Flowers, Segways & DIS Meets, Oh My! - Updated 10/26, Final Thoughts-FINALLY!

[SoonerGirl]

OMG! I just read through your DHS day and it was virtually the same as mine! I too was in the TSM rush, and I was actually first on the ride that day. And I was in the same drawing class as you where you drew Pluto! Too funny...I'm sure our paths crossed again, maybe at Beauty and the Beast even.

How funny! It is a small world, isn't it? Another DISer, manntra, was in that class too. We all must have been following the same touring plan that day

 

[SoonerGirl]

When I last left you we were leaving Epcot. We made our way out of the park and onto a bus bound for CSR. We had made the decision to get off at the main building so that we could run into the gift shop, so we had to stay on the bus until the last stop. And guess who got on the bus at the first stop? None other than the lovely Katie (kshafer)! We chatted for awhile about how our trips had gone, and before I knew it we were at our stop. I said goodbye to Katie and we went in to the lobby. I wanted to stop at the front desk and request a late check out for the next day. With that accomplished we headed into the gift shop. I was hoping to grab a bottle of the H2O lotion, love that stuff! But, they were out of it. Oh well, maybe next time.

Soon we were back at the room and changed into our swimsuits. The next few hours were spent lounging by the pool. We snacked on cheese nachos (no meat this time, remember that nasty grease I had in my food the first day.....), and we sipped raspberry coolers. We swam a bit, read a bit, snoozed a bit. It was just what the doctor ordered, and if I hadn't had such a great ADR for that evening, I'm not sure we would've ever left the pool! But the fact was, that we did have a really good dinner planned, so we did eventually drag ourselves out of the pool area and got ready for dinner.

We made it back to Epcot around 6:00. The bus on the way over was standing room only, there was a looooooong line at bag check again, and when we got to WS we saw that it was PACKED! Seriously, the crowd rivaled that of those we saw the week of Christmas - it was that crazy, I couldn't believe my eyes! Mom had wanted to catch a bit of the Davy Jones concert that night, but we were very late and there were no seats to be had. We ended up standing in the back for about the last 10-15 minutes of his show.

I took this picture of the crowd as we walked towards Italy, it really doesn't even look as bad as it was - I have a better crowd picture to post later

We got to Italy and I went back into the wine shop, I had decided to go ahead and buy the wine. The girl remembered me and promised that she would wrap it really well and put it inside a box. She said to wrap the box up in some clothes and put it in the middle of the suitcase, she was certain it would be fine - I hoped she was right!

We then went over to Japan. Listened to the drummers for a bit

Strolled around

And then looked through the giant store there. I had never been inside, but my curiosity had been peaked when we took the Segway Tour and Elton had referred to it as the Japanese Wal-Mart, he said if you couldn't find it in there, you didn't need it. I have to say, he was right, there was a little bit of everything inside that store!

It was getting close to our ADR time, so we began to make our way over to Canada. I took this picture of the crowds from the bridge - see what I mean? Wall to wall people - it was crazy!

Soon though, we were walking down the little path in Canada

That lead to the very yummy

We had to wait a bit before we were seated, and as we were waiting I saw someone come in and order a bowl of cheddar cheese soup and some pretzel bread to go. WHAT?! You can get it to go???? Why the heck hadn't I ever thought of that? This could be a very dangerous bit of knowledge.....

Soon we were lead to our table and Mom & I ordered a bowl of the yummy soup for ourselves

We both had the filet for dinner, I had mine with mashed potatoes instead of the risotto. Sorry about the messy picture - I started cutting into it before I remembered to take the photo!

This was the most awkward meal for picture taking for me by far, we were seated right in the middle of the restaurant. Being new to the whole food porn thing, I felt really weird pulling out my camera, like I was on display or something

Anyway, for dessert we both had the maple crème brulee. Mmmmm, so good!

And then we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant, very full and very satisfied. We made our way to the front of the park, stopping for one last pic

Then went to the bus stop for the final time. We arrived at the stop just as Illuminations was starting. The bus was crammed full again, I just couldn't get over the crowds on this day - I wonder if it was just Epcot or if all the parks were like this??? Regardless, we got back to the room and crashed, even with our afternoon of rest, we were beat!

