chuckcorden
DVC member, Pirates of the Caribbean fan, UConn fa
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2006
- Messages
- 200
Who: My wife (Shirley) and myself (Charlie)
What: A six day vacation at the magical kingdom
When: Friday, September 28 Thursday, October 4, 2007
Where: Boardwalk Villas (BWV)
Why: This was my first trip to Walt Disney World with my wife since our children had grown. At first, Shirley was hesitant: she does not really like traveling. But her mother had died in the middle of September and she had been the primary caregiver, 24/7, although we did have home health aides come into the house a few days of the week. She was understandably sad and tired so friends and family and, of course, I insisted that Shirley join me.
How: Delta Airlines and Disney Magical Express (DME)
Planning Stage:
I plan, plan, plan while my wife is more laid back and likes to improvise. When it was decided that Shirley was coming I had already finalized plans for my trip to WDW and the BWV. However, it was easy to change the reservations (resort, restaurant, and DME) from a single to a double and purchase an annual pass and another dining plan. However, I did have to cancel a few restaurant ADRs because Shirley is more traditional in her dining tastes than I am. She likes American, Italian, Italian, and American. I am more adventurous in my tastes (Japanese, Chinese, and Moroccan, for example).
A note of explanation: The reason this report will be brief is that with my wife along I was not able to do my usual prolific note-taking. And this report is late because when I came home I was scheduled for knee surgery but developed some health issues which caused me to postpone going under the knife. As time went on, I grew busier and busier and this report was pushed further and further down the priority list. But since now Im scheduled to return to WDW on March 2, I have decided to get it done and submitted.
Day one
Our first day went as planned: We landed at MCO from Hartford, were bused by DME to the BWV and then dropped off our check-in baggage with the Bell Captain. The lobby of the resort reminded us of the lobbies of the Yacht Club and the Beach Club, different in theme of course but similar in architecture. It was nice. As planned, we traveled to EPCOT by boat and had my wifes annual pass activated. Once we entered, I rented an ECV and we did the tourist gig including a nice tour of The Seas. We ended up at Akershus where we had a reservation for 4:30. The meal was satisfactory; a good selection of Scandinavian eats, and the table was decent. However, it just didnt excite my wife or me. We saw just about every princess, most of whom I have to beg generational ignorance as to who they were. I had a picture taken with one (Jasmine, I think. She didnt leave her number.) We spent the rest of the time strolling hand in hand around what I like to call the Avenue of the Nations before returning to the BWV and our waiting luggage.
Day two
On Saturday, we started with a quick breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery before heading to the Magic Kingdom, my favorite park. I proceeded first to Pirates of the Caribbean (my number 1 attraction), and then to Jungle Cruise (old and corny but entertaining). I was surprised when Shirley wanted to ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin which I had never ridden. It was enjoyable! The rest of the day was filled with more rides in the MK. Of course, we visited The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square (probably my number 2 attraction). Despite my wifes protestations; we went to the Hall of the Presidents. As an historian, I truly enjoy the show and make it one of my must destinations on every trip. As an aside, I never fell asleep during the performance as my children had (and also my wife, I suspect) when they were younger. We had lunch at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe. I ordered the ribs and my wife, the chicken. It was delicious and showed why this eatery is one of my favorite counter service restaurants. Later in the day, we rode the WDW Railroad for the first time. It had started to rain and the train was a welcome respite from the weather.
We then returned to our room and relaxed for awhile. We had an ADR at Spoodles for 6:00 and I was anxiously awaiting our meal. When we arrived, I was surprised that it was so large inside. Our curved booth gave us a nice view of the open kitchen. The meal started with the Four-Cheese Flatbread (me) and the Garlic Shrimp (Shirley). Our entrees were the steak kabobs and the Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Linguine. We ordered the Spoodles Dessert Sampler to finish the dinner. Everything was fine with Shirleys meal but I found the kabobs wanting and couldnt finish them. However, I would recommend the sampler to future diners. I would give Spoodles a C but my wife gave it a B-. It will be awhile before I return.
