Confessions of a serial tweaker - May 2010 at the Boardwalk CL-*Day 8* Completed

[kirbygump]

Awesome report Clare. Love all the photos.

 

[princessallegra]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such an amazing trip so far!!!! The Illuminations Cruise is just TOO MUCH!!! How lucky for you guys!!!! Also getting a tour of the Presidential Suite!!! Too cool!!!!!

 

[ClareH37]

Awesome report Clare. Love all the photos.

Thanks, am just going to be putting up the next couple of days

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such an amazing trip so far!!!! The Illuminations Cruise is just TOO MUCH!!! How lucky for you guys!!!! Also getting a tour of the Presidential Suite!!! Too cool!!!!!

It really was wonderful and totally unexpected, you hear of things happening to other people but you never imagine it might happen to you

 

[ClareH37]

To cut a very long story short and leave out the details I spent the best part of the day in Celebration Hospital emergency department, thankfully being given the all clear and released at 5.30 pm.

So the best part of the day was written off

A little momento

Anyway, after a horrible day I was given the all clear and continued with my holiday. TBH I felt extremely tired and emotional but carried on.

A friend, Lin, from another forum (and an Orlando villa owner)l, was joining me for dinner, after the day from hell the wonderful InnKeepers Club CM Pete got us into Flying Fish.

We had a superb meal and I was able to use my dining plan credits for both of us which I wasn't expecting - it was only when the bill came up that the waiter suggested using them. Tim Keating (the chef) came to see me again to discuss what I'd like to eat, Lin and I ended up having our photo taken - and yes Tim really is very tall as I'm standing, not sitting!:

I'm afraid I can't remember what Lin ate but I had:

Fresh Mozzarella di Bufala, "Ugli Ripe" Beefsteak and Tiny Florida Grape Tomatoes - Balsamic Glaze, Exotic Peppercorns, Petite Basil, and Sicilian Olio Verde - very simple but very delicious!

Our Signature Flying Fish Café "Potato-wrapped Red Snapper" - Leek Fondue with a Veal Glace, Red Wine, and Cassis Butter - OMG, this was heaven on a plate, best meal ever! (So good I ate it another night too!)

I've since been sent the recipe from the Flying Fish chefs and I'm going to attempt to make it as soon as I can get some good red snapper from a local fish supplier.

Lin and I both had a bellini before heading off to a Dis meet organised by Mary, aka TinkerbellinLouisian - we had a great night with a great group of people, thanks again to Mary for organising.

It was a good night but I was so tired from the day's events and ended up calling it a night and retiring to my incredibly welcoming bed - tomorrow I'd be back to normal!

 

[scottmel]

Oh Clare, I am so sorry for a yucky day...but at least it wasn't overnight. Was Celebration hospital nice? hopefully I never need to find out but nice to know...your meal sounded fantastic!! I will miss your trip report when it is over. Can't wait to hear more

 

[ClareH37]

Oh Clare, I am so sorry for a yucky day...but at least it wasn't overnight. Was Celebration hospital nice? hopefully I never need to find out but nice to know...your meal sounded fantastic!! I will miss your trip report when it is over. Can't wait to hear more

Thanks Melissa, I'm looking forward to your report as well

Celebration wasn't a 'bad' hospital, the wait time to get seen was minimal, unfortunately I then had a long wait for tests and the results before finally getting released, but at least it was comfortable there (for a hospital).

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Clare, thats terrible!!!!! Hope this was the only low point of the trip!

 

[ClareH37]

I had a wonderful night's sleep and awoke refreshed after yesterday's event, I was raring to go!

I popped down to the lounge and brought my breakfast back (gluten free muffin and an OJ) to eat on my balcony, if you haven't been to the boardwalk there's lots of 'great gatsby' era music gently playing in the background which makes for a very unique atmosphere.

This morning I was going on a walking photo tour organised by DebºoºS of the Dis, of the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival.

We agreed to meet at 9.30 am in front of the entrance topiary called 'The Great Outdoors', I arrived early (intentionally) as I wanted to find mine and Mum & Dad's Leave a Legacy tiles, I found them quite easily and took a photo - can't believe these were taken in 2004!