Up next: Saying goodbye

 

[photographymom517]

Loved your updates!!! I had to go back & read 2 or 3 of them because I was a little behind (as usual...lol)

I really liked Coral Reef last year, but wasn't as impressed this trip. I had the Mahi Mahi too & probably would've loved it...except that I got it last year & loved it alot more!!! Last year's had pineapple chutney sauce with some type of coconut rum...this years was mushroooms & shrimp. (I actually love mushrooms & shrimp, but preferred the chutney sauce with the mix of coconut and pineapple)

I LOOOOVE all of the desserts you choose! I have a list on my desk of things to try next trip & most of them have come from your TR so thank you!

I have never been to Le Cellier but it looks so good! I think it will be hard to choose what to order because I've heard about it from so many different people! Its definitely on my list for next trip. (I also have to try creme brulee...can you believe I've never had it before???)

I loved the pictures from Flower & Garden! I definitely don't have a green thumb but I enjoy looking at flowers (especially at Disney!)

Your last day sounded so relaxing!! The pool was a good choice especially on a very hot day!

I couldn't believe those crowds!!! I thought it was bad on our trip, but that picture of the people crossing the bridge at Epcot was insane! I'm starting to think that I shouldn't be complaining so much about the crowds, it could've been worse! Yikes!

Loved your souvenirs as well! I got the 4 parks CD and listen to it everyday in my car!!! Love it!

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Michelle. I cannot believe the crowds. Never in all of our years of going to Disney have I ever seen crowds like that (the one exception was probably 4th of July). I felt awkward at LeCellier too the first time but soon got it over. I just love the food there (I always get the cream cheese mashed potatos with my filet). And that soup is heavenly.

 

[klacey1]

Great update!! Glad you guys had a fabulous dinner-- that is amazing that you can order food to go!! I wonder how many of the other restaurants do that??

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yikes, those crowds are crazy! Hope your wine made it home ok! Thanks for making the sacrifice and taking the food pictures for us. I usually try to be slick and pretend like I'm viewing pictures on my camera and then try to snap one quickly without a flash. I'm not sure I'm fooling anyone but I feel better. You ordered exactly what I would have... filet and mashed potato. YUM.

Next is saying goodbye?? Boo.

 

[cdotla]

I am laughing at all the comments about listening to the Four Parks, One World CD in the car with the kids and playing the "Guess that attraction" game. I do it too!!!! I thought I was the only dork who did that!

I am gradually even getting Chris used to listening to it, although I admit that most of the airtime occurs when it is just me and the kids. Usually he is pretty good up until he hears:

"I-mmmmaaaaaginnnnnaaaaation........I-mmmmaaaaaginnnnnaaaaation!"

Very quickly after that, XM Satelite Radio is turned on. And not to the Disney station.

So glad you got to see the Voices of Liberty. I saw them too on our May trip. I am sure it has been a good 15 years since I last saw them.

So, how was Davy Jones???? I so wanted to see him, but unfortunately it just didn't work out on our trip. At least he got a great crowd! And he came into the audience??? That's awesome!

Love the flower displays at Garden Town....I somehow completely overlooked this.

Great photopass pictures of you and your Mom, as usual!

Can't believe those crowd shots!!! Are you sure we were there the same week??!! I am not kidding....I didn't come close to seeing crowds anything like this the whole trip. Do you subscribe to TGM? What an endorsement I can give him now!

Love that last picture you took of Epcot on your way out. Boy! You must have reeeeealllly been tired...can't believe you skipped out before Illuminations on your last nite!

So sad your TR is coming to an end.

 

[MeMom]

We had made the decision to get off at the main building so that we could run into the gift shop, so we had to stay on the bus until the last stop. And guess who got on the bus at the first stop? None other than the lovely Katie (kshafer)!

Fun!

