Last Trip? It was until we met Food & Wine -- Recap 2/12

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

awesome food pics. I am drooling

 

[IheartDDuck]

There is so much food at F&W that I'm convinced everyone can find something that they like. I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to go and fall in love!

We really wanted to try both of those items from Scotland, but we just didn't end up making it in the three days we went!

I agree, the empanada wasn't great. It wasn't terrible, it was just meh.

Just don't prefer Mexican food? It's my favorite. I tell my parents all the time that I would eat it all day every day. And I hate spicy food, so it's actually kind of funny that I say that.

Oh Maelstrom. I was not heartbroken like so many. I mean, I didn't have a problem with it, but I'm also not attached to it. I also think the drama over it got a little out of hand. I mean really, how many people that were crying really felt Maelstrom was a must do for them every time?

Next year when you go, make sure you stop at the Festival Center and get the passport. It gives you the ability to study the menus ahead of time and make a food game plan.

BEER! Grapefruit sooooooo good.

The schinkennudeln is exactly like the nudel gratin at Sommerfest! The permanent version just doesn't have ham in it. So, there's a good permanent alternative too.

I'm dead serious, but we should have you guys come over sometime and we'll make some homemade Belgian food. Momma makes homemade belgian waffles AND makes homemade fries too.

Finally had the heaven that is a cronut? Aren't they amazing. Ugh, so much yum.

Oh, the dunkin donuts ones are not even close to the ones in Disney! I was in there the other day and they're pre-packaged! Not even warm. No thanks.

I love the happy anniversary shot!

Yay to getting recognized! Makes you feel totally famous, right?

 

[spiritsim]

Love you anniversary pics! And I also love the poo bear. I talked my granddaughters into going on it and they wanted to go over and over............lol

 

[tinacaplan]

Wow...you aren't kidding...you are really trucking through this trip report! Be back to read more later!

 

[JulieODC]

What a nice morning at MK! Those pooh ears are adorable -- I don't think I've seen those before!

I haven't been following the Poly construction, so it was cool to see your picture of the bungalows -- those are pretty cool!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Great updates as ALWAYS! you two are just the cutest couple ever.

Drives me nuts when i see the PP blurry!!! I just realized we did NOT do the pooh ride this past time!!! then again it was a huge line for it!

Cannot believe the wait times on Maelstrom!! then again it is it's last year.

tea cups! nope.. Not me. your one heck of a adventurous lady!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

So for the first time ever, we were going to be doing Food & Wine. We had always just missed it or skipped it (during Flower & Garden) because I'm so fussy. What was I thinking? And, as the title of this TR indicates, we will be going back.

It looks like a lot of fun. I hope I get to try it out someday. But first, I need to see the place at Christmas time.

It's not the best attraction, but being that it was closing for the new Frozen ride, we wanted to get on it one more time.

Nice for nostalgia's sake. I know I'm in the minority, but I can't say I'll miss it. I always thought the ride was weird.

Then we tried the Schinkennudein (pasta gratin with ham and cheese)

Now that looks tasty!

Kielbasa and potato pierogi w/ caramelized onion and sour cream. Oh yes...this is definitely a keeper.

Yes, please!

Up next was Belgium and we got the Belgium Waffle with warm chocolate ganache and whipped cream (minus the whipped cream for us)

It was getting late and we were beat. We had started out early this morning for our tour. But there was one more stop we had to make. I had been wanting to try this deliciousness and always forgot to stop. What could it be? The Cronut:



Oh my, my mouth is drooling just thinking about it. We would definitely be back again.

First stop? Coffee and breakfast as we hadn't eaten before we left the room

Starbucks? Bleh. Gimme the cronut again.

This was the line for the Mine Ride as we waited to get on our first attraction of the day

Seems like that one is FastPass or bust.

 

[afwdwfan]

Hi Kathy, finally caught up with you! I saw that you said you were disappointed with Flame Tree. I'm sorry to hear this, but it makes me feel a little bit better. We actually skipped it this time.