There were 3 of us in the end, Deb, Tracy (I'm sorry but I can't remember Tracy's user name) and myself and we spent a very enjoyable morning walking around Future World, making a pit stop at Trest Track before continuing our photo tour into World Showcase, obviously taking lots of photos, my favourite was the Fairy Garden, so beautiful.

The Fairy Garden even had little fairy 'houses', they were adorable.

I already had an ADR for Tutto and the ladies came along too, stopping off enroute in Paris where we came across Marie - I used to have 2 little real life 'Maries' at home, so cute.

I was a little apprehensive as there's been a lot of not so hot reviews of Tutto but I had a wonderful meal, we all did. Service was very attentive and I took the opportunity to have a glass of Corvina Merlot (my favourite but very difficult to get in the UK), like nectar!

To start I had Bufala Mozzarella - tomatoes, basil and Tuscan olive oil - it was beautifully fresh, nice and cool, and very tasty - so refreshing on a hot day.

For mains I had Penne Caprese - tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil - the penne was substituted with gluten free pasta. This was the best pasta dish I've ever had, I love pasta and am a bit of a pasta 'snob', absolutely superb.

As mentioned earlier, I would not eat everything that was on my plate, just half a portion (or sometimes less), and I found by pacing myself I enjoyed the meals more and did not feel full but this is the one restaurant where I ate everything on my plate, I cannot wait until I return next year!

The "ladies who lunch", from the left - Tracy, me, Deb

Following lunch we went our separate ways, on my way out of Epcot at International Gateway I found Donald, my favourite character.

I returned to the Boardwalk where I spent some time in the lounge relaxing with the CMs, and then had some 'down time' in my room, i.e. lounging on the bed watching TV before decided on a 'tweak' of my existing ADR at Artist Point. Yet again the wonderful Pete got me into the Flying Fish later that evening by calling one of the managers.

Until then I decided on some 'nibbles' from the lounge, I went along just after 5 pm and there was no-one there (!), the new 'offerings' certainly seemed to not have been so warmly received by a lot of guests but I loved the olives and greek salad - wish I could have taken a whole load back to the UK with me lol

As there was no-one else in the lounge I took some photos:

Olives with peppers

Greek salad

Orzo salad

Crudites with dip

Cheese selection

]

Goats cheese wrapped in grape leaf

Bacon wrapped scallops

(continued in next post)

 

[ClareH37]

Clare, thats terrible!!!!! Hope this was the only low point of the trip!

Thankfully this was the only low point - it was a side of Orlando I didn't really want to see lol

 

[PrincessInOz]

Clare - Love your food porn and can't wait to hear about your return plans. I so wish we had gone to dinner at Flying Fish now....

And I hope that you are feeling better after the Celebration side trip.

 

[scottmel]

oh man, Clare. i have to comment, i do not like bwi food offerings from this night! I mean honestly who eats that? (ok you and DH love olives!) but honestly I would have had a plate of scallops/bacon. What about my DD? I would have been sorely disappointed this time and that is b/c I DO NOT have the meal plan and yes I know it shouldn't substitute as a meal but i really am a light eater so i tend to not have dinners and just snack but I would have been running for a counter service somewhere!!!

Glad your Tutto meal was so good. DH loved it there last year too! And how cute seeing Marie! I never saw her before but will look for her next month...

Was your vacation 7 days?so just one more installment???

Flying Fish - do you think it is kid friendly? DD is a mini adult but I don't want it a 3 hour meal...too fancy??? i might try to add that on to the ADR list!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Clare-so sorry to read about your hospital visit.

Looks like an other great meal at Flying Fish. Isn't Chef Tim awesome? When the server asked if Joe wanted a frozen non alcoholic strawberry daiquiri I mentioned he was allergic to strawberries and Chef Tim was soon at our table. He was so nice to Joe.

Love your review of Tutto also. I'm thinking of added an ADR there for July.

