Fleeing Wedding Showers for Epcot Flowers: My Final Morning, Finally! NEW 4/12

[onelilspark]

That Jambalaya looks kind of sad

 

[heaven2dc]

Interesting first day! Lots of ups and downs but it is fun to be solo even for only one day. The meat looked so dry - too bad it didn't live up to being some good Cajun food. I'm guessing maybe you will head over to MK after all

 

[glennbo123]

Nory, I really liked this update. I loved all of the pictures around POR!

Oh, and that picture of you with your YNOS camera is really cool.

Sorry that you couldn't find a quiet pool that lived up to its name.

I've never eaten at Boatwright's. That jambalaya didn't look too great. I liked the tools on the wall that I can see in your beverage picture. I have an antique block plane like one I see on the wall there.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

That isn't jambalaya. Come down to New Orleans, and my DH will make y'all a real one!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I'm with NOLAdisneymom. That doesn't look any jambalaya I've ever seen. I'm not sure what that looks like.

Great photos. Sorry to hear you didn't get to enjoy any pool time. I'm thinking the inner park beast comes out here any minutes.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

The room looks nice - the jambalaya - not so much!

That drink looks yummy too.

Please tell me you didn't channel my DH and go to bed

 

[DisneyDreamerMN]

Seeing your photos of the room in Alligator Bayou makes me really excited! We are leaving in 18 days and can't wait. We have stayed at both Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend and prefer Alligator Bayou hands down. We never ate at Boatwrights but have walked by it often. I am thinking we will skip it this trip as well

P.S. I think you should share a wedding photo!

 

[norybell]

Sorry about the crowded pools. Kind of ruins the whole relaxation thing. Such a bummer about the Jambalaya. I guess there is no reason to make a special trip to Boatwrights. I bet you end up at a park.

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't bother with Boatwright's again!

That Jambalaya looks kind of sad

It really, really was.

Interesting first day! Lots of ups and downs but it is fun to be solo even for only one day. The meat looked so dry - too bad it didn't live up to being some good Cajun food. I'm guessing maybe you will head over to MK after all

It's funny -- it's sounded like there were lots of ups and downs in my TR, but in reality, I felt really even keeled about everything. Nothing was particularly bothering me; I was just happy to be there (and also super tired)!

Oh, and that picture of you with your YNOS camera is really cool.

Yes, it is a very special, exclusive brand!

I've never eaten at Boatwright's. That jambalaya didn't look too great. I liked the tools on the wall that I can see in your beverage picture. I have an antique block plane like one I see on the wall there.

If only I'd've known, I would have swiped you one! Or a picture of one, anyway.

That isn't jambalaya. Come down to New Orleans, and my DH will make y'all a real one!

Better watch out, or suddenly I'll be on your doorstep!

I'm with NOLAdisneymom. That doesn't look any jambalaya I've ever seen. I'm not sure what that looks like.

Great photos. Sorry to hear you didn't get to enjoy any pool time. I'm thinking the inner park beast comes out here any minutes.

My inner park beast is pink and fluffy.

The room looks nice - the jambalaya - not so much!

That drink looks yummy too.

Please tell me you didn't channel my DH and go to bed

Ha! I was pretty tired...but I was hoping I'd make it at least to 9:00!

Seeing your photos of the room in Alligator Bayou makes me really excited! We are leaving in 18 days and can't wait. We have stayed at both Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend and prefer Alligator Bayou hands down. We never ate at Boatwrights but have walked by it often. I am thinking we will skip it this trip as well

P.S. I think you should share a wedding photo!

I was so happy with the room! The MB ones just didn't look as interesting to me, but it's always hard to tell in pictures, isn't it?

And OK, if you insist, here's a wedding picture! (There are more in my old TR right here.)

 

[dismagiclover]

Yay for wedding pictures! You're a beautiful couple

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Come on down! The hubs loves to cook for people!

LOVE your wedding dress.... You look beautiful!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

My inner park beast is pink and fluffy.

Really? Mine looks like William Shatner.

 

[norybell]

Yay for wedding pictures! You're a beautiful couple

LOVE your wedding dress.... You look beautiful!

Thanks! It was truly a perfect day.

Really? Mine looks like William Shatner.

Interesting. Very interesting.

