The End of an Era - Where Dreams Come True at Pop & Kidani **NEW 5/28 FINALE

[glennbo123]

For my main dish, I decided to try something different since I'd already indulged myself on the Mushroom Filet the other day. So I ordered the Gnocchi.


This was just okay. It was a large portion and very filling. I was only able to eat about half of it before calling it quits. This would not be something I'd order again. There just wasn't a WOW factor to it.

Speaking of Mushroom Filet, here's what Bubba ordered


I stole a couple bites of the delicious risotto and a small bite of the filet. I couldn't resist! This steak made up entirely for what she ordered the last time.

There was still a little (emphasis on LITTLE) room left for dessert.... and dessert wine.


To lighten my load, I opted for the sorbet


Three scoops of sorbet. I left most of it. I just couldn't squeeze in anymore after all that gnocchi.

Bubba ordered the delicious signature Maple Creme Brulee.

I thought it was funny how you tried new things, but Bubba was like, "nope, I'm going with the old standby's."

Gnocchi can be very filling.

I also ordered a Peppermint Tea to help with digesting all the food in my tummy. By the end of the meal, I had far too many drinks in front of me.

Yikes! That's a lotta glassware!

Man oh man did I have to go to the bathroom after all that!

That's what I was thinkin'. You probably didn't even make it out of the place.

Oh, and two bottles of wine Not to drink right away of course but to be shipped home with me.

Hmmmm. We'll check back later to see if they made it.

Once the dining room emptied out, Tink got up on a pedestal in front of the fireplace for everyone to sing her out.

So they close the restaurant between lunch and dinner? I didn't realize that.

She was in tears and we literally had to force her to get up there. Nobody ever wants to get sung out because it means it's the end. I'm sure in the back of Bubba's mind, she was seeing herself standing up there in a couple weeks.

Aw.

We left Le Cellier with full bellies and a heavy heart. It was time for Bubba to take me to the airport. As we were walking back towards the big fountain, the theme from Rescuer's Down Under was playing. Bubba had told me on multiple occasions that every time she heard this song, it made her think of me.

The Rescuer's Down Under was in theaters (and commercials on TV) when I was on a 3-week business trip to Sydney. Judy said that every time she watched TV there'd be a Rescuer's commercial, so she'd change the channel and then there'd be an animal show about koala's or kangaroos or something, so she'd change the channel and there'd be Crocodile Dundee, etc. etc.

Now, as I heard the song play, my emotions overwhelmed me. I knew Bubba's contract was coming to an end and Disney just wasn't going to be the same. It's a different experience when your sister is a CM versus not. I started bawling my eyes out.

Aw.

Me: I'm just sad that the trip is over... and... *sniff*.... you're contract is almost done. It's like the end of an era.

Bubba: Yeah... it is, isn't it?

Wow, Bubba needs to get control of her emotions.

I spent the rest of my time exploring the airport before going through security.

I like to get through security as soon as possible. You never know how long some of those more "thorough" searches might take.

Here be the end to my End of an Era Trip Report. In closing, I'd just like to say how much I appreciate all of you for reading along. I'm glad to share in my experiences with fellow Disney fanatics.

No, thank you! I'm just glad you've got another one to write, so we're not done with you yet.

Until then, I leave you with a look at the Disney bounty I brought back with me from this trip

Just as I suspected! The wine bottles are conspicuously absent!

 

[jenbear123]

I thought it was funny how you tried new things, but Bubba was like, "nope, I'm going with the old standby's."

Might as well when you know it's gonna be good!

Yikes! That's a lotta glassware!

It was a nightmare trying to keep it all on the small tables Le Cellier loves to stick the parties of two.

That's what I was thinkin'. You probably didn't even make it out of the place.

My bladder was going to explode about half an hour after all that!

Hmmmm. We'll check back later to see if they made it.

Just as I suspected! The wine bottles are conspicuously absent!

Darn! Caught in the act! Well.. in actuality, I didn't include them in my souvie pic because... well... they weren't my bottles of wine to keep

So they close the restaurant between lunch and dinner? I didn't realize that.

They do for about half an hour. You see, the last lunch reservation is, I believe 2:30pm. When that last table leaves, it gives them enough time to prepare for the first dinner seating at 4pm.

