Leaving the kids and DH's Home!! SSR girlie getaway June 1-4, 2008 Update July 20th!

[podsnel]

Still laughing from Morocco's experience, we stood outside because it was time for Illuminations. While we waited for the show to start, Lonnie lit a torch- here she is, Loni, Goddess of Fire!

The fireworks were spectacular, I liked taking photos of them with my new camera because it has a fireworks setting.

Next up, we were on to France- Hooray once again for nighttime EMH!!! Since we had a few hours to go, we decided to drink ALL the wine in France. We were in here for a LONG time, but it was very enjoyable and by choice!! The CM was named Julien, he told us about where he was from in France and was interesting to talk to. He even let Lonnie come behind the bar for a photo, and he arranged all the bottles and glasses for the pic- obviously, this was not his first time!

I usually drink Italian wine at home, but I LOVE french wine, too. The pouilly fume we drank last was really really good.

After all the wine, Julien suggested we get Irish Coffees in England. So...we did!

They helped us wake up and get a second wind...
By now, the park was SOOOO empty, I think all the rain earlier just finally got to everyone, so they left. But not us! We were here until midnight, with the park mostly to ourselves.

I'll continue later in the next post!

 

[TigerKat]

Love the Loni, goddess of fire one! Great pic of DH & DS!!

 

[Camster0307]

Hey Ellen - thanks for the pix from your "regular" life! Looks like my kind of party was going on there!

I always intend to try more wine when I get around to the France pavillion, but those Grey Goose slushies always seem to be calling my name! I did have a glass of the Pouilly Fuisse at dinner (which, coincidentally, is my next post in my TR) - loved it. I need to remember to purchase a bottle of my first night in Nov. so I can enjoy some back at the room for the rest of the week!

And, those Irish Coffees looked delicious!

 

[podsnel]

Love the Loni, goddess of fire one! Great pic of DH & DS!!

Thanks! I wish they would turn upright!

Hey Ellen - thanks for the pix from your "regular" life! Looks like my kind of party was going on there!

I always intend to try more wine when I get around to the France pavillion, but those Grey Goose slushies always seem to be calling my name! I did have a glass of the Pouilly Fuisse at dinner (which, coincidentally, is my next post in my TR) - loved it. I need to remember to purchase a bottle of my first night in Nov. so I can enjoy some back at the room for the rest of the week!

And, those Irish Coffees looked delicious!

I REALLY wanted to try those slushies- but we LUSHIES can only drink so much! I'll make sure I get one on my next trip.

 

[podsnel]

Due to the lack of people in the park, Lonnie, Tink and I were able to get a nice table outside with no problem.

A group of women sitting next to us was having a girls' night out, too, they were good to chat with. But they were going back and forth to France for their wine- Don't they drink wine in England?
Oh well, we still have Canada ahead, so we took a walk, taking some nighttime snapshots on the way...

OK, so where is the ice wine in Canada at 11:30 at night? Can someone please let me know, because we never found it. Was it a kiosk they close? Oh well, we still wanted to go see Oh Canada, so we headed to the theatre after walking around the well watered gardens for a bit. When we arrived, there was a family of 3 waiting for the last showing, so we stood there with them for a few minutes, feeling so sad about our last country's lack of beverages, or our complete inability to locate them! So we sat and waited and waited...

Ya know, I think they DO have wine in England, they MUST have wine in England, and I think it is our job to PROVE they have wine in England. I mean, really, how can we LIVE with ourselves if we never know?!?! (This is some thought process we have, huh?) So, even though we felt so strongly about watching Oh Canada with that lovely little family of 3 or 4, we also felt it was our duty as world class drinkers to solve this puzzle of a lifetime.

I step up to the bar and place an order..

SURPRISE AND SHOCK!!! THERE IS WINE IN ENGLAND!!!! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!!

Ok, so I can't say we drank in every country- there was Norway, which we skipped, and China, which we dumped- and Canada, which we couldn't figure out...but, all in all, I'd say it was a very successful first attempt at a World tour of drinks around the countries, right?

Next up, we take our time leaving the park.

 

[TigerKat]

we also felt it was our duty as world class drinkers to solve this puzzle of a lifetime.

 

[Camster0307]

Great installment, Ellen! I swear, I need to remember to take my Tink out with me next time; we usually collect two or three over the course of the week and they get left in the room. Another cute use I saw for them - girls were putting them in their hair if they had their hair up!

And - there is a kiosk in Canada, not sure if they sell wine at it; but I have had Canadian wine in LeCellier and it's pretty good. Anyway, I never saw that kiosk open when DD and I were there either. I mean, WTH? It's pm extra magic hours - why else would we be in WS that late if not to try the beverages!