Day three
On Sunday, we ventured to the Disney Studios after breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery. We visited the usual attractions save for the Rock n Roller Coaster. It is a little too intense for my wife and me. Our favorite attraction was (and is) the Great Movie Ride. Although I do love the Muppets 3-D but my wife thought it was a little corny, which of course it is. We had lunch at the ABC Commissary. My wife had fish and chips and I had my usual, the ABC Special Cheeseburger. Both were delicious and the Commissary lived up to its rating as one of the best, if not the best, counter-service restaurants in WDW. After lunch we were able to view some of the dancing and hear some of the songs from High School Musical. Then we went over to the Theater of the Stars to see the abbreviated version of Beauty and the Beast. It was very enjoyable.
On the way out of the park, we enjoyed watching the parade. We took the boat back to the BWV and relaxed in the room for a bit. Then we returned to the Studios because we had reservations for Mama Melroses. Since we arrived early we had a somewhat long wait. Once we were seated I realized that it was the same table that I sat at when I ate there in March. There is a Bobby Vinton album sleeve pasted to the wall so I gave it the moniker, the Vinton table. On my next trip in March, I am going to ask for that table. I had the Artisan Breads and Spreads and Shirley, the Vegetarian Minestrone. Both were delicious. For our entrees, we had the Charred Butcher Tender Steak (me) and the Pork Marsala. Both dishes had asparagus which I love but Shirley doesnt, so I had my fill of the green stalks. Dessert found us having Tiramisu (Shirley) and Crema Limone (me). Everything was wonderful and Mamas will be a fixture on any trip to WDW in the future. I gave the restaurant an A while my wife rated it as B+.
It was time to return to the boardwalk but first we got off the boat at the Yacht Club. Shirley wanted to see what the resort looked like and wanted to browse through the gift shop since the shop at the BWV is simply a branch of a large gift shop on the boardwalk.
Day 4
Monday found us at the gates of the Animal Kingdom at 8:00 for Morning Extra Magic Hours. After renting an ECV we visited Africa and, after a short wait, we boarded the truck for the Kilimanjaro Safari. As usual this is an extremely enjoyable experience. Later, we took the Wildlife Express to Rafikis Planet Watch and the Conservation Station. I have to confess that I found this trip to the station a very educational experience. I had never visited it before and while traveling (on my ECV) to the station I learned some very important lessons about saving the wildlife. I never thought I was much of an environmentalist but this trip awakened some green thoughts in me about helping the wildlife around our home in Connecticut. (I also loved the quizzes with which they test you in the mens room.) At the station, my wife and I witnessed an operation on a female lion that had a cancerous tumor. We also learned how they are able to feed the many different animals in the Kingdom.
Upon our return to the main part of the Animal Kingdom, we made a bee line to the Flame Tree Barbecue. My wife had the Smoked BBQ Chicken Salad and a side dish of French fries. I had the ½ slab of St. Louis Ribs. We both had the Key Lime pie for dessert. My wife liked the Flame Tree but Im lukewarm towards it. The food is OK but I do not like eating outside and especially eating with all sorts of wildlife of the flying variety. But as I said the food is good and I do love ribs!!
In the afternoon, we visited the other areas of the AK and experienced the attractions and rides there with the exception of EE. We also visited Dinosaur which I enjoy immensely. Near the end of our day we were able to get in and see the Festival of the Lion King. My wife really loved the show and the music but I never liked the movie Lion King and dont enjoy the music so I didnt really have a good time. But dont let me discourage you: it is very well done and very colorful. You will probably like it.
We took the bus to our resort to relax and wash up for our reservation at Chefs de France. It was raining (of course) when we arrived at the canopy in front of the restaurant. Despite being on time, we still had a moderate to long wait. But once we were called, we entered one of best restaurant interiors that I have ever been in. Yes, it was crowded but everything and everybody seemed to be clicking. The tables are so close together that it is almost like communal dining and you cant avoid conversing to your neighbors. I started my dinner with the French imported cheese plate and my wife had the lobster bisque, one of her favorites. For her entrée, she had the sautéed scallops and black tiger shrimp while I feasted on the roasted breast of duck and leg confit. Both were delicious. For dessert, Shirley chose the puff choux with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and I had the strawberry cake with red berry sauce and sorbet. M-m-m-m! Thus far in our trip, Chefs de France is the top restaurant hands down earning As from the two of us.
We rode the boat back to the boardwalk and went to our room, full and satisfied with our trip so far.