Soon we were back at the room and changed into our swimsuits. The next few hours were spent lounging by the pool. We swam a bit, read a bit, snoozed a bit.

Nice.

And then looked through the giant store there. I had never been inside, but my curiosity had been peaked when we took the Segway Tour and Elton had referred to it as the Japanese Wal-Mart, he said if you couldn't find it in there, you didn't need it. I have to say, he was right, there was a little bit of everything inside that store!

Love that store.

Anyway, for dessert we both had the maple crème brulee. Mmmmm, so good!

YUM!

Up next: Saying goodbye

Noooooooo!

 

[MEK]

Your afternoon at the pool sounds lovely!

Yikes - Epcot was REALLY crowded. I have honestly never been there with THAT many people. That's what I like about Epcot. There usually isn't that shoulder to shoulder feeling.

Great pictures of Davy Jones.

Dinner - one word - HEAVENLY! I would picked the cream cheese mashed potatoes over the risotto any day. I have LC coming up for a lunch ADR and although the filet sounds like a bit much for lunch, I may have to have it!

 

[RachelNinja]

Even though you were far from Davy, you got some really great shots of him! I think he's the only one I know out of the performers at F&G. Haha, mainly because of my parents but also because of The Brady Bunch!

Woohoo! You DID get the wine! Haha. Can't wait to find out if it was a-okay by the time you got home!

OoOoO ... soup and pretzel bread to go??? That would've been so great to know last trip! I definitely would've gone back to get those two items to go so I could try it. Oh well ... I've already got ADRs for my Feb trip!

 

[LilAnn]

I seriously keep looking for myself in the background of your pics. We caught the tail end of Davy Jones too one night, but I don't know if it was the same night. I don't remember epcot being that packed, but I do remember thinking it was way more crowded than I remembered May being.

 

[stace208]

Hi Michelle!
I finally managed to get all caught up! School starting back has just taken up all my DIS time. I could go for some more summer!

I loved all your pictures, as usual. Garden Town seemed awesome! We didn't get to do that because we weren't there on a weekend. John and I were both disappointed that all the classes and such were on the weekends too.

I hope to do better staying caught up now!

 

[Spartangirl]

Holy crowds at Epcot!!! My goodness!!!

I love the Japanese store in the WS...there is so much to look at!

You can get to-go orders from Le Cellier??? I never even thought to ask about that before! What FANTASTIC news!!!

Great update, Michelle...so sad to hear that your TR will soon be coming to an end...

 

[Charleston Princess]

A couple of hours at the pool eating nachos and sipping raspberry coolers sounds heavenly!

My mom really liked Davy Jones when she was younger -- I will have to show her your pictures.

Goodness, I hope that wine made it home okay.

What crazy crowds!!!

Mmmm, that Le Cellier meal looks strangely familiar! LOL!

 

[disneydusted]

Hi Michelle! I am all caught up again! School started here for us... we tried to squeeze out every last minute of summer vacation... DD went back to college last week and DS started high school today. Not sure how we have gotten to this point... seems like they were just little!
Loved all of your flower exhibit photos...very pretty. I am amazed by the crowds you faced! The two times we went in May the crowds were average. Very strange, wonder why you had so many people there? This last time we went I had suscribed to Lines and followed their advice for crowds in parks and they were right. Very helpful to have their information.
Wow, you can get carry out at Le Cellier??? That would be great! I haven't ever gotten ADR's there, I'm always too late trying to book them.
I'm sad your report is almost over. It has been fun to follow along with you and your mom.

 

[Disneygrl36]

I can't believe those crowds at EPCOT! WOW....I don't think I have ever seen anything like that. EPCOT is so big the crowds always seem pretty evenly dispersed.

Glad you decided to get the wine & hoping it made it back ok.

Love Le Cellier..........that is so cool you can get take out. So the person just walked up & ordered soup & bread to go? Neat!

that it's almost time to say good bye!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Loved your updates!!! I had to go back & read 2 or 3 of them because I was a little behind (as usual...lol)

That's ok, seems like I pretty much stay behind these days too!

