Disney: Delicious innards on a sandwich of Panic! A Sept. '11 TR [Completed; Feb. 28]

[MEK]

Great update.

I love the picture with Spaceship Earth and the Mickey balloon. Very cool!

I would say your Epcot day is off to a great start. You really got to do a lot, even after arriving late.

The strawberry shortcake looks delish!

Looking forward to more!

 

[teekathepony]

Hooray for freebie days! We always try to have at least one day when we don't have plans in advance and we can do whatever sounds good. Epcot's my favorite, too

You got some great group pictures in front of SE!

We missed Universe of Energy this year ...it's the first year we haven't done it, and it makes me kind of sad. I love Ellen. And Bill Nye! and dinosaurs are nice, too.

We did get some fun pics in front of SE! My photopass CD is on its way so I should have some more soon!
I miss Bill Nye's show so I love getting a dose of him on Ellen! I love Ellen too.

Well, I figured I was wrong about the park you went to, but what can you do?

I love Epcot! I loved that park even when I was a kid. I'm glad that you enjoyed the strawberry shortcake at SS. It's amazing!

I want some strawberry shortcake from SS right now... hahaha omg, it was so good!
I can't remember anything from Epcot when I was a kid (I went when I was 5) but I know in the last 4 trips it's become my favourite. The area music gets me teary eyed!

Great update.

I love the picture with Spaceship Earth and the Mickey balloon. Very cool!

I would say your Epcot day is off to a great start. You really got to do a lot, even after arriving late.

The strawberry shortcake looks delish!

Looking forward to more!

Thanks!
Yep, short lines were seriously in our favour that day. We got more done than I realized!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on having a freebie morning!

Love the Epcot photos and I agree in that it sure is a great park!

Mmm my strawberry shortcake!! I soo want one right now!

on getting first row on Soarin and the more I read about Johnny the more I notice the similarities with Zaheer - lets just say he was also keen to ride Orange side of MS!

I wonder who that DIS meet could be

 

[jenbear123]

You got a lot done so far at Epcot! Your food looks yummy from SS but their portion sizes are huge! I can understand how you would tire of it by the end. Can't wait for more!!!

 

[teekathepony]

Yay on having a freebie morning!

Love the Epcot photos and I agree in that it sure is a great park!

Mmm my strawberry shortcake!! I soo want one right now!

on getting first row on Soarin and the more I read about Johnny the more I notice the similarities with Zaheer - lets just say he was also keen to ride Orange side of MS!

I wonder who that DIS meet could be

Must be a boy thing.
Yes I wonder who it could be!

You got a lot done so far at Epcot! Your food looks yummy from SS but their portion sizes are huge! I can understand how you would tire of it by the end. Can't wait for more!!!

We did get a lot done! The short-line-deity was on our side for sure. The food was scrumptious but you hit it right on -- too much! lol!

 

[teekathepony]

Hi everyone! Did you all have a great weekend?

I wanted to share a little of mine. On Saturday we went to two different Christmas fairs and learned of three more coming up within the next month! I'm so excited, I love Christmas!

Yesterday was my first wedding anniversary. Johnny and I spent the whole day together. We agreed no gifts and no major celebrations, as our celebration was Disney and our gift to each other was Discovery Cove! We kept saying "This time last year we were..." at every hour. We went to an early movie (The Big Year -- it was really good!) then did a little shopping. We went to a building supply store and they had all their Christmas decorations out! I spent a while looking at those.

We came back home and went for a walk. It was an absolutely beautiful day and the fall colours are out. We took the dogs around a pond nearby. Here are some pictures I snapped:

Holly loves walks around the pond:

My kitty Oliver followed us:

Johnny and Sheeka went ahead a bit:

Then we came back and had a nice meal and lit our special "German Wedding Candle". I have a dear friend who lives in Germany, and she stood in my wedding. As a gift she had this amazing candle made for us. She told us that in Germany, every couple has one when they get married, and that they light it in the church (which we did) and then they light it on every anniversary!