 

[podsnel]

Great installment, Ellen! I swear, I need to remember to take my Tink out with me next time; we usually collect two or three over the course of the week and they get left in the room. Another cute use I saw for them - girls were putting them in their hair if they had their hair up!

And - there is a kiosk in Canada, not sure if they sell wine at it; but I have had Canadian wine in LeCellier and it's pretty good. Anyway, I never saw that kiosk open when DD and I were there either. I mean, WTH? It's pm extra magic hours - why else would we be in WS that late if not to try the beverages!

Cammie! Tink needs to be a part of the festivities, too!! Nobody puts Tink in a corner!! That's a great idea about the hair clip- I will be making a point of doing that next trip!

We took the boys to Niagara Falls last summer (hit Cooperstown on the way) and one of the days we went over to Niagara on the Lake to ride the whirlpool jetboat ( now, THAT was a thrill ride!!! Such a blast!). Afterwards we walked around the town. NOTL is known for their restaurants and wineries- it is incredibly beautiful there, the gardens are GORGEOUS and plentiful, it would be an amazing place for an adult trip. Someone on trip advisor had a great idea for us; DH took the kids for ice cream and I went into one of the wine shops, did a tasting, and purchased 1/2 case of Sauvignon blanc, 1 sparkling wine, and a bottle of ice wine. Their wines up there are very fruity, they go really well with Asian food. Would have loved to try some in Epcot, but there's always next time, right? Maybe we'll hit the countries backwards next time- maybe by the end of the night, the green tea plum slushie will taste better!!!

 

[podsnel]

Soo sad!!! We didn't want it to end- this was our last night, after all, so we were in no rush for it to be over. So we celebrated having a had a great night by Lonnie doing this...

YIPEE!!! I CONQUERED THE WORLD!!!

Followed by some introspective meditation among the twinkly sidewalk lights...

Tink and I said goodbye to the golf ball...

And then we headed back to SSR. When we arrived, we decided it looked too pretty at night not to go out and enjoy it,

so we went for a walk by the lake.

I think no one does a more impressive job of nightscaping than the Mouse. Everything at night in WDW is as pretty as it could be, truly, it never disappoints.

We went back to our room and sat out on our patio to enjoy our amazing view one last time. And have a champagne nightcap to toast our amazing vacation!

Next- our last day, power shopping in DTD!! And what IS in the ceiling at the airport?

 

[TigerKat]

You are so right about the nightscaping, it is truly magical!

 

[podsnel]

Our last day...why does it always have to go so freakin' fast when you're in Disney?!! Well, so ok, this WAS a fast trip, but still...we rolled out of our beds (which we had slept in like LOGS after our World conquest the night before) and packed up our stuff. Headed over to AP for coffee, and went back to the room. I think Lonnie still had more to pack up and also wanted to check in online for her class, so I went ahead and did what I had wanted to do all week- go and see what the progress was on that Super-Walmart that's being built over there at the Contemporary!! I decided the best way to do it was to park and ride the monorail (especially because I had not ridden the monorail this trip and that is just plain WRONG!). I'm such a GEEK!
But first I dropped off my luggage at the ME counter. Which was great, because I was the only customer and it took all of 30 seconds- NICE!

Although I've never stayed at the Contemporary, I'm VERY interested in what's going up there because I want to do an add-on to our DVC points and if not at a Super Walmart, then where?! My DS14 really loves MK, and what could be better than walking there for him in our future. (Plus, staying on the monorail makes for a whole NEW drinking tour- the bars-of-the-monorail-tour! WOOHOO!! ) Not to mention all the great restaurants around there along with all those cool watersports... but, of course, they haven't announced anything yet, this is all speculation, so if, for example, it turns out to be a super Kmart, all bets are off!

When I got back to SSR, Lonnie was ready to load up her car, and we decided to drive over to DTD. We had an ADR for lunch at Fulton's. Lonnie had requested to eat here on our last afternoon, and I was VERY glad to comply with her request! We were just a few minutes early for our 11:30 ADR, which was fine with them. First things first, we ordered Bloody Mary's (I wonder why ?.....).

OMG, the Bloodys at Fulton's are FABULOUS!!!!!! Lots of horseradish, spice, they are just PERFECTION! We had many things to choose from on the menu:

Our waiter here was excellent, very funny and extremely helpful in helping us choose. In the end we both picked the Crab & Lobster Bisque, then Lonnie had a Blue Crab Cake and I had a Blue Lump Crab Club.

