The Bananas Take On WDW, lots of pics, leaving for F&W today

[janabananas]

EPCOT day

Drinking around EPCOT

EPCOT at night

 

[dreamerchic33]

Thanks!! I wish I was still at WDW. Today was my first day back at work....

I miss the biggest decision being "what do I want to eat today?"

I saw your PTR and hope you are doing ok. Loved the pics!!

first day back at work after vacation= WORST!
At least you are going back VERY soon!
and thank you for your well wishes! xo <3

 

[dreamerchic33]

In Mexico we rode the boat ride and grabbed a Dos Equis beer. As we were leaving Mexico, we listened to the Mariachi band and watched the baby dance. So cute!

Off to Norway we went. We looked around the pavilion and rode Maelstrom. It was fun.

We skipped the movie though because we were both getting hungry. I had the ham and apple sandwich and DBF had the salmon and egg sandwich. They were both yummy!! We had a Carlsberg beer and shot of aquavit. (yuck) We also had a duck that wanted our food. Either him or his brother followed us to AK the next day.

China was next and I had plum wine and dbf had Tsingtao beer. I was getting tired so I sat on a bench while dbf looked around the pavilion.

We then went to Germany where I got a piece of caramel from the karamel shoppe and he got a beer from a side vendor. We were both happy with our choices!

Italy was next and we shared a glass of Rosa Regale wine. We looked around a bit, including the prices for the TS restaurants. We were a bit shocked.....

After Italy, we walked to USA and he grabbed a Bud Light. We ended up talking to a kiosk worker while I rested. Such a nice guy, I wish I could remember his name so I can write a letter to corporate.

Then Morocco welcomed us with open arms. I again rested while dbf looked around. We shared a Casa beer. We decided to make our way back to the hotel around this time. I was over exhausted... maybe slightly buzzed.

Dbf insisted we go see Figment. I didn't want to but we went. I tricked him into getting up early, so it was the least I could do. I am glad we did go because I got in the a/c.

We were walking in the gift shop when an employee stopped me and told me I had a phone call. It was Goofy wishing me Happy Birthday. It was really cute!!

We then went home to POP. I was done and my feet were killing me.

We wanted to have some pool time, but it was raining, so we took a nap and watched football.

I love all the hats he took pictures with!
Great update!

 

[dreamerchic33]

So we made our way back to EPCOT so we could make our Tokyo Dining ADR at 8:20pm. This time we started In Canada. Dbf had a Labatts. He loves the stuff as he is from the Buffalo, NY area. He cannot get it down here in my town. He was VERY happy. I had a Torontopolitan. It was YUMMY!!! It was still raining so we grabbed our drinks and made our way to the UK shops.

In the UK we shared a Harp. Good stuff, we both like Harp so it was an easy choice.

We had to walk fast, in the rain to Japan. I did see the kiosk with the Grey Goose slushies. I prayed it was still open after dinner.

We got to Japan and were seated immediately. We didn't get pixie dust to be seated by the window. In retrospect it wasn't a bad thing because we were too busy enjoying dinner and each others company to notice.
I had a Cherry Blossom Martini and Dbf had a large sake. Both were good.

We each had an appetizer to share. We had looked at the menu months ago and saw a pork belly app "Kakuni" and "Wafu" rib app we wanted to try. Instead of picking either/or, we decided on getting both.

The ribs were the winner. The Kakuni was good, but the ribs were FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. The best ribs of our trip.

For dinner, I had the Shibuya (tempura chicken & shrimp) combo. Everything on the plate was great, except for the chicken. It was edible, but not great.

Dbf had the Fuji Bento Box. He was in HEAVEN!!

For dessert, I got a complimentary piece of chocolate ginger cake. So yummy! Even dbf who doesn't eat sweets liked it.

After dinner, we went downstairs and wasted time walking around the HUGE department store. I didn't want to leave.

We ventured back over to France. I was hoping for the Grey Goose slushie and I got it!! So refreshing. DBF got a Kronenbourg 1644. He wished he would have gotten a glass of wine because he said it was the worst beer of the day.The rain stopped, but it was still very humid out. ICK!!

After we wandered France, we left WS and went to the Seas. Be warned that although the rides are open, the aquarium shuts the lights off so you cannot see inside the exhibits to see the critters. DBF was very disappointed. He is a marine bio major and he LOVES the Seas. He could sit and watch the animals for hours. After the Seas, we walked over to Spaceship Earth and rode it. That was our last ride at EPCOT.

Although I was grumpy and tired during parts of the day, and dbf was grumpy during other parts, we had a phenominal day and night. I never gave myself time to actually look at the pavillions and the art exhibits at EPCOT. I was really glad dbf made me stop and "smell the roses" on this trip. It just reinforced how much I love EPCOT and I ended up loving it even more.

yummy yummy yummy!you look so pretty in that color btw!