We finished the evening watching No Strings Attached on our brand new Netflix subscription (well, we're starting the one month free trial... so far... ehh.)

I promise I'll have a proper TR update either later today (unlikely, I have a new scrapbooking course starting tonight!) or tomorrow!!

 

[BerrysGirl]

What a fun morning! I really need to get around to trying the strawberry shortcake at SS. It always looks so good!

 

[vikkii19]

Sunshine Seasons looks great. I haven't been either, but will definitely try it in the future. You're pictures look great and happy anniversary.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Congrats on your first wedding anniversary!

I love the photos from your walk and the candle - what a great wedding gift.

 

[teekathepony]

What a fun morning! I really need to get around to trying the strawberry shortcake at SS. It always looks so good!

Ohh yes, you must try it! I'm not even a big strawberry shortcake fan in general, but this one was amazing.

Sunshine Seasons looks great. I haven't been either, but will definitely try it in the future. You're pictures look great and happy anniversary.

It was pretty good! Lots of choices, that's for sure. And thanks!

Congrats on your first wedding anniversary!

I love the photos from your walk and the candle - what a great wedding gift.

Thanks Tanz!

 

[teekathepony]

If you remember, we had just received a text from Melissa telling us that she had arrived at Pop Century. We headed back to our rooms and I got another text telling me that she was in her room and what her room number was -- 4365. Nowhere near us! We called from our room and found out that their travel agent had booked them into a preferred room without them knowing. They were ok with it, after all they were in the 60's right at the pool! They had prime rooms! I have to admit, it made me think about paying for preferred next time.

We agreed to meet at the Hippie Dippy pool for a swim. It was great, I haven't seen Melissa since the summer at our grandmother's funeral, so it was super to see her in a much happier context! We got down there and had a lot of fun in the pool.

"YAY! I'm in a Disney pool!"

Melissa and Ron having fun!

I believe my MIL had just tried to drown my S-FIL and he had water in his eyes and nose, hence the face!

At roughly 5:30 we got out of the pool and all headed back to our rooms to shower and get ready for our dinner at the ESPN club. While Johnny was in the shower I called home to chat with my parents. I checked the time and realized that I was almost late for my very first Dismeet! I checked my cell and had a text saying that she was already at the pool. I grabbed Johnny and headed down to meet TanzUnited99! We chatted for a while, what a nice person she is! I'm sure I could have chatted forever, but we eventually broke off to head our separate ways. I didn't get any pictures though! I'm so glad I got to meet you Tanz!

We had met up with Melissa and Ron at the pool also so they headed back to the boondocks... I mean, our room with us. I quickly got ready for dinner and we all left for the bus stop! We stopped in at the concierge desk to find out the best way to get to the Boardwalk and he recommended going to DHS and either walking or getting the boat. We did just that and all voted boat.

It's like it knows I'm scared of it and it's saying 'Tomorrow, Wendy -- you're mine!'

We actually got off at the Swan & Dolphin stop and walked to the Boardwalk.

So beautiful!

I've never been in this area before and I was so glad we decided to this time. It was beautiful and we all enjoyed the sights as we walked slowly toward the ESPN club. We had no reservations as this restaurant is just walk up, so we had no rush for anything.

We wandered to ESPN and saw the line to get in was already long so we joined it.

"Party of 6" we said when the CM came to us.

"Any particular game you want to watch?" He asked

We all looked at each other. Most of what was playing was football and I know absolutely nothing about football (but ask me about hockey, eh!) and no one else had any preferences so we were content to sit anywhere. We waited for quite a while for a table, I think it was almost 45 minutes but when we did get seated we knew it was worth the wait.

We took some pictures while we waited:

(Johnny is a NASCAR fan, so he liked this one)

95 tvs with 25 satellite channels, I believe! Unfortunately for me they were all tuned in to football, but it was still a really fun atmosphere.

While we waited for our food we took some pictures too!

We were served fairly quickly and the food was absolutely amazing. I can't remember what everyone got, but I had nachos and they were the best nachos I'd ever had.

