So, it just goes without saying that the most depressing moment of any Disney trip is the last night. I dread it. Anyhoo, I wasn't able to experience much of this on our last night at the original Port Orleans. Assuredly a blessing in disguise, because as you may recall, I was toasted. Sugar toasted. I was practically a breakfast cereal. So, after kissing the ground beside the lobby fountain and doing a little jig to the music from Scat Cat's (no live music that night, but the piped-in jazz is a great stand-in), back to the room we went.
The SO began accumulating all of his Harry Potter and Disney possessions (mostly HP, but who's counting?) and preparing for the next morning. I got into bed fully dressed and just kinda laughed myself into a sleep cocoon. There was no way I was going to have anything folded and packed and in the suitcase for the next day, and that's a first for me. I could barely move. So, as I drifted off to sleep, Kira: The Top 10 Disney Must Do's (On Speed), told me that I couldn't miss Mission: Space. Oh yes, that would have felt GREAT just then.
Next thing I knew, Mickey and Stitch woke me up. I called the front desk and told them to get these masked madmen out of our room!
Kidding. The wake-up call woke me and I hazily, hangover-y blinding-headache-oh-the-bright-lights-ouchily got out of bed. Bedraggled? Yes. But an hour later we were on our way to the Resort Airline Check-In. How's
that for pixie dust?
I did give one last look to the Three French Gooses gazing down at us from above the luggage stand. I'll miss them. For those who may have missed that update:
And as we closed the door behind us, I held my last Disney morning cup of Starbucks Via Bold. Thank you Money-Hungry-Burnt-Coffee-Gods-Whom-I-Adore. Thank you for a truly terrific battle against NesCafe. I shed the sugar cookie malaise of the previous eve with each sip, becoming more and more resplendent and shiny. I was gorgeous I tell you.
And speaking of Gorgeous, French Quarter, how lovely you are in the morning. I have more photos that I will be using when I start fleshing out the missing details for 6/17-6/21. But here's one from that morning:
I know it isn't gorgeous, but that's the only one I took that morning. The pretty ones are from earlier in the trip. Anyhoo, I love the quiet and manicured surroundings as you venture forth. And then the sounds of New Orleans jazz begin rolling in as you near the pool and the main building. Airline Check-In was conveniently located between the hotel check in and Concierge/Guest Services counters. The two agents/CMs were very serious. Damn, we're heading back into the real world.
But it was quick and painless, and we now were able to sneak one last visit into the Sassagoula Floatworks Factory, whose Mardi Gras masks are frightening to some, but nostalgic and endearing to me. So what if they look like the lovechildren of Donatella Versace and Bob Villa? Why I picked two Italians for a Creole-French themed restaurant is... well, I have no explanation.
Now, it wasn't early morning by any means, but the resort was practically empty. And despite the fact we arrived within the window for breakfast service, they had already started shifting things over to lunch. It is incredibly difficult for me to do lunch that early. I can barely eat lunch at noon, 1 to 1:30 is my requisite. I tried in vain to order my beloved croissant breakfast sandwich, but was denied. You know the kind with bacon, eggs, cheese and the most delicious artery-clogging grease that sort of gathers in your bloodstream when you just hold the thing? Magic Disney grease, HOW COULD I NEGLECT THEE? For the entire week no less! Not one damned sandwich. I know you
may think it's this Disney staple that all the resorts do well, but there is only one other place on property that can compare to the croissant sandwiches served here at the French Quarter. And that's Sunshine Seasons at The Land. Delicious I tell you.
Sadness. But though it was lunchtime at the Sassagoula Floatworks Factory, we were both starving, and really, the SO couldn't have cared less whether it was breakfast or not. I decided to play it safe with a burger and the SO ordered the taco salad. I just couldn't do tex-mex, a muffaletta or pizza at that hour. And I wanted something heartier than a muffin.
Okay, so maybe the Sassagoula Factory isn't that great. They have an amazing bakery and great breakfasts, but in all my visits, this was the first time that I tried their lunch/dinner options.
