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

[Stacybaeasm]

The photographer in Italy must be bored a lot. I got SO many pictures from him at Thanksgiving! Plus, it's a beautiful place to get pictures taken!! How was the food at Italy? I see so many Disney social media posts saying the food at Italy is consistently awful from Festival to Festival. And I have to agree from experience...haven't liked what I've had there for a few visits.

 

[precious pixie]

"...this isn't our first rodeo" CHILD, PLEASE

Hooray for sunny skies!! The FARTS festival and weather is shaping up to be better than F&W these days

 

[VAtink]

It's so nice to Epcot with blue skies.

It was so nice to finally see blue sky!

Enjoying all you food choices and it's making me very happy.

I really think FArts has some of the best food of all the festivals. It helps that it's cooler too (or downright cold), when it's hot out food isn't quite as appealing!

I hope they bring back some of the special experiences for F&W. My DD is part of festival team and they had a meeting last week but she couldn't tell me anything . Hard to believe they're already working on F&W.

Me too!!!! I would love for them to bring them back! Isn't this year the 30th anniversary? Maybe they'll do something special for that??? I'm impressed your DD can keep the secret, I would be sooo bad at that job since I'd want to tell everyone what's coming!

 

[VAtink]

The photographer in Italy must be bored a lot. I got SO many pictures from him at Thanksgiving! Plus, it's a beautiful place to get pictures taken!! How was the food at Italy? I see so many Disney social media posts saying the food at Italy is consistently awful from Festival to Festival. And I have to agree from experience...haven't liked what I've had there for a few visits.

I can see that, I feel like the photopass photographers around WS aren't as busy as the ones at the front of the park. It can be easy to miss them sometimes!

We were actually impressed with the food this time around (wasn't a high bar). My mom really liked the ravioli, I thought it was ok, not the best I've had but not horrible. The fritta was just fried cheese, so it's pretty hard to get that wrong, and the sauces to dip it in were all really good!

 

[VAtink]

"...this isn't our first rodeo" CHILD, PLEASE

Hooray for sunny skies!! The FARTS festival and weather is shaping up to be better than F&W these days

Haha right?!?! When she said that I was thinking that I had probably been going to Disney for like 20 years before she was even born and she was probably in middle school when I went to my first food and wine!

I'm so happy the sun came out at the end of the trip, the weather was pretty amazing those last few days! I actually love FArts for the colder weather, while I love F&W, it can be so miserably hot that it's hard to eat much.

 

[VAtink]

Popping in a for a quick RL update before getting back into this TR!

So a few days ago we made our ADRs for our June trip. We got most of what we wanted, but not everything. Shockingly we couldn't get the MK dessert party, which we planned for late in the trip to get the best chances, but it was completely sold out for the entire week. This is the first time I've ever had an issue with that one!

We then were looking to book the Celebration at the Top at the Contemporary for that night instead, but it hasn't been open for booking for June yet. I did get a call from signature services and inquired about it, and they said they saw it would be available at some point, but nothing yet. So that evening is still in limbo.

Other than that, we're doing some fun ones this time around! We're going to Hoop Dee Doo for the first time since probably the early 90s, so I'm so excited for that! Then for my birthday dinner we decided to try out Capa! We're also going to Tiffins for lunch one day since we can't do a trip without Tiffins.

I can't believe we're under 2 months from this trip, I feel like February and the start of March dragged on forever, but the past few weeks have flown by!

Alright, that's all for now, I'll be back soon with more TR updates!

 

[vamassey1]

Me too!!!! I would love for them to bring them back! Isn't this year the 30th anniversary? Maybe they'll do something special for that??? I'm impressed your DD can keep the secret, I would be sooo bad at that job since I'd want to tell everyone what's coming!

She just started with Festivals right before Flower & Garden opened. She's not part of the team that does the planning, she is "front of the house", so she doesn't know as much as some do. She is also a rule follower. I would think they would have special stuff planned for the 30th.

Other than that, we're doing some fun ones this time around! We're going to Hoop Dee Doo for the first time since probably the early 90s, so I'm so excited for that! Then for my birthday dinner we decided to try out Capa! We're also going to Tiffins for lunch one day since we can't do a trip without Tiffins.