Day five
The next morning we decided to forego Spoodles for breakfast and, instead, go to the Galley (now the Captains Grille) in the Yacht Club. Shirley had Eggs Your Way while I had the Mickey Waffle. Our breakfast was sufficient enough to get us ready for a day at EPCOT. Once we arrived at the park, I rented an ECV and we headed for Future World. We walked around, going to the gift shop, going over to the Sea, and just strolled, not in a hurry. Its a good feeling to walk around and not be in a rush to see every attraction or go on every ride. Then we headed for the land and took the Living with the Land tour (one of my favorites) and watched The Circle of Life (not one of my favorites). We ate at Sunshine Seasons in the Land where Shirley had chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots and a fruit bowl. I opted for oriental and had beef over rice with stir-fried vegetables.
From there we ambled over to the World Showcase and took in some of the music and sights of the Food and Wine Festival including a group of kilted musicians representing Canada. We also went through the Mitsukoshi Department Store. I love browsing there, soaking in a truly different culture. Before I pass on, I want to travel to Japan. My wife does not hold to the same opinion. It rained all afternoon which made our walking around rather difficult. When we got to the open air theater to see the Beach Boys, it was almost full so I parked at the outside edge. We had a fairly good view of the stage, albeit at some distance. But the music brought back good vibrations and my wife and I enjoyed it immensely, as did the audience. Fortunately, I had a good zoom digital camera and was able to get some decent pictures.
We had reservations for Le Cellier and arrived there a few minutes early but were let right in. When we sat down we were amazed at the dark interior. We had eaten there in the mid-nineties when our children were young and enjoyed it. Our meal started with the basket of three breads that were brought to our table. Then I had the Cheddar Cheese Soup which was delicious and my wife played it safe and ordered the Beef and Barley Soup. For our entrées, we both chose the 7 oz. Filet Mignon. It was so tender, you could cut it with a fork. Absolutely delicious! For dessert, I had the Chocolate on Chocolate Whiskey Cake and my wife, the Crème Brulee. We had no complaints about anything giving the restaurant two As. It was a wonderful dinner and, with Chefs de France, one of the best restaurants we ate at.
Day six
We woke up on our next-to-last day at WDW and had breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery. As is my habit, on this day I always return to the Magic Kingdom and so we did. I took many pictures of the beautiful landscaping around Cinderellas Castle. We started the day in Fantasyland and returned to Its a Small World. How can anyone criticize this ride? I first rode this attraction at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. I enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it now. After a few more stops, we made it over to Tomorrowland and another favorite, Carousel of Progress. I know that this attraction is creaking with old age but so am I. It is still enjoyable. We followed this with a trip to Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin which is like being in a giant arcade game. Unfortunately and sadly, I caught my wife cheating: moving and pointing the laser gun without telling me that it could be done. Once I caught her I was able to overtake her and won going away. We also rode the Transit Authority for the first time. It was relaxing. This was followed by Stitchs Great Escape. Not bad, but certainly no Alien Encounter (another of my all-time favorites).
We ate at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café where I had a double cheeseburger and Shirley had a single cheeseburger. With fries, a cookie, and soda, it was a decent lunch. We spent the rest of the day going to the Country Bear Jamboree and taking a ride on the Liberty Belle. That was a perfect way to end our stay at the Magic Kingdom. On our way out of the park, we stopped at the Emporium on Main Street and purchased an ungodly amount of gifts for our children, our grandsons, and our dog. We may have also purchased gifts for ourselves.
We got back to our room and took a brief nap. Then, after getting ready we took the bus to Downtown Disney. We had an 8:20 reservation for Ragland Road but were very early. So we strolled through the rain around Pleasure Island until 8:00. After a short wait we were seated near the bar and the noise level was high but bearable. We started off with the Seared Scallops for Shirley and the seared beef salad with a horseradish drizzle and mixed greens with crispy fried onions. My salad was too much and it sort of ruined the entrée for me. For the entrées, my wife had the Pan Fried Lemon Sole and Chips. It was a whole sole and Shirley could eat only one of the two large pieces. I had the Salmon of Knowledge which was delicious but again, my appetite was spoiled by my salad. I was waiting anxiously for dessert because I was going to order the Gers Bread and Butter Pudding which I found delicious at a previous visit to Ragland Road. It was still delicious, though I couldnt finish. Shirley had Culchie's Chocolate Cake which she found delicious. Ragland Road was one of the top restaurants on this visit, although not equal to Chefs de France or Le Cellier. It earned a B+ from Shirley and a B from me.
