Oops, We Forgot to Leave Our Weather at Home! A Fantastic Festival of the Arts 2025 TR! (Updated 4/19 x2!!)

[VAtink]

I'm so happy to hear you're going to try Capa! It's really wonderful. Leave some time to poke around the resort if you can -- it's truly beautiful. Their boutiques are really interesting, but my recollection is they close on the early side. Their lobby bar is nice (some good happy hour "deals" - maybe for another time), as is the rooftop bar at Capa for any pre or post treats. If you haven't, I'd be sure to note you're celebrating a birthday on the reservation & maybe again at check-in or to your server.

I'm so excited, thank you for the recommendation! Do you have any food items that are a must try? We plan to get there a bit early to explore a bit, we're considering staying there next June for another birthday trip, so want to see if it's something we really want to do. I've watch a few youtube videos of it and it does look like a pretty amazing place!

I am in LOVE with your double balcony BW room!!!

Me too! That room was so amazing, even with the long walk to the lobby, I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I'm so excited, thank you for the recommendation! Do you have any food items that are a must try? We plan to get there a bit early to explore a bit, we're considering staying there next June for another birthday trip, so want to see if it's something we really want to do. I've watch a few youtube videos of it and it does look like a pretty amazing place!

It's been a while, but we did a lot of sampling and sharing. We really put ourselves in the hands of our server - explained what we liked and asked for recommendations. We loved everything. Be sure to mention to your server you want to step out for the fireworks as it doesn't seem to be a universal request in the same way it is at Cali Grill or Topolino's. By the way, the Four Seasons opened a new speakeasy on select nights. No photos allowed inside but I've heard good things. Could be fun to check out for your birthday if the dates work out! Or save for when you visit overnight. And for a longer visit, also plan for the character breakfast at Ravello (select days), dinner at Ravello, the burger in the lobby bar, lunch at PB&G, their ice cream/gelato parlor, some spa time, maybe consider a pool cabana for a day (treat yourself!). I'd definitely focus on resort vs. park time if you stay.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

What a beautiful afternoon! I wish I was sitting on that balcony right now. And I keep forgetting about the buy chocolate in every country thing so I made a note at the top of my to eat and drink list for Flower and Garden. Hopefully, I remember!

 

[vamassey1]

Your room was perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sunshine and breeze.

 

[VAtink]

It's been a while, but we did a lot of sampling and sharing. We really put ourselves in the hands of our server - explained what we liked and asked for recommendations. We loved everything. Be sure to mention to your server you want to step out for the fireworks as it doesn't seem to be a universal request in the same way it is at Cali Grill or Topolino's. By the way, the Four Seasons opened a new speakeasy on select nights. No photos allowed inside but I've heard good things. Could be fun to check out for your birthday if the dates work out! Or save for when you visit overnight. And for a longer visit, also plan for the character breakfast at Ravello (select days), dinner at Ravello, the burger in the lobby bar, lunch at PB&G, their ice cream/gelato parlor, some spa time, maybe consider a pool cabana for a day (treat yourself!). I'd definitely focus on resort vs. park time if you stay.

Ah, good to know. We're planning on sharing everything, but there is soooo much that looks good we can't decide what to get! Maybe we'll ask the server too for recommendations. I hadn't heard about the speakeasy, it is open the night we're going, we may need to stop by! I have heard about the character breakfast though and we are totally planning our days for the stay to coincide with when that is offered, I've heard such amazing things about it! We're also planning for that trip to have a lot more resort time, it's going to be the most restful Disney trip ever!

 

[VAtink]

What a beautiful afternoon! I wish I was sitting on that balcony right now. And I keep forgetting about the buy chocolate in every country thing so I made a note at the top of my to eat and drink list for Flower and Garden. Hopefully, I remember!

It really was, and seriously, I would love to be back on that balcony right now!

 

[VAtink]

Your room was perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sunshine and breeze.

It really was, I can't believe how lucky we got with that room!