We love HDDR. We just did it and January. DD got asked where we were from for the opening number and that picked to perform in the finale. We had so much fun and laughed so hard. I hope you have fun too. Being in Disney is a great way to celebrate you birthday. I'm hoping to do it someday.

 

[buzzrelly]

Here I only got the deconstructed mojito.

Oooooh...that looks good! I wish I had seen that when we were there!

I think I was just so happy to finally see blue sky after so many days of rain!

Yes!!

Like was she really trying to flex she’s been to a festival before by refusing to eat off of anything other than a trash can?!?!

We got most of what we wanted, but not everything. Shockingly we couldn't get the MK dessert party, which we planned for late in the trip to get the best chances, but it was completely sold out for the entire week

That is really strange...are we sure it's open for reservations? Sometimes these things roll out weirdly.

We're going to Hoop Dee Doo for the first time since probably the early 90s, so I'm so excited for that!

So much fun!

Then for my birthday dinner we decided to try out Capa!

I've never heard of this?

 

[Wood Nymph]

We're going to Hoop Dee Doo for the first time since probably the early 90s, so I'm so excited for that!

We really enjoyed Hoop Dee Doo when we did it a year ago.

 

[buzzrelly]

I just checked at the Pre and Post party is available every day from June 4-10...not sure when you're going! I think the Seats and Treats just haven't been uploaded yet.

 

[VAtink]

She just started with Festivals right before Flower & Garden opened. She's not part of the team that does the planning, she is "front of the house", so she doesn't know as much as some do. She is also a rule follower. I would think they would have special stuff planned for the 30th.

Ahh, good for her though, that sounds like a fun roll! I hope they have some special stuff for the 30th!

We love HDDR. We just did it and January. DD got asked where we were from for the opening number and that picked to perform in the finale. We had so much fun and laughed so hard. I hope you have fun too. Being in Disney is a great way to celebrate you birthday. I'm hoping to do it someday.

Nice! I cannot wait to go, it's been soooo long since I've seen it I hardly remember it at all.

 

[VAtink]

Oooooh...that looks good! I wish I had seen that when we were there!

It was a cool presentation but I wasn't a huge fan of the taste unfortunately.

Yes!!

Haha, right? It was so beautiful!

I know, I still can't believe that even after her friends moved to the table she stayed stubborn and would only eat off the trash can!

That is really strange...are we sure it's open for reservations? Sometimes these things roll out weirdly.

Yeah, one of the days that week they had availability for 1 person, so it was open. I actually called to see if we could book that and just add a person since I figured it would be the same size table, but sadly that didn't work out.

So much fun!

I am so ridiculously excited for this!

I've never heard of this?

It's at the Four Seasons, I had never heard of it either but a few months ago @2xcited2sleep mentioned it as a place to have a birthday dinner, and it looks pretty amazing so we're going to check it out!

 

[VAtink]

We really enjoyed Hoop Dee Doo when we did it a year ago.

That's good to hear! I am so excited to finally be going back to it, last time I saw it I was in I think high school, maybe even earlier.

 

[VAtink]

I just checked at the Pre and Post party is available every day from June 4-10...not sure when you're going! I think the Seats and Treats just haven't been uploaded yet.

Yeah, unfortunately my mom can't do the pre and post parties with her claustrophobia, even though they're not as packed as the main hub area, it's still too much for her. Seats and treats did have an opening for a party of 1, so it was open, just super popular that week I guess. Oh well, hoping the Celebration at the Top opens up that week now, we haven't done that one yet and it would be a great substitute.

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, part 5: Enjoying the (Finally) Nice Weather!​

We last left off leaving Epcot and heading over to the YC/BC to check out the pool construction and grab some stuff for breakfast the following morning.

Our first stop was in the marketplace to grab some food for breakfast, we got a muffin to split and some fruit. Then we made our way outside to check out the pool.