 

[disneydiva16]

Janabananas~Sorry I am late for the party, but I am here now!!! Love seeing all the pictures from your trip!! Makes me even more excited to be going in a week! The food does look awesome! Especially the complimentarty ginger cake....YUM!!

 

[ronnmel]

I think we had the same piece of caramel from Germany.

Looks like you had a very good run of drinking around the world. Too bad for the rain though.

 

[janabananas]

yummy yummy yummy!you look so pretty in that color btw!

It was a very yummy day!! And thanks for the compliment, you are making me blush!

 

[janabananas]

Janabananas~Sorry I am late for the party, but I am here now!!! Love seeing all the pictures from your trip!! Makes me even more excited to be going in a week! The food does look awesome! Especially the complimentarty ginger cake....YUM!!

The more the merrier!!

EPCOT was our favorite food day. Everything we had was great (except for the tempura chicken). In retrospect, I should have gone with the shrimp and scallops. I was so afraid that the scallops would be bad that I figured the chicken would be safe. It wasn't horrible, but I was disappointed in it. Oh well what can you do, I surely didn't let it ruin my night!

 

[janabananas]

I think we had the same piece of caramel from Germany.

Looks like you had a very good run of drinking around the world. Too bad for the rain though.

That caramel was very yummy. I was so excited for it I forgot to take a pic before I bit into it! Dbf had to remind me to take the pic before I inhaled the rest.

We did have fun, even with the rain. I am used to afternoon showers, so I figured it would stop while we were napping. It did cool off the day though, so you take what you get right?

 

[ZehnJahren]

I followed your PTR but didn't even realize you'd started a TR! I'm in; enjoying everything so far! That little girl with the mariachi band is adorable!

 

[janabananas]

I followed your PTR but didn't even realize you'd started a TR! I'm in; enjoying everything so far! That little girl with the mariachi band is adorable!

Thanks for joining me!!

It was such a cute moment, I had to capture it!!

More to come tomorrow w/ AK day( I hope). I am going back to working 6 days a week so I can save money for F&W and our anniversary trip in January and my bday trip next September. Seems like I am a slave to my Disney vacations!! Therefore I won't have much time for anything else.

 

[janabananas]

Help!! Need advice from anyone who has stayed at BWV value studio and/or AKV value studio/standard room.

I am hoping to rent DVC points for sept 2012. I could do 4 nights at BWV or 5 nights at AKV for only $40 more, or 4 nights at AKV standard room for $26 than BWV.

I really like the location of BWV as it is so close to EPCOT. But I also like AKV for many reasons too, including dining options.

If you have stayed at BWV or AKL, can you give me some insight??

It is gonna be an adult trip again, and it will be at the end of our year with the AP, so we won't be park touring like crazy....

If we do the 5 day option, DBF doesnt want to lose that many days at work, but I figure it is a year away. We can save up and plan ahead. I might go over the first day by myself, just so I can get a day away from everyone!! Or take him home sunday afternoon, and come back for monday.

I know it is a good problem to have right??

 

[lbuzz52]

looks like a fun time was had! how can you dbf not ride soarin!

 

[lovethattink]

I'm not much help, but I've stayed at BWV. We really enjoyed it. We were on the first floor and our patio was facing the driveway into BWV. It was so nice to walk to Epcot! If it was up to me I'd go with BWV, if it was up to my dh he would choose AKV Savanah view.

 

[dreamerchic33]

We have stayed at BWV many a time, and LOVE it!! it is one of my favorite places!!!!!

 

[janabananas]

I interrupt this TR with small itty bitty TR from today!!

I had a go to the 40th anniversary!!

So I started my morning at 5am, and left the house at 5:45am, and made it to the MK maingate ay 7:18am!! Good timing, didn't even speed!

I grabbed bf at Kona Cafe. Yummy macademia nut pancakes and ham and real coffee!! I have pics will add later.

I had planned on an active day but my body decided NO WAY JOSE!! Stupid joints, stupid health!!! BLAH!! I overdid it....

The plan was to go to MK for rd, maybe ride rides, then jump around after the 40th ann presentation at 10am. Run over to EPCOT to ride Soarin, maybe TT?? Then get an idea of BWV, then go to AK to ride EE, then look around AKL, then to DHS for RNR and lunch at HBD, then back to EPCOT for F&W, then to VWL to check that out, then back to MK for either Wishes or get car and go home...... DID NOT HAPPEN!!

I made rd, rode BTM and POTC as walk ons. I walked over to Main Street to watch the presentation. I left when it ended.

