TxDsnyGrl74
Everybody should believe in something; I believe I
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2007
- Messages
- 579
Hi everyone,
Just a quick mini review of my solo trip this weekend for the F&W festival.
CSR - Wow! I really enjoyed this hotel . I really felt like I was on vacation here. I got to CSR around 1:30, before my room was ready, so I made a quick change into my swim suit and headed to the quiet pool at the Cabana section, where my room was located. Fortunately for me, I had packed a handy dandy cooler filled with some adult beverages! I filled her up with some more ice and hit the pool with book and magazines. Relaxing!! I also ventured over to the hammocks for a while and was lounging under the palm trees with a slight breeze. I truly felt that I was on a Caribbean vacation! It was so relaxing and surprisingly quiet. Fast-forward to 3 p.m., and my room was ready so I got unpacked and headed over to Epcot for the F&W festival.
F&W I have to admit when I arrived late in the afternoon to Epcot the crowds where pretty bad. I headed straight over to the Festival Center and grabbed a glass of Champagne and got in line for the 5 p.m. Wine Seminar (The Fladgate Partnership). First of all, let me tell you that this is my 4th or 5th year to do the F&W but my 1st year to do any of the free seminars and I absolutely LOVED them. I thought as a solo traveler they were so much fun. While you are standing in line you get to talk to other people. I learned what events/seminars they have done, and which they though were worthwhile to do. Anyway, if you are going solo next year, I cant recommend enough to take the time and do the seminars. After the 1st seminar, I was ready for some chow and ate and drank my way around the worlds. The food was great; Im not going to review all the food as there are enough reviews on this site about all the food but needless to say it was all very tasty!
On Saturday, I was there when the park opened and literally walked onto all the rides. Im an early bird so Id rather be there early and enjoy the park with lighter crowds. After hearing good reviews on Friday from other people, I headed over to the F&W Festival Center for the first seminar of the day at 11 a.m. Treana Winery. The crowds where pretty light, as it was only 11 a.m. and this was the best seminar I attended. Again, I had great conversation with others in the lines. Let me tell you that 95% of the people doing the seminars were FL residents and pass holders. Most would tell you that they were there for wine and werent spending much time doing rides. Most would complete a seminar, and get right in line for the next one. I did the next seminar at 12:30, Trefethen Vineyards and this was also interesting but not as good as good as the other two I had attended. After getting out of this seminar, I started to notice the crowds were getting really bad for the seminars. It was getting to if you werent in line 1+ hour in advance, you wouldnt get in. The seminars only seat 100 people. So, I decided I really didnt want to wait in those kinds of lines, since I had already attended three. I ended up leaving the park around 4 p.m. due to the long lines everywhere. The food booths in the countries had 20-30 minute waits and since I had already eaten my way around the world on Friday, I decided to head back to CSR for more pool time.
Maya Grill I called for reservations (party of one) around 4:30 for a 7:30 reservation and was able to get in. I really didnt feel up to driving to another park or resort for dinner so I dined at Maya Grill. First let me start by saying, I was seated at the table closest to the kitchen, so it was really loud and not too relaxing. I dont know if I was seated there because I was by myself? I did see some other tables open when I was seated, but decided not to make an issue of it. The food: I ordered a glass of Sterling Cab (which wasnt on the menu but was available) and ordered the surf and turf (Filet and Mahi Mahi). Both were cooked perfectly, not overdone, and came with a side of vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes (yummy). There was also a delicious creamy sauce over the fish and steak, which I ordered an additional side of for dipping. The entrée was $30 and I cant remember how much the wine was. All in all it was a good restaurant, probably would have been better at a different table and a different waitress.
Near the end of my meal, she asked if she could get me anything else and I said, no thank you. She said are you sure, do you want me to get you a man to slap around, I can get you some in the back (pointing to the kitchen) if you want. I felt she only made this comment because I was dining alone and she wouldnt have made this ignorant comment to a man dining alone. Anyway, I paid my bill and left.
MK I decided on Sunday to head to MK to ride some rides before leaving to head home. I was there when the park opened. While getting of the second ride I had ridden, Splash Mountain, there were two cast members giving out Million Dreams Fast Passes!! It was my first time to get one, so it was pretty exciting. I was leaving the park around 1 p.m., and still had some fast passes left on my card, so I gave them to somebody else to enjoy on my way out.
It was a great mini vacation and I really enjoyed myself. I took time to relax by the pool, do the wine seminars and all the things I wanted to do. Thanks for reading my post I just realized it wasnt that short!