The Rescuer's Down Under was in theaters (and commercials on TV) when I was on a 3-week business trip to Sydney. Judy said that every time she watched TV there'd be a Rescuer's commercial, so she'd change the channel and then there'd be an animal show about koala's or kangaroos or something, so she'd change the channel and there'd be Crocodile Dundee, etc. etc.

You've been to AUSTRALIA?!?! Okay, now I'm super duper jealous. That's quite ironic though with all the aussie stuff going on. You picked a good time to go to Australia

Wow, Bubba needs to get control of her emotions.

To be fair, she had already broken down and cried a few times before my meltdown. At our first Le Cellier meal, she almost started to cry. But then she drank some wine and got better.

I like to get through security as soon as possible. You never know how long some of those more "thorough" searches might take.

That's true. Thankfully I've never been subjected to one of those invasive searches. I guess I'm too innocent looking

No, thank you! I'm just glad you've got another one to write, so we're not done with you yet.

Uh oh. I better get my butt in gear.

 

[onelilspark]

Don't you hate it when your flight home is delayed. I can't help but think, "that could have been an extra 45 minutes at WDW...if I only knew!"

Thanks for sharing again, looking forward to your April TR!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Aww, it's over. The end of a trip (and TR!) is always so sad. Sounds like a great trip though.

Love your Disney bounty!

 

[All7OfUs]

Ok, Just seeing this for the first time, this morning. I"ll have to come back and catch up in a while. I need to get breakfast on for my family. Hmmm... I wonder what mystery thought could be?

 

[All7OfUs]

Good night, that was a lot of food and a lot of stemware! Your bill must have been like $150 or more! Yikes!! But totally worth it, as Bubba's last meal. I think I would have burst out crying right there! I was cracking up over your muscles movie scarring trauma story. I watched on in grade school about a kid getting his foot stuck in a train track switching, and ever since then, I"ve had a full-on phobia of crossing train tracks. I still have dreams of my kids getting hit by a train.

Same thing- that picture of her walking away in the airport just about ripped my heart out! WAH! Seems like she took it all in stride though.

You did really well on your souvies. Fun stuff.

 

[YukiPhnx]

I took that food and nutrition class back in high school too! I had a terrible teacher, but a wonderful time in that class. I started making my own pizzas cause of that course

Wow....that ending was SO SAD. I can already feel the end of my trip.....I also have a feeling I'll be picking up SOMETHING from that MCO Disney store.

On my next trip, I MUST make an ADR at Le Cellier. If I'm able to snag free dining on that trip, I'll definitely be able to afford a meal there.

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! Let us know about your new TR when you get it started!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Aww Jen, that was a SAD ending!! I mean, its always sad when a trip comes to a close - but that was REALLY sad! I'm glad you have another trip to report on, though. And maybe by the end of that TR, you'll have another trip to start planning.

Love that Mickey tote bag, or duffel or whatever. Where'd you pick that up?

 

[jenbear123]

Don't you hate it when your flight home is delayed. I can't help but think, "that could have been an extra 45 minutes at WDW...if I only knew!"

Thanks for sharing again, looking forward to your April TR!

Exactly! 45 minutes could get you on Space Mountain or another walk around World Showcase. Stupid airlines. Thanks for reading along

Aww, it's over. The end of a trip (and TR!) is always so sad. Sounds like a great trip though.

Love your Disney bounty!

It was a fabulous trip. Still doesn't beat our trip in November. That was a trip of all trips!

Ok, Just seeing this for the first time, this morning. I"ll have to come back and catch up in a while. I need to get breakfast on for my family. Hmmm... I wonder what mystery thought could be?

That's okay. Take your time. Relax. Beat those children It'll still be here when you get back.

Good night, that was a lot of food and a lot of stemware! Your bill must have been like $150 or more! Yikes!! But totally worth it, as Bubba's last meal. I think I would have burst out crying right there!

I'm pretty sure the bill came to something closer to $250 But it was mostly due to Bubba buying TWO bottles of wine.

I was cracking up over your muscles movie scarring trauma story. I watched on in grade school about a kid getting his foot stuck in a train track switching, and ever since then, I"ve had a full-on phobia of crossing train tracks. I still have dreams of my kids getting hit by a train.