 

[VAtink]

Happy Friday everyone! I am SO happy this week is coming to an end, it has been a long one! Things have been crazy busy here, so sorry I've been slacking on this and my other TR. I hope to get back to it this weekend (or maybe even today!)

I just wanted to pop in to share that the rose I had bought in the Land in Disney is actually blooming! I can't believe how well this little plant is doing. I'm going to plant it outside one of these days, but for now it's happily living in my garden window.



Speaking of flowers, we are in full on flower/spring mode here. One of my favorites blooming this time of year is the wisteria, this stuff is gorgeous and smells sooooo good!



This sadly isn't my house, it's at a house just across the street from my office, but it one of my favorite spots in town. Probably one of the most photographed plants in town too! Here's a shot from further away, this wisteria is huge!



Other than enjoying all the flowers, we've been still working on plans for our upcoming Disney trip. We still haven't figured out what to do the night we wanted to fireworks party, I had hoped Celebration at the Top would open for June, but still nothing. We're considering doing a fireworks cruise, but by this point I'm sure they're all sold out for that day, so not sure if that's a viable option anymore. Oh well, worst case we'll just have a relaxing night, we maybe even do a night swim!

Alright, that's it for now, I'll hopefully be updating this and the fall TR soon!

 

[Wood Nymph]

One of my favorites blooming this time of year is the wisteria, this stuff is gorgeous and smells sooooo good!

The wisteria is beautiful. We've had a cold spring, and the flowering trees are just starting to bloom. I love spring and try to avoid going to WDW during spring and fall.

 

[VAtink]

The wisteria is beautiful. We've had a cold spring, and the flowering trees are just starting to bloom. I love spring and try to avoid going to WDW during spring and fall.

Spring is pretty amazing, I love all the flowers this time of year. We've had a weird spring, it was in the 80s in March, but since then it's been pretty cold, we've finally warmed back up so hopefully the warm weather is here to stay!

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 6: An Evening in Animal Kingdom!​

We last left off heading over to Animal Kingdom! Originally the park was supposed to close at 6 this evening, but just before the trip they changed the hours and now it closed at 7 I believe. We had also originally had reservations at Tiffins for 5:50 to be able to get some hopefully empty park pictures after dinner, however when they changed the closing time, we also changed our reservations. The latest I could get was like 6:30 though, so not quite as close to close as originally planned.

We ended up arriving at AK just before 5:30, so only had about an hour before dinner. We didn’t have any LL or anything, and the park was still pretty crowded (going to blame the first sunny day in like a week for that), so we didn’t have much time for a ride. Instead, we did our favorite activity, took pictures!!








That capybara does NOT look impressed






(This one reminds me of the bird that hit me back in October!)



After getting a ton of pictures, we moved on to my second favorite activity (my mom’s least favorite), shopping!

We browsed both stores, but they didn’t really have a ton of new stuff since out previous trip in October. I did however see some new ears I had to get.



I LOVE these. They’re so beautiful!

After shopping it was still a bit too early for our dinner reservation, so we headed into Pandora to see if we could find some photopass photographers in there. Of course we found some.



Next up: Tiffins!​

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 7: Tiffins!​

We last left off getting pictures in Pandora.

By the time we were done getting pictures it was finally time to check-in for dinner! We made the short commute over to Tiffins, and checked-in at the outdoor stand. I requested the room with the totem poles, and they said they would do their best.

Shortly after they let us enter, but they were still finding us a table, so we sat at the bench in the lobby to wait. While waiting I looked through the exhibits they have in there, I think these are so cool, one of these days I would LOVE to meet Joe Rhode!





We had about a five minute wait before we were brought back to our table, and we were happy to see we were in the totem pole room again!

We didn’t need a lot of time to peruse the menu, we both quickly knew what we wanted.

Per usual, we started with the octopus to split.



We also both got the red wine flight.



For dinner, we both got the tagine short rib, but we subbed the beef tenderloin for the short rib.



