So the R&C is the place to be for Illuminations!!
Your server was really awesome to take the time to encourage you to stay for the show!
As we set out for our room inspection, I tried hard not to think of Chars and my room mojo. Hers is stellar. Mine sucks. Remember my string of stinky rooms? And parking lot views? Char, on the other hand, had in the past scored us an immaculate room and courtyard view at All Star Sports, a Raratonga room mere steps from the lobby at the Poly, and last falls windfall an Animal Kingdom Lodge pool view room at a stadard room price! Sure, they accidentally CHARGED me for that free upgrade, but they quickly removed the extra cost from our bill, so Char still gets credit for that one.
So yeah, I tried not to think about all the potentially great views we might score. And instead tried to visualize asphalt and cars, asphalt and cars, asphalt and cars
Arriving at BCV, we headed up the elevator to .
Well, some floor, I forget which one! I think 4.
Exited the elevator, turned left . And there it was! Mere steps away from our vertical transport!
1 point for Chars Room Mojo.
Slid in my room key and the door opened!
2 points for Chars Room Mojo.
Walked, turning on the light clean, clean, clean and NO funky smells!
3 points for Chars Room Mojo.
The room was super cute! Blues not my favorite color, but it worked well there. Between the beachy colours, white-washed wood and wicker chairs, it absolutely felt like being by the shore.
Never mind that the shore is a combo pool/man-made lake.
Now. One thing left to check. The View.
Judging by how wed turned on our journey through the hallways, I already had some idea. And I was pretty sure it was not a parking lot view. But I had no idea what else it might be.
I headed toward the porch, camera in hand, and saw
Barbara Walters???!!!!
No, no, no not THAT View.
THIS is what awaited my wondering eye
OMG, it was like the Disney Reservation Gods took my two favorite places the beach and Paris and combined them in one resort room!
10 points for Chars Room Mojo.
And.
Shes now required to come along on all future trips. Heh heh.
In case youre wondering, that was the view to the right. This was the view to the left
Meh. Nice. Not asphalt. Nor cars. But not Eiffel Tower replica, either.
Maybe it was the feel of cool air after walking in the sun for hours.
Maybe it was the margaritas.
Maybe it was the feeling of quiet solitude surrounding our little piece of The World.
Maybe it was the fact that we both juggle single-parenthood, homeownership and jobs every day of our lives and havent had a full 8 hours of sleep in years.
Whatever the reason, Char and I were both suddenly and inexplicably (perhaps not the latter see that last maybe above) exhausted.
By the time Id pulled out my cosmetics case and placed it on the sink counter, Char had the sofa bed open, made up and was climbing in for a rest! So much for a swim at SAB before dinner.
Before I continue, a word about Char and the sofa bed. I did not put her there. I did the right thing, the good friend thing, and offered her the bed. She resolutely refused, stating that Id paid for the points on which we were staying and should be the one to sleep in the bed. This whole situation is only a little ironic, when you consider that I never gave Gramma a choice; she got the sofa bed.
Anyway, whilst Char rested, I took a shower and changed into fresh clothes for dinner. We didnt really have time for swimming anyhow our Rose & Crown ADR was fast approaching.
Remember when I made that ADR? And we thought Chars sister Erin would be joining us? And then Erin canceled her trip? Well I never changed the ADR, so it was still for a party of three. Our friend Bree happens to live in Orlando, so we asked if she wanted to meet us for some Epcot that day. Bree declined, as she already had plans for the day, but said shed love to meet us for dinner. So, once we had ourselves together, we headed back to EP, stopping at the France pavilion to check out the F&G Fest offerings
Sorry I know its big. But I just love hydrangeas!
The F&G Fest displays in France were all about perfume and presented by French fragrance giant Guerlain. There were a bunch of little boxes on stands, each representing a Guerlain fragrance, and each had a sniffing spot, along with some information about what you should be smelling. We sampled them all. And pronounced them all yucky. Its weird, nearly all Guerlain perfumes carry the same icky undertone.. Lheure Bleu, Shalimar, Samsara they all have it. The lone exception is Jardins de Bagatelle, which is like some kind of flower bomb. And I should know I wore the stuff back in middle school.
Yeah, we werent too impressed by the Guerlain fragrance garden. It mostly left me longing for a Chanel garden instead. I take a break from my signature Coco during the hot months and I was already missing it. In case youre wondering what I was wearing that day a little something I like to call Eau de Mouse. Glass bottles dont travel well with me, so I was swathed in the aroma of WDW resort room, coupled with stale suitcase and a hint of heavily chlorinated water.
After our stinky little French detour, we walked over to the Rose & Crown to check in and wait for Bree. Buzzer-thingy in hand, we copped a squat on the curb opposite the R&C and enjoyed some people-watching whilst waiting for our friend.
It wasnt that great.
A couple of Matching Families, and a teenager in all stripes. Nothing worth photographing. Its a good thing Bree showed up quickly.