Your AK and EPCOT day looks like a lot of fun. I really wish I could get there for F&W sometime. As much as I enjoy walking around WS any time, having food and beverages at my finger tips everywhere would be even better.

 

[tinacaplan]

So, I'm way behind....but...what an incredible start to your trip! I am so glad that someone recognized the number of times you've been to Disney and spread some incredible pixie dust your way! Then off to Frozen fireworks and a meet with Cynthia? Well done!

 

[schmass]

Your report is reminding me that I need to go back for Food & Wine Festival at some point! Isn't the cronut the most amazing thing??? Did seagulls swarm you when you got yours? I'm scared of birds and they were swooping down on us as we walked with our cronut, but it was worth it for that deliciousness.

 

[natebenma]

Nice pictures from the ferry and early morning on Main Street.

Then another photo-op

This is a fantastic picture of the two of you!!!

Plus, your shirt themes match and are perfectly lined up.

This was the line for the Mine Ride as we waited to get on our first attraction of the day

Yikes!

on your unplanned meet at WTP.

Looks like nice rides on Pooh and the Tea Cups.

 

[Sydney2977]

Yey! So glad y'all got to do Food & Wine! The first time we went we just stopped and got what we wanted, but I'm such a dork that now I stalk the boards for the menus so I can plan in advance! Can't wait to hear what else you tried!

 

[vettegirl]

Great selection you guys tried at the F&W. I have had some great hits and terrible misses over the year with the offerings. I have to tell you I tried the grapefruit beer this month while there thanks to Mark, it is super good! I had like 3 Oh and the cronut, my goodness that looks and sounds good. Will put it on my must try list.

 

[KatMark]

I will get to responses later as I have other TR's to catch up on. But I had to share Des' Christmas gift to us with all of you.



Isn't it great? Mark and Andy are putting outside later. She found them in Indiana and then her dad found the lights online and she put the lights on them.

And this was one of my gifts from Andy



Andy and Mark flew to and from New York in one day to go pay respect to Derek Jeter in his second to last game in New York. I love my handsome boys.

 

[SarahDisney]

I love both gifts - they're so beautiful and thoughtful!

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like you got some nice, thoughtful presents. Merry Christmas!

 

[KatMark]

Hi Kathy! Trying to catch up as usual….

Roni, welcome to my world.

You managed to get some really pretty AK pictures despite all the construction there. Loved seeing them!

Thanks; the construction was awful.

Whoa! I am in love with the PP magic shots with the butterflies! SO COOL! And oh my gosh! More! Pascal and JC too! I have never seen any of these before. I love them!

I really liked all those new ones as well.

Love the new Dinoland dance party - it looks so fun!

It was cute, but hot.

You got some great Nemo pics! We have never managed to see that one.

Oh, I think Willow would like it; you must try next time.

Mmmm - the F&W food looks so good. I'm so jealous - our first two trips were at that time of year, and it was so nice.

I am so glad we finally experienced it.

Funny to see a 45-minute wait for Maelstrom and then to think what those wait times will be like when it goes Frozen.

And I bet the FP+ will be harder to get than the Mine Ride.

Dang the Poly villas are going to be incredible!

Yes they are, I'm sure (and expensive).

Really cute MK PP pics!

Thank you.

Good for you on quitting smoking, Kathy! That is one of the hardest things anyone can do, but you are such a strong woman - I know you can do it! And you will feel so much better for it.

Thanks; it's been a struggle at times, but 22 days and counting.

Awwww, the honey pots! I adore that attraction- all the dark rides are just so fun. Even for coaster lovers who really love Disney at it's heart.

I am finding the dark rides to be more and more appealing as I get older and can't handle the coasters as well.

How was your cup of coffee this time around? I hear the coffee situation is improving little by little.

Starbucks is my favorite so it was very good.

Great morning so far! EMH is sooooo worth it!

Thanks; I agree...we always do EMH at the Studios and MK (Epcot and AK are a diffrent story).

