Is 7 Days Enough to Make a First Timer Fall in Love??--Aug'11 TR-- FINAL UPDATE 8/26

[jenneth79]

It's a shame to hear about your table placement, but I'm glad to hear you still had a good time at Raglan Road! We were only able to make it for a drink and an appetizer on our last trip (During the day) so we missed the performances but I really like the atmosphere there.

Agree 100% on the creme brulee.... yum!

 

[heathsf]

Thursday, August 25 – Part 1

Today was our last full day! I don’t want this TR to end because I don’t know when I’ll be going back. But I haven’t updated in a while so I guess I should get on with it…

We were ready nice and early today and made it to the bus stop at POP at 8:25 a.m. There was a bus waiting with no line so we were able to hop right on and as soon as we sat down we were on our way to Epcot.

Our plans for today were to first FP Soarin’, later get a FP for TT, and explore the World Showcase. When we arrived the lines were fairly long and it seemed to take a long time to get through the turnstile.

By the time we got through and approached the rope by the Fountain of Nations, the CMs were already counting down to rope drop. Of course there was a huge crowd heading toward Soarin’ and we got swept up in it. This photo was taken while waiting on line at one of the FP machines.

We grabbed our FP for a return time of 10:06 and decided to get in the 20 minute standby line. It was 9:10 at this point. I hadn’t been in the standby line yet on this trip and discovered that the big screens on the wall were now being used for an interactive game that guests can play while they wait on line. BF and I thought it was pretty neat and wanted to try it. The game was a bird race but as the instructions pointed out, the more people that play the better your bird will do. You’re supposed to move your body to control the speed and direction your bird flies. Unfortunately, very few people were interested in playing the game so our bird kept flying into trees. It didn’t take very long for it to not be fun anymore. Oh well.

We were on line a little longer than 20 minutes but it was an okay wait. By 9:45 we were headed out of The Land and on our way to Innoventions. We decided to try Sum of all Thrills again since we really enjoyed it the first time. There was more of a line than we had encountered last time but there are no wait times posted so we asked a CM how long it would be. He said it would probably be about 15 minutes so we decided to wait. Only one side was open (so two simulators out of 4) and it ended up being a 25 minute wait. And it was a pretty boring wait. And I wish I could say it was worth it. Let me remind you about our first visit to Sum of All Thrills. We designed our own ride experience and when we gave our card to the CM to scan, he confirmed with us that we wouldn’t be going upside down. And we were like, “Say what!?!? We WANT to go upside down!!” So he gave us a completely different ride experience than the one we chose and it was a lot of fun. This time, we decided that we were experts and could design our own awesome ride experience. Well, we weren’t. And we couldn’t. Our ride was totally tame (lame) and boring and we both felt like we had wasted way too much precious early-morning time. Oh well.

Afterwards, we grabbed FP for Test Track and then I convinced BF to go back to the entrance so we could get a PP picture in front of Spaceship Earth. He really didn’t want to do it but I begged a little bit. But Mother Nature was on BF’s side because before we could even make it there, the skies opened up and it absolutely poured. We ran for cover and found some benches near Spaceship Earth. It was pretty empty there when we first arrived and sat down but as it turns out, we weren’t the only ones who thought to take shelter there. BF was totally thrilled to see Stitch heading our way. You may remember how disappointed BF was yesterday when he [dragged me off the line for Astro Orbiter] tried to meet Stitch but the line was closed. Well, this more than made up for it. Stitch walked right up to where we were sitting. BF tried to be cool about the whole thing but I know he was super excited. He gave Stitch a high five and we took a picture with him. Unfortunately there was no PP photographer there so I just gave my camera to Stitch’s handler.

A few minutes later Daisy joined us as well and she and BF had some great chemistry… um, I mean a great interaction. Can you tell that I’m totally the third wheel in this picture? BF still teases me about it.

It rained for maybe 25 minutes in total and then quickly cleared up. By 11:20 we were entering an empty World Showcase and our 11 country adventure was about to begin.

One of the things BF was most looking forward to about this trip was drinking around the world. By the last day of the trip (today), he had adjusted his expectations and we decided our challenge would be to eat and/or drink something from each country as a team. Does it sound too easy? That’s what I thought too.

Up Next: Our challenge begins in Mexico

 

[IheartDDuck]

I just got caught up.

I'm sorry your seat at Raglan Road wasn't great. The way it looked from the placement, it should have been better, because the dancers often perform in the middle of the main room or on the main stage. That stinks that you had to get up and down.

The dipping oil at Raglan is a Guinness dipping sauce. I love it, it's soooo good!

The last day. *sigh* All good things must come to an end.

