and it was not as bad as the other day when we were at EPCOT but we can tell that it was getting a little busy in the back side of World Showcase. It was almost close to 2pm which we were at EPCOT for a while.

The next country right by Germany was Italy which some of my party members were looking forward to going around the area. There were a few stand around the Italy pavilion. There was the Poland stand as well as the Italy stand. The lines were not that long and I thought that they would want to stop at those two stands. But we didn’t do that and just walked by them.

Poland menu

Poland stand

Italy menu

Italy stand

We all wanted to look at World Showcase Lagoon and see the rest of World Showcase which is so fun to look at from the Italy pavilion area. They all wanted to get some pictures around the area so we took some pictures at that area.

After spending some time around the Italy pavilion, we head on over to the America pavilion. This time we plan on watching American Adventure. After seeing the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom, I had a hunch that they would like this show. It was not that full at the America pavilion.

When we got to the American Adventure building, it was not time for the show so we waited in the building and saw the exhibit. It started around 2:30pm and we head on in American Adventure.

After watching American Adventure we head on out of the building and back outside. This was kind of surprising to me that all of my party members did not like the show a lot and some of them were not even watching the show. They were not impressed with this show a lot compare to the Hall of Presidents. So I knew that they wouldn’t want to see this again if we ever come back to EPCOT.

We were walking down towards WS again and we just passed by some stands at the America pavilion which was the Hops & Barley Market. My uncles were interested in getting something to drink after getting one at the Brewer’s Collection, so they head on over towards the Hops & Barley stand and got a Samuel Adams beer. I forgot which one they got but I knew that they got a Samuel Adams that day.

We were passing by the Florida Local which was one of the newest stands at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.

Florida Local menu

Now we were heading on over to the Japan pavilion which I always like to go to every time I am at EPCOT.

We head on in the pavilion and went through the stores which is fun to go through. We spend a while in the store especially my DB who like Japanese merchandise.

After leaving the store at the Japan pavilion, we were about to leave the Japan pavilion as we passed through the stand. I had to get some pictures of the stand.

I thought about stopping at the Japan stand to get some sushi but I was still a little full from those other food at the other stands around WS. So we skipped that and now we were now entering Morocco.

Just passing by the Singapore food stand. It was very bright when I took that picture

The Morocco stand

Menu

That’s it for this post and I will have more from EPCOT and at WS.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 5​

I got the apple strudel with Werther’s original karamel sauce and vanilla ice cream. It was a little small but the strudel was very good.

That's not vanilla ice cream.....that's vanilla milkshake!


Was the karemel sauce good? Dana and I just loved the kuche karamel store in Germany.

 

[tksbaskets]

Looks like a nice day around the WS. Glad it wasn't so crowded!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

That's not vanilla ice cream.....that's vanilla milkshake!


Was the karemel sauce good? Dana and I just loved the kuche karamel store in Germany.

When I read on the description that it is called vanilla ice cream. Just as you said that it looks like vanilla milkshake on the plate.

The caramel sauce was very nice. We haven't went to the Germany store during our trip and that is nice to hear that the kuche caramel is something to have when you are at Germany.

Looks like a nice day around the WS. Glad it wasn't so crowded!

TK

IT was a very nice day at WS where it wasn't that busy as well as the stands where we only had to wait a short time.

The next post will be up shortly just before the Super Bowl starts.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 6​

On the last update, we were walking around World Showcase lagoon checking all of the different pavilions that we have missed the last time we were at EPCOT. Also we had done a few more different stands during the Food & Wine Festival. We stopped at the American Pavilion and watched American Adventure. It was a little disappointing that they didn’t like the show a lot but we had a great time resting up while watching the show after all that walking around EPCOT.

We just passed by more different food stands around the Morocco pavilion and now are about to enter the France area. But first we looked at the other stands around the area and they were not that busy as expected.

Belgium stand

Over at the France pavilion, the stand was also not that busy. We could have gone to these stands, but we were a little full that day.

France menu

Going over the bridge and over to the United Kingdom pavilion. On our first day at EPCOT on Saturday we spent a lot of time at the UK pavilion where we had lunch at the Rose and Crown restaurant. It was a little busy around that area and we knew that it was in the afternoon while more and more people are entering the park.

Passing by the Ireland stand.

Ireland menu

We didn’t stay in UK pavilion too long since it was getting a little late for us since we do plan on getting back to the Sheraton Vistana Resort to rest up so we can come back later that night and watch Illuminations.

We are now entering the Canada pavilion and we could have stopped and watch the O’ Canada! 360 Circle-Vision theater show but we had to go back to the hotel and rest up that night. My aunt’s and uncle’s were getting a little tired that day even though they rode in the ECV and wheelchair.