I made it over to EPCOT and saw the electric sign that the Soarin FP time was exactly at my ADR time so I walked over to TT and rode single rider line. I then walked over to the Land and grabbed my FP for about 1.5 hours after lunch.

I walked over to BW through FW and the HOLY MOSES was it busy F&W to get to the boat for BW. I missed the boat by 2 minutes. BOOOOO!! My legs started to fail me at this point. I was pushing myself and didn't hydrate. I looked around BW and really loved the theming. So pretty. I left and got the bus to AK. I got there and realized that I just could not walk to the back of the park and ride EE and walk back to get the bus to AKL to check that out, timing or pain level. I took advil in the morning but it wore off and I didn't bring extra. Big mistake.


I walked looked around AKL and realized that it just wasn't us. So that is marked off our list. I made it back to DHS with time to spare so I rode RNR then made my ADR early. This is where I am annoyed. I ate at HBD and had the Cobb Salad and Grapefruit cake. I am sad to say I was not impressed with the experience and won't be returning. The food was good. I was hoping the cake had more grapefruit flavor though. I might have been expecting too much though, considering I can grab a fresh grapefruit from my backyard tree. I love the tart & sweet. Oh, well.

The overall experience was disappointing, and I didn't find the staff friendly at all. The service was really slow although the place wasn't even 1/2 full. I also hate being held "restaurant hostage" at the end of a meal. Just let me pay already.

Well after sitting for an hour, I got up and realized that my legs and hips where toast... No joke. I was gonna go back to EPCOT and use my FP, but I decided to heck with it. So I grabbed a bus to WL and took a quick look around. We have a trip in Jan. planned and I am thinking of upgrading to WL, when the GP discounts get released Oct 5th. Yes, I found out from the boards......

So I loved WL alot, and will be upgrading if the price is right!!

I took the boat from WL to the CR.

I figured I would grab the monorail to TTC and head home. I have never been in CR and realized it is not my style. Way too open and loud..... Holy Moses!!


SOOOOOOOO, where are we going to stay in September? I talked it over with dbf and because of the location and theming and general vibe, we will be (hoepfully) booking at ......BWV.....!!!!! I am excited about this!!!!

 

[janabananas]

looks like a fun time was had! how can you dbf not ride soarin!

Normally I would say he is just weird (which he is.... )

He is afraid of heights, if he is not on solid ground.... He can be on the 100th floor of a hotel and be fine, but he doesn't do feet danging heights or going upside down.... So he didn't do RNR, but he rode TOT with no problem.

 

[ronnmel]

Wow! Even though you say your body failed you, I think you have accomplished A LOT in just one day!!

How was the presentation at MK? I take it you didn't stay to watch Wishes at the end?

You say you didn't take a FP for Soarin since it was during your ADR. You don't like coming back after the FP time? I don't find it's breaking a rule since CM (almost) always let you do that without so much raising an eyebrow.

I don't know that I could ever stay at Boardwalk, the clown pool disturbs me. I'm not scared of clown, but that one is creepy.

 

[janabananas]

Wow! Even though you say your body failed you, I think you have accomplished A LOT in just one day!!

How was the presentation at MK? I take it you didn't stay to watch Wishes at the end?

You say you didn't take a FP for Soarin since it was during your ADR. You don't like coming back after the FP time? I don't find it's breaking a rule since CM (almost) always let you do that without so much raising an eyebrow.

I don't know that I could ever stay at Boardwalk, the clown pool disturbs me. I'm not scared of clown, but that one is creepy.

It was packed today and I didn't want to chance getting denied using it late. I have no problem using it late but I have read people getting denied during really busy times.

I was lucky enough to see the wait times/fp distribution time sign before I got to the Land, so I just detoured and grabed it after TT. I was going to go back and use the FP after lunch, but I didn't think I could handle the walk back through EPCOT. It was like sardines through there. Just a word of warning: do not do F&W on the 1st weekend!!! I wasn't even going to grab anything, just look around. It was too much.

The presentation was really nice. They showed past Disney insignias and played past music. I did not make Wishes which made me sad.

The Clown freaked me out today!! I plan on avoiding him!! To the quiet pool I will go.


I forgot to mention, on my way to WL, I ran into a couple that have owned DVC for years and they gave me some great info that helped us decide on BWV. I think the biggest factor is the closeness to EPCOT. It is our favorite and we love eating there and we will be close to other places we want to try at BC/YC/Swalphin.

 

[ronnmel]

Oh yeah, it does make sense that on a packed day they might not accept it, especially for Soarin.

Yes, the BW does have the very big advantage of being within walking distance of Epcot AND HS.