Johnny had a steak and he told me (get this!) it was the best he'd ever eaten, even better than Le Cellier's!

I think Melissa had a burger, which she loved.My MIL had the wings? I think? And she enjoyed them too. My S-FIL had the same nachos as me... and I can not remember for the life of me what Ron had. Huge portions for all dishes too.

We enjoyed our time at ESPN and took our amazing desserts home with us. Melissa and Ron wanted to shop in the ESPN store a little and Johnny wanted to see the arcade so I told them I'd go find out how to get back to Pop. We knew we would have to get to Downtown Disney but I couldn't see anything that would take us there. When everyone was ready, we wandered back down the Boardwalk and found two CMs, one right after the other, who couldn't tell us how to get to Downtown Disney! I thought that was so strange for Disney CMs! The next one we found pointed us in the direction of the Swan's bus stop and we were all set. We got to Downtown Disney and to the Pop Century line where we got in trouble! There was no one at all around the bus stop, so instead of walking through the whole line, we entered the exit. A bus CM came over and told us in a very stern voice to use the proper line! I have no idea what difference it made, even when the bus came we were still the only 6 at the stop. Oh well, it gave us some giggles at the man who took his job very seriously. A bus came within 5 minutes and when we got back to Pop we all dispersed to our rooms and fell straight to sleep!

Next chapter: Our first full park day, Melissa's first park this trip and Ron's first park ever! Where did we go? (Hint: Read this post carefully!)

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

Ohh the ESPN club looks awesome. DBF went there on his last Disney trip and still talks about it to this day AND still wears his ESPN jacket he got while there...regardless that it is falling apart (LITERALLY) ugh I hate that thing. Annyyway...we'll probably end up there on our trip. Maybe he can get a new, not so nasty ESPN sweatshirt....I better stop talking about that stupid sweatshirt before this turns into a five paragraph essay about why I despise that thing!

Cant wait to the next update!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Great pool pics!

Aaw thank you - it was great meeting you too and I felt exactly the same! I could have carried on talking to you for a long time as well. I feel bad that we didn't get a picture together. I think I had left my camera in the room.

On to ESPN and the food looks soo yummy - I'm drooling over the nachos!!

Love your ToT comment and how strange about the CMs not being able to help you.

Lol at being told off for not entering the Pop bus line in the proper way! We did that a few times too but luckily got away with it.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Glad I got to catch up - been at WDW and now on the beach in Ft. Myers and our inernet reception has been super spotty. Trying to catch up on all these TRs and PTRs I've been watching, plus prepare for my own - all with touch-and-go internet service!

That's so funny about ToT - I always feel like it's giving me the stink-eye anytime I see it. Even from Epcot. It's very menacing! When I was there last week, a mom standing next to me with her two girls told them that the preshow was actually the ride, and to make sure they put their hands up - I thought the one litle girl was going to pee herself when her mom said that!

What made you guys go to ESPN? Just hear the food was good? I've heard very little about it, but that steak looks good.

 

[kokotg]

Looks like a fun afternoon/evening! I love the Boardwalk at night--so pretty! And a better steak than Le Cellier...hmm, I might have to check that out

 

[IheartDDuck]

I know where you guys are going the next day... That tower is coming to get you for sure.

ESPN Club is pretty good. Although I don't remember much about it, because the last time I was there was on Superbowl Sunday this year. I wonder WHY I don't remember anything?

How great that you had your DISmeet with Tanz! That's just so much fun.

 

[teekathepony]

Ohh the ESPN club looks awesome. DBF went there on his last Disney trip and still talks about it to this day AND still wears his ESPN jacket he got while there...regardless that it is falling apart (LITERALLY) ugh I hate that thing. Annyyway...we'll probably end up there on our trip. Maybe he can get a new, not so nasty ESPN sweatshirt....I better stop talking about that stupid sweatshirt before this turns into a five paragraph essay about why I despise that thing!

Cant wait to the next update!

