I think I gained 5 pounds at the Food & Wine Festival - An Oct 2012 TR **NEW 3/18**

[jenny105]

best sentence you wrote. sorry had to highlight that being a bears fan.

allthough sounds like a fun day you guys had, and smart move on there part keeping bleacher seats, think how much extra money they make on those seat backs they rent out.

I thought you'd appreciate that sentence.

That's true. I think I heard that if they removed the bleachers and put in regular seats they would lose capacity. But they are adding a whole new section to the field. Those seats are going to be WAY up in the sky!

 

[jenny105]

Yay a Disney update!

The previous night was my 30th birthday so we slept in a bit this day. I planned it to be another low key waterpark day. This time we were going to Typhoon Lagoon!

We arrived there around 11:30. Kris has never been here but I’ve been twice before. I love it! I like the slides at BB but I think TL has the edge because of the wave pool and crush n gusher.

Our first stop was the falls – Keelhaul, Mayday, and Gangplank. Then we hit Humunga Kowabunga and the Storm Slides. There are three storm slides and I forget which one we picked. When we were waiting in line I think someone must’ve been hurt because they stopped letting people down the slide for about 10 minutes. After the body slides we spent some time in the wave pool before stopping for some lunch at the Leaning Palm. I got pepperoni pizza and fruit and Kris had chicken nuggets and a cookie. There was a girl having an absolute meltdown at table next to us. The rest of her family was eating and I guess she didn’t want to so she was throwing a tantrum. She was banging her head (not hard but dramatically) against one of the support poles and bawling her eyes out. Her family just simply ignored her which is what I probably would have done. She was too old to be pulling that. I felt bad for her and them though because everyone was staring. People looked annoyed but Kris and I just laughed about it.

After lunch we took a cruise on the lazy river and took a ride on Crush n Gusher – the Pineapple Plunge version. That has to be one of my favorite water slides ever! After that we had pretty much done everything in the park so we left and headed back to AKL to do what else? Pool!
We had dinner reservations at Raglan Road that night so after freshening up we headed over to Downtown Disney. We parked by Planet Hollywood and entered through that way. I had to get another Forrest Gump themed picture of Kris! And I guess me in a way…

Kris wasn’t sure he was going to like Raglan Road so we walked around looking at menus for other places and actually walked into Portobello’s (I think that’s the name?) and sat down at the bar. The bartender didn’t pay any attention to us so after about 10 minutes we left. We decided just to stick with Raglan Road and I’m so glad we did. It was fantastic!

I started with the sangria.

We got the Dalkey Duo as an appetizer.

I got the Raglan Risotto which was delicious and I think Kris got the roasted chicken but I could be wrong. I’m a bad DISer, I didn’t write it down. I started getting lazy with notes toward the end of the trip.

As we were eating our meals the dancers came out. We were right in front of one of the little stages that are mixed within the tables so we had a great view.

If you’ve never tried Raglan Road go there for one thing. The bread pudding. OMG. It was to DIE FOR! Kris got some chocolate thing for dessert and he didn’t like it because it was so rich so he ended up eating half of mine. I was stuffed but I didn’t want to share, it was so good!

On a side note I love all the autographed pictures they have in the hallway leading to the restrooms in the restaurant. Lots of Bono!

After dinner we decided to stroll around DTD some more. It was raining on and off (of course) so we got a little drenched!

We spent some time walking around Team Mickey and the World of Disney store (we ended up buying Disney themed sweets for my mom and grandma) before heading into Tren-D. This is where Kris bought me my birthday present. Something I’ve wanted for years.

My D&B Disney bag!

So pretty!

Before heading back to the hotel we drove to the cheapo gift shops that surround Disney to look for souvenirs for everyone back home. I ended finding a Harry Potter shirt for myself that says Muggle on it in Gryffindor colors and HP font. Love it!

We headed back to the hotel, stopped at the hot tub, and then turned in for the night. I was trying not to think about the fact that tomorrow would be our last full day in Disney…

Stay tuned!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

What a lot of driving you did for that football game! The hubby and I aren't big on football, we like baseball (we're a divided household-me: Whte Sox, him: Cubs). No matter what sport you like, it's always fun to visit the stadiums/arenas.

I loved the slides at TL. We got there right when it opened and by lunch time, we had done everything we wanted. I don't think I could spend a whole day there. It's kind of pricey, though.

When we went to Raglan Road, it was SO LOUD. The food was delicious, though. Next time, I think I want to go for lunch. I enjoy DTD so much more when it's less crowded. Although, PI looks fun at night!

 

[khertz]

I love your little Mickey print dress!! So cute.

Raglan Road seems like a fun place to eat with the dancers and stuff going on. I have heard nothing but rave reviews of the bread pudding either.

