The ABC's of a FALL Trip with Friends, Food, Wine, and a Conference- E is for: Earning Credits; Echo Lake Calls (11/23)

[Steppesister]

I've heard that, but never been to the resort.

I think the vibe has become WAY more upscale since the addition of the Tower. I've been pre- and post- and prefer the more deluxe feel post-.

Like the sliding barn door.

I LOVED that too. I mentioned that to Lori when we walked in.

I can't tell... what is that on the shelf below the folding luggage rack?

It's the hair dryer? or maybe the iron. There were both.

Pretty! I didn't think it'd be that nice, tbh.

There are loads more water features there. I think I have other photos coming up.

We have some bananas today. (To complete the paraphrasing.)

I hope they let them ripen and let staff take them home.

That's exactly what it felt like.

But of course.
Could've been worse... could've rained during the entire party, I suppose.

We'd likely have left. Rain wasn't in the forecast so we were entirely unprepared.

IMHO, MNSSHP is AOK and A1.

4sure

It's been many, many years since I've been to SeaWorld. Guessing... over 25 years?

I like the Sesame Street area. LOL!

This really surprised me. I don't mind and might even enjoy an adults only Halloween party, but... for a major theme park, this surprised me.

I've never seen one that involves this level of sleaze, even in college. I mean sure the occasional ridiculous sexy nurse costume, but since when does Halloween scream seedy? Sure creepy, evil, violent, zombie etc... but BDSM?

Huh, indeed!
Not sure what that has to do with Halloween?

Yeah, the whole thing was lost on me.

As opposed to Disney's (so you've said) weak drinks.

Complete opposite. They were BIG and the pours were long. Even if the server at our first bar was rude. Dave had a little chat with him and told me "He's a nice guy but rude af; he's from New York, give him a pass."

I gave him a pass; I did not give him a tip.

Ew. I tend to want pretzels and, unless they've just been freshly made, wind up being disappointed.

Those are rare and hard to find! Especially in a theme park. LOL!

Oh dear. I had a similar experience in Paris... or so my mom tells me. Funny story.

OH?!

You could do worse for a mission.

Agreed!

Awww... nice to finally meet up with the person who most helped you find your calling.

I always enjoy my visits with her.

That'd be very interesting. The cusp of the jet engine days.

For sure!! I'm sure he is very proud of his work in whatever capacity it was.

I'm sure you didn't "marvel" at that part of his story. Sad.

No, no marveling but I am impressed that he's found a way to carry on and make the most out of life. Some folks have a hard time with moving forward. I admire his resilience.

I'm sure you could. Just talk yourself into getting an AP and going down more often and you could see him all the time!

Hard pass. I'll hop over for a short visit if Mary Ellen and Denny are there and say hello, but it's not my go-to park. I have contemplated getting a Uni Pass though.

Yeah... definitely gross. Just... really? I'll just by a drink, thanks. You can keep the cat food for the cats.

I was definitely like... just why?! I'm sure the game players were already pretty hopped up so to add a bit of stupid wasn't a stretch.

Another one??

Not exactly getting your money's worth out of this party.

I wasn't there for the rides at all, but I'm sure there were more than a few who were disappointed.

That skeleton video was kinda fun. More in line with what I think a Halloween entertainment should be.

Me too!! Fun and silly.

Thanks for the honest review. Never really had much interest in HHN, but would go if someone invited me I suppose. Now I know that this one is probably a pass as well.

I'd like to try HHN sometime. I know Caroline gives a 2 thumbs up- maybe someday, but not soon likely.

Oh, no. I totally believe how dumb some people can be.
I've just seen too much, at my age.

It was a rhetorical statement.

 

[pkondz]

I LOVED that too. I mentioned that to Lori when we walked in.

Great minds.

It's the hair dryer? or maybe the iron. There were both.

Ah!
Shoulda thought of that.

I hope they let them ripen and let staff take them home.

Not give to the apes in AK?

I like the Sesame Street area. LOL!

The what?

Like I said... been a while.

I've never seen one that involves this level of sleaze, even in college. I mean sure the occasional ridiculous sexy nurse costume, but since when does Halloween scream seedy? Sure creepy, evil, violent, zombie etc... but BDSM?

Yeah, that's... weird.

Dave had a little chat with him and told me "He's a nice guy but rude af; he's from New York, give him a pass."

Those are rare and hard to find! Especially in a theme park. LOL!

There's a place in the mall that does fresh ones. Been years, though.

OH?!

So when I was 10 or 12 I was in Paris with my family. Unbeknownst to my folks, we wound up in the Moulin Rouge area. My mom kept saying "Look over there! Look at that!" In a desperate attempt to get me to not look in the direction of the more seedy offerings in the area. Not that it mattered as I was too young to even recognize it as less than wholesome. At one point, my mom noticed a lady of the evening looking at... us? me? So my mom decided to stare her down. Bad move. I'd imagine these ladies have seen it all and a 90lb school teacher isn't likely to instill a lot of fear, ya know? Apparently she flicked her cigarette butt at me, but I was completely oblivious to the entire scene.