I swear teachers try to strike fear in young kids so they are traumatized for the rest of their life. Train tracks are scary though. I also have a story associated with train tracks. Bubba and I were running along train tracks that go through our (back then) small town main street. There was a festival going on so the road was closed and, since it was a weekend, no trains were coming through. Our dad called for us to come back so Bubba and I ran back. My memory is a bit fuzzy but all I remember is turning around and seeing Bubba screaming as blood trickled down her leg. She had tripped and fell on the tracks. She definitely attracted some attention that day! So now I'm a bit scarred from running or even walking on tracks for that matter!

Same thing- that picture of her walking away in the airport just about ripped my heart out! WAH! Seems like she took it all in stride though.

I was so sad. Of course Bubba was better off than I was. She had another two weeks left in Disney.

You did really well on your souvies. Fun stuff.

I would've got more if only my pocket book allowed.

I took that food and nutrition class back in high school too! I had a terrible teacher, but a wonderful time in that class. I started making my own pizzas cause of that course

Well at least you started making something instead of avoiding it!

Wow....that ending was SO SAD. I can already feel the end of my trip.....I also have a feeling I'll be picking up SOMETHING from that MCO Disney store.

It's one of those last minute impulse buy opportunities. It's especially good if you want one last dose of Disney.

On my next trip, I MUST make an ADR at Le Cellier. If I'm able to snag free dining on that trip, I'll definitely be able to afford a meal there.

You must! You must! It's a great dining experience. And I hear the servers are great too

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! Let us know about your new TR when you get it started!

I will for sure. Hopefully I'll get it started before this thread is closed so I can post the link here. Thanks so much for reading!

Aww Jen, that was a SAD ending!! I mean, its always sad when a trip comes to a close - but that was REALLY sad! I'm glad you have another trip to report on, though. And maybe by the end of that TR, you'll have another trip to start planning.

Hope I didn't pluck at those heartstrings too much! I hope I'll have another trip to plan. Speaking of which, Bubba and I are non-chalantly trying to put something together for the end of August/early September. It's still in the works.

Love that Mickey tote bag, or duffel or whatever. Where'd you pick that up?

I got that tote bag (or purse as I like to call it) from DHS. They were selling them pretty much everywhere when I went back in April. I didn't see the white ones as much the second time though. They come in blue and different styles as well.

 

[All7OfUs]

That's okay. Take your time. Relax. Beat those children It'll still be here when you get back.

Relaxing.

I'm pretty sure the bill came to something closer to $250 But it was mostly due to Bubba buying TWO bottles of wine.

Yikes!

I swear teachers try to strike fear in young kids so they are traumatized for the rest of their life. Train tracks are scary though. I also have a story associated with train tracks. Bubba and I were running along train tracks that go through our (back then) small town main street. There was a festival going on so the road was closed and, since it was a weekend, no trains were coming through. Our dad called for us to come back so Bubba and I ran back. My memory is a bit fuzzy but all I remember is turning around and seeing Bubba screaming as blood trickled down her leg. She had tripped and fell on the tracks. She definitely attracted some attention that day! So now I'm a bit scarred from running or even walking on tracks for that matter!

See? Train tracks ARE scary!

 

[jenbear123]

Relaxing.

I love how you laughed more at relaxing than beating your children

See? Train tracks ARE scary!

It's hard for them not to be. They just LOOK dangerous. And those trains are just so big and powerful. We're just these small little ants that could be easily crushed!

 

[MEK]

I really enjoyed your entire TR and I am sorry to see it end. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you to leave. But what fabulous memories and you really DID bring home a lot of lot. Thanks again for the great read!

 

[jenbear123]

I really enjoyed your entire TR and I am sorry to see it end. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you to leave. But what fabulous memories and you really DID bring home a lot of lot. Thanks again for the great read!

Thank you for reading! I just noticed you had a TR from May so I shall hop over there to start reading


I thought I'd share these really neat videos of the Walt Disney World parks on YouTube. Bubba was the one who actually showed them to me. I've been told they were filmed last summer. See if you can spot yourself in any of them! I hope they make one for DHS and AK soon.

A Model Day at Epcot

A Model Day at Magic Kingdom

And for you Disney Cruise Line enthusiasts

A Model Day on Disney Cruise Line