Love your Leave a Legacy. I did it for my oldest DD's 7th birthday but by the time Joe who is just 19 months younger was 7 they had stopped doing them. It is fun to go find our photo when we go to the park now.

oh man, Clare. i have to comment, i do not like bwi food offerings from this night! I mean honestly who eats that? (ok you and DH love olives!) but honestly I would have had a plate of scallops/bacon. What about my DD? I would have been sorely disappointed this time and that is b/c I DO NOT have the meal plan and yes I know it shouldn't substitute as a meal but i really am a light eater so i tend to not have dinners and just snack but I would have been running for a counter service somewhere!!!

Flying Fish - do you think it is kid friendly? DD is a mini adult but I don't want it a 3 hour meal...too fancy??? i might try to add that on to the ADR list!!!

My DS seemed to be pretty happy with the cheese/crackers, veggies, PBJ's and apples with carmel. He loved the pot stickers one night but wasn't crazy about too many of the hot choices and he's my good eater.

I first went to Flying Fish in Dec with DD(10). She LOVED it! I don't remember what she had. I took DS(9) this May and he LOVED it too. He had the steak skewers. I just looked at our photos and we were there just about 2 hours.

 

[ClareH37]

Clare - Love your food porn and can't wait to hear about your return plans. I so wish we had gone to dinner at Flying Fish now....

And I hope that you are feeling better after the Celebration side trip.

I'm feeling good thanks I was really surprised with Flying Fish, I had eaten there years ago and had an awful time so wasn't sure what to expect - it really did turn out the best meal(s) ever.

oh man, Clare. i have to comment, i do not like bwi food offerings from this night! I mean honestly who eats that? (ok you and DH love olives!) but honestly I would have had a plate of scallops/bacon. What about my DD? I would have been sorely disappointed this time and that is b/c I DO NOT have the meal plan and yes I know it shouldn't substitute as a meal but i really am a light eater so i tend to not have dinners and just snack but I would have been running for a counter service somewhere!!!

Glad your Tutto meal was so good. DH loved it there last year too! And how cute seeing Marie! I never saw her before but will look for her next month...

Was your vacation 7 days?so just one more installment???

Flying Fish - do you think it is kid friendly? DD is a mini adult but I don't want it a 3 hour meal...too fancy??? i might try to add that on to the ADR list!!!

LOL Melissa - I know what you mean re. the appetisers - but looks like Disney are getting the results they wanted, i.e. people not eating the evening offerings (!). In fairness some people did take advantage of them but definitely nowhere like last year, it's rumoured other resorts are watching the BWI to see what happens and I wouldn't be surprised if others followed suit.

Please try Flying Fish it really was wonderful and I'm sure your DD would enjoy too - my last meal (I'll post when I get home from work) was only just over an hour, the first meal was so long due to the excellent company

Clare-so sorry to read about your hospital visit.

Looks like an other great meal at Flying Fish. Isn't Chef Tim awesome? When the server asked if Joe wanted a frozen non alcoholic strawberry daiquiri I mentioned he was allergic to strawberries and Chef Tim was soon at our table. He was so nice to Joe.

Love your review of Tutto also. I'm thinking of added an ADR there for July.

Love your Leave a Legacy. I did it for my oldest DD's 7th birthday but by the time Joe who is just 19 months younger was 7 they had stopped doing them. It is fun to go find our photo when we go to the park now.

It was a bit of a pain having to spend time at Celebration but the evening more than made up for it

I really loved Tutto too, and I'm definitely returning there next year.

It's funny seeing oneself immortalized in Epcot isn't it

 

[ClareH37]

Oops sorry Melissa forgot to say my trip was 7 nights/8 days so part 2 of day 6, day 7 and day 8 to add

 

[GetGlowing]

hellloooo bacon-wrapped scallops!

Wanted to let you know I'm enjoying the TR, and if I ever had that same room (with that view!!) I'd never want to stay anywhere else at WDW.

 

[ClareH37]

hellloooo bacon-wrapped scallops!

Wanted to let you know I'm enjoying the TR, and if I ever had that same room (with that view!!) I'd never want to stay anywhere else at WDW.