I really liked Coral Reef last year, but wasn't as impressed this trip. I had the Mahi Mahi too & probably would've loved it...except that I got it last year & loved it alot more!!! Last year's had pineapple chutney sauce with some type of coconut rum...this years was mushroooms & shrimp. (I actually love mushrooms & shrimp, but preferred the chutney sauce with the mix of coconut and pineapple)

I just read your update that included your meal at Coral Reef! I don't remember if I responded or not though That's too bad that your dish wasn't as good as you had last time. I think I would prefer the mushrooms and shrimp just because I'm not really a fan of 'sweet' sauces, not sure I'd like the pineapple & coconut.

I LOOOOVE all of the desserts you choose! I have a list on my desk of things to try next trip & most of them have come from your TR so thank you!

I have never been to Le Cellier but it looks so good! I think it will be hard to choose what to order because I've heard about it from so many different people! Its definitely on my list for next trip. (I also have to try creme brulee...can you believe I've never had it before???)

I rarely eat dessert at home, but at Disney it's a must! And creme brulee is my favorite - I think I ordered it at least 4 times this trip

I have always gotten the filet at LC and it's always been good. One of these days I may try something new.....but then again, maybe not

I loved the pictures from Flower & Garden! I definitely don't have a green thumb but I enjoy looking at flowers (especially at Disney!)

My thumb is far from green, but I can enjoy other people's work!

Your last day sounded so relaxing!! The pool was a good choice especially on a very hot day!

The pool was much needed that day!

I couldn't believe those crowds!!! I thought it was bad on our trip, but that picture of the people crossing the bridge at Epcot was insane! I'm starting to think that I shouldn't be complaining so much about the crowds, it could've been worse! Yikes!

That last night at Epcot was nuts, I couldn't believe all the people. I've never seen it like that except the week we were there over Christmas. I have no idea where all those people came from!

Great update, Michelle. I cannot believe the crowds. Never in all of our years of going to Disney have I ever seen crowds like that (the one exception was probably 4th of July). I felt awkward at LeCellier too the first time but soon got it over. I just love the food there (I always get the cream cheese mashed potatos with my filet). And that soup is heavenly.

Weren't those crowds crazy? I've no idea why it was like that, I've only seen it that busy when we went Christmas week. And I thought early May was off season!

The filet with the mashed potatoes is what I always order as well. I feel like I should expand my horizons and get something different some time, but I'm afraid I'd be disappointed and would wish that I had gotten the filet.....

Great update!! Glad you guys had a fabulous dinner-- that is amazing that you can order food to go!! I wonder how many of the other restaurants do that??

I had no idea that you could get something to go from Disney restaurants! I was shocked when the guy walked up and asked if he could get a bowl of soup and some bread to go and the CM said yes!

Yikes, those crowds are crazy! Hope your wine made it home ok! Thanks for making the sacrifice and taking the food pictures for us. I usually try to be slick and pretend like I'm viewing pictures on my camera and then try to snap one quickly without a flash. I'm not sure I'm fooling anyone but I feel better. You ordered exactly what I would have... filet and mashed potato. YUM.

Next is saying goodbye?? Boo.

Who says early May is a low crowd time? I couldn't believe my eyes!

As you can probably tell from my food pics, I always took them without the flash. It was awkward enough for me pulling out my camera to take pictures of food - I certainly didn't want to draw more attention to myself by using the flash

 

[SoonerGirl]

I am laughing at all the comments about listening to the Four Parks, One World CD in the car with the kids and playing the "Guess that attraction" game. I do it too!!!! I thought I was the only dork who did that!

I am gradually even getting Chris used to listening to it, although I admit that most of the airtime occurs when it is just me and the kids. Usually he is pretty good up until he hears:

"I-mmmmaaaaaginnnnnaaaaation........I-mmmmaaaaaginnnnnaaaaation!"

Very quickly after that, XM Satelite Radio is turned on. And not to the Disney station.

I guess we're all dorks who play the 'guess that attraction' game That's why were all such good friends around here - we all have the same obsession!