 

[FosterA]

Sorry you guys weren't able to come up with a super fun Sum of all Thrills ride. I guess you shouldn't quit your day jobs to become coaster designers. We didn't even see this attraction at Epcot so at least you did better than us, we couldn't even find the darned thing!
However....the photo with BF and Daisy is hilarious! She's trying to totally steal your man!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your final day!

 

[teekathepony]

Aww, I hate when others don't participate in the Soarin' waiting games. Once that I remember we had a great group and everyone played, it was a lot of fun.
Sorry to hear that your Sum of all Thrills visit wasn't what you'd hoped. DH loves that thing... I'm too claustrophobic to try it.
Love that you got to meet Stitch and Daisy!

 

[nycdisneygal]

i have really been enjoying your report!! (just discovered it last night!) And your food reviews! All your pics are great. Glad to see your BF seemed to be having fun! I hope you can go again soon!

oh and that was too funny about your BF at the laugh floor! loved it!

 

[Leshaface]

You TOTALLY are the third wheel! That's too funny.

YES! Cannot wait to hear about your challenge and see how it goes!

 

[heathsf]

I just got caught up.

I'm sorry your seat at Raglan Road wasn't great. The way it looked from the placement, it should have been better, because the dancers often perform in the middle of the main room or on the main stage. That stinks that you had to get up and down.

The dipping oil at Raglan is a Guinness dipping sauce. I love it, it's soooo good!

The last day. *sigh* All good things must come to an end.

Glad to see you're still here! Thanks for reminding me about the dipping sauce at RR.

Sorry you guys weren't able to come up with a super fun Sum of all Thrills ride. I guess you shouldn't quit your day jobs to become coaster designers. We didn't even see this attraction at Epcot so at least you did better than us, we couldn't even find the darned thing!
However....the photo with BF and Daisy is hilarious! She's trying to totally steal your man!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your final day!

Nope, no plans to become roller coaster designers. And I guess now we won't even bother considering it. And BF still enjoys reminding me about how Daisy wanted him

Aww, I hate when others don't participate in the Soarin' waiting games. Once that I remember we had a great group and everyone played, it was a lot of fun.
Sorry to hear that your Sum of all Thrills visit wasn't what you'd hoped. DH loves that thing... I'm too claustrophobic to try it.
Love that you got to meet Stitch and Daisy!

I would have really liked to play the Soarin' game! It was kind of disappointing that we were trying but it really didn't work when everyone else doesn't participate. Maybe next trip! And Sum of all Thrills probably isn't for you if you're claustrophobic because it is really tight in there. Although you can look down and see your own legs and they have an emergency stop button you can press.

i have really been enjoying your report!! (just discovered it last night!) And your food reviews! All your pics are great. Glad to see your BF seemed to be having fun! I hope you can go again soon!

oh and that was too funny about your BF at the laugh floor! loved it!

I'm so happy to have you reading along and glad you are enjoying the report!

You TOTALLY are the third wheel! That's too funny.

YES! Cannot wait to hear about your challenge and see how it goes!

I know. I felt like I really wasn't wanted there at all!

 

[heathsf]

I now have something to make me a feel a little better about not going back to WDW this year. BF and I just booked a trip to Punta Cana for July! We're staying at an all-inclusive resort - which I've never done before - and decided to spend a little extra to really treat ourselves. We're staying in the "Club" section which is adults only, in a swim-up suite with a jacuzzi and an outdoor bali bed next to our private pool!

Can't wait!!!

 

[BMC423]

Ha ha I can totally see the third wheel thing with Daisy. She and your bf were having a moment! Yay for Punta Cana!! My parents are Dominican and I have never been to Punta Cana... it is on my wish list. That resort looks beautiful!!! And that room sounds heavenly!! July is very hot there but not humid hot like here! You are going to love it!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I went to Punta Cana in 2010 for my best friend's wedding. It was beautiful! I hope you guys enjoy it. I warn you though, if your resort doesn't have the best ventilation or air conditioning system, your stuff will not dry. That was the one downside, because it's so impossibly humid.

 

[Leshaface]

Oh wow! That's awesome! I hope you'll do a TR about that. I've never heard of Punta Cana until about a year ago, and it looks gorgeous.

 

[teekathepony]

Ohh la la! How exciting! I hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

[FosterA]

Dang! That place looks nice
I'm jealous!!

 

[heathsf]

Ha ha I can totally see the third wheel thing with Daisy. She and your bf were having a moment! Yay for Punta Cana!! My parents are Dominican and I have never been to Punta Cana... it is on my wish list. That resort looks beautiful!!! And that room sounds heavenly!! July is very hot there but not humid hot like here! You are going to love it!