We took the bus back to the Boardwalk to finish packing and get ready for our departure tomorrow.
Day seven
We got up, readied our luggage and left our studio apartment to go to the lobby. We brought our checked luggage to the airline check-in and received our boarding passes. Then, we gave our carry-on luggage to the bell captain. After breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery, we took the boat to EPCOT for our last hurrah at WDW. Again, we strolled through Future World. This time, however, we went to Ellens Energy Adventure starring Ellen DeGeneres in the Universe of Energy. I had never seen the show before due to not being a fan of Ellens. However, this time I decided to enter the attraction and try to enjoy it. Much to my surprise, it was wonderful. Ellen is a great comedienne and her humor really made the show enjoyable.
After that surprise, Shirley and I made our way to The Garden Grill where we had lunch reservations. We were treated to the Adult Gardeners Lunch. The food was great: flank steak, rotisserie turkey, and fried catfish accompanied by buttermilk biscuits, a potato casserole, veggies, and an apple crisp for dessert. As you eat, the restaurant revolves (rotates?) very slowly so the diners dont suffer from motion sickness. After lunch we went to the World Showcase and visited Japan. In the Mitsukoshi Department Store, I purchased a bonsai and had it shipped home.
While we were in Japan, it began to rain (again) and Shirley suggested that we return to the BWV and wait for the DME bus to the airport. She got no argument from me. The bus arrived at 4:15 and we were off to our flight which was delayed a few minutes. When it arrived, we boarded, found our seats, sat down and headed home with a great many pleasant memories of our vacation.
Summing up
Despite being the rainiest trip ever to WDW, nothing could diminish the enjoyment my wife and I experienced during this week. We werent strapped for time nor did we have young children tagging along. That will come in time, of course, because our grandchildren are a few short years from accompanying us on a trip. But, hopefully, we will bring the mother (our daughter) and father along with us. Since we are members of the DVC, we will rent a two bedroom apartment or a grand villa at Saratoga Springs or the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, our home resorts.
What: A six day vacation at the magical kingdom
When: Friday, September 28 Thursday, October 4, 2007
Where: Boardwalk Villas (BWV)
Why: This was my first trip to Walt Disney World with my wife since our children had grown. At first, Shirley was hesitant: she does not really like traveling. But her mother had died in the middle of September and she had been the primary caregiver, 24/7, although we did have home health aides come into the house a few days of the week. She was understandably sad and tired so friends and family and, of course, I insisted that Shirley join me.
How: Delta Airlines and Disney Magical Express (DME)
Planning Stage:
I plan, plan, plan while my wife is more laid back and likes to improvise. When it was decided that Shirley was coming I had already finalized plans for my trip to WDW and the BWV. However, it was easy to change the reservations (resort, restaurant, and DME) from a single to a double and purchase an annual pass and another dining plan. However, I did have to cancel a few restaurant ADRs because Shirley is more traditional in her dining tastes than I am. She likes American, Italian, Italian, and American. I am more adventurous in my tastes (Japanese, Chinese, and Moroccan, for example).
A note of explanation: The reason this report will be brief is that with my wife along I was not able to do my usual prolific note-taking. And this report is late because when I came home I was scheduled for knee surgery but developed some health issues which caused me to postpone going under the knife. As time went on, I grew busier and busier and this report was pushed further and further down the priority list. But since now Im scheduled to return to WDW on March 2, I have decided to get it done and submitted.
Day one
Our first day went as planned: We landed at MCO from Hartford, were bused by DME to the BWV and then dropped off our check-in baggage with the Bell Captain. The lobby of the resort reminded us of the lobbies of the Yacht Club and the Beach Club, different in theme of course but similar in architecture. It was nice. As planned, we traveled to EPCOT by boat and had my wifes annual pass activated. Once we entered, I rented an ECV and we did the tourist gig including a nice tour of The Seas. We ended up at Akershus where we had a reservation for 4:30. The meal was satisfactory; a good selection of Scandinavian eats, and the table was decent. However, it just didnt excite my wife or me. We saw just about every princess, most of whom I have to beg generational ignorance as to who they were. I had a picture taken with one (Jasmine, I think. She didnt leave her number.) We spent the rest of the time strolling hand in hand around what I like to call the Avenue of the Nations before returning to the BWV and our waiting luggage.