I was surprised to still see water in the pool, but the deck had been dug up in a few places, and they were doing a lot of work! We were so happy we moved our stay from YC this trip to the Boardwalk, it was super loud with the jackhammering out at the pool area, and knowing our luck we’d get a room that overlooked the pool.

After a quick look-a-round, we headed back to the Boardwalk.



Normally my mom naps during midday breaks, but since it was finally gorgeous out, we decided to take advantage of our sunny balcony and sit out there to enjoy some wine and some of the chocolate we had been collecting from Epcot!







My mom had the idea to use the plastic drink lids to use for plates to hold our chocolate, and I had to joke that we were like Remy and using trash as our plates!

It was so nice out we even opened the doors on the other balcony to get a nice cross breeze in the room. We were loving the finally warm (well warm for us, I think it was like 55 degrees) weather!

Eventually we felt like we were starting to burn (it’s been a while since we’ve seen sun), so headed inside to relax some more. We left the doors to both balconies open to let the wonderful fresh air in, and it was so incredibly enjoyable. I could have stayed there all day!




My view from bed, this was so amazing!

We ended up just hanging out in the room for a while. Around 4 we started to get ready for our evening plans, and at 4:50 I called for a Minnie Van. I got one pretty quickly, but it wasn’t arriving for about 20 minutes, so we finished getting ready then made our way downstairs to meet them.

On the way out I took a picture of our room from the walkway below, our room is the one on the far left on the second floor.




Took this picture while we waited by the lobby. I realized I never take many pictures of the common spaces at the hotels, I need to get better at that!

Soon after heading downstairs our car arrived. We had a great chat with the driver on the way over. We somehow ended up chatting about Candlelight processional, and got to talking about how the CMs got to be in it. He told us all about it, and at some point mentioned that he had been in it for the past few years, and was in the show we had seen! We were so impressed after hearing about the tryouts they have to go through. We told him we felt like we were riding with a celebrity!

Next up: An Evening in Animal Kingdom!​

 

[buzzrelly]

Yeah, unfortunately my mom can't do the pre and post parties with her claustrophobia, even though they're not as packed as the main hub area, it's still too much for her. Seats and treats did have an opening for a party of 1, so it was open, just super popular that week I guess. Oh well, hoping the Celebration at the Top opens up that week now, we haven't done that one yet and it would be a great substitute.

Oh that makes sense. We do the seated party with my mom too...plus my DH prefers it. I can't believe it sold out so quickly!

but since it was finally gorgeous out, we decided to take advantage of our sunny balcony and sit out there to enjoy some wine and some of the chocolate we had been collecting from Epcot!

So relaxing!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Yeah, unfortunately my mom can't do the pre and post parties with her claustrophobia, even though they're not as packed as the main hub area, it's still too much for her.

I totally get that. I have claustrophobia, too, and have been in a few huge mobs in Chicago. It gets very scary when the crowd starts pushing and you can't stop them.

Normally my mom naps during midday breaks, but since it was finally gorgeous out, we decided to take advantage of our sunny balcony and sit out there to enjoy some wine and some of the chocolate we had been collecting from Epcot!

It must have felt like heaven to sit on that balcony after all the cold and rainy weather you had experienced on this trip.

I love your room.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

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

 

[VAtink]

Oh that makes sense. We do the seated party with my mom too...plus my DH prefers it. I can't believe it sold out so quickly!

Yeah, I'm really surprised it sold out that fast, we do this most trips and I've never had an issue booking before!

So relaxing!

It was so amazing, especially coming from places where it was in the single digits, being able to sit outside and enjoy warm(er) temps with some chocolate and wine was perfect!

 

[VAtink]

I totally get that. I have claustrophobia, too, and have been in a few huge mobs in Chicago. It gets very scary when the crowd starts pushing and you can't stop them.

Oh yeah, it can be a challenge, we spend a lot of time making sure that we won't get stuck in a super crowded situation. Doesn't always work, but we do our best!

It must have felt like heaven to sit on that balcony after all the cold and rainy weather you had experienced on this trip.

It was so amazing, I'm so happy we got some decent weather at the end of the trip!

I love your room.

Me too! I wish I could stay in that room every trip!