Your D&B purse is so cute! I love that style!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

what was in that dish with the forks holding it Up?

 

[jenny105]

What a lot of driving you did for that football game! The hubby and I aren't big on football, we like baseball (we're a divided household-me: Whte Sox, him: Cubs). No matter what sport you like, it's always fun to visit the stadiums/arenas.

I loved the slides at TL. We got there right when it opened and by lunch time, we had done everything we wanted. I don't think I could spend a whole day there. It's kind of pricey, though.

When we went to Raglan Road, it was SO LOUD. The food was delicious, though. Next time, I think I want to go for lunch. I enjoy DTD so much more when it's less crowded. Although, PI looks fun at night!

Yes it was a LOT of driving! I've made the trip down to Orlando and it's a similar drive (except it gets warmer the further you go!) and Kris made the trip once before so we were ok. I love going to games. It's so much fun!

I could never spend the whole day in a waterpark either. There are never any lines and there isn't much else to do once you hit all the slides. I'm not the type to do the slides again and again. I'm lucky enough to get free WP tickets because I'm a TA so it's not like I feel obligated to spend the whole day there.

Raglan Road got very loud once the dancers took the stage. We'd never been there before so it was great to experience it!

I love your little Mickey print dress!! So cute.

Raglan Road seems like a fun place to eat with the dancers and stuff going on. I have heard nothing but rave reviews of the bread pudding either.

Your D&B purse is so cute! I love that style!

Thank you! I bought that at the Contemporary during our 2010 trip.

I'm drooling over their bread pudding. I wish I had some right now.

I used my D&B bag everyday. I love it! I've received so many compliments on it.

what was in that dish with the forks holding it Up?

It's battered cocktail sausages. They were pretty good!

 

[princess_momma]

does it show how much I love football based on the fact that I feel like your Lambeau field tr was as good as your WDW one? I LOVED IT!! It's one of my goals in life to visit EVERY stadium in the NFL. Perfection.

But my love is allowed to be equal and valid since Disney owns ESPN, right?

 

[jenny105]

does it show how much I love football based on the fact that I feel like your Lambeau field tr was as good as your WDW one? I LOVED IT!! It's one of my goals in life to visit EVERY stadium in the NFL. Perfection.

But my love is allowed to be equal and valid since Disney owns ESPN, right?

KIMMY! I missed you!

Yes that makes sense. Disney and ESPN go hand in hand! Have you ever watched a game at ESPN Zone at the Boardwalk? It's craziness!

What NFL stadiums have you visited so far? I've been to Lambeau (obviously) and the new Giants stadium for U2. I've also been to wear the Eagles play also for U2.

I want to visit different NHL arenas specifically places in Canada. Their fans are CRAZY.

 

[klacey1]

Haha, I also cannot imagine anything like a Tailgate Zone in NJ/NY! We East Coasters just get a biiiiit too feisty!
Mmmm, I want to try Raglan Road so badly! (We tried to get a last minute ADR last trip, but no go.) Your appetizer looks amazing!
What a perfect birthday present! I want a Disney D&B!!
Excited for Saturday night?! We're throwing a first game of the season party-- I can't wait to see Nash play for us!

 

[jenny105]

Haha, I also cannot imagine anything like a Tailgate Zone in NJ/NY! We East Coasters just get a biiiiit too feisty!
Mmmm, I want to try Raglan Road so badly! (We tried to get a last minute ADR last trip, but no go.) Your appetizer looks amazing!
What a perfect birthday present! I want a Disney D&B!!
Excited for Saturday night?! We're throwing a first game of the season party-- I can't wait to see Nash play for us!

No way! There were Vikings fans walking around the tailgate zone unscathed. Here? Forget about it!

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS WEEKEND! I wanted to throw a first game of the season party but all my friends decided to go to the Poconos this weekend. Lame. They asked me and I said no way! Henrik Lundqvist > Poconos.

 

[jenny105]

So here it is, our last full day in Disney. Boo.

First things first – we had to switch rooms. We rented DVC points and when I first booked our dates were 9/30-10/7. We realized we could use points to cover our airfare if we flew home on the 8th instead of the 7th so we added an extra night. Well the value studio was no longer available so we had to book a standard view studio. So there you have the reason for the room swap.

Kris stayed upstairs to pack up the rest of our room while I went downstairs to check us in and out. We were put in a room on the same floor but a different trail, Zebra trail this time. The line for check-in was long (people were up there asking every question they could think of it seemed) so it took longer than I expected to be taken care of. I get in the elevator and guess what? I realize then that the woman at the front desk didn’t give me my room key! So back to the front desk I go. Luckily I didn’t have to wait very long, got the same woman, and she handed over my key right away. Back to the elevators I go to get Kris.

