Flying 2 days for 3 days at WDW is a SNAP! Final Thoughts 01/02

[norybell]

Oh my, that caramel thingie looks amazing. I would like one right now, please!

 

[hjd0411]

That caramel looks amazing!!! I've just had breakfast and I want some of that to finish off!!!

 

[stephielela]

I can't wait to try something at the new Karamel Kuche! Caramel isn't even my favorite but all those thing look WONDERFUL!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

You posted the Karamell Kuche store photos as revenge for my Max Brenner photo didn't you? Now THAT is cruel. I need to eat some of those yummies now!!!

Revenge is SWEET!

Wow! Yum, yum, yum!! I am sooo loving the food porn! That Karamell Kuche is making my mouth water.

You'll definitely have to put it on your must do list!

We stopped at Karamel Kuche too...thanks to knowing about it from the DIS. You can't bottle the smell and show it on the DIS though. It was all so yummy! Definitely a new must do for world showcase!

They were "cooking" when I was visiting. The smell is just AMAZING. I didn't think that there would be anywhere to top the Boulangerie for me.....but Karamell Kuche definitely is the icing!

Oh my, that caramel thingie looks amazing. I would like one right now, please!

Me too!!

That caramel looks amazing!!! I've just had breakfast and I want some of that to finish off!!!

I'm so going to have to look up recipes for caramel and try making it at home. It is way too far and too long between visits for me.

I can't wait to try something at the new Karamel Kuche! Caramel isn't even my favorite but all those thing look WONDERFUL!!!

Not long now for you. Have an extra one for me!

 

[kyl]

O.k now I have some serious WDW withdrawals....like badly. Does anyone else get a little down after coming home to reality or am I just plain strange!

 

[PrincessInOz]

O.k now I have some serious WDW withdrawals....like badly. Does anyone else get a little down after coming home to reality or am I just plain strange!

If you're feeling a little down after coming home to reality, then you're probably just plain strange.

Speaking for myself, I usually feel a HEAP down. That's why I write TR's .

 

[PrincessInOz]

After catching the Friendship across from Germary, we headed back into Future World and towards the Cool Club.

We needed to try some of those beverages from the different countries.
I had tried Beverly but Firefly hadn’t. So, I lined up to take a shot of her reaction….

Sadly, she didn’t react because she knew the camera was on her!


And as we were in the neighbourhood, we headed here…

I honestly couldn’t remember if I had been on this attraction before but when I saw these, I remembered…

I had. It was DS first ride at Epcot and he had been 5.

The low light had scared him and I spent the ride cuddling him and hadn’t really seen the attraction properly.


I certainly don't remember seeing any of these figures or scenes...

Nor did I remember that the attraction was based around the history of paper/writing.

I was really glad to be able to take it all in properly this time and I love the historic perspective of this attraction. It is one of the things that puts Epcot in a class of it's own - the educational aspects of some of the attractions.


The end of this attraction is really cute. I had no idea that our mug shots had been taken along this ride until I saw these sequence of events.

You get to choose the adventure that you want to go on..

And your picture gets superimposed on the various transports and events.

We had done something similar in the Biodome in Montreal; so after seeing these shots, DS is now sold on going back on this ride!


Firefly and I then headed off in the direction of Test Track. Stand-by wait time was 20 minutes and as we both loved this ride, we got in line and got slung around the course. What a thrill it always is!


I was still on the hunt for the cookbook, so I was keen to head off in the direction of the F&W headquarters. I managed to find this last copy (until the next shipment)!

And it has a recipe for that delicious delectable Chocolate Lava Cake from Ireland and the Cheddar Cheese Soup from Canada.


We then headed off in the direction of Ellen’s ride. We had promised franandaj that we would go on this attraction.

We didn’t have very long to wait and we got in our seats. Mini Pooh and mini Eeyore looked like they were having fun!

We headed back to prehistoric times and I managed to snap some dinosaurs before they snapped me!

Nice attraction. The major benefit of Ellen’s ride is that it takes 45 minutes to complete. Just enough time to cool down, rest the feet and allow the food to digest before the next round!