Day two
On Saturday, we started with a quick breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery before heading to the Magic Kingdom, my favorite park. I proceeded first to Pirates of the Caribbean (my number 1 attraction), and then to Jungle Cruise (old and corny but entertaining). I was surprised when Shirley wanted to ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin which I had never ridden. It was enjoyable! The rest of the day was filled with more rides in the MK. Of course, we visited The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square (probably my number 2 attraction). Despite my wifes protestations; we went to the Hall of the Presidents. As an historian, I truly enjoy the show and make it one of my must destinations on every trip. As an aside, I never fell asleep during the performance as my children had (and also my wife, I suspect) when they were younger. We had lunch at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe. I ordered the ribs and my wife, the chicken. It was delicious and showed why this eatery is one of my favorite counter service restaurants. Later in the day, we rode the WDW Railroad for the first time. It had started to rain and the train was a welcome respite from the weather.
We then returned to our room and relaxed for awhile. We had an ADR at Spoodles for 6:00 and I was anxiously awaiting our meal. When we arrived, I was surprised that it was so large inside. Our curved booth gave us a nice view of the open kitchen. The meal started with the Four-Cheese Flatbread (me) and the Garlic Shrimp (Shirley). Our entrees were the steak kabobs and the Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Linguine. We ordered the Spoodles Dessert Sampler to finish the dinner. Everything was fine with Shirleys meal but I found the kabobs wanting and couldnt finish them. However, I would recommend the sampler to future diners. I would give Spoodles a C but my wife gave it a B-. It will be awhile before I return.
Day three
On Sunday, we ventured to the Disney Studios after breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery. We visited the usual attractions save for the Rock n Roller Coaster. It is a little too intense for my wife and me. Our favorite attraction was (and is) the Great Movie Ride. Although I do love the Muppets 3-D but my wife thought it was a little corny, which of course it is. We had lunch at the ABC Commissary. My wife had fish and chips and I had my usual, the ABC Special Cheeseburger. Both were delicious and the Commissary lived up to its rating as one of the best, if not the best, counter-service restaurants in WDW. After lunch we were able to view some of the dancing and hear some of the songs from High School Musical. Then we went over to the Theater of the Stars to see the abbreviated version of Beauty and the Beast. It was very enjoyable.
On the way out of the park, we enjoyed watching the parade. We took the boat back to the BWV and relaxed in the room for a bit. Then we returned to the Studios because we had reservations for Mama Melroses. Since we arrived early we had a somewhat long wait. Once we were seated I realized that it was the same table that I sat at when I ate there in March. There is a Bobby Vinton album sleeve pasted to the wall so I gave it the moniker, the Vinton table. On my next trip in March, I am going to ask for that table. I had the Artisan Breads and Spreads and Shirley, the Vegetarian Minestrone. Both were delicious. For our entrees, we had the Charred Butcher Tender Steak (me) and the Pork Marsala. Both dishes had asparagus which I love but Shirley doesnt, so I had my fill of the green stalks. Dessert found us having Tiramisu (Shirley) and Crema Limone (me). Everything was wonderful and Mamas will be a fixture on any trip to WDW in the future. I gave the restaurant an A while my wife rated it as B+.
It was time to return to the boardwalk but first we got off the boat at the Yacht Club. Shirley wanted to see what the resort looked like and wanted to browse through the gift shop since the shop at the BWV is simply a branch of a large gift shop on the boardwalk.
Day 4
Monday found us at the gates of the Animal Kingdom at 8:00 for Morning Extra Magic Hours. After renting an ECV we visited Africa and, after a short wait, we boarded the truck for the Kilimanjaro Safari. As usual this is an extremely enjoyable experience. Later, we took the Wildlife Express to Rafikis Planet Watch and the Conservation Station. I have to confess that I found this trip to the station a very educational experience. I had never visited it before and while traveling (on my ECV) to the station I learned some very important lessons about saving the wildlife. I never thought I was much of an environmentalist but this trip awakened some green thoughts in me about helping the wildlife around our home in Connecticut. (I also loved the quizzes with which they test you in the mens room.) At the station, my wife and I witnessed an operation on a female lion that had a cancerous tumor. We also learned how they are able to feed the many different animals in the Kingdom.