The SO's taco salad was inedible and he said the meat (orange and greasy) kept the memory of this meal alive throughout the day.
The taco shell was soggy, too. I remember the taco shells at the San Angel Inn years ago were similarly bendy, and a hard tortilla without crunch is a cry for help. Help me. Crisp me! Oh well, must be a Disney thing. My burger was the usual science experiment you can find anywhere at WDW (outside of Pecos Bill's, which I claim to have the best CS burgers on property). I'm used to that soaked stale burger-flavored styrofoam, bound together, disguised as a hamburger patty, and then flame-burned in a gray saute pan until it's drained of all remaining moisture. It took hefty amounts of ketchup and mustard to mask the nasty. The fries at least, were tasty: hot and crispy, which could be because we ordered at the start of the lunch service. All in all, nothing unexpected, but I regretted our choices. Maybe I shoulda got that muffin after all.
I did surprise the SO with a Mickey bendy-straw for his drink!
And here's another pic of the SO in his Wizarding World T-shirt.
Which reminds me, I haven't even spoken about, um, EVERYONE stopping us that morning. Assaulting us. Feverishly curious about his Harry Potter shirt and inquiring our excursion. Especially cast members!
For shame!
Granted, the resort was very quiet, so maybe that's why we noticed that everyone we ran into, either coming from the pool, or heading to Sassagoula, stopped to ask about the new land. The cast members working at check-in (not the airport people) also asked about it. A lot of CMs seem to enjoy Universal and couldn't wait to check it out. The SO enjoyed telling everyone our tales from the Darkside.
I think he's adorable here:
Anyhoo, Magical Express was prompt, though we did have to take a
Disney Cruise Line bus back to the airport. I could hardly believable it was holding itself together. Screens totally blown out overhead, discoloration on a lot of the seating, masking tape -- MASKING TAPE -- on one of the seats. I would hate to have ridden all the way to a cruiseship on THAT. Anyway, I said my little goodbye to the French Quarter, and whispered that I'd see her again soon. The Cajun Spaceship of Peace, 'til we meet again...
It was a direct trip to the airport, so we didn't have to stop at the DVC plantations. Kind of bittersweet, because this would be the one time I wouldn't mind stopping. Who wants to get the heck out of Dodge on your last day? But soon we were driving back through the main gate and back out into the real world and whoop-de-doo. That's what my dad and I called the Hoop-de-Doo when I was little: The Whoop-De-Doo Revue. I begged him to take me for the longest time, but finally he acquiesced. I still remember how after all he had spent on Disney family trips over the years, THAT was the money he said he'd never get back.
Orlando International Airport has grown smaller and smaller to me over the years. Part of growing up, part of getting older. I remember when the central atrium with the EarPort, the Christmas Tree (all year round I always think of that tree!), and the Hyatt, was the biggest thing on Earth to me. Bigger even than Grand Central Station! Maybe I'm not supposed to receive in the same way anymore, but when you catch those moments of awe, either here at Disney, or other places you frequented growing up, do you get those comforting goosebumps? Time standing still and all that? Not to mention people you shared it with who may no longer be in your life, or even on this Earth. I do recognize joy despite my reserve of negativity, and I hope that this report has been able to capture for you a little bit of my stubbornly biased
and unbiased response to that little place in Lake Buena Vista we all chat about here on the boards. For after the ADRs, Princess Half-Marathons, Cheddar Cheese Soup, etc., to me, WDW will always be a playground of one of my childhood heroes. A blank canvas of undeveloped swampland, pastures and orange groves.
And don't go anywhere because now that I've reached the first ending of the trip, I promised to go back and fill in what began as a Dining Report! I don't know how I'll do this, but I'll figure it out. For now, thanks for reading!
You're a great writer and I hope you continue to chronicle your upcoming trips.
Love Bob Villa! He's just . . .too much!
Thanks for reading!
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