Up Next: Epcot at Night

 

[Mum from oz]

Glad to see you found that cook book!

 

[stephielela]

It seems like everytime we try to ride Ellen it's down! I do agree though, it's a comfortable and entertaining place to take a break!

 

[ehsmum]

We weren't sure about Ellen's ride because 45 minutes seemed like such a long time to take out of our day, but we really enjoyed it and it didn't seem like it went for 45 minutes.

Glad you got your cookbook!

 

[franandaj]

Wow! That was a huge update (at least since I'd been back!) glad you got on Ellen's ride, I went on that my first time at WDW (at least I think so, in 1993), I really want to see the Karamel Kuche shop. My favorite is Chocolate covered caramel, and you can add marshmallows and it's yummy, not nuts, no apples, but Fran will love the apples!

I'm sorry you missed the Lobster Roll at Hops and Barley. Both Ellen and American Adventure are some of my favorite F&W rides...nice dark rides where you can relax and sort of snooze off your eatings! Again sounds like great days! Glad you found the cookbook. The Cheese Soup is really easy to make and very good, but you'll have to subsitute boca bacon if your DH is going to eat it....

 

[PrincessInOz]

Glad to see you found that cook book!

Me too!

It seems like everytime we try to ride Ellen it's down! I do agree though, it's a comfortable and entertaining place to take a break!

Maybe your luck will change in December. It sure was nice to be able to sit and relax for a while.

We weren't sure about Ellen's ride because 45 minutes seemed like such a long time to take out of our day, but we really enjoyed it and it didn't seem like it went for 45 minutes.

Glad you got your cookbook!

I think it's about planning when you want to take 45 minutes out of your day. Late afternoon seemed about perfect (at least for me).

Wow! That was a huge update (at least since I'd been back!) glad you got on Ellen's ride, I went on that my first time at WDW (at least I think so, in 1993), I really want to see the Karamel Kuche shop. My favorite is Chocolate covered caramel, and you can add marshmallows and it's yummy, not nuts, no apples, but Fran will love the apples!

I'm sorry you missed the Lobster Roll at Hops and Barley. Both Ellen and American Adventure are some of my favorite F&W rides...nice dark rides where you can relax and sort of snooze off your eatings! Again sounds like great days! Glad you found the cookbook. The Cheese Soup is really easy to make and very good, but you'll have to subsitute boca bacon if your DH is going to eat it....

Welcome back! Hope things are well in your land! That Karamell Kuche is something special. And I'm sorry I missed the Lobster Roll as well.

I'm thinking of smoked oysters as a substitute for the bacon ...although I suspect I'll probably cook it first up without the bacon and then modify from there.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We had 45 minutes in Ellen’s ride to cool down, rest our feet and allow the food to digest. It was now time for dinner.
I was pretty hungry; but this was the one night that DH would have free and we had planned to try some Blissful Bites together. So I had to wait.

Firefly, on the other hand, was on the Dining Plan. And she had some credits to burn! She also felt like a burger; so we headed for Electric Umbrella.
This was her dinner.

I figured that if I sat there, I would succumb and go get something to eat. So I headed out to take some twilight shots of Epcot. And for those photographers out there, these were taken with my kit lenses; not the prime.

Whilst I was outside, DH called me and said that he was on the way and nearly at Epcot. So, we hung around and waited for him to arrive. And he was about as hungry as I was so, it was off to try more bites.

Unfortunately, I must have had an attack of the shakes and a brain freeze! I just couldn’t seem to get the prime lens to take any decent shots this night.
We stopped by Argentina.

Where we picked up a Roast Corn and Cheese Empanada. Surprisingly, yummy!

DH got this from South Africa. The Flavours of Africa plate. I liked the flavours very much.

We also apparently got the Seared Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Puree and Mango BBQ sauce. I came back and looked at this photo and thought “I don’t remember eating you”. But I must have; and it was obviously incredibly memorable! At least I can’t complain that it wasn’t pink enough!
Firefly got a better shot of the beef than I did and has posted it up on her TR.

