The 5 trips of My "Disney Free Year" - A Mermaid, A Buzz, A Boat and A Steak - 7/8

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Blame Canada! Blame Canada!

Now I have that song stuck in my head.

Holy lots of stuff packed into one day Batman! I'm so impressed right now!

Hahaha! I was singing the song all night too!

Agreed Robin! When thinking about our next trip, I'm insisting we slow down and smell the roses a little bit. The trip was so fun, but crazy tiring!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After our Canadian Disaster, we wandered through the British Tea Garden.

You can tell I was tired, my pictures are all crooked!

Yep, the quality is definitely suffering!

Next we headed to France to see the Fragrance Garden.

Only to find out we'd missed the last show by - well the length of the O Canada. Grr!

Oh well, we wandered around and sniffed the fragrances anyway.

 

[Caretames1]

Even though I think those sand sculptures are awesome, the meanie in me wants to stomp through them

Also, I take a lot of crooked pictures, I think I stand crooked. I just fix them in editing

 

[IheartDDuck]

So, you take crooked pictures when you're tired.......so what does that say about me that I take crooked pictures when I'm wide awake?

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Hahaha I have crooked picture days too. Actually, with the ratio, I should say that I have correctly aligned picture days, interspersed with a lot of crooked and askew shots!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Even though I think those sand sculptures are awesome, the meanie in me wants to stomp through them

Also, I take a lot of crooked pictures, I think I stand crooked. I just fix them in editing

I know what you mean! I had visions of taking a giant hose to the sculpture! I think there's something wrong with us

Glad to know I'm not the only one who takes crooked pictures! about you standing crooked - I have a really funny mental image now - thanks!

So, you take crooked pictures when you're tired.......so what does that say about me that I take crooked pictures when I'm wide awake?

If it's any consolation, taking straight pictures is about the only thing I can do straight on. I walk into doorways and such on a daily basis, those darn things keep jumping out at me

Hahaha I have crooked picture days too. Actually, with the ratio, I should say that I have correctly aligned picture days, interspersed with a lot of crooked and askew shots!

I feel much better now. Looking at those pictures I was like "man, and we weren't even drinking yet!"

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

So, by this time we were both pretty wiped out. I man I'd been up since 5, and we had done 4 parks, plus all that unnecessary walking really did us in! So what did we do next?

More aimless walking of course!

I love how pretty Morocco is. Too bad their drinks taste like feet.

If anyone here is nerdy enough to love the Matt Smith Dr. as much as I do, You’ll know I was looking all over for the Tardis when I saw this – ‘cuz fezes are cool

Next up we wandered into Japan

The Bansi trees were so cool. I tried to grow one once, and failed epically.

Hey you - I know you're scrolling! Pay attention, there will be a test at the end.

Hey, it’s the Kim Possible mission we decided not to do because we were too tired. Man, I could have just told you we did it. I’m such a bad liar!

Basically we were both so tired, we just walked around in silence, me taking pictures, Panic sleeping with her eyes open.

 

[Caretames1]

Where's the test? I even studied.....

 

[Princess_K]

Where have I been??? I missed all of your updates!

Your room at OKW IS huge! So glad Panic got to join you! It is a really pretty resort. We took a bus from there last year, and I thought it seemed really nice.

Yay for morning EMHs! I’m a girl who likes her sleep too, but in Disney, I am always up and ready to hit those early hours. I love it!

4 parks in one day! You two really are amazing! It looked so nice that day though.

I have never seen any of the country movies in Epcot. They are always on the list, but I seem to forget about them!

I do love all of your photos! It makes me feel like I’m actually there!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Where's the test? I even studied.....

You Passed! A+!

Where have I been??? I missed all of your updates!

Your room at OKW IS huge! So glad Panic got to join you! It is a really pretty resort. We took a bus from there last year, and I thought it seemed really nice.

Yay for morning EMHs! I’m a girl who likes her sleep too, but in Disney, I am always up and ready to hit those early hours. I love it!

4 parks in one day! You two really are amazing! It looked so nice that day though.

I have never seen any of the country movies in Epcot. They are always on the list, but I seem to forget about them!