Thanks - I was certainly in my own little blissful world in that room

 

[ClareH37]

I was certainly treated like a VIP tonight - on arrival at Flying Fish there was a line to check in and people propping the walls up waiting for their table(s), the hostess noticed me and immediately welcomed me, interupting a party trying to check in, and handing me over to Keith, one of the managers, it was quite funny as you could tell people were wondering who on earth I was lol Keith asked me where I wanted to sit, did I want a table, the chef's counter or the bar? Tough call, not ..... I opted for the chef's counter again. Although my 'fellow' diners did not make conversation (and I didn't want to, I just wanted to enjoy the food tonight) there was plenty to see and it's ideal for solo diners.

Tim Keating (the Chef) came out to see me again and we spent some time talking and laughing about how I kept returning, I decided I didn't need to look over the menu as I knew exactly what I was going to have .... the same as the previous night.

So, it was deja vu.

To start, Fresh Mozzarella di Bufala, "Ugli Ripe" Beefsteak and Tiny Florida Grape Tomatoes - Balsamic Glaze, Exotic Peppercorns, Petite Basil, and Sicilian Olio Verde

For mains, "Our Signature Flying Fish Café "Potato-wrapped Red Snapper" - Leek Fondue with a Veal Glace, Red Wine, and Cassis Butter - I could have eaten this meal over and over again, twice just wasn't enough lol

I was in foodie heaven!

I didn't really want a dessert but fancied the cheese plate - although apparently not always permitted on the dxdp, 'the system' (no idea what the water meant!) would allow me to have this option.

"Our Chef's Degustation of Worldly Artisanal Cheeses" - Five Tasting Portions and accompaniments Raisins on the Vine, Membrillo, Honeycomb, Pumello-Red Onion-Golden Raisin-Yuzu Compote Agrodolce

The cheeses for that night (and still currently) were:

Robiola Bosina - Italian cow/sheep milk cheese

Tete de Moine - Swiss cow cheese

P’Tit Basque - French sheep cheese - this was my favourite

Fleur Verte - French goats cheese

Fourme d' Ambert - French (blue vein) cows cheese - this was vile, I guess not to everybody's taste but I couldn't imagine anyone liking it!


To wash all this deliciousness down I chose the passion fruit margarita, very more'ish, I had 2!

My server was fantastic and in addition my first night's server kept stopping by for a chat, at no time did I feel uncomfortable, I loved it!

Another fantastic meal, unfortunately my last meal here as tomorrow I was dining at Yachtsman.

I spent some time out on the Boardwalk afterwards (it would be a crime not too!) before heading back upstairs to the lounge for a pre-bed drink, Amaretto on ice, a nice bedtime tipple

 

[scottmel]

Oh i will be anxious to hear your review of Yachtsman. I am torn between flying fish and yachtsman on our last night...DD and DH love steak.....Meal looked so yummy. especially the cheese platter!!

 

[ClareH37]

It's amazing how much 'punch' those seemingly small glasses of alcohol pack as I woke with a little bit of a headache anyway, one paracetamol and a glass of water later I was soon back on form - no point lounging in bed, this was my last full day (tomorrow I was going home) and I didn't want to waste a minute of it!

One muffin and a glass of OJ later I was making my way outside to the bus stop where I was going to get the bus to MK and I saw Deb Willis (All-Ears), I forgot to mention that I had seen her in the hallway of the InnKeepers Club yesterday and had already said 'hello'. There was a meet at 11am in Epcot (in the UK, very appropriate!) so I said I'd try and get there.

I only waited 5 minutes before a bus arrived but it looked like people had been waiting a long time as there was quite a crowd (!), no sooner had the bus started loading but a second bus arrived, I hopped on the second (empty) bus, 2 ladies hopped on with me and we all started chatting - that's one of the things I loved about going solo, people would literally just start chatting to me (whether I wanted to chat or not lol).

As this morning was EMH at MK the park had also opened earlier than 9 am and they were also letting non resort guests in as far as the ropes by each land so I went straight in, hardly anyone waiting, perfect.

I decided I'd ride on Pirates first so joined the small crowd at the entrance to Adventure Land where we were all entertained by a great cast member. The rope then dropped and we were lead in an orderly fashion through Adventure Land, a lot of people branched off to Frontierland but I kept going, there was just one guy in front of me but he went on to Splash/Big Thunder Mountain Railroad whilst I stopped at Pirates - I was the first person there

Look how quiet it is!