LMAO! I know exactly what you mean. Although it doesn't always work out in a good way when they get a replacement for an ugly old object... in Johnny's case, he replaced a hideous old Nike hat with a hideous new Bass Pro Shop hat. It's no better.

Great pool pics!

Aaw thank you - it was great meeting you too and I felt exactly the same! I could have carried on talking to you for a long time as well. I feel bad that we didn't get a picture together. I think I had left my camera in the room.

On to ESPN and the food looks soo yummy - I'm drooling over the nachos!!

Love your ToT comment and how strange about the CMs not being able to help you.

Lol at being told off for not entering the Pop bus line in the proper way! We did that a few times too but luckily got away with it.

I didn't even think of a picture, I had my phone I could have snapped one! How silly. Next time
Those ESPN nachos were to die for. I'd teleport back to the Boardwalk just for some nachos if I could.
I was so shocked at being told off by a Disney CM We have always gone in the front of the line when no one's around, no other CM ever minded!

Glad I got to catch up - been at WDW and now on the beach in Ft. Myers and our inernet reception has been super spotty. Trying to catch up on all these TRs and PTRs I've been watching, plus prepare for my own - all with touch-and-go internet service!

That's so funny about ToT - I always feel like it's giving me the stink-eye anytime I see it. Even from Epcot. It's very menacing! When I was there last week, a mom standing next to me with her two girls told them that the preshow was actually the ride, and to make sure they put their hands up - I thought the one litle girl was going to pee herself when her mom said that!

What made you guys go to ESPN? Just hear the food was good? I've heard very little about it, but that steak looks good.

So jealous right now! Hahaha, just kidding, I hope you had a super fabulous trip so far!
ToT IS menacing! I've always thought so and even more now. (I'll get to that later! )
We went to ESPN because my in-laws had eaten at the Flying Fish in February and didn't like it. My S-FIL, while walking around the Boardwalk mentioned that he would rather have gone to ESPN than the FF. (He's a sports fan) So this trip when we were talking about restaurants and such, he mentioned that one, we looked up the menu, it looked awesome. I wanted to go to the Boardwalk anyway because I'd never been, so we decided it sounded like a nice evening! We hadn't heard anything at all about the food but it was so so so delicious.

Looks like a fun afternoon/evening! I love the Boardwalk at night--so pretty! And a better steak than Le Cellier...hmm, I might have to check that out

That's what he says! Best steak he ever had. I watched him cut it with his fork, and there was no fat on it anywhere! He recommends it to everyone now -- "If you ever go to Orlando, go to the ESPN club at the Boardwalk and get the steak!" hahaha

I know where you guys are going the next day... That tower is coming to get you for sure.

ESPN Club is pretty good. Although I don't remember much about it, because the last time I was there was on Superbowl Sunday this year. I wonder WHY I don't remember anything?

How great that you had your DISmeet with Tanz! That's just so much fun.

Hahaha ohh there were a few people in ESPN that night that probably wouldn't remember much of their night either! And it wasn't Superbowl Sunday!

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

LMAO! I know exactly what you mean. Although it doesn't always work out in a good way when they get a replacement for an ugly old object... in Johnny's case, he replaced a hideous old Nike hat with a hideous new Bass Pro Shop hat. It's no better.

Hahaha I'm going to have to take a photo of the nasty thing and post it....its had so many repairs I'd LOVE for him to replace is with something not so...incredibly nasty!

 

[BerrysGirl]

I feel ya on shelling out the extra $$$ for the preferred room. If we had stayed at the Pop I was gonna request that DBF do the same thing. I've stayed at both a preferred and a standard room at All Star Movies and I DEFINITELY preferred the preferred (ha!).

 

[teekathepony]

I feel ya on shelling out the extra $$$ for the preferred room. If we had stayed at the Pop I was gonna request that DBF do the same thing. I've stayed at both a preferred and a standard room at All Star Movies and I DEFINITELY preferred the preferred (ha!).

Hahaha, I see the benefit now. Other times I've not paid for a preferred and still ended up in the 50's or 70's which was fantastic, but unfortunately my luck ran out this trip!