Just a quick mini review of my solo trip this weekend for the F&W festival.
CSR - Wow! I really enjoyed this hotel . I really felt like I was on vacation here. I got to CSR around 1:30, before my room was ready, so I made a quick change into my swim suit and headed to the quiet pool at the Cabana section, where my room was located. Fortunately for me, I had packed a handy dandy cooler filled with some adult beverages! I filled her up with some more ice and hit the pool with book and magazines. Relaxing!! I also ventured over to the hammocks for a while and was lounging under the palm trees with a slight breeze. I truly felt that I was on a Caribbean vacation! It was so relaxing and surprisingly quiet. Fast-forward to 3 p.m., and my room was ready so I got unpacked and headed over to Epcot for the F&W festival.
F&W I have to admit when I arrived late in the afternoon to Epcot the crowds where pretty bad. I headed straight over to the Festival Center and grabbed a glass of Champagne and got in line for the 5 p.m. Wine Seminar (The Fladgate Partnership). First of all, let me tell you that this is my 4th or 5th year to do the F&W but my 1st year to do any of the free seminars and I absolutely LOVED them. I thought as a solo traveler they were so much fun. While you are standing in line you get to talk to other people. I learned what events/seminars they have done, and which they though were worthwhile to do. Anyway, if you are going solo next year, I cant recommend enough to take the time and do the seminars. After the 1st seminar, I was ready for some chow and ate and drank my way around the worlds. The food was great; Im not going to review all the food as there are enough reviews on this site about all the food but needless to say it was all very tasty!
On Saturday, I was there when the park opened and literally walked onto all the rides. Im an early bird so Id rather be there early and enjoy the park with lighter crowds. After hearing good reviews on Friday from other people, I headed over to the F&W Festival Center for the first seminar of the day at 11 a.m. Treana Winery. The crowds where pretty light, as it was only 11 a.m. and this was the best seminar I attended. Again, I had great conversation with others in the lines. Let me tell you that 95% of the people doing the seminars were FL residents and pass holders. Most would tell you that they were there for wine and werent spending much time doing rides. Most would complete a seminar, and get right in line for the next one. I did the next seminar at 12:30, Trefethen Vineyards and this was also interesting but not as good as good as the other two I had attended. After getting out of this seminar, I started to notice the crowds were getting really bad for the seminars. It was getting to if you werent in line 1+ hour in advance, you wouldnt get in. The seminars only seat 100 people. So, I decided I really didnt want to wait in those kinds of lines, since I had already attended three. I ended up leaving the park around 4 p.m. due to the long lines everywhere. The food booths in the countries had 20-30 minute waits and since I had already eaten my way around the world on Friday, I decided to head back to CSR for more pool time.
Maya Grill I called for reservations (party of one) around 4:30 for a 7:30 reservation and was able to get in. I really didnt feel up to driving to another park or resort for dinner so I dined at Maya Grill. First let me start by saying, I was seated at the table closest to the kitchen, so it was really loud and not too relaxing. I dont know if I was seated there because I was by myself? I did see some other tables open when I was seated, but decided not to make an issue of it. The food: I ordered a glass of Sterling Cab (which wasnt on the menu but was available) and ordered the surf and turf (Filet and Mahi Mahi). Both were cooked perfectly, not overdone, and came with a side of vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes (yummy). There was also a delicious creamy sauce over the fish and steak, which I ordered an additional side of for dipping. The entrée was $30 and I cant remember how much the wine was. All in all it was a good restaurant, probably would have been better at a different table and a different waitress.
Near the end of my meal, she asked if she could get me anything else and I said, no thank you. She said are you sure, do you want me to get you a man to slap around, I can get you some in the back (pointing to the kitchen) if you want. I felt she only made this comment because I was dining alone and she wouldnt have made this ignorant comment to a man dining alone. Anyway, I paid my bill and left.
MK I decided on Sunday to head to MK to ride some rides before leaving to head home. I was there when the park opened. While getting of the second ride I had ridden, Splash Mountain, there were two cast members giving out Million Dreams Fast Passes!! It was my first time to get one, so it was pretty exciting. I was leaving the park around 1 p.m., and still had some fast passes left on my card, so I gave them to somebody else to enjoy on my way out.
It was a great mini vacation and I really enjoyed myself. I took time to relax by the pool, do the wine seminars and all the things I wanted to do. Thanks for reading my post I just realized it wasnt that short!