I do love all of your photos! It makes me feel like I’m actually there!

Howdy. I was starting to think maybe Stitch got you and was holding you hostage in Tomorrowland. I'm kind of bummed that wasn't the case, because I was going to take it upon myself to go find you there

OKW is fast becoming our favorite "short stay" DVC resort. It's beautiful and spacious. I just wish it wasn't so huge! We've been lucky so far being close to transportation and the main building.

I'm usually up early at Disney too. DH can't be convinced that waking up early is worth it though, so we usually miss morning EMH. But they're amazing for getting stuff done!

It was an amazing day, sunny, warm but not hot and not muggy. Made the 4 parks thing doable. It was kind of a badge of honor, but I'm not sure I want to do it again any time soon - it was exhausting. And we didn't really have time to stop and smell the churros if you know what I mean!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

We kept wandering, and wandered past the America Gardens Theater, when who did we see?

Wake up Sleepy Jean…. It’s Davy Jones!

So of course we had to call queenie and rub it in. Don’t you wish you had daughters like us?? Haha! I could tell she was regretting not coming with us! So we stopped and got a coke (and discovered that the stand in America had the Jalapeno Pretzels too) we talked to Queenie and Grumpy and listened to Davy Jones.

Hey Panic, how many parks have we been at today?

Yeo, that’s right 4, and the sun hadn’t even set yet!

I had mentioned that I wanted to try Via Napoli, and Panic thought pizza sounded
good, so we headed to Italy to take our chances.

He look, it’s Gretel!

There was a huge line at Via Napoli, and no real system that we could see. There was a girl who came down the line twice and took down the numbers in the parties. She never took names or anything, just numbers. And there were 3 groups of 7 or 8 in line ahead of us. The prospect of standing in that line for 30 minutes might as well been a death sentence.

We thought about Tuto or the Via Napoli stand. But Tuto had just as long of a line, and the stand appeared to just have the standard thick crusted pizza that is everywhere in the park.

So Panic finally asked, where can we go (in the park) for a sit down meal that we won't have to wait forever for? My response, "China or Morocco" Thinking about it now, we probably could have taken our chances with Toyko Dining too, but at that moment those were the only two I could think of.

I was so hot and tired, and I wasn't super hungry so I was no help in making adecision. But she asked again, "are you sure we can get in to China?" I replied, "Yes"
Knowing how underrated it is because it was so bad for so long. That sealed it, and we headed off to China.

We walked into Nine Dragons, and were seated immediately, and Panic looked and me and said "thanks for lying to me" I didn't lie. It was an extremely educated guess that was indeed correct. That is not a lie!

We were both so glad to be in the air conditioning and seated we just kind of melted. I mean really, give us crayons, and we’re content!

Panic got the Sesame Chicken

I got peppered shrimp with lightly seasoned spinach noodles

Both were pretty yummy! And really nice portion sizes, not too big at all.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Glad you guys were able to find a place to eat!

That's weird with the system that they were using at Via Napoli. How would they know who was next????

I feel the same way about getting into Marrakesh in Morocco. There's never anyone going in there and I've never had bad food at the restaurant. Oh well, at least we know these things because we go so often.

 

[Caretames1]

You Passed! A+!

WHOO HOO It's my first!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

What are these little things? Do they do stuff, or just sit there and look adorable? I want them either way .

The system at VN sounds confusing and exhausting lol. Poor China and Morocco, no huge crowds outside for them! Your meal at Nine Dragons doesn't look too bad though! And you got to color during it, crayons are always a plus

 

[Princess_K]

That stinks about Via Napoli. I am wanting to try it on our wedding trip! But at least you were able to find somewhere with no wait... you two deserved that after your busy day!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Glad you guys were able to find a place to eat!

That's weird with the system that they were using at Via Napoli. How would they know who was next????

I feel the same way about getting into Marrakesh in Morocco. There's never anyone going in there and I've never had bad food at the restaurant. Oh well, at least we know these things because we go so often.

Yeah. I just couldn't figure out how that system was going to work. Someday I'll try Via Napoli - WITH an ADR I really want to try restaurant Marrakesh. But I have a really sensitive stomach, and I'm just so nervous about some of the spice combos. Some day, I'll get over my fear of having a rumbly tumbly and give it a try.