I’m sure we ate more – I just didn’t take any pictures after the pink beef!

And I'm really sorry that I didn't get round to all the food stands and menus during the day. I would have liked to have gotten the set. I guess that just means that I'll have to scam a way back to the World during F&W at some stage.


I did attempt a few shots of the World Showcase at night. The colours and lighting are just amazing!

After eating, DH and I headed off to Soarin’ whilst Firefly marked out a spot for Illuminations. DH appreciated my strategy for picking up two fast passes earlier in the day. It is one of his favourite rides.

Despite having fast passes, it took us 45 minutes to get to the attraction, queue up, ride it and come back to where Firefly was. By this stage, it was time for Illuminations to start.

Whilst we were rushing back to where Firefly was, we passed the Desserts and Champagnes stand. I told DH to get some Dark Chocolate Sensation. I distinctly told him to get two as part of the Tasting Plate so that we could share the two between the three of us.

I headed on back to help Firefly defend our territory for Illuminations.


When DH got to us, he came back empty handed. He had picked up the Dark Chocolate Sensation. He hadn’t heard the “two and tasting plate” bit nor the “share” word. He got ONE, ate it and then headed on over to us.

By all accounts it was sensational.....

....It’s for moments like this that the backscratcher come in handy….as a prodding stick! I still reckon DH got off lightly that night!

(And with only one more full day left in this trip, I was getting really worried about not being able to get this item.)


We got a spot to watch Illuminations near the Friendship dock – on the left side. Turns out that we got a partial view of the Globe and the dock impeded our view of the water and light show.

It’s a lovely show when you get into the right viewing spot. We saw this from the right side the last time and unfortunately the wind was blowing our way...so we got a lot of fireworks particle and smoke over us. I suspect that I'm going to have to head towards Japan and Morocco the next time for a viewing of Illuminations.

Much as I love Illuminations, Wishes is still so much more spectacular against that Castle. I guess it's all about having the right viewing spot, which we have yet to discover.


Up Next: More Prime Night shots

 

[manntra]

Hello there Sorry I haven't been commenting much....I have been catching up reading but haven't commented....you are moving along at LIGHTNING speed!!!!
Going back a lonnnnng ways to WWOP again....I really have to get over there...maybe next October The buildings, rides, Butterbeer...everything looks brilliant!
Looks like you had a great time at MNSSHP...you did end up going to two of them right? I don't really do any trick or treating...just love the parade, fireworks and checking out all the costumes
Dinner at CP looked really good....I have only been there for breakfast.
Looks like you had some great Dismeets and got on well with Firefly
I have never met anyone on the boards that did not come across just as they are on the boards...everyone has always been just the nicest people
Great night pictures at Epcot....I like Illuminations too but it is not Wishes It is cool to see the fireworks so "in your face" like they are at Epcot but Wishes really does "it" for me
Hope all is well with you time to go do some catching up on the rest of the TR's

Tracy

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hello there Sorry I haven't been commenting much....I have been catching up reading but haven't commented....you are moving along at LIGHTNING speed!!!!
Going back a lonnnnng ways to WWOP again....I really have to get over there...maybe next October The buildings, rides, Butterbeer...everything looks brilliant!
Looks like you had a great time at MNSSHP...you did end up going to two of them right? I don't really do any trick or treating...just love the parade, fireworks and checking out all the costumes
Dinner at CP looked really good....I have only been there for breakfast.
Looks like you had some great Dismeets and got on well with Firefly
I have never met anyone on the boards that did not come across just as they are on the boards...everyone has always been just the nicest people
Great night pictures at Epcot....I like Illuminations too but it is not Wishes It is cool to see the fireworks so "in your face" like they are at Epcot but Wishes really does "it" for me
Hope all is well with you time to go do some catching up on the rest of the TR's

Tracy

Hi Tracy! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, WWoHP is definitely worth a visit. I'm going to need to try and get back there with DS next time and stay on site.

I think that the people on the DisBoard are just so friendly. And I know I'm not the only one - seems like that there are quite a few lifelong friendships on the boards.

