Celebrating at POFQ/AKL in September 2015! COMPLETE

[Dentam]

It was pretty hot out by this point and I was craving a frozen (no pun intended) beverage after we left Norway. Luckily, Mexico was up next and is home to one of my favorite WDW drinks!



I got my drink at a stand just outside the pavilion and brought it inside with me.



I got a blended strawberry and lime margarita with salt on the rim - yum!



We were going to go on the ride here but they wouldn't let me on with my drink and I wanted to enjoy it rather than chugging it down! We just looked around the shopping area in the middle a bit before heading around World Showcase again.

As we headed toward Canada, we passed a few booths that were already set up for the Food and Wine Festival.





We were thinking that we'd love to go to this event someday, but talked to people who told us it is extremely crowded which makes it harder to enjoy. We are not big on crowds at all - which is why we were braving the early September heat... we'd been told this was a less crowded time of the year... more on that later.

We dodged in and out of air conditioned gift shops and took a few pics of the entrance area before heading on to Canada.

 

[Dentam]

This update may take me awhile since I keep getting booted off the DIS website - anyone else having this problem? It doesn't happen on any other site I go to just this one.

Anyway, Canada is one of my favorite pavilions so I have more photos!




I've always loved how they try to recreate a bit of the Butchart Gardens in this area!




I think they were having some issues - possibly Canna virus - with most of the Canna lilies that we saw throughout EPCOT but otherwise the gardens were looking nice.

Next we headed over to watch the show... love this little path that leads you through the mountain and along a stream.




I also like the theming in the waiting area before you enter the show.





And of course the best part of this show is the awesome host - Martin Short!



After enjoying the show we headed into a gift shop where we saw these cute t-shirts. One thing we really like about World Showcase is that the shops have unique items specific to the country you are in.



Although this t-shirt has a pretty universal message I guess. My sister would like this!

Next up we were heading over to the UK - where a furry little beggar was about to help himself to part of my caramel apple!

 

[Elevationist]

I'm loving your photos! And it sounds like you have a critter story incoming... I love Disney critter stories!

 

[Dentam]

I'm loving your photos! And it sounds like you have a critter story incoming... I love Disney critter stories!

Thanks! I do have a critter story coming - even Alice took notice as she was leaving her meet and greet in the UK!

 

[Angeejoe]

I can see the Canada pics, yea! I think the flowers always look so pretty here.

How are you feeling? We're you able to return to work this week? I hope that you're doing much better!!

 

[Dentam]

How are you feeling? We're you able to return to work this week? I hope that you're doing much better!!

I'm feeling a lot better - still not 100% but definitely better each day! I only worked 2 hours last week - lol... so pathetic but I was useless. I seriously came straight home and layed down after working those 2 hours.

 

[Angeejoe]

I'm feeling a lot better - still not 100% but definitely better each day! I only worked 2 hours last week - lol... so pathetic but I was useless. I seriously came straight home and layed down after working those 2 hours.

I'm glad you're feeling better & that you had the sick time to use!

 

[KathyM2]

We got both of the requests I made

That's awesome! I didn't make any requests for our upcoming stay...is it worth doing since we are going in a few weeks? I don't even know what would be good to request....

The corn and chicken chowder (in the bowl) was also a highlight!

That looks so good!

Sorry you weren't feeling great but I'm glad you are on the mend...

 

[Dentam]

That's awesome! I didn't make any requests for our upcoming stay...is it worth doing since we are going in a few weeks? I don't even know what would be good to request....

I did online check-in and there were options on there to choose two requests from a list. It's definitely worth it IMO especially at POFQ in order to try to get a corner room! You'll have twice as many windows which makes the room feel very open and bright. For the AKL, I requested that we get a room on an upper floor near the lobby and once again they filled the request. We were only two doors down from the lobby and on the 4th floor. I was very thankful for that once I got sick and had a lot less energy to walk all over the place... I used the elevators a LOT too.

If you don't do online check-in you should be able to fax your requests to the resort.

That looks so good!

Sorry you weren't feeling great but I'm glad you are on the mend...

It was very good and that's coming from someone who is pretty picky about those types of foods!

Thanks - I am finally feeling much better although I still can't hear much out of my left ear. I blame the flight back while being all congested for that situation!

 

[KathyM2]

I did do online check in already but I'm going to see if I can go back in and request a corner room at POFQ...thanks for the tip!!

 

[Dentam]

I did do online check in already but I'm going to see if I can go back in and request a corner room at POFQ...thanks for the tip!!

Glad to help! I didn't have any problem modifying our online check-in requests - had to do that with our expected check-in times after consulting with my parents.

 

[Dentam]

I'm glad you're feeling better & that you had the sick time to use!

Thanks! I'm bummed that I burned through so much sick time but grateful that I did have it to use.

 

[Dentam]

So, I left off with us heading toward the UK with a quickly melting caramel apple!

When we arrived at the UK pavilion, there was a band that had just begun playing and unfortunately no spots in the shade to sit and watch them from, so we made our way into a few gift shops.