And not long after she arrived, our buzzer-thingy buzzed (go figure) and we headed in
and right back out of R&C! They seated us on the patio, a placement about which we werent thrilled, as we all enjoy the pub atmosphere there. But it was busy, so we settled in without complaint.
Okay, one complaint.
That table was so sticky, a residue of Vera Bradley-patterned fuzz was left behind after I set, and then removed, my bag on its surface. Eeeeeewwwww! We asked our server to wipe it off as soon as we saw her and again when she brought our drinks and AGAIN when she brought our food. Finally, I just wet a piece of my napkin with water from my glass and wiped it the best I could.
Aside from the sticky table, though, our server was great! Youll see why in a minute. First, the meal:
We all ordered our pub drinks, Shandies for Char and Bree and a Black & Tan for me. As we sipped, we waffled about what to order while we caught up on each others lives. Eventually, we decided to share the cheese plate, I think Char just got the Potato & Leek soup, Bree went for the Bangers & Mash, and did two appetizers a salad and the Samosas (Indian-inspired pockets stuffed with spiced vegetables served with greens and tamarind and mango sauces). Everything was superb! I mean really, really fantastic. R&C is two for two now on great meals.
Once we were done eating, the talk continued. Apparently for a while. Because our server came back to ask if wed like to stay and watch Illuminations.
And, youre gonna love this, we collectively said, Eh.
No joke our server had to talk us into staying! Our reasons for not being overjoyed? Well, weve all seen the show a bazillion times, being local and all. Plus, I really wanted a Grey Goose Slushie from France as my dessert.
Know what our server said?
A. Youve not truly seen illuminations until youve seen it from the R&C patio.
B. Shed go get me a Grey Goose Slushie if thats what I really wanted!
HOLY CARP!
That was beyond cool, ranging far into the realm of totally rad. So Char and Bree placed their drink orders and we settled in for the show.
Sadly, it turned out our server couldnt get my slushie after all, but she said there was no problem if I wanted to go grab one and bring it back. I thanked her profusely, but Id been pondering the R&C drink menu in her absence. And I found My Precious.
A Single Malt Scotch Flight.
All was well in my world. And Chars. And Brees. At that moment.
So we captured it.
We still werent sold on Illuminations being any better than the trillion times wed all seen it before, but the drinks were going down nicely and we had seats, so we stayed put.
Let me tell yall a little something.
If ever you have the chance to catch Illuminations from the R&C patio . DO IT!!!
This was us through the whole thing:
Truly, we were stunned. It was magnificent. Stupendous. Extraordinary. Phenomenal. And a whole host of other words that mean, So good I almost peed my pants! NOJuliaRoberts.
We were so very appreciative of our servers insistence that we stay, and we tipped appropriately. She rocked our World.
THIS is what awaited my wondering eye
Hope you're having a great time!!! 
I'm getting all caught up with your TR 
so I can be ready to read about your latest 4th of July WDW adventure! 
Thanks for sharing!! I'm waiting (not so) patiently for more!!!
Seriously, we were blown away. So much so, that we all agreed we'd never try to sit there again - just to be sure as many other people get that experience as possible!
Yeah, I was desperate to be on my way - a TR update filled the time nicely!Here's WDW's secret (yes, we looked)... they're a bunch of little plants in pots, lined up neatly in teh dirt. Any time a bloom goes bad, they just replace it with a new pot.Your pictures are once again beautiful! I love hydrangeas myself. I just wish the one I have planted next to my front porch looked as beautiful as the ones in your photo.
Wasn't she? She was very sweet.
Ah, but Char didn't make the ressie - she just agreed to come along!
Definitely try it!
Hi!Okay ~ subcribing once again because I Love your TR's!!!
Welcome back, and thank you!Char still loves the pub part and oncassionaly drags me in with her.
Thanks, and to you too!
She's got the magic touch!Amazing view of IROE, I doubt we'll ever eat at R&C though
I found myself wondering about that the other day... "Does Jo and family ever try American British pubs whilst here on holiday??" Sure was! It was pretty darned good.
And I can't even say how much I needed that day!Wow - great pictures!! I love that you had some time to yourself with some dear friends AND a great room, a great view, AWESOME seating for Illuminations...it sounds...big, heavy sigh....positively DREAMY
Ooo, it's almost like you know.... there will be a great deal of weather discuccion in an upcoming installment!Hope you had a great 4th of July trip and decidedly better weather than we had in Connecticut!
Almost. Sure, there were 29 DVC points involved, but they don't carry a price once purchased. Right?!
Almost. Sure, there were 29 DVC points involved, but they don't carry a price once purchased. Right?!
Don't worry - in the interest of time I usually skip everyone else's comments on the TRs I read. It's the only way I can keep up with as many TRs as I'd like!
Thanks! The teeny-tiny camera has a "Fireworks" fucntion that's pretty good. Not as good as the Good Camera with a tripod, but close enough!
Uh-oh... wathc out as you may find yourself shopping for a new POOL after the next installment!
Hi Parla!
There are some major trade-offs for living so close to The World. 
Stunning view and just right for you!