Kathy, When it comes to having fun at WDW, you and Mark sure know how to live it up. I hope when I turn 39 (like you are now) I can have half your energy... Oh wait, 39 is over a decade past for me... Oh well!!

What are you trying to butter me up for Bob? 39...I forgot what that felt like.

I love your 1st time pictures and descriptions of the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. I have never done it but it is on my bucket list. Once Alyssa graduates from high school in 2016 I will be on a plane down there. I also can't wait to hear about your next trip to the F &W festival next fall. What better way to spend it than with Todd & Nicki; they sure do know the in's and out's when it comes to dining at WDW.

You and Carolyn definitely need to do it after Alyssa graduates; you will love it. Todd & Nicki are the experts in my opinion.

As for the food booths; Scotland looks so yummy. Like you, not so sure about New Zealand & Australia... I'm sure they have some great food though. But Mexico and not going??? I couldn't think of life without some good Mexican cuisine (that and sushi).

Nope; don't like Mexican and detest sushi.

I"m glad you were able to ride Maelstrom for one last time. Like you it was hardly one of my favorite attractions and I don't mind them changing it, but I'm not so sure how I feel about it being turned into a "Frozen" attraction.

Change is necessary; but I hope they keep the Norwegian "theme"/

Love Mark in the Chinese hat...

I sometimes wonder about that man of mine.

Germany: The Schinkennudeln looks like it was to die for. I love good German food almost as much as I love Mexican food... Oh who am I kidding. My problem is I love food.

German food is in the top three for me. We love it.

Poland... Guess what? I love Kielbasa & pirogi's as well. About an hour north of me in Cleveland, there are some incredible Polish and Ukraine neighborhoods and restaurants... It's one of the few things I do miss about having lived in the Cleveland area until 5 years ago.

I wish we had a decent Polish restaurant around here without having to go into the City.

Italy... I have to admit, the chocolate cannoli from the picture looks... umm... not all that appetizing. But like Mark I'm sure I would love it. If it is sweet, rich, loaded with calories and loaded with chocolate, count me in.

Mark loves almost anything with chocolate on it.

Kathy, I am envious of your energy. A late night at Epcot and just falling short of being in a food coma and then first thing in the morning you manage to do rope drop at the MK and with EMH to boot. I'm guessing that is how you never age past 39 and holding...

Or I'm just a glutten for punishment.

Once you were in the MK, how did I know you would have made your way promptly to Starbucks for your morning danish and your fresh java. I'm convinced you and my wife Carolyn single handedly keep Starbucks in business.

No way I'm missing my Starbucks when it is so readily available. They are going to miss me soon though; the kids (Mark and Alisha) got us a Keurig for Christmas so I don't have to go out and buy coffee so often.

I love the picture of you and Mark having a smooch-a-roonie in front of the castle for your anniversary. You two look so happy together. Like Forrest Gump once said, we goes together like peas and carrots.

Oh yes...we are peas and carrots alright. But does it mean something that we don't like either of those vegetables to eat?

I'm glad to see there is someone else who enjoys the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh... In fact like you I love Winnie the Pooh and his friends. My personal favorite is Tigger. Carolyn and I love Pooh so much that even without kids we make sure we hit this attraction and have breakfast at Crystal Palace. Next June is no exception.

Tigger is my all-time favorite, so how could I not love Winnie-the-Pooh. Mark and I've been doing these trips since 2004 or so without the kids (although Andy has joined us on occasion) and we ALWAYS do Pooh AND Dumbo.

And last but not least, I knew it... I knew you would finish your update today with you and Mark riding the Mad Tea Party ride. Can you believe I have never yet gone on that thing. I can handle Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror, RnRc and Space Mountain; however when it comes to the spinning rides I don't do so well. I guess one of these days I will have to take a Dramamine hop on that thing and take one for the team. After all, who goes to Disney and doesn't ride the tea cups?

I can handle it as long as we don't spin too much. But if the spinning gets too fast like the last time my youngest son went with us in 2000, I'd be losing my Starbucks and danish.