For sure!! I'm sure he is very proud of his work in whatever capacity it was.

I'd think so.

No, no marveling but I am impressed that he's found a way to carry on and make the most out of life. Some folks have a hard time with moving forward. I admire his resilience.

Oh, I completely understand that.

Hard pass. I'll hop over for a short visit if Mary Ellen and Denny are there and say hello, but it's not my go-to park. I have contemplated getting a Uni Pass though.

I meant a Disney AP, not Sea World. I wouldn't see much point in that, actually. But a US AP would be good too.

I'd like to try HHN sometime. I know Caroline gives a 2 thumbs up- maybe someday, but not soon likely.

There ya go. Put that US AP to good use!

 

[Paulaparm]

How did that follow up go?

Healing nicely and no physical therapy!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We made our way to one of the bars they were headed to and met up. We all grabbed our first drink and gave toasts and hugs all around. This made the $39 ticket worth it. It was fun to be among old and new friends again. MaryEllen was the friend who finally talked me into getting my NP degree and she was happy to finally get to congratulate me in person and give me a big hug for a job well done. She’s the bestest!

Mary Ellen and Denny are the nicest people.

I took very few photos of anything that night which now makes me kind of sad since I really don’t have a lot to show you. Sorry!

The ticket price is really low. I can see why it is popular. But I agree with you about the sleaze. Somehow, a family place like Sea World seems like the wrong place for that kind of thing. Did you have any idea of what the party would be like?

 

[missjackiemcg]

Well, Howl-O-Scream sounds....interesting!!! Sort of Six Flags like, maybe. We have Fright Fest here at Six Flags Great America, and minus the pole dancers, this sounds like it attracts a similar crowd. Glad you got to experience something new...and help me save my money in case it ever crossed my mind that I should give it a try!! Ha!

 

[Steppesister]

E is for: Earning Credits; Echo Lake Calls
October 20, 2025, Pt. 1​

Today was the first day of our lectures and we dutifully showed up at Coronado’s Conference Hall at just about 7:00 so we could register, get our swag, and sit in on the first session over breakfast. Going in, I honestly thought breakfast was going to be your standard conference fare: granola, yogurt, whole fruits, soggy bacon and dry cereal with milk. We got all checked in and were graciously invited to the buffet. I was stunned when I saw what was available!

​

I took a small bit of a few things and was completely satisfied with the surprisingly delicious spread. The session was on MASH, which has been now renamed to NAFLD (basically liver disease precipitated by high cholesterol) and the various diagnostics and treatments. Of the talks I listened to, this one was the most high yield for me and ironically wasn’t technically part of the conference credits.

​

After breakfast, I decided to try my luck with sitting over at Three Bridges for the remainder of the morning sessions. Why on earth would I sit in a conference room in an uncomfy chair and follow along on a big screen when I can be sitting in the fresh Florida air with my feet up? If not at Three Bridges, the pool, by the lake, anywhere but a conference room. Every session was going to live-streamed and they actually encouraged this as part of the draw for this conference. That, and the deeply discounted park tickets.

​

Lori was a bit more nervous about missing anything and how the logistics of this whole things worked. She chose to stay behind and listen from there. No, I didn’t feel badly when I bid her buh-bye and headed for cozier places. With my (then whole) laptop slung over my shoulder I headed for Three Bridges. The “front” gate was locked, but I am crafty and snuck my way into the back entrance and found myself in a completely empty venue. Just me a about 80 empty cushy seats. “Take your pick, the world’s your oyster” it seemed to say to me and I settled myself into the most luxurious conference situation EVER. It made learning about all things dermatology a little less painful.

(The decor is perfect. I might also note, that I had the entire Three Bridges Potty to myself and loved the TP roses that housekeeping crafted)


​

3 lectures later at 11:15, the morning was over and I’d pre-decided to knock off then and head to the parks in time for lunch. The last 2 after-lunch sessions could be watched another time (and were) Predictably, Lori told me that I was right, she couldn’t even see the big screen and had to watch the slides on her laptop anyway and was a waste of time to be in the physical sessions. She joined me the next day at Three Bridges.

After a quick stop at the room to dump our conference stuff and switch it out for our park bags, we were off to the bus stop which was SUPER close to our room. Love that!!! Oh sure, we were the first stop om the route, but heh, that only adds another 5-7 minutes to the commute to the parks. In hardly any time at all we were swinging our way into DHS. Our first LL was at ToT. Always fun to drop in there and say hi to Tina. She talks, ya know. Just don’t get on her bad side.

