OKW, crab cakes and a little bit of pixie dust

[kikiq]

Just returned from a last minute trip inspired by DVC Mike's beautiful pictures of Epcot. Booked OKW instead of SSR just because I'm on a mission to stay at all the DVC resorts at least once...this is NOT my DH's mission at all. We usually cook most of our meals but since it was just the two of us, I thought we would try different TS and crab cakes.

Observations
OKW - beautiful resort, very peaceful, studio was big, building 29. Didn't like the small balcony that overlooked nothing but a tree and bushes, couldn't find the thermostat and had NO hot water the last day. We did report the lack of hot water. But nothing that would stop me from staying again although we did miss our SSR.

Weather - boy was it HOT, like our August trips.

Crowds - Lots of foreign visitors and lots of young families. Most notable meltdown was in DTD around 11:30am, dad yelling at his sons telling them if they didn't start behaving, he was calling Air Tran and booking them tickets home and grandma will pick them. My DH looked at me and said, "Wonder how much that will set him back?" I said, "This is the "never threaten something you can't follow through on" lesson".

Parks - Rode EE, 15 minute wait and decided to go on again...broke down.
Rode Test Track no wait and decided to go on again...broke down. Rode TSMM 2 times in a row, decided not to press our luck on the 3rd time. Went on the BLT tour and received FP, used them to go on Test Track on our last morning. On our second time through, we stopped mid ride thinking, are we jinxed? Luckily finished the ride, but even though there was only a 10 minute wait, we decided one more time would be pressing our luck. Ended up giving away Soarin' FP.

Loved the Flower and Garden Festival, went to some lectures and here are some my favorites.

Pixie Dust - Our last day we went to the Turf Club for lunch. We going to take a taxi to OKW, but the desk reminded us that the boat captains would radio the next OKW boat to stop by SSR to pick us up (which we had done earlier in our visit) So down to the dock we go, a little over an hour to the bus pick up time. Time passes, wrong information, delayed boat and now we are sitting waiting for the other SSR to move from the DTD dock and see the OKW boat waiting BUT when the SSR boat finally leaves so does the OKW boat. Our captain looking calm but scrambling on the radio is trying to get the OKW captain's attention. We resign ourselves to taking the taxi to OKW and the airport. My DH doesn't ever get upset and I was thinking so it goes, just as long as we get our plane home. BUT our boat captain had radioed the boat coordinator and the Disney magic begins. The coordinator says that he will take us to OKW in his van and if we miss the Magical Express, someone will arrange to take us to the airport. Now, we explained to the original captain that left first what we were trying to do and the second captain tried to make it right. We expected nothing but Disney came through for us and we greatly appreciate the effort made by the second captain and the coordinator. Everything worked out and the CMs were outstanding! We have emailed MS and Disney transportation to send out our compliments.

I'll post my crab cake pictures for the foodies. And for the Vinylmation collectors, a "I should be in Vegas" experience.

 

[kikiq]

We usually do not do TS, maybe a buffet or two. I told my DH, that since it was just us, let try some TS. And in my menu research, I found that quite a few TS had crab cakes. And the tasting was on.

Olivia's - the key lime mustard and papaya ginger sauce was to die for

not crab cakes but this Key lime tart was delicious and maybe even worth a special trip to Olivia's

Captain's Grille - enjoyed this meal so much, great service
This crab cake was very thick and tasty by itself, this crab cake with Olivia's sauce...ohhhh boy. I had the pork chop and my DH had the steak...all good.

50's Prime Time Cafe - sorry no picture, really wasn't expecting to eat at a TS at DHS so I didn't bring my camera. We were able to walk in and sit down within 15 minutes. This crab cake was really thick and tasty. I don't know whether it was the succotash or the extra kick from the chili sauce. The fried chicken was very good and too much for me to eat, ended taking some of it back to the studio.

Turf Club - mango salsa...mmmm good

We still have few more TS to try and a few more crab cakes to compare. But that's for our August trip.

 

[kikiq]

This is my "should have gone to Vegas" experience.

It all started last August and my initial introduction to Vinylmation. Wasn't interested, didn't understand what the appeal was and really didn't want to get hooked in. BUT our neighbor ( a Disney CM) is hooked and last summer was on this hunt to get the eagle for her Italian exchange student because it's the exchange HS''s mascot. She has tried since last August to either "buy/pick" it or trade with no luck. She got me started but I'm only interested in certain ones, not enough to buy them all the time, but one or two with 20% discount makes for fun gifts.