 

[KatMark]

Food looks great!

We really enjoyed it.

Yay for getting one last ride on Maelstrom. I did not like it at all (I wouldn't have bothered with a last ride), but I know that a lot of people wanted to get a last ride in but couldn't, so I'm glad you were able to.

It isn't a favorite by any means, but I try to do the ones that are closing at least once before they do.

I'm so glad you found the beer at home for Mark!

He was so excited (which reminds me I better stock the fridge for the holiday).

That Belgian waffle looks great ... and the cronut ... so yummy-looking! I'm glad you enjoyed!

I could go for a dozen Cronuts right now.

It does look like Disney brings out the kids in both of you. I am so jealous reading all the fun you had. I think this morning is my favorite. First a tea party, then playing in the woods, what more can you ask for. Your fog pictures look great. I'm weird and like foggy morning until I can see across the street.

Yes, it does, Sandy. Mark always says he may get old but he will NEVER grow up. I like the fog too...it's kind of neat; except I hate what it does to my hair.

What a great night at EP for F&W!!!

It was awesome, Dee.

The potato pancake and scallop from Scotland look divine.

They were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good.

Nice pix of the Maelstrom murals. So, did you keep with tradition and skip the movie, for old times sake?

Truthfully, when the movie is showing, we usually stop and see it (we feel bad for those people). Alas, it was not showing on this day.

I so want to try Grapefruit beer! I don't drink much, but when I am out for dinner or drinks, and I remember, I ask if they have it, but so far the answer has been no.

I drink on vacation and when we go out to dinner (and sometimes when my family drives me nuts). But I'm more of a Mai Tai, Turtle Krawl, Pina Colada kind of girl.

The kielbasa pierogi looks good, but I would be skipping dessert there
1) Karamel Kuche is nearby
2) So is Belgium

I'm not a fan of Caramel, so it's easy for me to skip that one. I'd head right to Belgium.

Really pretty pictures from your stroll and photopass.

Thanks, Dee.

Cronut looks awesome. I have only tried the one from Dunkin Donuts and it was meh.

I won't drink Dunkin's coffee, let alone eat their donuts. You must try the Cronut on your trip.

Haha, that pull of Starbucks first thing sure is strong. Got me every time.

It's so nice to have GOOD coffee, isn't it Rob?

Even when Mark isn't trying on hats, he's still wearing a great hat.

That's the last hat he bought at Disney (I think he got that one 3 years ago by the Dumbo water area).

AWWW YOU GUYS!!!!! Kissing Castle shot. That is just so darn sweet.

Awwww....thanks.

My goodness the Mine Train line. I'm so glad I had a FP for it. There is just no way I would wait in that. Well... maybe once because I needed to ride it... but I wouldn't be happy about it.

I'm glad we had FP too. I don't think I'd wait in that line.

Winnie the Pooh... Great choice. I think I might enjoy the interactive queue more than the kids. Clearly Mark does as well. And it's made even better by an impromptu DISmeet!!! How awesome!!!

You two would be a hoot together if our paths ever cross. I love impromptu DISmeets.

Those food pictures---yum! I'm tying to swing a quick 4 day WDW trip just the hubby and I for our anniversary in October and I know he'd love Food and Wine.
Everything looks delicious!

Oh that would be so nice if you could. Even nicer if you were there the same time as us.

I cant believe I missed the second set of updates! That's what I get for reading TRs while doing 6 other things...

Don't you hate when that happens?

Starbucks ... one of my favorite breakfasts, too!

What's not to love about it (well, except the prices).

Yay for Winnie the Pooh! It's one of my favorites, too (I get the feeling it's one of the few we agree on ...)

Yes, we don't agree on many rides, do we?

Looks like a great start to the morning. I'm looking forward to reading more!

It was a perfect start with beautiful weather and a good cup of coffee.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

The last few updates were fun. And what a fun christmas gift!

