Coffee on the Verandah -The Last Slide, Recap & Souvies 5/29 - Link to Aulani TR 5/31

[Captain_Oblivious]

It did let me do some cool Christmas shopping though!

Oooh, what did you get me?

 

[KatMark]

Oooh, what did you get me?

 

[eandesmom]

Your trip cannot be over! You just left a few days ago????????????

Well sadly most of us don't get the kind of vacation time you and Tom do (lucky!) so yep, I am back. It was 6 nights though but now I'm back and headed into the office today. WAH!

IF it is really true and your trip IS over then I hope it was an awesome one and cannot wait to read all about it. [

It as a great trip, I need to start planning so I lessen the pain of PDD!

Oooh, what did you get me?

Oh I'll have to think about that one. How about...

A picture of a T shirt.

Seriously

 

[DisMomAmy]

Well it's taken me all day, but I caught up! I was only a couple updates behind but due to various distractions (including buying airfare) I have had your TR up on my laptop all day!

The resort looks like there is a ton to do! The archery probably would have ended badly for us... Both boys are very much like Eric & wouldn't have handled it well if they didn't master it.

I can't wait to hear about the turtle walk!

 

[eandesmom]

Well it's taken me all day, but I caught up! I was only a couple updates behind but due to various distractions (including buying airfare) I have had your TR up on my laptop all day!

I know how that goes! And then I think I commented...but I didn't!

The resort looks like there is a ton to do! The archery probably would have ended badly for us... Both boys are very much like Eric & wouldn't have handled it well if they didn't master it.

They are very much like Eric, I always think that when I read your updates. Yes, between the paddle boat and archery, poor Eric wasn't quite having the magical activity experience some of us were.

It gets better for him though, a LOT better actually!

I can't wait to hear about the turtle walk!

Soon, very soon!

 

[eandesmom]

I'm back! Yes, and back at work too. BOO! Very sad actually, it is Kendall's last regular season soccer game tonight against a tougher opponent. I have a work function I cannot get out of, that I'd totally forgotten about! Thankfully the organizer emailed the agenda reminders yesterday or I'd have been a no show as it wasn't on my calendar. This is what happens when you agree to re-up for something months in advance and then don't hear from the organizers. It falls off the radar. Especially nighttime events. I am very very sad! But as they are undefeated....it is not the last game by any stretch of the imagination!

It really was a wonderful trip, lots of fun and laughs. A nice combination of a little commando, a lot of relaxing and a lot of new things. We will do a TR, I think that most likely Mary Ellen is going to write and I will comment as she is far closer to completing her current TR than I am over here!

I do have some fun statistics for you (these are for me, Mary Ellen’s are probably slightly different, though similar)

• I opened, and closed parks, pretty much every day.
• I had the opportunity to meet 10 DISers! Some of whom I'd met before and some I hadn't and a few, multiple times over the course of the trip.
• We visited 5 different pools
• 2 new resorts (to me). While I'd stayed at WL before, I hadn't been in the villas and Boardwalk Villas was completely new to me.
• Got to see much of the new Fantasy Land during soft opening previews, and all of Storybook Circus
• Attended my first ever Halloween party and yes....there are pictures.
• Attending 2 culinary seminars, absolutely loved it!! Especially the 2nd one.
• Traded pins for my kids...more looking and trading than I'd ever done. It was interesting and fun and at times, frustrating.
• Had coffee on the verandah, solo, twice
• I ate, a lot!
• 8 sit down restaurants, 5 of which were new to me and the other 3 were for different times of day than I'd been before.
• 2 counter service locations, 1 of which was new to me
• 4 "bars", three of which were new to me
• And….I think 14 out of the 29 food and wine kiosks.

WHEW!

With that, let's get back to the TR.

I think we were getting ready for dinner. When we planned this trip we planned on 1 night out and 2 number of nights cooking in the villa. Originally my plan had been to cook tonight, thinking that would work better with the turtle walk and then we changed our mind and to be honest, I can't recall why but we decided we’d cook the next night instead. As I'd researched where we could/should go out my kids became fascinated with one place in particular.