Now when we were put in the Ostrich trail I thought to myself ‘why do people complain about long walks to the lobby? This is nothing.’ When we were put in the zebra trail, I completely understood. That was a trek especially with two suitcases apiece! I think we were at the very end of the trail. But when I opened the door and saw a bigger room than what we had I didn’t mind.

When I looked at our balcony and realized this was our ‘standard’ view I minded even less.

I felt like being a good DISer that morning so I took plenty of pictures of this room!

I love that my luggage matches the theme!

I see Simba in that curtain!

We got settled and then got ready to head out for the day. It was a Sunday and it was our last full day in Disney so you can guess what we did right?

I’ll give you a minute.

Who guessed that we were going to ESPN Zone to watch the Packers game? Gold star to you if you did!

Now this wasn’t my ideal last day at Disney but I’m a good sport so I went with it as long as I was promised some Epcot and MK EMH later on. Kris obliged. So it was off to ESPN Zone we went.

On our way out of AKL Kris went into the gift shop to buy something for his dad so I wandered around the lobby snapping some pictures.

Front desk

The gift shop also known as the Zawadi Marketplace

Victoria Falls Lounge

Just outside the resort – the water leads to the pool

Since we were park hopping we decided to use the buses that day instead of driving. We decided to take the bus to Epcot and cut through the park to get to ESPN via the WS gate.

Bus stop

Waiting for the bus.

We only had to wait a few minutes and then we were off to enjoy our last full day in Disney!

Stay tuned….

 

[khertz]

I can't believe you are already down to your last day!! We took SO many pictures that I still have quite a bit of our trip left to share in my TR, so it feels like your TR has gone by even faster! Kind of like a Disney trip does once you get there, suddenly you are at the end wondering how a week went by so fast!

The new room looks so nice! AK is one of those resorts that I just need to make the time to go visit. All of the photos look so stunning! And I think Paxton would enjoy getting to see more animals.

I also can't believe you are spending your last day at ESPN Zone to watch the Packers! You must really love that guy!! But I'm sure you have some Disney time in your future that day. That is always one of the downsides to taking long WDW vacations in the fall, we usually miss 2 Saints games while we are there!

 

[jenny105]

I can't believe you are already down to your last day!! We took SO many pictures that I still have quite a bit of our trip left to share in my TR, so it feels like your TR has gone by even faster! Kind of like a Disney trip does once you get there, suddenly you are at the end wondering how a week went by so fast!

The new room looks so nice! AK is one of those resorts that I just need to make the time to go visit. All of the photos look so stunning! And I think Paxton would enjoy getting to see more animals.

I also can't believe you are spending your last day at ESPN Zone to watch the Packers! You must really love that guy!! But I'm sure you have some Disney time in your future that day. That is always one of the downsides to taking long WDW vacations in the fall, we usually miss 2 Saints games while we are there!

I know! My TR is almost over I told Kris I was posting the other day and he was like 'you're still working on that?' So I guess I didn't post fast enough for him!

AKL is gorgeous! If Paxton loves animals he'll love that resort!

I always tell him 'when it's hockey season, please remember how much I put up with your love of the Packers.' 99% of the time he doesn't!

 

[jenny105]

A short update is better than nothing right?

We arrived at Epcot around 11:30 and made a quick pit stop at Soarin to get FPs for later. The return time was already 6:30! Then we walked as fast as we could to ESPN Zone. The line was already out the door and slow moving. Kris went inside to see if he could get seats at the bar while I waited outside. I gave them my name and which team we were there for and luckily we were sat by 12:30 right in front of a television marked Packers/Colts. There was a live radio broadcast going on before the games started and they were picking random fans out of the crowd to answer trivia and win stuff. I tried to get Kris to volunteer but he’s way too shy for that. There’s a huge screen in the middle of the dining room area and the fans voted on which game to play there and the big screen in the bar section. I forget what won out there but I’m pretty sure the Steelers won in the dining room.

The guys who hosted the show

What a typical Sunday with Kris is like. He can't even be bothered to look at the camera!

A better picture taken by the nice Packers couple a table away.

Our server was great. He knew we would be there the whole game so he periodically checked up on us. I had a bunch of Angry Orchards (my new beer of choice!) and split Nachos and a cheese steak. I think Kris was drinking Blue Moons. During the game my attention started to waver and I noticed there was a wedding going on at Sea Breeze point. I watched the groomsmen and bridesmaids go by and finally spotted the bride.

I’d love to get married in Disney World but I don’t know about Sea Breeze point. It’s too out in the open where every tourist can see you and wedding crash!