​

I honestly don’t know how the remainder of our LL’s worked out with the fiddle-faddling that was done, but I’ll share the rides we did as they came. But I do know that after ToT we needed some lunch. I gave Lori the options and we ended up choosing The Docking Bay 7. This place is a wonderful, somewhat hidden gem, in my opinion. I’ve had a few things here now, and have never once been disappointed yet. I let her choose our meal and we split the:

Peka Tuna Poke- Raw Tuna tossed in a Spicy Sriracha Dressing and served with Green Papaya Salad, Pickled Mushrooms, Fresh Herbs, and Crispy Garlic- $18.49

​

It was a very generous portion size we both loved it. It was fresh and flavorful. The green papaya made for a very light and refreshing option. I loved it! Lori wanted to try the:

Black Spire Mousse- White Chocolate Jogan Fruit Mousse atop a Brownie Pistachio Brittle served with Blue Milk Sauce, Pineapple Cream, and Hibiscus Sponge topped with a Chocolate Black Spire Coin- $6.79

​

I’ve seen many other folks ordering these and have always passed because I’m too full usually after an entrée and I don’t typically like mousse, but I was proven wrong today. This was actually really, really good. The brownie gave it enough texture to not make me gag and the flavor was quite tasty. So, a total win for lunch!! The biggest bonus of this place though, for me anyway, is the relatively quiet and out-of-the-way outdoor seating area under the shade of a big tree. It’s a nice break from the chaos of the park for sure.

​

Over lunch we could see the Storm Troopers roaming around harassing the visitors of Batuu, take in some of the art in the area, and enjoy the oddities of fauna that grow here. (remember this plant, I come across it again in another completely other-worldly area of WDW).

​

With lunch done, it was time for our next LL, TSMM. While I still cannot seem to ever break Beaver status, I did kick some butt, relatively speaking. I didn’t rub it in. Much.

​

From there, we went back to the Star Wars theme and on a whim decided to duck into Star Tours. I hadn’t been on this in YEARS. Like since maybe 2018? Maybe? I love the upgrades and on the way out asked a CM how many possible combinations of experiences are possible. WITHOUT GOOGLING!, take a guess at how many “movies” you can get. I guessed 8. This was the first time I’ve ever seen the water and monsters one. Needless to say, I had a great time on this attraction and will put it back into my regular wanna-do list as there’s almost never a wait now.

​

After that, we had some time before our next LL and Frozen had no wait for the next show. I always love this one as the Historians are always a riot. We laughed and sang and clapped. Always a great show!!

​

Time for a libation!!! I try every trip to get an Apricot Sour at the HBD in memory of my GiGi- she and Grandpa used to go to the original HBD in Hollywood and Apricot Sours were their favorite cocktails. Mmmm! The “secret” of the HBD outdoor lounge has gotten out and it’s tough to get in now without an hour or more’s wait but you can get a drink to go. Now here’s where things got a bit comical… kind of…

We got up to the bar and I ordered my Apricot Sour and Lori explained to the tender that she doesn’t really drink so wanted something that “wouldn’t taste like alcohol” and needed suggestions. He rattled off a few and she didn’t seem to like any of those. Then all of a sudden, she says, “What about a Long Island Iced Tea”……. !?!?!?!?!? So, we’ve gone from “I’m not really a drinker and want a weak drink” to “Make me something with every spirit possible and really strong!” With our respective cocktails in hand, we found a clean table beside the HBD and were happy to find that this is the area where the characters come and go from and were able to see Pinocchio, Chip and Dale, Mary Poppins. Burt, Jiminy and Gepetto. Meanwhile, Lori had taken one sip of her drink and visible gagged.

Well, YEAH!!! We did try to warn you. I guess she’d had a Long Island in the past the she says was good and tasted like iced tea, but that’s not ever been experience. So I happily sucked mine down and told her I’d take care of hers too. I’ve come up with a Disney hack of sipping slowly but never having to toss Disney-priced booze. Either ask a CM to keep a loose eye on it tucked out of sight, or simply find a spot in the bushes/landscaping to stash it, and grab it after your attraction. I’ve never lost a drink yet.

(Cheers, Joe!)​

And that’s just what I did when our LL was up for MMRR. We waltzed and cha-cha’d and once again escaped from the Crusher Machine. I mean what could possibly go wrong?!

​

Chuuby is always such a cute finish too. I’ll bet you didn’t know he has an official name. And that it originates from a typo in and Imagineering meeting.

​

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Chuuby

​

From there we took a short walk through One Man’s Dream and I loved seeing the new concept art for Tropical Americas. Super excited for this new land to open in about 100 years. Ok, that was hyperbole but a very, very long time. Sidenote: Disney would be missing a huge opportunity if they don’t put a butterfly house in there. Even if it’s glassed off.

​

I'll leave off here as I'm at my photo limit.

Next up: The other half of our DHS Day and an unexpected dinner!
Also: I'd forgotten to put the group photo from Howl-o-Scream in on the last chapter: Here's the group of us nuts.

https://liesaburen.smugmug.com/WDW-Fall-2025/i-Kp9C7VF/A][/url]​