When we were about to leave the Canada pavilion area, the stand for the F&W Festival was not that long and I wanted to get the Cheddar Cheese Soup and so we stopped at that stand. One of my uncle’s went on over to the Greece stand to get a drink.

Canada menu

My aunt and I were in the line to get some cheese soups. So another person in my group wanted to get the cheese soup as well as myself.

We got our soups and head on over towards our other group right by the Greece stand

The Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup which is something I will like to have when I go back to EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival.

Now we were passing by the Greece stand

Greece menu

We got a few of more dishes and drinks while we were heading on out of the park. On the way out of the park, more and more people are around the entrance of World Showcase.

Passing by the Hawaii stand

My uncle’s have stopped at the Craft Beers stand to get some beer which they like to drink. My DB also got some beer in that area. I didn’t get any since I don’t drink beer.

Now we are back at Future World and heading on out of the park. Passing by the Ocean’s Cranberries area.

Future World was not as bad as I have thought but it didn’t matter for us since we are planning on leaving the park and coming back later that night.

Before we left EPCOT, we had to drop off the ECV and wheelchair. Luckily that we can use the ECV and wheelchair later that night since it is good for the rest of the day. So we will be planning on using them for a spot for Illuminations.

While they were returning the wheelchair and ECV, I watched Monorail Silver entering the EPCOT Monorail station.

Now we dropped off the ECV and wheelchair and now exiting the park. My DB and I have to walk a little down since they have parked at the handicapped section. My aunt went with them so she wouldn’t have to walk that far to the car.

We exited the parking lot and head on back towards the Sheraton Vistana Resort. We got back to the resort around 4pm which was a long time for all of us that night. We had to be back at EPCOT around 8:15pm so we can watch the 9pm Illumination show. So we had some time to rest up until we had to go back. But we also need to eat that night. So we plan on eating off-site that night instead of eating on-property.

That’s it for now and I will have more from EPCOT that night and see where we have ate that night.

 

[tksbaskets]

What a busy day! It's nice that you got to go back to your hotel and relax so you'd be rested for Illuminations. We really enjoy that show.

Did you enjoy the cheese soup? We ate at Le Cellier on Christmas Day and three of us got the soup. Yum.

Back to the Super Bowl after the power outage delay....

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lovely pictures and what a great walk around F&W. That cheese soup is great, isn't it?

 

[mvf-m11c]

What a busy day! It's nice that you got to go back to your hotel and relax so you'd be rested for Illuminations. We really enjoy that show.

Did you enjoy the cheese soup? We ate at Le Cellier on Christmas Day and three of us got the soup. Yum.

Back to the Super Bowl after the power outage delay....

It was a busy day with all the different rides and food stands that day. It was very nice to relax after all that walking around EPCOT. Glad that we ate at a lot of different stands during the F&WF. Illuminations is by far our favorite nighttime show at WDW. I do enjoy watching Wishes at the MK. They would have like the show if we went one night.

Just like the first time on Saturday, I really enjoyed it a lot. It would be nice if EPCOT had a quick stand for the soup and it will be a big hit at the Canada Pavilion.

Lovely pictures and what a great walk around F&W. That cheese soup is great, isn't it?

It was a great walk around WS and during the F&W Festival. The soup is great like always. When you go to WDW in February, you should think of getting the cheese soup at Le Cellier restaurant.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 7​

On the last update, we were walking around World Showcase lagoon checking all of the different pavilions that we have missed the last time we were at EPCOT. Also it was a great opportunity to go around WS to try some of the different food stands during the Food and Wine Festival. We stopped at a few stands on the way out of the park where I got another Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup which is outstanding. We all had a great time at EPCOT that day and we head on back to the Sheraton Vistana Resort to rest up that night for Illuminations. So let’s get back to the trip report.

We were all resting up at the Sheraton Vistana Resort until it was time to head on back to EPCOT for the 9:30pm Illuminations show. My DB and I have seen Illuminations a lot of times ever since we come to WDW. It is a must do show every time we are here in WDW. We knew that they will love this show a lot. Some of them watched a little of Illuminations when we had dinner at Party for the Senses on Saturday night where we had dinner.

But before we head on back to EPCOT, we didn’t have dinner. They didn’t want to eat on-site and I knew a place where they would like to eat. My DB and I recommended a place where we have eaten in the past which is called “Black Angus Steak House”. We have eaten at Black Angus Steak House which is on Apopka Vineland road close to the entrance to DTD. In the past and always enjoy a steak dinner before all of us head on over to the park. So we head on over to the Black Angus Steak House for dinner that night.