The game ended up going into overtime so we were there longer than expected. We weren’t hungry and had a dinner reservation at 5 for Les Chefs that I ended up cancelling. I’m still bummed about that! I really wanted to go and see Remy. Next time. The Packers ended up losing and I got stuck with a cranky Kris for the rest of the day which annoyed me. I was a good sport and went along with watching football though it wasn’t at all what I wanted to do on our last day there and I did it with a smile on my face. He was sulking big time as we waited for the friendship boat to take us back to Epcot. Why are men such babies? (Sorry Dan). We arrived back at Epcot around 4:45.

Coming up the rest of our afternoon at Epcot and MK EMH.

Stay tuned….

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

no offense taken, it does stink when your team losses, but i dont let it bug me for long...always the next week to look forward too.

and you can be made after drinking and having nachos i think that is a rule.

 

[klacey1]

Augh, I think we know all too well how much it stinks when your team loses! (Watching the Leafs game now. SO FRUSTRATING!!!) **ETA!! We came back! What an awesome 3rd period!
Sorry you had to cancel your Chefs reservation--definitely try for your next trip, we liked it!

 

[jenny105]

no offense taken, it does stink when your team losses, but i dont let it bug me for long...always the next week to look forward too.

and you can be made after drinking and having nachos i think that is a rule.

Sure, take his side!

Augh, I think we know all too well how much it stinks when your team loses! (Watching the Leafs game now. SO FRUSTRATING!!!) **ETA!! We came back! What an awesome 3rd period!
Sorry you had to cancel your Chefs reservation--definitely try for your next trip, we liked it!

I can't believe they came back to win that! I picked Gaborik up on my fantasy team. I was shocked no one picked him in the draft. Great move on my part.

 

[jenny105]

We arrived at the back entrance of Epcot and made our way to Future World since we skipped it on our first Epcot day. We had some time to kill before our Soarin FP return time so we headed over to Spaceship Earth first and then Mission Space. I haven’t been on Mission space in years and Kris has never been so he wanted to try it. Orange side it was! There was only a 10 minute wait so no need for a FP.

I felt like the ride was less intense than I remembered it. Kris liked it but this is how he was feeling by the time we got off MS.

Get up! We still have a looooong night ahead of us.

We headed to Nemo next and that was cute as usual! Speaking of Nemo does anyone have the Nemo’s Reef game on their phone? It’s addicting!

By then it was time for our Soarin FP time. So we get in line and we’re seated in the front row. Great. Until the movie is about to start and the ride goes down. We got stuck sitting there for about 20 minutes until they fixed it. Now I know what the Space Mountain people felt like. Kris was not pleased and that only increased his crankiness. I’m not a huge fan of Soarin and don’t get what all the hype is about and why that ride always has a huge line. That experience did not help their case. Is it me or does it seem like Disney’s rides break more often than usual now? Or is it just because I’m older and notice these things more now?

Anyway after Soarin it was around 7:30 and we decided to head out of the park. On the way out I got a nice shot of Spaceship Earth aka the giant golf ball.

Off to Magic Kingdom we go for EMH!

Stay tuned….

 

[HeatherLassell]

We arrived at the back entrance of Epcot and made our way to Future World since we skipped it on our first Epcot day. We had some time to kill before our Soarin FP return time so we headed over to Spaceship Earth first and then Mission Space. I haven’t been on Mission space in years and Kris has never been so he wanted to try it. Orange side it was! There was only a 10 minute wait so no need for a FP.

I felt like the ride was less intense than I remembered it. Kris liked it but this is how he was feeling by the time we got off MS.

Get up! We still have a looooong night ahead of us.

We headed to Nemo next and that was cute as usual! Speaking of Nemo does anyone have the Nemo’s Reef game on their phone? It’s addicting!

By then it was time for our Soarin FP time. So we get in line and we’re seated in the front row. Great. Until the movie is about to start and the ride goes down. We got stuck sitting there for about 20 minutes until they fixed it. Now I know what the Space Mountain people felt like. Kris was not pleased and that only increased his crankiness. I’m not a huge fan of Soarin and don’t get what all the hype is about and why that ride always has a huge line. That experience did not help their case. Is it me or does it seem like Disney’s rides break more often than usual now? Or is it just because I’m older and notice these things more now?

Anyway after Soarin it was around 7:30 and we decided to head out of the park. On the way out I got a nice shot of Spaceship Earth aka the giant golf ball.

Off to Magic Kingdom we go for EMH!

Stay tuned….

Sweet! That's the night I met ya!

 

[khertz]

I don't get the Soarin' hype either? It's not THAT great...I guess the ride mechanism is pretty cool, but that's about it. Definitely not interested in standing in a super long line just for that attraction. It actually makes our Epcot mornings easier because while everyone is rushing there, we are heading off to everything else in the park.

Haven't done Mission Space in awhile, but I got a laugh out of Kris' "after" photo!