P.S. I'm having major ticker envy right now! Have fun at your Grand Gathering. I'm mad jealous!

WHOO HOO It's my first!

Yay! I think this information is much more useful than algebra, don't you?

What are these little things? Do they do stuff, or just sit there and look adorable? I want them either way .

The system at VN sounds confusing and exhausting lol. Poor China and Morocco, no huge crowds outside for them! Your meal at Nine Dragons doesn't look too bad though! And you got to color during it, crayons are always a plus

Strangely enough (seeing as they were in JAPAN) I *think* they were figurines for the Chinese Zodiac. You know year of the pig kind of thing. They were just ceramic adorableness. I had to take a picture instead of buying them all - they were super cute!

I've gotta say, we are big 9 dragons fans. Who could hate the combo of crayons and fried rice? I would like to try Via Napoli, but I think I'll do it with a travel companion that allows me to obsessively make ADRs (Okay, I let the secret out, that's why I married DH )

That stinks about Via Napoli. I am wanting to try it on our wedding trip! But at least you were able to find somewhere with no wait... you two deserved that after your busy day!

The pizza we could see as we were drooling at the windows while waiting in the long line looked really yummy. But the quick stand outside did not. I recommend ADRs! 9 dragons really was perfect for us.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Tummies full, and feet rested we headed out. It was about 8:30 (the park closed at 9) and we still hadn't done our "must do" in Epcot.

(If you guessed that our "must do" was Soarin' you so don't know us!) Sadly, I'm pretty sure our "must do Disney" is NOT even close to Stacy's. The "Triple Mountain Whamy""s got nothing on us!

Any guesses where we'd go?

The perfect end to any Chinese food meal? A glowing-blue Margarita at the Cava del Tequila of course!

I’ve been waiting all day for this!

Glooooooowing!

When we emerged from the Cava, the lights torches were being lit for IllumiNations, and the announcements were blaring. We high-tailed it outta there, hoping to escape the post-IllumiNations crowd.

We did our customary cut-through of Mouse Gears. I got so mad when I saw the new Bride wear. Do you KNOW how much effort I put into making my own, and what I would have given to pay $20 to have it done?

This is what the fountain looks like when you’re running to the bus.

We got to the bus (why is it that every resort I stay at has the farthest bus stop... seriously I think they switch the numbers around when they see me coming - I kid you not)

The bus was waiting for us when we got there. Yeah baybe!

Our plan was to go back to the hotel, rest a bit and go to Downtown Disney for a sundae and a drink. But as we were sitting on the bus, we started reconsidering if we really *needed* to go downtown....

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yeah. I just couldn't figure out how that system was going to work. Someday I'll try Via Napoli - WITH an ADR I really want to try restaurant Marrakesh. But I have a really sensitive stomach, and I'm just so nervous about some of the spice combos. Some day, I'll get over my fear of having a rumbly tumbly and give it a try.

P.S. I'm having major ticker envy right now! Have fun at your Grand Gathering. I'm mad jealous!

Marrakesh actually isn't that bad. I'm a complete and utter pansy when it comes to spices, so I would think you might be okay.

Ticker envy. That's the first time I've heard that before. Trust me, after that last ticker ends, I think it will be a while for me.

La Cava is one of my must do's! I love the blue glowing margarita! Good choice.

 

[Caretames1]

Your fountian "run-by" made me giggle! I have a few photos like that!

We are going to stop by Cava del Tequila in Sept, my DH saw a photo of something you can order there, it was about 5 little drinks, kinda like samples maybe? He wanted to try that.


SO, DTD or not DTD, that is the question!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oh that is DEFINITELY an Epcot must-do!!!!! Especially since it's glowing. That's even more Epcot-y and futuristic!

See, I'm too much of a sucker for Illuminations to be all strategic like you. I'd be there at probably the farthest point, happily singing along to "We Go On" until it was time for the crazy-long hike to the busses (the only time my bus to my resort wasn't practically in Key West was when we were going to AKL for dinner. The VERY FIRST bus stop. I was quite jealous, let me tell you!).