 

[norybell]

After my epitome-of-mediocre dinner at Boatwrights, I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself. I popped my head in the River Roost Lounge, but wasn’t really feeling it, so I decided to head back to my room, drink my remaining beer, read my book, and get to bed nice and early.

Somewhere along the path from the Marina to Building 27, I took a wrong turn. And ended up at the West Depot bus stop.

So yes: all you naysayers, who didn’t think I’d be able to stay away from the parks on my first night, were correct. I admit it. Perhaps you know me better than I know myself. Which is odd, considering we’ve never even met.

I decided I’d get on the first bus to pull up.

The first bus to pull up was heading to DHS.

I decided to get on the second bus that pulled up.

The second bus to pull up was heading to Epcot. Epcot it was!

All in all, I only waited ten minutes for the bus, and was walking into Future World a little after 7:00.

Gotta love the topiaries!

I brought the graham crackers, but Donald, of course, forgot the Hershey’s bars. We should’ve known better than to trust him with so much responsibility.

The flowers were beautiful, of course. I thought they were less impressive than they’d been the year before, but the weather was particularly unseasonable this year (first weirdly cold, then weirdly hot), so I imagine that’s why.

I love the Flower & Garden fairy area (“Fairy area” really rolls off the tongue. You should say it right now, out loud. Especially if you’re at work.):

Fake butterflies…I figured I’d save the real ones for another day.

This made me really happy, for some reason.

Now, I know I strolled around the entire World Showcase. And yet this is the only photo I have to prove it:

Sorry! It always seems so difficult to take pictures on my first day! I promise I’ll do better next time!

The WS seemed busy at first (over by England), but cleared out a whole lot near the back. I got a grey goose slushie in France, and my first-ever school bread in Norway. Sadly, the school bread was stale, and I threw it out. I just wasn’t having good food luck that evening.

Possibly my favorite vista in all of Disney World.

Isn’t it mind-boggling to consider how many single flowers must be in there?

It was an absolutely gorgeous evening…the perfect temperature, a light breeze. I considered staying for Illuminations, but I really, really needed to get a good night’s sleep. With all the wedding planning, I’d barely been sleeping at all, I knew I wanted to be up early in the morning, and I was worried exhaustion could ruin my trip. Plus—being the Epcot resort snob that I am—I was a bit horrified at the prospect of joining the post-Illuminations exodus to the buses. So I decided that my hour-long stroll was enough of a park fix for the night (oh, the beauty of being solo!).

I did stop here on my way out to ride Spaceship Earth, which I will never, ever get sick of:

Obligatory close-up:

Then I walked back to the bus stop, where a bus was waiting. It was 8:30.

Sitting on the bus on the way back to POR, I was very awkwardly hit on by an unfortunately stereotypical Star Wars geek: Star Wars T-shirt covered in Star Wars pins, bad skin, greasy hair, etc. etc. Now, don’t get me wrong: I have absolutely nothing against Star Wars—I am a child of the ‘70s, after all. I love Star Wars just as much as the next person. I have dated men in the past who could regale you with their fair share of Star Wars trivia (though they did still manage to develop social skills). But if you were looking for someone to play a character called “Star Wars Geek” in a sitcom or something, this guy would have fit the bill perfectly. He was nice enough, I suppose; he was probably just excited to be meeting someone his own age at WDW (he was traveling with his family).

He kept hinting that we should meet up later.

I kept trying to flash my engagement ring at him, holding my hand up to my face.

He was having a hard time keeping his eyes off my chest. So he never noticed.

It was pretty funny, really. In my experience, most men, by the time they’re in their thirties, have perfected the art of noticing a woman’s…um…ladies, without blatantly staring at them. Not this kid. Poor guy.

Finally I just brought up my fiancé, and Star Wars Boy got the hint and left me alone. Whew.

I hopped off the bus at the Marina stop, instead of waiting for the West Depot, because I was starting to feel a little awkward sitting next to SWB. Then I walked back to my room. The POR grounds sure are beautiful at night!

Of course, as soon as I got back to my room, I realized that there was something I needed and didn’t have. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no recollection of what that thing was. All I do know is that I then left my room, walked all the way back to the Marina to get whatever it was at the store, and then walked all the way back to my room again.

By the time I got there, I was pretty tired out!

But it was still pretty!

I watched an episode of Foyle’s War, read my book, and went to bed.

Coming Soon: Movin’ On Up (to the Grand Floridian)

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Great update... The resort is sooooo pretty at night!