At least you can get Chris to listen to some of it - Don hears it and immediately shuts it off. He's such a Grump!

So glad you got to see the Voices of Liberty. I saw them too on our May trip. I am sure it has been a good 15 years since I last saw them.

They were so good! I had only seen them in conjuction with the Candlelight Processional, never their actual show. I'm glad we were able to catch them.

So, how was Davy Jones???? I so wanted to see him, but unfortunately it just didn't work out on our trip. At least he got a great crowd! And he came into the audience??? That's awesome!

Unfortunately we didn't get to see very much of his show, only about 10-15 mintues, but what we did see was very entertaining. He did get a good crowd - it was standing room only! I couldn't believe when he walked out into the audience - I was a little bit nervous for him, some of those ladies got pretty excited

Love the flower displays at Garden Town....I somehow completely overlooked this.

It was only open on the weekends, and was back in the old Wonders of Life pavilion, so it was easy to miss.

Great photopass pictures of you and your Mom, as usual!

Thanks

Can't believe those crowd shots!!! Are you sure we were there the same week??!! I am not kidding....I didn't come close to seeing crowds anything like this the whole trip. Do you subscribe to TGM? What an endorsement I can give him now!

I followed TGMs advise for our trip in December and applied alot of his logic to determining our park days for this trip. Epcot did have evening EMHs that night, which means it was a big no-no going there, but it was the only night I could get a Le Cellier ADR, plus we wanted to hit up Garden Town, which was only open Fri, Sat & Sun. So, I figured it was a low crowd time it couldn't be too bad - HA!

Really we only had 3 times when the crowd was so bad that it put me in a grumpy mood - our first day at AK, the last night at Epcot and our shopping night in DTD. Other than that they really weren't too bad.

Love that last picture you took of Epcot on your way out. Boy! You must have reeeeealllly been tired...can't believe you skipped out before Illuminations on your last nite!

We had a late meal and by the time we got out there were no decent spots for Illuminations (remember those crowd pics!) and we just really didn't want to fight it, so we left.

Fun!

Katie was a sweetheart, I'm glad we got a chance to meet!

Nice.

It was indeed!

Love that store.

I want to go back and check it out again when it isn't so crowded - there was so much to look at in there!

YUM!

Noooooooo!

I know, that is always the worst part of any trip

Your afternoon at the pool sounds lovely!

Yikes - Epcot was REALLY crowded. I have honestly never been there with THAT many people. That's what I like about Epcot. There usually isn't that shoulder to shoulder feeling.

Great pictures of Davy Jones.

Dinner - one word - HEAVENLY! I would picked the cream cheese mashed potatoes over the risotto any day. I have LC coming up for a lunch ADR and although the filet sounds like a bit much for lunch, I may have to have it!

Epcot usually handles crowds really well, I wonder how many people were there that night - it just seemed insanely busy!

I would bite the bullet and get the filet for lunch - I'm not sure I could go there and NOT get a steak. Just have a light dinner later

Even though you were far from Davy, you got some really great shots of him! I think he's the only one I know out of the performers at F&G. Haha, mainly because of my parents but also because of The Brady Bunch!

Woohoo! You DID get the wine! Haha. Can't wait to find out if it was a-okay by the time you got home!

OoOoO ... soup and pretzel bread to go??? That would've been so great to know last trip! I definitely would've gone back to get those two items to go so I could try it. Oh well ... I've already got ADRs for my Feb trip!

That is so funny that you mention the Brady Bunch, that is where I knew him from too and he actually said something about it during his show. He said he still has people walk up to him and say "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!" Then he sang the song that he sang at the dance in that episode.

I did get the wine - we'll have to wait and see if it made it home okay.......

I thought about the fact that I found out you could get the soup & bread to go when I read your update, and felt bad that you missed out on it. Of course I don't have to feel bad now since you get to eat there in February! I still need to get over and check out your PTR - I'm really having a hard time keeping up on the DIS these days

 

[SoonerGirl]

I seriously keep looking for myself in the background of your pics. We caught the tail end of Davy Jones too one night, but I don't know if it was the same night. I don't remember epcot being that packed, but I do remember thinking it was way more crowded than I remembered May being.