Squidlips.

Why?

Truly, for no other reason than it was called Squidlips which made everyone laugh. It did have a good reputation, the menu sounded right up our alley so we figured, why not! We were cutting it close. As we got ready I reminded everyone about the turtle walk. It didn't start until 9. It would be buggy. We’d be walking on the beach. I instructed everyone to either dress accordingly now or bring clothes to change into in the car. That meant long sleeves (rain jackets for most) for bug protection and shoes that worked on the beach at a minimum. For me, I packed a full change of clothes. I am a bug MAGNET. They eat me alive. I'd already gotten some bites at OKW just sitting on the patio and did want to minimize damage. I packed long pants and a long sleeve tee, both lightweight workout type stuff that wouldn't be too hot but would give me protection. And I packed industrial strength bug spray. The kind with real DEET. Of which I am not a fan but I'm less so of having a bazillion bites and then suffering through them in Florida humidity in the days that would follow.

As we got ready it became clear that a few of our folks had not reapplied like they should have. My chest was a little crispy and Evan's back, well…it was pretty darn pink. Evan has my skin and as a child, and for the most part now, if I do turn red, more often than not it will be brown by morning. Still, it was uncomfortable for him so I gave him some Tylenol (or ibuprofen, I honestly can’t recall) and lubed him up with Ceravae which in my opinion has magical healing properties. Everyone packed, with some folks completely ignoring my warnings about bugs and walking on beaches, we headed out.
While Squid lips isn't far, it is still a drive back across the bridge and the drive to our walk location after would be another 15-20 minutes (and back across the bridge and then north of the resort), or maybe more according to the front desk.

We arrived at our destination in relatively short order

The skies were starting to concern me a little

We arrived to dinner at 7 pm

Amazing what photo editing can do

On a Monday night.

There was a wait.

While we didn't have time for a wait, at that point, we didn't have much choice. About 15 minutes later we were seated. As a result when our server stopped by for our drink order, despite the fact that folks didn't know what they wanted, I informed him we were in a bit of a time crunch and would need to order quickly. Which embarrassed Jeff but you know, as a former server I’d rather know that up front. Not being rude but there was a time constraint!

After much perusing and some input from our server, who convinced Jeff a certain drink was the best bang for the buck in strength.

We placed our drink order and sat back to check out the view

Whatever it was he ordered, he seemed to like

I fought with the lighting

And took a picture of my drink, and the bread

A word on the bread.

A

Maz

ING!

Amazing.

Bimini Bread. Oh my goodness was it incredible! We inhaled it. Thankfully I think they’d brought 2 loaves to start.

I had heard about a certain item on the menu and was determined to try it even though I knew the entrée by itself would be enough. I present to you

The drunken sweet potato

Oh

My

GOODNESS

Was that thing amazing. Huge though, freakishly huge and I make sweet potatoes on a regular basis. So incredibly good.

I chose Mahi for my entrée

Oak-grilled Grouper, Mahi Mahi or Tuna
Generous portions of the freshest fish we can buy! basted with our honey lime sauce, citrus butter, honey ginger, cajun seasoning, black cherry pepper, jamaican jerk, apricot ginger lime, or honey rum glaze & oak-grilled to perfection

The boys…shrimp baskets

Fried Shrimp Basket
Plump shrimp fried to perfection! Served with french fries and your choice of tartar sauce or cocktail sauce

they were HUGE!

Kendall I think some kind of taco?

I'm guessing it was this, which was on the appetizer menu

Baja Fish Tacos
Two corn taco shells loaded with our crunchy fried fish, shredded cabbage, chili tequila lime sauce and pico de gallo served with our chipotle creme sauce

Jeff also had the Mahi but chose a different sauce. Pretty sure he had the jerk and I had honey ginger?

Either way we were both thrilled with what we picked.

The verdict overall?

YUM!

We'd eat there again for sure and found it to be a pretty good value for what we got. It is on the casual side for the prices but the food made up for it and it was fun to be "over" the water. As we dined, the sun began to set.

