The Widow and the Spinster take a Holiday Trip to WDW - I'm Baaa-aaack! Our Night Out at the Fancy Schmancy Place 5/28

[franandaj]

You can stop right there. Nope!
I said you could stop! No need to pile on the coconut!

Well it wasn't my drink so I didn't care.

That actually sounds good... but looks terrible!

It was good. I just didn't believe her that it would make my mouth black.

You wouldn't think so??

I cant come up with any other plausible reason for my discomfort. Must have been that those hot sauces really didn't like me.

Congratulations?

Phew! Was worried this was the start of a flu or something.

That would have been somewhat tragic, but no. All OK.

 

[franandaj]

That Red Sambal sauce is my favorite. I'll just take it off your hands next time.

It's all yours!!!!!

 

[pkondz]

Well it wasn't my drink so I didn't care.

Valid...
Except if it's a strong coconut smell, I'm leaving. Blech. (But presume this was not the case.)

It was good. I just didn't believe her that it would make my mouth black.

 

[franandaj]

I need to adopt this attitude in my life!!! Still annoying that there is no resolution, but I like that you're dusting your hands off!

It's all I can do at this point.

Those drinks sure looked tasty, despite the black lip color left behind!

It was a very tasty drink!

Those gingerbread animals are amazing!!!

I think that Jambo house was the next most impressive after the Beach Club.

Uh oh, big dabs of spicy stuff never ends well for me either. Glad you woke up feeling like yourself again at least!

Yeah, I need to be careful with the spicy!

 

[franandaj]

Valid...
Except if it's a strong coconut smell, I'm leaving. Blech. (But presume this was not the case.)

I couldn't smell it across the table so......

 

[franandaj]

Day 5

I woke up around 6AM feeling just fine. Today we had purchased a LL for Guardians and we were going to try for the virtual queue as well. Right at 7AM we were both on the app, and I was able to get us Group 55. The wait time until we were called was 320 minutes.

We went ahead and got dressed. I was living on the edge by eating my leftover seafood from the other night. It was still very tasty and luckily I had no ill effects.

We also ate our Zebra Domes for breakfast.

We packed up all our stuff and called a Bellman so that they could transfer all our stuff over to Bay Lake Tower. I took a few last shots of the animals outside our window.

We were out the door by 9:15AM just in time for our LL to open up in a few minutes. We got Conga by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.

Then we took a few photo pass pictures at the World Celebration. I know that sounds weird, but I googled it, and that’s what that area is called now.

Then we went on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Somewhere in there, I already hit my 7,000 steps.

Then we exited Epcot through the International Gateway and took the skyliner to DHS.

We had purchased a LL package, and went to ride RnRC which went down just before we went inside the record studio.

We waited in line at Guest Relations to get our pass back, and while we were in line TSMM went down. So we went over to Toy Story Land which was a zoo today and were at least able to ride SDD.

We were going to be meeting up with a friend, but she was running later than expected, so she told us to just go ahead and have some lunch. Good thing because both Jill and I were approaching hangry. We decided on the Backlot Express where they had a Southwestern Chicken Salad.

Jill also ordered the Wookie Cookie.

It was actually a pretty tasty lunch and perfect to split. We only ate half of the Wookie Cookie, it was huge. Our friend showed up right as we were finishing, and sat around for a bit catching up. Neither RnRC or TSMM had come back up yet, so we decided to give up and go to MK.

I’ll be back with the rest of our day later!

 

[pkondz]

The wait time until we were called was 320 minutes.

At first I was shocked by that... then realized it wasn't that bad after all... provided you had more than a couple hours in the park, at least.

I was living on the edge by eating my leftover seafood from the other night. It was still very tasty and luckily I had no ill effects.

phew!

We also ate our Zebra Domes for breakfast.

Stawp!!!!

We packed up all our stuff and called a Bellman so that they could transfer all our stuff over to Bay Lake Tower.

Was just commenting on a different TR how I'd like to stay there some day, just for it's proximity to MK.

I took a few last shots of the animals outside our window.

Never gets old.

Then we took a few photo pass pictures at the World Celebration. I know that sounds weird, but I googled it, and that’s what that area is called now.

Fun shot.

Somewhere in there, I already hit my 7,000 steps.

"I promptly sat down and refused to move unless someone carried me.

I'm still there."

We had purchased a LL package, and went to ride RnRC which went down just before we went inside the record studio.

We waited in line at Guest Relations to get our pass back, and while we were in line TSMM went down.

Geez! You're not having any luck at all!

both Jill and I were approaching hangry.

Run for your lives! Hangry women coming!

We decided on the Backlot Express where they had a Southwestern Chicken Salad.

That looks good.

Jill also ordered the Wookie Cookie.

But that looks... unfinished?

We only ate half of the Wookie Cookie, it was huge.

Well, Wookies are pretty big, so...

 

[Steppesister]

There are definitely similarities with both trips. I need to get back over and read your updates. My life has become rather full lately.

I just wrapped up the Asia-Australia one after our day in the Daintree Rainforest. It was definitely an epic trip full of adventure. I'll launch my next TR in the next week or so before heading out on my own new adventures.

I gotta focus on clearing out. And making way for new experiences.

Life has seasons... a time for everything.

She doesn't think so, but ive really noticed in our recent pictures that we both look a lot healthier, that may have something to do with it.

Yes, I'd agree. You both look great and yes, healthier. That makes me so happy!

Nope. I've given up. Things took a weird turn. Two of my allies just up and left the board. My life has also taken a new turn such that I'm not willing to beat my head up against a wall. I've got better things to focus on.

Ugh.... excited to hear what's on the horizon, but nope, drama's gotta go. No time for that!