Upon our return to the main part of the Animal Kingdom, we made a bee line to the Flame Tree Barbecue. My wife had the Smoked BBQ Chicken Salad and a side dish of French fries. I had the ½ slab of St. Louis Ribs. We both had the Key Lime pie for dessert. My wife liked the Flame Tree but Im lukewarm towards it. The food is OK but I do not like eating outside and especially eating with all sorts of wildlife of the flying variety. But as I said the food is good and I do love ribs!!
In the afternoon, we visited the other areas of the AK and experienced the attractions and rides there with the exception of EE. We also visited Dinosaur which I enjoy immensely. Near the end of our day we were able to get in and see the Festival of the Lion King. My wife really loved the show and the music but I never liked the movie Lion King and dont enjoy the music so I didnt really have a good time. But dont let me discourage you: it is very well done and very colorful. You will probably like it.
We took the bus to our resort to relax and wash up for our reservation at Chefs de France. It was raining (of course) when we arrived at the canopy in front of the restaurant. Despite being on time, we still had a moderate to long wait. But once we were called, we entered one of best restaurant interiors that I have ever been in. Yes, it was crowded but everything and everybody seemed to be clicking. The tables are so close together that it is almost like communal dining and you cant avoid conversing to your neighbors. I started my dinner with the French imported cheese plate and my wife had the lobster bisque, one of her favorites. For her entrée, she had the sautéed scallops and black tiger shrimp while I feasted on the roasted breast of duck and leg confit. Both were delicious. For dessert, Shirley chose the puff choux with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and I had the strawberry cake with red berry sauce and sorbet. M-m-m-m! Thus far in our trip, Chefs de France is the top restaurant hands down earning As from the two of us.
We rode the boat back to the boardwalk and went to our room, full and satisfied with our trip so far.
Day five
The next morning we decided to forego Spoodles for breakfast and, instead, go to the Galley (now the Captains Grille) in the Yacht Club. Shirley had Eggs Your Way while I had the Mickey Waffle. Our breakfast was sufficient enough to get us ready for a day at EPCOT. Once we arrived at the park, I rented an ECV and we headed for Future World. We walked around, going to the gift shop, going over to the Sea, and just strolled, not in a hurry. Its a good feeling to walk around and not be in a rush to see every attraction or go on every ride. Then we headed for the land and took the Living with the Land tour (one of my favorites) and watched The Circle of Life (not one of my favorites). We ate at Sunshine Seasons in the Land where Shirley had chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots and a fruit bowl. I opted for oriental and had beef over rice with stir-fried vegetables.
From there we ambled over to the World Showcase and took in some of the music and sights of the Food and Wine Festival including a group of kilted musicians representing Canada. We also went through the Mitsukoshi Department Store. I love browsing there, soaking in a truly different culture. Before I pass on, I want to travel to Japan. My wife does not hold to the same opinion. It rained all afternoon which made our walking around rather difficult. When we got to the open air theater to see the Beach Boys, it was almost full so I parked at the outside edge. We had a fairly good view of the stage, albeit at some distance. But the music brought back good vibrations and my wife and I enjoyed it immensely, as did the audience. Fortunately, I had a good zoom digital camera and was able to get some decent pictures.
We had reservations for Le Cellier and arrived there a few minutes early but were let right in. When we sat down we were amazed at the dark interior. We had eaten there in the mid-nineties when our children were young and enjoyed it. Our meal started with the basket of three breads that were brought to our table. Then I had the Cheddar Cheese Soup which was delicious and my wife played it safe and ordered the Beef and Barley Soup. For our entrées, we both chose the 7 oz. Filet Mignon. It was so tender, you could cut it with a fork. Absolutely delicious! For dessert, I had the Chocolate on Chocolate Whiskey Cake and my wife, the Crème Brulee. We had no complaints about anything giving the restaurant two As. It was a wonderful dinner and, with Chefs de France, one of the best restaurants we ate at.
Day six
We woke up on our next-to-last day at WDW and had breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery. As is my habit, on this day I always return to the Magic Kingdom and so we did. I took many pictures of the beautiful landscaping around Cinderellas Castle. We started the day in Fantasyland and returned to Its a Small World. How can anyone criticize this ride? I first rode this attraction at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. I enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it now. After a few more stops, we made it over to Tomorrowland and another favorite, Carousel of Progress. I know that this attraction is creaking with old age but so am I. It is still enjoyable. We followed this with a trip to Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin which is like being in a giant arcade game. Unfortunately and sadly, I caught my wife cheating: moving and pointing the laser gun without telling me that it could be done. Once I caught her I was able to overtake her and won going away. We also rode the Transit Authority for the first time. It was relaxing. This was followed by Stitchs Great Escape. Not bad, but certainly no Alien Encounter (another of my all-time favorites).
