First Ever TR, Anniversary and F&WF, October 2010

[3Leafs]

They were not offering the Margarita flight during the F&W festival so I am hoping to try that in May and the Scotch Flight at Rose and Crown.

Maybe I need to start a PTR for that trip so I don't forget everything.... Well maybe I should finish this one first.

You should with details on the Margarita flight!

 

[John's Mom]

Great updates and pictures!

One trip, three rooms! I can't imagine changing rooms that often.

Kathy

 

[franandaj]

Nice to see what a Jambo room looks like...I love the CL, but not sure I could give up my Jacuzzi tub at Kidani!

Your F&W snacks look great! Glad to see that you can graze enough to make F&W work for your meals. That's what we're planning next year!

 

[dgbg100106]

Great updates and pictures!

One trip, three rooms! I can't imagine changing rooms that often.

Kathy

It was by no means what I wanted but the CMs made it as easy as it could be, we really had a great trip

 

[dgbg100106]

Nice to see what a Jambo room looks like...I love the CL, but not sure I could give up my Jacuzzi tub at Kidani!

Your F&W snacks look great! Glad to see that you can graze enough to make F&W work for your meals. That's what we're planning next year!

This is the second year that we have eaten this way and it really was a perfect plan for us.

We were always so full by the end of the night that we could not think about eating.

 

[dgbg100106]

You should with details on the Margarita flight!

Ok just for you when I finish with this one I will move onto the next but I think you should help with it.

 

[franandaj]

This is the second year that we have eaten this way and it really was a perfect plan for us.

We were always so full by the end of the night that we could not think about eating.

We went for the first time last year and I made the mistake of making ADRs, one each day. We really had to scramble to try everything we wanted to eat, so next year on the F&W days we won't have any and will just eat at the Kiosks. I think that's they way to go!

 

[dgbg100106]

We went for the first time last year and I made the mistake of making ADRs, one each day. We really had to scramble to try everything we wanted to eat, so next year on the F&W days we won't have any and will just eat at the Kiosks. I think that's they way to go!

Are you coming to DC for the Cherry Blossoms?

 

[3Leafs]

Ok just for you when I finish with this one I will move onto the next but I think you should help with it.

Deal!! Although with the amount of pics you take and the amount I take Look out!

 

[dgbg100106]

Deal!! Although with the amount of pics you take and the amount I take Look out!

 

[franandaj]

Are you coming to DC for the Cherry Blossoms?

I think we'll be a little late for the Cherry Blossoms. I visited there during the Festival about 20 years ago. I don't remember exactly when it was but probably in the 80's. We have a Community Band Concert in early April and since we're management we had to plan the trip after April 9th. For a while I thought there was a time frame limit because I THOUGHT we were going to have a F&W Festival in CA that was going to start on April 29th. But since they CANCELLED the whole thing about a week ago, I have no worries about the DC trip! We'll be there from the 19th through the 26th, half the time right in the middle of town and 1/2 the time in Alexandria.

 

[dgbg100106]

I think we'll be a little late for the Cherry Blossoms. I visited there during the Festival about 20 years ago. I don't remember exactly when it was but probably in the 80's. We have a Community Band Concert in early April and since we're management we had to plan the trip after April 9th. For a while I thought there was a time frame limit because I THOUGHT we were going to have a F&W Festival in CA that was going to start on April 29th. But since they CANCELLED the whole thing about a week ago, I have no worries about the DC trip! We'll be there from the 19th through the 26th, half the time right in the middle of town and 1/2 the time in Alexandria.

I saw that the California F&W was canceled for the next two years... DH and I were thinking of going next year....

We always go to the Cherry Blossom festival, but we both work in DC so it makes it a little easier for us.

There is so much to do and see while you are here, hope you have fun planning the trip.

 

[franandaj]

I saw that the California F&W was canceled for the next two years... DH and I were thinking of going next year....

We always go to the Cherry Blossom festival, but we both work in DC so it makes it a little easier for us.

There is so much to do and see while you are here, hope you have fun planning the trip.

Thanks!

As locals what would you reccomend we do? We are planning on seeing some of the Smithsonian museums, and the monuments, but are becoming overwhelmed with all the choices!

 

[dgbg100106]

Thanks!

As locals what would you reccomend we do? We are planning on seeing some of the Smithsonian museums, and the monuments, but are becoming overwhelmed with all the choices!

That is hard to say, when we have family come in we try and narrow down to their likes, like you said there is MUCH to do here.

If you like aviation the Air and Space is always wonderful, but most people don't know that the Udvar Hazy museum is where the Transformer movie was filmed and the planes there are AMAZING! when I took the kids they walked around with their mouths open most of the time. It will take all day to go thru there.

If you want to go up in the Washington Monument, you can order tickets right now for $2.00 each and you don't have to stand in line, just go NPS.gov, it is by far the best way to do that.

If you want to see the White House you have to go thru your congressman to get those tickets and you needed to start that a couple of months ago.

If you want to go to the Pentagon, you can arrange a tour now for that also, just contact thru the pentagon website.

The 9-11 monument at the Pentagon is beautiful and the chapel where the plane hit is breath taking.