 

[dismagiclover]

A great way to spend an evening! Just wandering Epcot. Sorry about the Star Wars Geek. I guess there are a few disadvantages to traveling solo Makes for a good TR antecdote though. Can't wait to hear about your first full day.

 

[glennbo123]

I love the Flower & Garden fairy area (“Fairy area” really rolls off the tongue. You should say it right now, out loud. Especially if you’re at work.):

So does "Dairy area", which is what Star Wars Boy was.

Great nighttime pictures of POR!

 

[OhMari]

Me and my dh are big fans of POR. We also like to stay in the Deluxes too, but I think you have to try the moderates, just to see the them. When you mentioned you were going to eat at Boatwrights, I cringed. I think the resturant is loud, because it is connected to the hallway to the foodcourt. It feels like an extension of the foodcourt. It sure isn't worth a TS credit if you are on the food plan. We think the foodcourt over at POFQ has better food. The only decent food Boatwrights had was breakfast, and that has been eliminated now. My dh had the jubalaya years ago, and it was delicious. He tried it last year and sent it back. It was horrible.

I think the only way, we would ever stay at POR again, is if they get queen beds. Full size beds are to small for 2 people, in my opinion. My dh asked me, why I never ask for a King room, which is almost impossible to get, since they are only corner rooms, and they get taken very fast.


I enjoyed your pictures and looking forward to the rest of your TR.

 

[onelilspark]

The call of Disney is just too strong sometimes.

Our longest "free time" that the parks are open is 2 hours. I'm debating heading to a park if only to walk in and leave again. Afterall, it would be beneficial if I picked up my AP before our trip started so I wouldn't hold up my family, right?

 

[norybell]

Great update... The resort is sooooo pretty at night!

It really is...and it was finally peaceful, too, which was so nice compared to the busy-ness of the afternoon.

A great way to spend an evening! Just wandering Epcot. Sorry about the Star Wars Geek. I guess there are a few disadvantages to traveling solo Makes for a good TR antecdote though. Can't wait to hear about your first full day.

Luckily, I found my interaction with SWG to be more hilarious than anything else.

So does "Dairy area", which is what Star Wars Boy was.

Me and my dh are big fans of POR. We also like to stay in the Deluxes too, but I think you have to try the moderates, just to see the them. When you mentioned you were going to eat at Boatwrights, I cringed. I think the resturant is loud, because it is connected to the hallway to the foodcourt. It feels like an extension of the foodcourt. It sure isn't worth a TS credit if you are on the food plan.

Hi, OhMari, and (unless I've already welcomed you, in which case forgive my repetition!). My goal is to stay at least once at each of the Deluxes and Mods. Considering I've so far only been at YC, BWI, CR, GF, and POR, that means I need to go back lots of times in the future. Poor me!

Boatwright's really was awful. Not only was it not worth a TS credit, it certainly wasn't worth the $$ not being on the dining plan. $18.00 for that plate of blandness!

I think the only way, we would ever stay at POR again, is if they get queen beds. Full size beds are to small for 2 people, in my opinion.

I totally agree with this. It would be awfully nice if they put queen beds in all the Mods, it would give couples so many more options. I would never share a full-sized bed with DH...we did that for years back in our twenties, and I say: never again!

The call of Disney is just too strong sometimes.

Our longest "free time" that the parks are open is 2 hours. I'm debating heading to a park if only to walk in and leave again. Afterall, it would be beneficial if I picked up my AP before our trip started so I wouldn't hold up my family, right?

I think it will totally be worth it to you to go to a park with your free time, even if it's only for an hour. It's just enough to get a little park fix, and because it's such a short period of time, I think it makes it easier to stay relaxed -- since you'll know you can't do much, you won't feel like you have to!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm so glad your night improved after the crowded pools and mediocre food! Epcot always helps.

Those very toparies are what convinced me I NEEDED a F&GF trip this year. Goodness, I never tire of seeing them on everyone's TRs! So, so pretty and creative.

Hilarious about the Star Wars Geek on the bus! Oh man. Sorry you had to endure that, but it sure makes excellent TR fodder!

POR is BEAUTIFUL. Are the rooms designed differently over in the mansions? I don't recall ever seeing pictures like yours. I love the bayou look of it all too, it hardly seems like you are a hotel in parts of it.