We ate at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café where I had a double cheeseburger and Shirley had a single cheeseburger. With fries, a cookie, and soda, it was a decent lunch. We spent the rest of the day going to the Country Bear Jamboree and taking a ride on the Liberty Belle. That was a perfect way to end our stay at the Magic Kingdom. On our way out of the park, we stopped at the Emporium on Main Street and purchased an ungodly amount of gifts for our children, our grandsons, and our dog. We may have also purchased gifts for ourselves.
We got back to our room and took a brief nap. Then, after getting ready we took the bus to Downtown Disney. We had an 8:20 reservation for Ragland Road but were very early. So we strolled through the rain around Pleasure Island until 8:00. After a short wait we were seated near the bar and the noise level was high but bearable. We started off with the Seared Scallops for Shirley and the seared beef salad with a horseradish drizzle and mixed greens with crispy fried onions. My salad was too much and it sort of ruined the entrée for me. For the entrées, my wife had the Pan Fried Lemon Sole and Chips. It was a whole sole and Shirley could eat only one of the two large pieces. I had the Salmon of Knowledge which was delicious but again, my appetite was spoiled by my salad. I was waiting anxiously for dessert because I was going to order the Gers Bread and Butter Pudding which I found delicious at a previous visit to Ragland Road. It was still delicious, though I couldnt finish. Shirley had Culchie's Chocolate Cake which she found delicious. Ragland Road was one of the top restaurants on this visit, although not equal to Chefs de France or Le Cellier. It earned a B+ from Shirley and a B from me.
We took the bus back to the Boardwalk to finish packing and get ready for our departure tomorrow.
Day seven
We got up, readied our luggage and left our studio apartment to go to the lobby. We brought our checked luggage to the airline check-in and received our boarding passes. Then, we gave our carry-on luggage to the bell captain. After breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery, we took the boat to EPCOT for our last hurrah at WDW. Again, we strolled through Future World. This time, however, we went to Ellens Energy Adventure starring Ellen DeGeneres in the Universe of Energy. I had never seen the show before due to not being a fan of Ellens. However, this time I decided to enter the attraction and try to enjoy it. Much to my surprise, it was wonderful. Ellen is a great comedienne and her humor really made the show enjoyable.
After that surprise, Shirley and I made our way to The Garden Grill where we had lunch reservations. We were treated to the Adult Gardeners Lunch. The food was great: flank steak, rotisserie turkey, and fried catfish accompanied by buttermilk biscuits, a potato casserole, veggies, and an apple crisp for dessert. As you eat, the restaurant revolves (rotates?) very slowly so the diners dont suffer from motion sickness. After lunch we went to the World Showcase and visited Japan. In the Mitsukoshi Department Store, I purchased a bonsai and had it shipped home.
While we were in Japan, it began to rain (again) and Shirley suggested that we return to the BWV and wait for the DME bus to the airport. She got no argument from me. The bus arrived at 4:15 and we were off to our flight which was delayed a few minutes. When it arrived, we boarded, found our seats, sat down and headed home with a great many pleasant memories of our vacation.
Summing up
Despite being the rainiest trip ever to WDW, nothing could diminish the enjoyment my wife and I experienced during this week. We werent strapped for time nor did we have young children tagging along. That will come in time, of course, because our grandchildren are a few short years from accompanying us on a trip. But, hopefully, we will bring the mother (our daughter) and father along with us. Since we are members of the DVC, we will rent a two bedroom apartment or a grand villa at Saratoga Springs or the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, our home resorts.
) that I thought it would. I think that the fault is the title, "Our Wettest Trip Ever," is a downer
. However, I can't edit the title but I can respond and say that the trip was extremely enjoyable despite the fact that it rained almost every day. It would take a hurricane to put a dent in any enjoyment that I would feel at WDW
and even that is debatable.
I enjoyed your report. 
At least with the rain hopefully it wasn't to hot.
and doing things on our own schedule in our own way. I dream of being a DVC owner someday...I'd love to take the (future) grandkids and stay like that!!!