Following Pirates I went over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, by now it was nearly 9.30 am, and virtually no line, I screamed away to my hearts content, enjoying every minute - not so sure the other people in front/behind me would agree mind you.

No line!

I still had snack credits to use so opted for a dole whip, although I had the pineapple juice separately before this was my first dole whip and I couldn't believe how large it was, the photo is very misleading! I had 2 spoonfuls of ice-cream before deciding it was actually too sweet and threw the rest away - noone can believe I didn't like dole whips!

Onwards and upwards, I then went across to one of my favourite rides, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, I was really disappointed last year when it was closed for refurbishment, this year I was happy. I've seen a few photos of 'feet' on the TTA so joined the club.

By now crowds were starting to build so I decided to call it a day, I had afterall got to get to Epcot for the All-Ears meet. I took the bus to the Beach Club which made stops at all the other resorts first even though there were only a few of us on the bus and we all said we wanted the Yacht/Beach Club oh well, I guess it's another ride.

From the Beach Club I took the very short walk into Epcot via the International Gateway then around to the gardens at the UK, the meet was short and sweet, such a great group of people and Deb Willis was lovely, lots of photos were taken and I'm now on All-Ears via a link on the front page, pretty rough photo but it's my claim to fame lol

I needed somewhere for lunch and thought I'd give Rose & Crown another go, they were taking walk-ups and I was seated on a 2 top table on the patio with a view of the lake, nice table, and I had a great server too.

It was such a relief and I'm pleased to say the lunch was excellent, the same standard as 2009, I really wanted to give it another go after my awful dinner on my second night with friends.

To start I had the stilton & apple salad, very nice fresh/crisp leaves with a not-overpowering amount of stilton, good choice!

For mains I had chicken ciabatta sandwich, which is a new item, it was a grilled chicken breast on a cooked tomato, coated in cheese, mushrooms and onions, all placed on top of a ciabatta, but they substituted this for gluten free bread, accompanied with chips. Again, I only ate half of this as it was a large meal, but it was very good.

Following my lunch I walked back to the Boardwalk as I had to start packing, I thought I had packed lightly coming over but obviously not as it took ages.

I also took the opportunity for some last photos of the Boardwalk resort.

It was now time for the 'wine and cheese' selection in the lounge, I helped myself to some cheese, olives and funghi salad and took it back to my room to enjoy whilst sitting on the balcony before getting myself ready to join some more Dis friends at Yachtsman for dinner a little later.

I have always had excellent service and food at Yachtsman, tonight unfortunately it was not to be. This was my second disappointing meal this trip.

I won't go into lots of details as I really don't want to cause offence but the restaurant was a madhouse, serving staff seemed to be over-stretched and the restaurant was just 'off' that night.

Anyway, onto the food. To start I had lobster bisque which was beautiful, lots of soft tender lobster meat, and nicely flavoured with the right amount of brandy.

For mains I had the "prime" new york strip - 12 oz steak with peppercorn brandy sauce and potato gratin with diamond white cheddar. The sauce was just very bland, you really wouldn't know it had peppercorns or brandy in it, the potato gratin again very bland and the steak had a fair amount of gristle, it did not appear to be up to the standard of previous years. It wasn't bad as such but just not good. My dining companions enjoyed theirs however.

Thankfully the Yachtsman Cosmopolitan was up to it's usual exceptional standard!

I would like to think I'd return to the Yachtsman next year but I would not pay OOP for it, based on this year's performance, only if on the dining plan.

I said goodnight to my dining companions, I would be meeting them for lunch the next day, I was also meant to be going to another Dismeet at Atlantic Dance that night but was so tired I had to call it off as my bed was calling me.

 

[heaven2dc]

Wow - now you are a celebrity!! I would love to meet Deb Willis sometime. You really had a relaxing day even with all that you got accomplished. That Dole Whip looks yummy - I could barely finish mine when I first tried it. I think next time I'd rather try an Orange slushie or something with orange ice cream.

Your bed at BWI looks so inviting!