But not before taking a pic of the red phone booths that are a clear sign you've entered the UK!



One of the gift shops had a really cute Mickey shirt that was perfect for the UK.



And then there was this shirt that had us reciting lines from this movie:



We also liked this little shop filled with teas of a different kind:



The exterior of the buildings in this pavilion are very well done.



After looking in the shops, we made our way over to some benches nearby and I decided that we needed to eat this caramel apple before it turned into an apple surrounded by a caramel and peanut puddle!



Someone else was VERY interested in "helping" us to polish off this treat.



He was so cute that I decided to share a few peanut pieces with him. It was only after I extended my hand that the thought occurred to me that this may not be the best idea!



Blurry pic here but this little dude had some pretty sharp toenails! I was just glad he didn't try to nibble my hand.



Or my foot - lol!

Anyway, we started to draw a small crowd including two guys who started trying to get the squirrel to come to them so they could take close up photos. As everyone was enthralled by Mr. Squirrel, Alice came up to us (having just left her meet and greet in the UK pavilion) and asked in her best British accent what we were doing and weren't we afraid he would bite us? Funny you should ask that, Alice! Too bad my dad didn't get a pic of her but she barely stopped as she was making her way offstage. One of the guys asked her for a photo together and she made a comment about needing to get to a tea party or something as she dashed away. The guy looked pretty bummed but he quickly got over it and continued making friends with Mr. Squirrel.

So, that's my Disney critter story for this trip! It ended with a very happy squirrel and no blood shed on my part so altogether I'd say it was a win-win!

Next up we were heading over to one final pavilion for the day before we planned to take the boat from the International Gateway over to the Yacht and Beach Club resorts to check those out!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[Elevationist]

Someone else was VERY interested in "helping" us to polish off this treat.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! This picky is making me SQUEE like crazy! Too cute!

He was so cute that I decided to share a few peanut pieces with him. It was only after I extended my hand that the thought occurred to me that this may not be the best idea!

OMG, you are a braver woman than I! I'm happy to hear that at Disney, the woodland creatures are gentle!

Or my foot - lol!

ZOMG HE IS TOO CUTE. I've had lots of Disney critter encounters, but none this close!

As everyone was enthralled by Mr. Squirrel, Alice came up to us (having just left her meet and greet in the UK pavilion) and asked in her best British accent what we were doing and weren't we afraid he would bite us? Funny you should ask that, Alice! Too bad my dad didn't get a pic of her but she barely stopped as she was making her way offstage. One of the guys asked her for a photo together and she made a comment about needing to get to a tea party or something as she dashed away.

I love this story! How adorable!

So, that's my Disney critter story for this trip! It ended with a very happy squirrel and no blood shed on my part so altogether I'd say it was a win-win!

Totally a win/win! This tale (tail?) has me smiling from ear to ear!

 

[Dentam]

Lol - I thought this story would be right up your alley after I read about your bunny/scooter race during your last trip @Elevationist !

Glad you enjoyed the pics and story! By the way, I am totally contemplating a short solo trip early next March to catch the first couple days of the Flower and Garden Festival - and if I go I'll be staying at POFQ! I'm just waiting to see if my family wants to do a short trip to DL for my dad's 60th birthday in April. If so, I'll put off my solo trip until some other time!

 

[Dentam]

Awwww, I love squirrels - they're the only rodent that I can tolerate. And we always tried to make friends while we were on camping trips. And chipmunks, I guess there's two types of rodents I like!

Yeah, he was pretty cute and thankfully, as @Elevationist mentioned, he was a gentle Disney squirrel! I like chipmunks too - so tiny and fluffy you just want to squeeze them!

 

[KathyM2]

Love your critter story!! So cute! But yeah...also lucky he didn't bite...they are cute but...not always friendly lol

 

[Angeejoe]

Lol - I thought this story would be right up your alley after I read about your bunny/scooter race during your last trip @Elevationist !

Glad you enjoyed the pics and story! By the way, I am totally contemplating a short solo trip early next March to catch the first couple days of the Flower and Garden Festival - and if I go I'll be staying at POFQ! I'm just waiting to see if my family wants to do a short trip to DL for my dad's 60th birthday in April. If so, I'll put off my solo trip until some other time!

I'm officially jealous! Did you book a bounce back?

 

[Dentam]

Love your critter story!! So cute! But yeah...also lucky he didn't bite...they are cute but...not always friendly lol

For sure - but that thought didn't occur to me until his sharp little toenails were closing around my finger!

I'm officially jealous! Did you book a bounce back?

No... I didn't even see the offer in any of our rooms but apparently my dad did but he didn't mention it until I was talking to him on the phone this past weekend. I did look up past offers on mousesavers and historically there have been room discounts offered starting in early October that are good for stays in early March so that's likely the route I'd take. Right now I'm looking into renting DVC points at the Grand Californian for my dad's birthday in April though. Not sure if they'll have anything available since they recommend booking 10 months out for that resort but if they do have availability I'll do that instead.

I just really need a vacation to look forward to after a long winter of shoveling snow here in Denver!