While the service was relatively quick, we did have a wait before we sat. By the time we settled up, kids hit the restroom and we walked back to the car it was approaching 8:30.

Would we make it to the turtle walk on time?

Mrs. Crush and Squirt(sssss) too!

 

[Chilly]

Welcome home!

Sounds like a yummy meal.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm back! Yes, and back at work too. BOO!

Welcome home! Sorry the real world intrudes once again. But I'm glad you had a great time! Can't wait to hear about it.

As I'd researched where we could/should go out my kids became fascinated with one place in particular.

Squidlips.

Why?

Truly, for no other reason than it was called Squidlips which made everyone laugh.

That's pretty much how we choose, too!

As we got ready it became clear that a few of our folks had not reapplied like they should have. My chest was a little crispy and Evan's back, well…it was pretty darn pink.

Oh, come on. What kind of dummy doesn't re-apply sunscreen?

A word on the bread.

A

Maz

ING!

Amazing.

It sure looks good in the picture. I shouldn't have read this so close to lunch.

We'd eat there again for sure and found it to be a pretty good value for what we got. It is on the casual side for the prices but the food made up for it and it was fun to be "over" the water. As we dined, the sun began to set.

Looks like a great spot. Glad you enjoyed it!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

ohhh a cliffhanger...im bankingon you made it in time, but it was cancelled due to rain coming.

are you going to just continue on after this oneof your latest ladies trip? or start a new one.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Sounds like you and Mary Ellen had a great trip, can't wait to hear all about it!

Boo for work slapping you in the face just as you return! What a bummer that you have to miss the last regular season game Good that it's not the last one period though, good luck to Kendall in the playoffs

Your meal sounds fabulous! Making a mental note of Squidlips (seriously, how could I even forget that name?) just in case I ever make it to Vero.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Welcome back C!

Enjoyed the update!

Always nifty to see some cool pics.

Food looked mighty tasty and with a name like Squidlips, how could you NOT eat there?

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Welcome Back!!! Glad you and Mary Ellen had a great time.

I am in awe that you are able to update after getting back. You are so much better at this trip writing than I.

What a neat place for dinner. Looks like a great meal and that you had a great time.

Hope you make the turtle walk. Anxious to hear about it.

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Cynthia.

LOVE all the stuff you listed that you accomplished at Disney last week.

That restaurant looks great and the food looks awesome. Being outside over the water is one of the best parts of dining in Naples...most of the restaurants we choose to sit outside at and enjoy the view and watching the dolphins and manatees.

Your cocktail looks very yummy and I sure wish I had one right now rather than dealing with this work on my desk.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Welcome Back!

How could you not go to a place named Squidlips?

I do hope you make the Turtlewalk though...

I'm so happy you got fish choices other than Salmon...

What exactly was on that Sweet Potato? I make them about once a week also so I'm always looking for new tricks...

Your Food and Wine trip sounds divine... can't wait to hear all about it...

 

[pooh'smate]

Whew, many thanks for your chapter links I am all caught up now. Squidlips looks so yummy!!!! I can't wait to hear about the turtle walk.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I have a similar list from our trip! I am one of the lucky ones who got to see you more than once!

I would definitely be eating at Squidlips too! My girls would freak out thinking that's what they would be eating! We at at Fishlips in Cape Canaveral once and had a few laughs about that name. I think your food looked better.

I'd like to know about the sweet potato too!

 

[onelilspark]

I *love* Squidlips!

They have a second location up in Melbourne. It's one of my favorite spots for dinner.

 

[scottny]

Great updates and pics.

The work thing did not seem like fun.

Glad your recent trip was good.

 

[glennbo123]

Thanks for the review of Squidlips...we didn't get there, so it's good to see what you thought.

I think you'll make it to your turtle walk on time.

 

[Millie12591]

Yeaaah, your back!
Welcome back to the world where toilets don't flush by themselves and no one tells you..."Have a magical day!"

I hope your trip was wonderful.