Expedition Orlando! - actual update! Nov 22nd

[2xcited2sleep]

Great start! You do look quite happy with your strawberry margarita on the porch at Boardwalk. That looks like a great place to take a break and relax... I'm making a mental note!

Spoodles looks great too and like LL I am a little sad it will be closing before I have a chance to try it!

 

[Jennifer48]

for the beginning! and what a beginning it is! Know what it reminds me of? Uncle Traveling Matt's postcards to his nephew on Fraggle Rock. I love it!

 

[Philadisney]

Yay! You have arrived! Spoodles looks yummy, I'm kinda sad it is closing before I got to try it.

I'm glad we got to try it, I didn't even realize at the time that it was closing so we lucked out. My entree was kind of forgettable but mom's butternut squash ravioli and the dips were phenomenal!! Jiko also has a dip sampler appetizer like that but I liked Spoodles much better.

Great update..although i needed my magnifying glass to read it! and great idea about the KOP disney store

Whoops! Sorry bout that, I made it a little bigger

Hurray, you started! I think I am going to try and check out the Boardwalk this visit. Three visits to WDW and I still haven't been over there.

It's definitely worth checking out! I highly recommend Jellyrolls - love it there! It's a shame that Spoodles will be gone soon but I've heard that Flying Fish is really good too.

Great start! You do look quite happy with your strawberry margarita on the porch at Boardwalk. That looks like a great place to take a break and relax... I'm making a mental note!

Spoodles looks great too and like LL I am a little sad it will be closing before I have a chance to try it!

I loved how that bar was set up like an old library type lounge. The bartender was a dear and the drinks were so good. Here's my mom with both our drinks, she looks REALLY excited

 

[Philadisney]

for the beginning! and what a beginning it is! Know what it reminds me of? Uncle Traveling Matt's postcards to his nephew on Fraggle Rock. I love it!

oh boy what a great compliment, I love Uncle Matt!!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

You've started!!!!!
Loving it already!!!
The margharita sounds scrummy!

Di x

 

[29apr00]

yeah what a great start!! looks good!

Congrats on the house!!

 

[MeMom]

fig C:

Oh. It is just Mother.

Soon we were eager to venture out again, and Alma led us toward an exciting land full of promise, entertainment, and salt water taffy!

Getting there was somewhat difficult, even with Alma’s help, as Mother was quite convinced that Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk are the same place. She kept trying to turn toward DTD. I assured her that she was mistaken.



We wandered down to the sweets shop (a strange place selling coloured dust and mammoth cookies) before stumbling across a lovely little Mediterranean restaurant, Spoodles. We were seated at a lovely outside table, a prime spot for observing the locals. Families on surrey bikes occasionally plowed through the masses of meanderers. We dive into Mediterranean Dips (feta, hummus, curry, cucumber yogurt), divine bread, shrimp linguini, and butternut squash. Mother the survivalist insists on boxing up the leftover bread and dip, which we lug around all evening and then throw out.

Just Mother?
Shame on you!
You know she is a saint!
All moms are.

When did she admit defeat and proclaim that DTD and Boardwalk are not the same place?

Lugging things around only to throw them out later...Jill will tell you I do the same thing. When she sees me putting ziplock bags in my purse, she rolls her eyes and wonders aloud what wonderful half-eaten treasures I might carry in them later in the day.

I guess it's what us old folks do since we went through the Depression and all. (Only we didn't go through the Depression. We have no excuse - just hate to throw away food.)

I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your new abode!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I loved how that bar was set up like an old library type lounge. The bartender was a dear and the drinks were so good. Here's my mom with both our drinks, she looks REALLY excited

Well now I really have to try it! Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[bucci818]

What a great start!! Can't wait for the next update. Good luck today with the home inspection!

 

[PrincessV]

Here I made a fabulous discovery – the Belle Vue Room.

Oooo, one of my favorite places!

Mother the survivalist insists on boxing up the leftover bread and dip, which we lug around all evening and then throw out.

Must be a mother thing - mine did the same with Le Cellier!

 

[Philadisney]

We meandered further down the Boardwalk, coming across a very curious little sprite, whose name I discovered was Craig. The delightful little man was tossing around bananas, juggling hats, squeaking, and even pouncing on passerbys and forcing them to engage in his bizarre activities. I had a wonderful time observing him (from a safe distance, of course).

figs A-C:

Eventually Craig scurried away, and we continued on, finding ourselves in a most glamorous resort.

fig D:

Mother and I were eager to purchase some artifacts from the local market here, and found some splendid bargains at Daisy’s Garden, where to my dismay we did not get to meet Daisy or visit a garden.

fig E:

We found a gallery featuring the work of background artist James Coleman

fig F:

and also stumbled upon a small boutique where I had the chance to speak with one of the local merchants, Stephen, while Mother purchased a purse from him at the sales counter. I was entranced by the colorful red, blue, and yellow bottles placed next to him at the register. I doused myself in the yellow substance, which smelled like peaches. Mother is intrigued by the red bottle, fails to turn the nozzle properly, and accidentally soaks me in that scent too. I smell pretty! Stephen is amused.