 

[KatMark]

Kathy, I first want to say I am terribly sorry for all you are having to deal with this holiday season. I'm sure it has been a very difficult time but my thoughts are with you. I am impressed by your strength.

Thank you very much; you are very kind.

As far as you TR I have gotten behind but was able to catch up last night!

No worries; the holidays are tough for everyone to keep up.

Great PP magic shots at AK. I especially love the butterflies and Pascal!

Thanks; I really love those butterflies too.

Love the hat fashion show from Mark....although that Donald one with the "body" behind it tends to weird me out!

Mark loves to please my DIS readers; yes, the Donald one is kind of weird.

It looks like you had great seats for Nemo! It's an every few years kind of attraction for us too but when we go its always enjoyable (and a nice a/c break).

We were in about the 7th or 8th row on the right hand side but on the end; they were great seats.

I enjoyed seeing your F&W selections.

Thanks; I enjoyed eating them.

Your Dumbo shirt is sooo cute! I love it.

Thank you; I have two to please my hubby.

Nice choice with Winnie the Pooh. I grew up a Winnie the Pooh girl and I love the ride but the line can be LONG so jumping in during EMH sounds like a smart move.

I'm with you; I always try to jump in first thing in the a.m. at EMH's as I don't want to use a FP if I don't have to and I don't want to wait in line.

awesome food pics. I am drooling

And you were there after me and I know you had some of the same things.

There is so much food at F&W that I'm
convinced everyone can find something that they like. I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to go and fall in love!

I totally agree, Danielle. And I'm glad we did too and can't wait to go back.

We really wanted to try both of those items from Scotland, but we just didn't end up making it in the three days we went!

Hopefully you'll be back and they'll have them again.

I agree, the empanada wasn't great. It wasn't terrible, it was just meh.

Exactly!

Just don't prefer Mexican food? It's my favorite. I tell my parents all the time that I would eat it all day every day. And I hate spicy food, so it's actually kind of funny that I say that.

I don't like it at all. That's funny that you don't like spicy but you like Mexican.

Oh Maelstrom. I was not heartbroken like so many. I mean, I didn't have a problem with it, but I'm also not attached to it. I also think the drama over it got a little out of hand. I mean really, how many people that were crying really felt Maelstrom was a must do for them every time?

Oh trust me, I am not heartbroken about it. I always thought it was kind of a dumb ride...too short and not enough stuff.

Next year when you go, make sure you stop at the Festival Center and get the passport. It gives you the ability to study the menus ahead of time and make a food game plan.

Yes, I must remember to do that next time.

BEER! Grapefruit sooooooo good.

Mark loves it as you know.

The schinkennudeln is exactly like the nudel gratin at Sommerfest! The permanent version just doesn't have ham in it. So, there's a good permanent alternative too.

I'll have to try the nudel gratin in May.

I'm dead serious, but we should have you guys come over sometime and we'll make some homemade Belgian food. Momma makes homemade belgian waffles AND makes homemade fries too.

And I'm dead serious...we would LOVE to come.

Finally had the heaven that is a cronut? Aren't they amazing. Ugh, so much yum.

Oh my Lord...I really wanted to bring some to Marco with us.


Oh, the dunkin donuts ones are not even close to the ones in Disney! I was in there the other day and they're pre-packaged! Not even warm. No thanks.

I don't like DD's regular donuts, I'm sure that I wouldn't like their cronut.

I love the happy anniversary shot!

Awww...thanks.

Yay to getting recognized! Makes you feel totally famous, right?

It does; now I know how Nicki felt during Mark's 60th birthday trip.

Love you anniversary pics! And I also love the poo bear. I talked my granddaughters into going on it and they wanted to go over and over............lol

I'm so glad your granddaughters enjoyed it. It's a fun ride.

Wow...you aren't kidding...you are really trucking through this trip report! Be back to read more later!

Tina, good to see you. I have to get it done so I can start the May PTR and then there will be that TR and then an October PTR and TR. And this trip was over almost three months ago.