Yes, I did go to two MNSSHP. I'm sure I'll get round to it....eventually.

Hope to see you on my TR again!

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Plan

In the short time that I will NOT not be at WDW, one thing had troubled me.......when did I think I was going to go to DTD?

Well, the answer to date had been.....NOT possible to squeeze it in. Afterall, what with the long flight and potential jetlag; stuffing my face at F&W, going for two MNSSHP AND hitting MK for EMH, I did NOT think that the scheduling a trip to DTD was at all possible.
This thought had made me sad.....until now.

I just saw the update on the DisBoard....looks like DTD common areas will be opened from 8 am till 1 am. I'm hoping and assuming that this means that the shops will be opened from these times? If so, I think I might just about be able to squeeze a visit in.....I just need to work out which night!

The Reality


We’d just finished watching Illuminations and in our initial plans for this night, Firefly and I had determined that we were heading off to MK for EMH after Epcot. We’d both had a very full day and were foot sore.


However, more importantly, DH reminded me that we had promised to bring DS a Build a Dino home. Whilst we both wanted to go to MK, we agreed that we needed to hit DTD as a priority. Particularly when we knew that we were going home empty handed without any Bakugan.


So after letting Firefly know about the change in plans, we headed towards the International Gateway. We figured the best way to get to DTD was on a resort bus and Firefly reminded us that our previous Beach Club home was the closest resort.


*Sigh* I just loved staying at Beach Club in May. The proximity to Epcot and DHS cannot be beaten!

DH and I agreed – we need to come back and stay here again sometime!


We got to the bus stop and were very lucky – a DTD bus got there within 5 minutes and we got to our destination a lot quicker than we had expected.


I sent DH on to the T-Rex as I could not resist the photo opportunities with the prime lens that DTD affords. It’s a sad realization to come to that I would choose to take photographs over shopping!

Someone.Slap.Me.Now!

I found the Halloween display at the Earl of Sandwich end and tried to take a picture of the Mickey balloon.

Unfortunately, I needed to take a couple of steps back in order to get the shot correct....but there was that fountain behind me and I did not feel like getting wet.


But there were other photo opportunities waiting for me.

I also took pictures of some of my favourite eating places at DTD.

It wasn't all about the photography...I did take the opportunity to stop in World of Disney to look for that backscratcher.

It still evaded me and I was getting very worried that it might have been sold out or taken off the shelves!


By this stage, DH had completed his purchase and we arranged to meet…..
For this snack from Goofy’s!

Whilst it was not the Dark Chocolate Sensation nor was it covered with Caramel, it was still yummy!


Well satisfied with our day and night, we headed back to CSR. Another past pumpkin time late night!


Up Next: Day 2 Conclusion

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Epcot F&W festival was just brilliant! There are so many food options, smells and sweets that it is impossible to taste it all in just one short day.


The new German Kuche Karamel is a MUST-DO for me for all future visits.


I was very glad to have the opportunity to address my mistakes from May and am enjoying the bag, cookbook and park music CD very much.


If you send DH out to get some Dark Chocolate Sensation, make sure you tell him to get one for YOU; not just him.


Sadly, DS did not get any Bakugan from Epcot.



FOOTNOTE: That cookbook I bought has a recipe for the Dark Chocolate Sensation in it. I guess DH will just have to make it for me instead.


Up Next: The Start of Day 3

 

[Jade+3]

Great night time shots. I can see that I am going to have to learn how to use my speedlite.

I love your F&W reviews. We were there last year (and will be there next year too), and we did not try anything from the stalls. Will make it a priority for next year.

Hehe, I believe I would take photos over shopping too. Can't believe I just wrote that!

 

[shushh]

Hehe, I believe I would take photos over shopping too. Can't believe I just wrote that!

Hmmm....I need to think about that one!

 

[shushh]

Someone.Slap.Me.Now!

SLAP SLAP SLAP

That's why I'm doing all my shopping online before I get there...oops did I just make some sort of silly admission there?