First, he (Michael?) brought out their Crab Boursin with flatbread crackers and a loaf of delish bread with some Yummy butter. He followed with the soups, which were presented so nicely, poured for us individually-

Oh, that soup is incredible. It's raining here today, and I really, really wish that waiter would walk through my front door and pour me a bowl right now. What do you think my chances are? Then our entrees- the crabcake and my crab club-

These were both very good. But, I have to say, I think I liked the crabcake at the turfclub better- this was a wet crabcake, turfclub's was drier. My club sandwich was good, but probably there could have been a little less lettuce. Anyway, we had a gorgeous view to enjoy while we gobbled up all of our food-

Boats kept going by, and I took this one to show my boys:

When we come in November, we'll be staying at OKW the night after the cruise and I'd like to get those sea racers with them to race around the lake. DS11 is excited that in 1 more year, he'll be able to drive his own!

Df Lonnie picked up the tab- isn't that so nice? Thanks for a great lunch, Lonnie! I took a couple restaurant pics, and then we went out to do some SHOPPING!!

 

[TigerKat]

LOVE the bars of the monorail tour idea!!!

Oh my word does that Bloody Mary look incredible!!!! We're going to be close to DTD, we may have to make a daily trip over there.

 

[Camster0307]

That's the EXACT spot I sat at the bar, enjoying my PopRocks Martini just a few short weeks ago - !

Great pix of Fulton's, Ellen! I swear, it's one of the few restaurants at Disney wouldn't mind eating at more than once during our stays - love it!

 

[Camster0307]

LOVE the bars of the monorail tour idea!!!

Honestly, my brother and I made somewhat of an attempt to do this two years ago. Now with the standardized drink menus in all the resorts, it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. Drinking around the World is much more fun!

(but, hey, I'll suck it up and give it another try!)

 

[Camster0307]

And one more post from me........thought you'd guys be interested in what a Disfriend of mine found on the creative design boards:

 

[cdotla]

OMG - this trippie is an absolute hoot!

Lovin' it!!!

 

[TigerKat]

(but, hey, I'll suck it up and give it another try!)

Love the other post with the checklist for Around the World!!

 

[podsnel]

LOVE the bars of the monorail tour idea!!!

Oh my word does that Bloody Mary look incredible!!!! We're going to be close to DTD, we may have to make a daily trip over there.

I think we should warn Fulton's to stock up on tomato juice and vodka in November!!

That's the EXACT spot I sat at the bar, enjoying my PopRocks Martini just a few short weeks ago - !

Great pix of Fulton's, Ellen! I swear, it's one of the few restaurants at Disney wouldn't mind eating at more than once during our stays - love it!

That's cool! I agree, I would go back in a heartbeat- it's a wonderful place. But then, I would pretty much go back to most of the restaurants we ate at this trip-

Honestly, my brother and I made somewhat of an attempt to do this two years ago. Now with the standardized drink menus in all the resorts, it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. Drinking around the World is much more fun!

(but, hey, I'll suck it up and give it another try!)

Now this makes me so sad- I had read about it on another thread. Is it absolutely true? Are all the bars the same? I HATE that!!! What IS that food & bev manager thinking in WDW. We want variety!!! We want special stuff we can only get in one place!!! That's what motivates us to go!!!!

OMG - this trippie is an absolute hoot!

Lovin' it!!!

Hi Cdotla! I'm so happy you're lovin' it- and I'm so sad I'm almost done writing it!!! But I've got to finish up- I leave for HHIR in less than 2 weeks, and I don't want to confuse that trippie with this trippie (although, how could i confuse this extravaganza with anything else-right?)

 

[podsnel]

And one more post from me........thought you'd guys be interested in what a Disfriend of mine found on the creative design boards:

Ok, now THIS gorgeous thing- this is REALLY special. I think we should all print it out, laminate it, and carry it with us on ALL Epcot trips in our futures. Then take the pledge-

"I, state your name, do solemnly swear, to drink each of these drinks, to the best of my ability, over the course of many fun and frolicsome visits to World Showcase, as long as I have breath left in me and plenty of change in my pocket. In honor of the mouse!"

Or actually, maybe if we drink all the drinks, we'll need to be taking ANOTHER kind of pledge....

Where ARE all these drinks? Maybe some of them are in the restaurants?? And why does the USA only contribute Daquiris????!!!! What's up with THAT?? Does no one remember Kentucky outside of the Turf Club? Yeesh!

 

[luna99]

these two photos are absolutely magical! I love your trip report and it's totally making me want to do a girls trip to the world myself... maybe one day I can get my sister to come with me and we can drink around the world!