This was SOOOOOOOOOOOO good! I had the short rib back in October as well, but it was completely different then (I also subbed the tenderloin). This time it had artichokes, carrots, and a bunch of other perfectly cooked and seasoned accompaniments. Both versions were delicious. I think this may be my new go-to at Tiffins!

After finishing up, we did something we rarely do, we ordered dessert!

We each had our eye on a dessert there, so just had to save room for them. I ended up getting the maple cheesecake, and my mom got the crème brulee. I also got a cappuccino, and mom got some earl grey tea.






These desserts were phenomenal. I 10000000% recommend the maple cheesecake, it was basically like fall on a plate. The crème brulee was also really good, but I preferred the cheesecake.

We finally wrapped up with dinner at 8:15, on the way out I took some more pictures of the lobby. I love this wood carving, especially they have all the Disney castles!





As we left Tiffins we were shocked to see the number of people streaming out of pandora still! The park had been closed for well over an hour, I expected some people, but not that many. I did get some pictures on the way out with a lack of crowds though!





On the way out I tried getting a Minnie Van, and eventually got one, but it was 25 minutes away finishing another ride, so we figured we’d make our way to the bus stop to see if a bus came sooner. Of course, just as we arrived at the bus stop, a bus pulled away.

So we just waited there to see what would come first. Shockingly, another bus pulled in about 5 minutes later. We then had a choice to make, do we get on the bus, which was also stopping at YC, then BC, then finally BWI, AND might need to sit there waiting for a while for more guests, or do we wait for the Minnie Van.

When the driver opened the door to the bus, I jumped on to present my dilemma to the bus driver, and to find out how long he would have to wait there before leaving. He was a good sport and said he had to wait about 5 minutes, BUT if we were the only guests on the bus then he would just go straight to the BWI and skip the YC/BC.

My mom and I debated for a minute, and decided to try the bus. So she got on as well and we settled in and hoped we didn’t make a bad decision.

I was anxiously watching my watch the whole time, hoping no one else would join us. About 1 minute before we were supposed to leave someone gets on the bus, oh no! But I quickly realize it’s another bus CM, and he’s there to tell the driver to just head over to AoA since there was a massive crowd there waiting for buses. Since we were behind the bulkhead, he didn’t realize that there were actual guests on the bus, so the driver informs him that he has to go to the Boardwalk first, and points back to us, and the other CM was shocked and sooooo apologetic and admitted he didn’t even realize we were there!

Once he hopped off the bus, the driver closed the door, and we were on our way! So instead of getting a paid Minnie Van, we got a free Minnie Bus!

It was a wonderful ride home, we ended up chatting with the driver for most of it and got so into the conversation, we didn’t even realize when we arrived! He had to tell us we were there!

Next up: A Magic Kingdom Morning!​

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow! How awesome to have your own private bus! I tend to go to Yak and Yeti over Tiffins but you definitely have me thinking I need to go back to Tiffins soon. Everything looks and sounds phenomenal. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Rohde and I'm so happy to report that he's even nicer and more interesting than you could hope for. I heard somewhere that he is at least consulting on the new stuff coming to the park back in the Dinoland area so who knows, you may run into him yet! I hope you do!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We finally wrapped up with dinner at 8:15, on the way out I took some more pictures of the lobby. I love this wood carving, especially they have all the Disney castles!

I've never been in Tiffins. The artwork looks interesting. I would never have expected something like that to be in there.

Once he hopped off the bus, the driver closed the door, and we were on our way! So instead of getting a paid Minnie Van, we got a free Minnie Bus!

That was really nice of the bus driver to go straight to your resort. It probably made a difference that the park had been closed for a while and there shouldn't be anyone trying to go to AK at the time of the night.

 

[buzzrelly]

It's so nice to see you both out and about without being bundled in your parkas!

Dinner looks good! And you can't beat the empty park pics!

 

[vamassey1]

What a lovely dinner. I love the empty park pictures.

A private bus ride is the way to end the night.