I would suggest the hop on hop off tour bus so you can see everything, the one I always suggest is Old Town Trolley http://www.trolleytours.com/

You can never go wrong with Arlington National Cemetery, and American History Museum.

The Spy Museum is a lot of fun also, it is interactive so you get to become a spy and others try and find you or you chase a spy. It is a lot of fun....

Then the Kennedy Center is a favorite of mine, the shows there are amazing and since it is a historical landmark, there is no dress code so you can walk around and see a show just as a tourist and no worry about "Dressing Up".

Hope this helps.

 

[franandaj]

If you like aviation the Air and Space is always wonderful, but most people don't know that the Udvar Hazy museum is where the Transformer movie was filmed and the planes there are AMAZING! when I took the kids they walked around with their mouths open most of the time. It will take all day to go thru there.

If you want to go up in the Washington Monument, you can order tickets right now for $2.00 each and you don't have to stand in line, just go NPS.gov, it is by far the best way to do that.

If you want to see the White House you have to go thru your congressman to get those tickets and you needed to start that a couple of months ago.

I would suggest the hop on hop off tour bus so you can see everything, the one I always suggest is Old Town Trolley http://www.trolleytours.com/

You can never go wrong with Arlington National Cemetery, and American History Museum.

The Spy Museum is a lot of fun also, it is interactive so you get to become a spy and others try and find you or you chase a spy. It is a lot of fun....

Then the Kennedy Center is a favorite of mine, the shows there are amazing and since it is a historical landmark, there is no dress code so you can walk around and see a show just as a tourist and no worry about "Dressing Up".

Hope this helps.

Thanks! The Air & Space Museum was on our list as was American History and definitely the Spy Museum! We also had the Washington Monument on the list. Depending on how HA the bus tours are we want do one of those. My DP travels with a scooter (I do too if there is a lot of walking involved). But on a tour I could probably get by without. She can not, so we'll play that by ear.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[dgbg100106]

Day Five of vacation October 16 - Saturday

We are heading for Hollywood Studies to ride some rides quickly and head back to EPCOT.

First stop, David goes to TOT to fast pass while I get in line for the Rock n Roll Roller coaster .

After the ride, we got back on in the singles line and rode it again, then we fast passed RnR and headed to TOT to ride on the first fast pass, after that, we got right back on and rode again.

We walked around killin time for the RnR fast pass to open up, so we went to Drew Carey show, which should be on the list for skipping next time. Next was the back stage tour, we had done this before but here we go again…..

After the back stage tour we head back the RnR. So we have our roller coaster fix for awhile. Now we head to EPCOT.

It seems like the bus takes forever to pick us up but we are on our way to Beach Club Villas and to walk into EPCOT.

The first culinary demo is at 5PM and it Vanilla Grilled Shrimp over Fragrant Rice Pilaf with Mango Salsa; paired with Fess Parker Santa Barbara Riesling.

Pam Smith is the chef and it was the first time that I figured out she was the F&W representative at almost all of our culinary demos throughout the week. Oh well sometimes I am slow.

After the culinary demo, David decided that he wanted some real sit down food, the only reservation that we could get was in Germany at the Biergarten, I am so NOT into buffets, but we go anyway.

The food is OK, but the entertainment was really good, granted it was loud, so loud that I could not talk to David but good all the same. I had the Beer Flight and some of the food.

After dinner we head back to the resort and start to wash clothes and pack up for the second leg of our trip.

M&C catch up with us at the resort later, we have some drinks in the lounge and get ready for tomorrow, sad to leave WDW but we will be back in May.

 

[3Leafs]

I can't wait until May either

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I must tell you that the food at Jiko was FABULOUS... The flat bread was so tasty, we both enjoyed it and David's filet was good but we both liked the Short Ribs the best, we shared both and the ribs won.

The Dessert was good but the Amarula Creme Brulee was the most decedent, smooth and creamy dessert.

Hope you decide to try it, it was really great.

Brian would go crazy over the short ribs. The appetizer you had looked great too!

It was very cute....

The Animal Keeper Chris that was our guide, was an Elephant Keeper in NYC prior to coming to WDW and was at WDW AK before coming over to the lodge. So he had great affection for them and you could tell in his descriptions and comments about the animals.

It really was a great adventure.

The normal ride is 15 minutes and it took us an hour and half. We spent a lot of time looking and enjoying the animals.

oh wow...that sounds awesome!!!

Ok just for you when I finish with this one I will move onto the next but I think you should help with it.

Uh-oh...better watch it....T tends to bring the crazies out.

Wait....

Thanks for another mouthwatering update and lots of great pictures. I espescially appreciate the menu pics and food porn....makes planning for that imgainary dream trip easier.

 

[dgbg100106]

Brian would go crazy over the short ribs. The appetizer you had looked great too!

oh wow...that sounds awesome!!!


Uh-oh...better watch it....T tends to bring the crazies out.

Wait....

Thanks for another mouthwatering update and lots of great pictures. I espescially appreciate the menu pics and food porn....makes planning for that imgainary dream trip easier.

Glad I could help a little....

Just so you know I do a lot of myself so this might be a good match! or maybe it will lead to more , which could lead to

 

[3Leafs]

A match made in