I think you'd remember if you were in Epcot that night - those crowds were nuts! He was there the following 2 nights as well, maybe you caught one of those shows.

It does seem like we followed the same touring plan for most of our trip, I'm sure we must have crossed paths at some point!

Hi Michelle!
I finally managed to get all caught up! School starting back has just taken up all my DIS time. I could go for some more summer!

I loved all your pictures, as usual. Garden Town seemed awesome! We didn't get to do that because we weren't there on a weekend. John and I were both disappointed that all the classes and such were on the weekends too.

I hope to do better staying caught up now!

Hey Stacy! Silly jobs taking up DIS time, that's just crazy!

I thought it was unfortunate that all the classes and stuff were only on the weekends too. I guess they thought they wouldn't be as well attended on weekdays

Holy crowds at Epcot!!! My goodness!!!

I love the Japanese store in the WS...there is so much to look at!

You can get to-go orders from Le Cellier??? I never even thought to ask about that before! What FANTASTIC news!!!

Great update, Michelle...so sad to hear that your TR will soon be coming to an end...

It was nuts, I tell you - and here I had told Mom how we were going at such a great time

I need to go back to the Japanese store when I can browse without bumping into 100 people, what I saw of it looked really cool!

I never would have thought to ask about to go orders at Disney restaurants either! I'm pretty excited about that little tid bit

I'm sad my report is coming to an end too, especially since I don't have a PTR to start. I've been trying and trying to get Don to agree to a short F&W trip, just the two of us, but he's just being a Grump about it. I've about given up - and I'm depressed.......

A couple of hours at the pool eating nachos and sipping raspberry coolers sounds heavenly!

My mom really liked Davy Jones when she was younger -- I will have to show her your pictures.

Goodness, I hope that wine made it home okay.

What crazy crowds!!!

Mmmm, that Le Cellier meal looks strangely familiar! LOL!

It was a great afternoon - just what we needed!

My mom liked Davy Jones too, I kinda feel bad that we were so slow in getting around that we missed most of his show. What we did see was pretty entertaining, and he still looks pretty good for an old guy

I hope the wine made it home okay too!

I think that meal at Le Cellier is the DIS staple

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hi Michelle! I am all caught up again! School started here for us... we tried to squeeze out every last minute of summer vacation... DD went back to college last week and DS started high school today. Not sure how we have gotten to this point... seems like they were just little!
Loved all of your flower exhibit photos...very pretty. I am amazed by the crowds you faced! The two times we went in May the crowds were average. Very strange, wonder why you had so many people there? This last time we went I had suscribed to Lines and followed their advice for crowds in parks and they were right. Very helpful to have their information.
Wow, you can get carry out at Le Cellier??? That would be great! I haven't ever gotten ADR's there, I'm always too late trying to book them.
I'm sad your report is almost over. It has been fun to follow along with you and your mom.

Oh gosh, college and high school?! And I've been whining about my oldest just starting HS, I can't imagine college - where does the time go?!

I'm very curious as to why there were so many people at Epcot that night too. I was an EMHs night, but I've been before on EMH nights and it hasn't been that crazy

I can't believe those crowds at EPCOT! WOW....I don't think I have ever seen anything like that. EPCOT is so big the crowds always seem pretty evenly dispersed.

Glad you decided to get the wine & hoping it made it back ok.

Love Le Cellier..........that is so cool you can get take out. So the person just walked up & ordered soup & bread to go? Neat!

that it's almost time to say good bye!

Epcot does normally handle crowds really well, even on busy days it doesn't seem all that busy, but that night was just wall to wall people!

I just really wanted to get Don that bottle of wine so I put aside my fears of it breaking and crossed my fingers and hoped for the best!

The person at Le Cellier first walked up to inquire about a possible table, when he was told they were fully booked for the night he asked if he could get some soup and bread to go and the lady said 'sure'!

Goodbye is never fun