Have you been to other parts of DR? A lot of my students are Dominican and they were SO excited when I told them I was going. They all wanted to tell me how beautiful it was and a few of them asked me to take them with me! Apparently they don't realize I take vacations to get away from them!

I went to Punta Cana in 2010 for my best friend's wedding. It was beautiful! I hope you guys enjoy it. I warn you though, if your resort doesn't have the best ventilation or air conditioning system, your stuff will not dry. That was the one downside, because it's so impossibly humid.

I've been reading a lot of reviews and it seems the a/c does its job. BF's brother & sil stayed there two years ago and loved everything about the place so that makes me feel a little more confident rather than just randomly picking a place I know nothing about. And they were there around the same time of year. I think I'm more worried about mosquitos. They like to eat me alive.

Oh wow! That's awesome! I hope you'll do a TR about that. I've never heard of Punta Cana until about a year ago, and it looks gorgeous.

It does look gorgeous, I'm so excited. We've never taken a trip like this before. I guess the closest thing would have been the cruise but I'm looking forward to staying in one place and really relaxing. I'll probably be done with my August TR by the time this trip rolls around but maybe I'll post something somewhere, or at least I'll share my pictures.

Ohh la la! How exciting! I hope you have a fantastic trip!

Thanks!

Dang! That place looks nice
I'm jealous!!

Thanks!! I'm so excited!

 

[ditsypixie]

Hi! I have lurked on your TR and I have really enjoyed reading it! I love all the pictures and I really feel like I have been on the trip with you

I wanted to tell you that we just got back from Punta Cana about a week ago. We stayed at a similar resort, Club level, and it was incredible! It is an absolutely gorgeous place and the people were so friendly and nice. You will have an amazing time

 

[heathsf]

Hi! I have lurked on your TR and I have really enjoyed reading it! I love all the pictures and I really feel like I have been on the trip with you

I wanted to tell you that we just got back from Punta Cana about a week ago. We stayed at a similar resort, Club level, and it was incredible! It is an absolutely gorgeous place and the people were so friendly and nice. You will have an amazing time

I'm so glad you're enjoying the TR and that you decided to come out of lurk-dom! It's really great to hear that you enjoyed your Punta Cana trip so much. I can't wait! Thanks

 

[heathsf]

Thursday, August 25 – Part 2

It was 11:20 a.m. and BF and I were ready to begin our Around The World Challenge. At first, he thought he would be able to drink something from every country and I thought I would be able to eat something from every country but it didn’t take us very long to realize our expectations were not very realistic. For some people, maybe. But not us. And not today. I came to this realization in our first country, Mexico. I spent some time perusing the menu at La Cantina de San Angel only to realize that I really didn’t feel like eating anything from there.

With this realization I actually surprised myself because I had been looking forward to trying something from here. Oh well. I guess I’m saving it for another trip.

BF decided to get a drink.

I thought he was getting a Margarita but it turns out he decided on Dos Equis. At this point we decided our challenge would be to eat and/or drink something from each country. He was the designated drinker and I was the designated eater. As it would happen, I couldn’t even handle my part of the challenge and BF ended up sharing some of the eating responsibilities. The whole thing turned out to be much more difficult than we had anticipated. Anyway, on to Norway and Kringla Bakery!

After all I’d read on the Dis, I decided to try the schoolbread. It did not disappoint. It was very yummy and BF and I shared it.

The next country was…

China!

As we were walking toward Lotus Blossom Café I found this little guy on the ground!

This was by far the teeniest tiniest little frog I had ever seen!

After marveling over him for a minute I put him back down only to realize that there were tons of these same little frogs everywhere! Has anyone else seen this? I had never before this trip… I couldn’t help but think back to our segway tour at the beginning of the trip and how we rode through the China pavilion. I hope we didn’t run any of them over!

So of course the first thing I did when we got to Lotus Blossom Café was wash my hands, and then we checked out the menu. It’s displayed on a TV screen and the display changes every few seconds.

BF ordered a beer: Tsingtao. He liked it and compared it to Bud Light except this had more flavor.

I ordered Pot Stickers but was slightly disappointed. They were just okay and I’d definitely had better from Chinese takeout at home.

We explored China for a bit before moving on to our next country.

Up Next: A drink and a snack in Germany!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I've always wanted to do the around the world challenge, the drinking one, but I know I wouldn't be able to do it all at one time. My goal has been to just do it in one trip, and I have yet to accomplish it. Talk about failure.

 

[teekathepony]

I had planned to try something from everywhere too. When I started looking at all the menus I realized I'm just too picky for that! LOL
That little tiny frog is adorable!