Vinylmations for those who aren't familiar is the ultimate "Easter egg hunt" because you really don't know what you have until after you buy the sealed box with the sealed package and open it. We were in Epcot cruising the Disney Art store when I came upon this little guy in a "trade box".

Now my DH is a POC fiend. And I thought this little guy would be an interesting addition to his collection...the dog with the keys So I'm thinking I'll buy one box and trade. BUT I say, not if I pick a Nemo one. In the Park 4 series, some of the most popular are the Nemo, the cruise line and the Epcot vinylmations. Do you sense what is going to happen? I buy one, it's the Epcot one...nope, not trading. So the CM is laughing and saying that there were several guests that day that really wanted Epcot and didn't get it. Bought a second one...OMG, it's the Disney Cruise one. Now a familiar face appears and it's a College Program CM that I had met last summer and she's giggling that I haven't been able to part with my last two purchases.

My DH says "It's OK, I don't have to have him, but wouldn't he look cute on my shelf".

As we put the little guy back in the trade box, what do I see...THE EAGLE!!!
I quick call my neighbor, she still hasn't been able to find/trade th eagle. So I say, I'll give up the hunt for the dog and buy one more to trade for the eagle and that can be part of my present to her student. Open the box, yep, you guessed it...the Nemo vinylmation! So what to do, if I was in Vegas, I would have walked away from the table But determined to get the eagle and not wanting any other one in that collection, I buy ONE more. Finally, I was able to trade for the eagle.

It's insane and only those who collect these little guys would understand.
Here they are with our towel swans (how did Mousekeeping know it was just the two of us)

 

[wilma-bride]

Sounds like a great trip - DH and I are heading down in August on our own and I am looking forward to trying a couple of new TS places. Captain's Grille sounds great.

I must admit, I managed to resist the lure of Vinylmation on our last trip but not sure whether I might give in to the urge this time

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the idea of your crab cakes tasting and your pictures are making me really look forward to trying some myself. We have our favorite place to go to, and I'm not sure I would risk having something I didn't like, but who knows! I may stumble across something even better.

Thanks for the explanation of those little statues. I've asked CM's and nothing about them made sense to me, but light is beginning to dawn!

Bobbi

 

[DiznyDi]

Wow, Thanks for your report and pictures! Loved your vinylmation story.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You were in building 29 in a studio??? That is the absolute WORST location for a studio I can think of!! HATE that building for a 2 bedroom, and a studio would be way worse. I hope you were at least on the top floor.

 

[dopeygirl76]

I am a crab cake NUT!!! so I LOVE your photos - what a fabulous idea to sample them all - please let me know your outcomes!!

I have to say after reading this the vinylmation is becoming VERY interesting to me - I will blame you when DH gets frustrated with a new obsession!!!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

: We expected nothing but Disney came through for us and we greatly appreciate the effort made by the second captain and the coordinator. Everything worked out and the CMs were outstanding! We have emailed MS and Disney transportation to send out our compliments.

It's nice to hear that Disney went out of their way to make it right for you. Also, the pictures you took are lovely, I do miss going to Disney during F&G. Olivia's is also a favorite, we always eat there our 1st night home. This June, however, due to last minute changes we will be at SSR instead of OKW, so we've made res. at the Turf Club (which we love) for the 1st night.

Thanks again for the great trip report and pictures!

 

[toniosmom]

Ooooh......I just LOOOOOVE crab cakes. My mouth is watering.....

 

[kikiq]

Sounds like a great trip - DH and I are heading down in August on our own and I am looking forward to trying a couple of new TS places. Captain's Grille sounds great.

I must admit, I managed to resist the lure of Vinylmation on our last trip but not sure whether I might give in to the urge this time

Captain's Grille has gotten some good reviews lately. They have a "special" choose an appetizer, entree and dessert for $27.99. It's not our norm but it was all good...crab cake, pork chop/steak, dessert.

The way to not give into the Vinylmation is to look at the ones that look strange, sort of takes the urge away. The Nemo one is the yellow sub with Nemo on the front mask and the starfish on the back...cute.

 

[kikiq]

You were in building 29 in a studio??? That is the absolute WORST location for a studio I can think of!! HATE that building for a 2 bedroom, and a studio would be way worse. I hope you were at least on the top floor.

You know I've read several reviews of rooms with views of the tree/bushes, but didn't remember if they ever put what building. Yes, thank goodness, we were in 2920 on the second floor. My DH sat out on the balcony to read and didn't seem to mind. Only said that it would have been nice to see the golf course instead of inside the one bedroom living room window. I can see why my OKW friend always asks for building 33-37.