The food is very affordable and very nice where you can have a steak dinner. We all had different dishes that night and we all shared with each other.

Most of us got an appetizer with our entrée and all the food was very nice.

Tomato Bisque

I had Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon

My Aunt had Prime Rib

Top Sirloin with Fried Shrimp

Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon with shrimp and vegetables.

After we had dinner, it was close to 8:00pm, so we head on out of the Black Angus Steak House and head on over towards EPCOT. Since we were close to WDW, we went down on Hotel Plaza towards EPCOT which goes past by Downtown Disney. It was a little busy that night at DTD.

We got to EPCOT around 8:30pm and parked the cars in the parking lot. Good thing that the parking lot was not that full that night where we got to park a little close to the entrance. There were some people leaving that night instead of watching Illuminations.

When we got to the park, we first head on over towards the ECV and Wheelchair Rental area so our aunt and uncle won’t have to stand up for the show. It was also a good opportunity to watch the show from the handicapped area which I have never seen the show from that area. We were planning on watching Illuminations right next to the souvenir shop on the right hand side when you enter World Showcase.

Spaceship Earth looks great every time we see it at night.

After getting the ECV and Wheelchair, we head on over to World Showcase and get our spot for Illuminations. It was not that bad that night where there were some people walking on over to the area while some are leaving the area. First we head on over towards the store on the right hand side when you enter WS from Future World.

The main spot which is the center where I have watched Illuminations a lot was mostly full or no spots available. So we head on over towards the handicapped section on the right hand side. I really wanted to watch Illuminations from my favorite spot but we didn’t get there early enough to get the spot.

The handicapped area was roped off and we were allowed to go in since we have a Wheelchair or ECV person with us. We got to the handicapped area with about 30 minutes to go until the show started at 9:30pm. My uncle and aunt were right by the railing while most of us were right behind them.

We were close right by the Friendship boat dock that goes to the other side of WS.

It was a nice night where it was not that cold and it was clear that night for Illuminations. I used my tripod for the videotaping of Illuminations while I had my DSLR camera in my hands taking pictures that night. So here are pictures from Illuminations.

That’s it for now on this post and I will have more from Illuminations on another post.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Look at all of that steak! WOW! Love the meals.

That's a great spot you got for Illuminations. Hope the video turned out as good as the pictures.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Look at all of that steak! WOW! Love the meals.

That's a great spot you got for Illuminations. Hope the video turned out as good as the pictures.

The food was very nice that night. Good thing that we stopped at Black Angus Steak House that night.

It was a very nice spot in the handicapped area. The video turned out really well while the pictures were the same thing. I did get a lot of pictures of the smoke from the firework trails which is common.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 6 – October 31, 2012 – Part 8​

On the last update, we were back at EPCOT that night watching the 9:30pm show of Illuminations. This is one of my all-time favorite shows at WDW where I have to see it every time I come to WDW. We all head back that night to EPCOT and got a fine spot to watch Illuminations that night. Now back with more pictures from Illuminations.

More pictures of Illuminations that night during Halloween night. It was a nice way to enjoy Halloween night at EPCOT watching Illuminations.

After Illuminations was over, we start packing all of our stuff and head out of the park like everyone else since EPCOT is now officially closed. But we can stay in the park for about 1 hour after park hours to do some last minute shopping. So we head on over to Mouse Gear store at Future World.

We stopped at Mouse Gear store to do some last minute shopping and my group bought a few merchandise at the store. Luckily I was there with them so they can save some money from my Annual Pass. They bought a few shirts, hats, and glasses at the store.

After getting some merchandise at Mouse Gear, we started to head on over towards the Wheelchair/ECV rental area to drop off the wheel chair and ECV that my aunt and uncle used that night. Luckily we had the ECV and wheelchair or we would not get a great spot to watch Illuminations that night.

Now we are heading on out of the park and back to the cars. We left around 10pm that night and on our way back to the Sheraton Vistana Resort to call it for the night.

This was a fun day on Halloween day where we got to go back to EPCOT that day and got to eat at a lot of different stands during the Food & Wine Festival. We all had a great time at the different stands to try out different food and drinks. This was way better than Saturday which we had to wait in a long line just to get the food or drinks. We got to go on a few more rides that night and got to watch Illuminations which is so amazing to see every time I am at WDW.

Now the next day is our last full day in Orlando and my aunts and uncles are looking forward to going to Universal Studios Orlando on the next day. So I will have more from the rest of my Orlando trip on the next post.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great shots of the fireworks. That's one show I'm looking forward to seeing again in October.

Looking forward to the next update.

 

[tksbaskets]

Yummy looking dinner. I'd have picked the prime rib. I just love Illuminations. Your pictures of the show are outstanding!