Walking back towards the Boardwalk, I am terrified when the sky starts exploding!

fig G:

Despite my horrified screams and attempts to dive for cover, none of the other visitors seem concerned. The ordeal is over soon enough and we emerged unharmed, and Mother and I walk into a building with a large sign that reads JELLYROLLS.

Inside, we score a seat at a small table. To our left is a fellow adventurer from Texas who is absolutely giddy. I tell the waitress I’ll have whatever he’s having. She supplies a giant blue drink nearly twice the size of my head.

On stage sit two men billed as “dueling pianists,” but to my dismay neither seems interested in physically battling the other.

fig H:

I notice other patrons occasionally running up to place money and handwritten notes atop the pianos. I also notice that the pianist on the left is extremely gorgeous. He is playing with such skill and speed that all the photos I take of him are blurry, as his hands move across the piano keys with the speed of light.

fig I:

I write my phone number on a napkin and leave it on his piano with $5. He looks at it and says, “I don’t know that one.” Then he announces that they’re playing all requests tonight, so write your favorite song down and bring it up to him. I wish he had explained that before I threw away my $5. I comply, only to be called out again when the handsome creature reads my next napkin and admits that they are looking more for pop songs, and as much as they would like to, cannot play Ornette Coleman’s improv opus “Free Jazz”. I try a final time with the classic Elton John song “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” and give up for good when that never gets played. I still enjoy hearing some of Orlando’s finest local music, such as a fabulous medley of Disney tunes. The pianists also play songs by Dave Matthews Band, Journey and Jimmy Buffet.

After a couple of hours, we stagger out of Jellyrolls and Alma leads us back to the Rosen Centre.

fig J:

Tomorrow will be a busy day as we travel on an expedition through the wilderness of Asia, Africa and beyond!

 

[Philadisney]

Hi everyone - sorry it took me so long to update again, I was very busy with house-stuff. I am really sad to say that I will not be going through with the purchase on the little house I had fallen in love with - the home inspection was a disaster The inspector said the crawl space was the worst he had EVER seen and that at best, we were looking at $50,000 of repairs and at worst, the whole thing would need to be bulldozed! I am really bummed, but hopefully we'll just keep looking and something better will turn up soon.

Must be a mother thing - mine did the same with Le Cellier!

I am usually all about saving food, but I just knew we'd never get around to eating leftover rolls from Spoodles....I was right!

What a great start!! Can't wait for the next update.

Thanks!

Well now I really have to try it! Thanks for the recommendation!

So good - I wish I had ordered that stawberry lychee margarita again, i think it was the best drink of the trip!

Just Mother?
Shame on you!
You know she is a saint!
All moms are.

When did she admit defeat and proclaim that DTD and Boardwalk are not the same place?:

Yes, my mother is a saint indeed! Although she did remain confused about the Downtown Disney/Boardwalk thing for the remainder of the trip

yeah what a great start!! looks good!

Yay, thanks for sticking with me!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi everyone - sorry it took me so long to update again, I was very busy with house-stuff. I am really sad to say that I will not be going through with the purchase on the little house I had fallen in love with - the home inspection was a disaster The inspector said the crawl space was the worst he had EVER seen and that at best, we were looking at $50,000 of repairs and at worst, the whole thing would need to be bulldozed! I am really bummed, but hopefully we'll just keep looking and something better will turn up soon.

Argh! I'm so sorry! But better to find that stuff out before you are the owner! I firmly believe house-hunting is like dating and you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Hang in there. The right house is out there!

Great update! I have yet to try Jelly Rolls.

 

[lurkyloo]

We meandered further down the Boardwalk, coming across a very curious little sprite, whose name I discovered was Craig. The delightful little man was tossing around bananas, juggling hats, squeaking, and even pouncing on passerbys and forcing them to engage in his bizarre activities.

I think you must've had Strawberry Lychee Margarita Goggles on - I have never ever seen any kind of performer on the BoardWalk when we've visited....

 

[KathyRN137]

Mother the survivalist insists on boxing up the leftover bread and dip, which we lug around all evening and then throw out.

I loved this line!!

Kathy

P.S. Sorry the house didn't pass inspection.... well at least you found out now.

 

[PrincessAlways]

Sorry to hear about the house. I'm sure something is out there for you!
I have not see the Belle Vue Room. Where is that?
Don't you just love those Boardwalk entertainers? They're certainly unique!

 

[29apr00]

love the description of JellyRolls!

Sorry about the house, but atleast you found out before it was too late.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I adore your travel journal, it's so much fun to read!

I am so sorry about the house but it will be worth it in the long run. I am sure you will find something soon.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

So sorry that the house didn't work out, just means that there is something better out there for you!

Loved your description of Jellyrolls.

 

[mistydoodles]

I'm sorry to hear about the house. Trust me though, you will eventually find the house that is meant for you. It may take a little longer but it will come along.

I really enjoyed your update. I have never gone to Jellyrolls but it sounds like it is a lot of fun. I can't wait to read more about your trip.