I've never been seated outside. I like the interior and someday I want to be seated in the dive bell!

Take time to go take a look. Lots of backstory stuff from Indy in there that you'd like. I've gotten the Dive Bell twice and it's so fun!

I looked back at the ingredients in the drink and there was nothing weird that would have given me that reaction. I'm going to have to say that those hot dips took an Express Train through my body system and just knocked me on my ***. Literally.

It was sure something!! Yikes!

 

[jedijill]

We also ate our Zebra Domes for breakfast.

Best breakfast ever!

We packed up all our stuff and called a Bellman so that they could transfer all our stuff over to Bay Lake Tower. I took a few last shots of the animals outside our window.

Bye Giraffe!

We were out the door by 9:15AM just in time for our LL to open up in a few minutes. We got Conga by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.

Another terrible ride picture of me but what a great ride!

Then we went on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Somewhere in there, I already hit my 7,000 steps.

Remy is always fun and worth the hike!

We had purchased a LL package, and went to ride RnRC which went down just before we went inside the record studio.

We waited in line at Guest Relations to get our pass back, and while we were in line TSMM went down. So we went over to Toy Story Land which was a zoo today and were at least able to ride SDD.

We were not having good ride luck!

Jill also ordered the Wookie Cookie.

Really good but way too big!

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

At first I was shocked by that... then realized it wasn't that bad after all... provided you had more than a couple hours in the park, at least.

Except we weren't planning on spending that much time in Epcot.....

Was just commenting on a different TR how I'd like to stay there some day, just for it's proximity to MK.

It is a nice location if you want to visit MK. Its also great for the monorail.

Fun shot.

Thanks!

Geez! You're not having any luck at all!

This was not a great day for rides for us.

Run for your lives! Hangry women coming!

That looks good.

It was!

But that looks... unfinished?

What about it looks unfinisjhed?

Well, Wookies are pretty big, so...

You are correct there.

 

[pkondz]

Except we weren't planning on spending that much time in Epcot.....

Ah. Well, then... nevermind.

It is a nice location if you want to visit MK. Its also great for the monorail.

I bet it is!

What about it looks unfinisjhed?

I don't know!
I'm at work so can't see the photo and don't remember what it looked like!

 

[Steppesister]

I didn't realize that there was more than Vodka and Cranberry juice in a Cosmo.

Trying to catch up everywhere! Went back a bit and re-read, yep, has contreau in it too I think?

Jill waited until she got her beverage to eat her sandwich. I had another Vodka cranberry on this flight, and then I essentially dozed off for the remainder of the flight.

No wonder you were sleepy!

Plus rolling our suitcases on the wet carpet was like dragging them through molasses.

Been there and done that; both BWI and AKL(s) feel that way.

Sooooo pretty!

 

[franandaj]

I just wrapped up the Asia-Australia one after our day in the Daintree Rainforest. It was definitely an epic trip full of adventure. I'll launch my next TR in the next week or so before heading out on my own new adventures.

And I look back at this and it was so long ago!

Life has seasons... a time for everything.

Even more now than ever!

Yes, I'd agree. You both look great and yes, healthier. That makes me so happy!

Ugh.... excited to hear what's on the horizon, but nope, drama's gotta go. No time for that!

Well....perhaps you saw on the Book of Face.....

Take time to go take a look. Lots of backstory stuff from Indy in there that you'd like. I've gotten the Dive Bell twice and it's so fun!

Sounds interesting. I'm not sure I'll have that chance now, but that's OK.

It was sure something!! Yikes!

 

[franandaj]

Best breakfast ever!

Another terrible ride picture of me but what a great ride!

You're getting better at them!

Remy is always fun and worth the hike!

Most definitely!

We were not having good ride luck!

No, pretty much the worst!

Really good but way too big!

Yes, very tasty!

 

[franandaj]

I don't know!
I'm at work so can't see the photo and don't remember what it looked like!

Well that's not very helpful!

 

[franandaj]

Trying to catch up everywhere! Went back a bit and re-read, yep, has contreau in it too I think?

I'm so far behind. I think yours is the only TR that I'm reading now, and you've probably finished it by now.

No wonder you were sleepy!

Not to mention I was having insomnia back then and couldn't sleep through the night to save my life.

Been there and done that; both BWI and AKL(s) feel that way.

Yes, they do.

Sooooo pretty!

The Christmas decoration here were just lovely.

 

[franandaj]

We left off where Jill and I were at Hollywood Studios. We just ate lunch, averting a hangry moment, and our local friend arrived just in time for some good conversation and catching up. We had decided to go to the Magic Kingdom. Because she drove to WDW, our friend gave us a ride in her car. While we were on the way there, I got the notification that the room was ready. On the way to the car, I hit 14,000 steps

Our friend was able to use our room number to get us into the parking lot. She let us off at BLT and we dropped our jackets in the room because it had become quite warm by now. She parked and then we walked over the MK hoping to ride the Jingle Cruise. I really wanted to take the monorail as I was at about 18,000 steps by now, but they were both like, “Oh, it’s not that far and it’s much faster.”

Well the Jingle Cruise had way too long a line, and I was pooped, so we just found a quiet place and we chatted some more.

It was getting late (relatively), Jill and I had a 6:55 reservation at Topolino’s. I wanted to change into a fancy dress, and we still had not retrieved our luggage from Bell Services. We made the trek back from MK and said goodbye to our friend. She wanted to check the store at the Contemporary for a popcorn bucket and we needed to get ready for the evening.

Our bags came up quickly and we began the process of getting the room together, Britta pitcher in the fridge, food items on the counter, things out of the owner’s locker, clothing in the drawers, stuff like that.

This is the second bathroom.

And our view from the room.

I had to rush to get dressed cause I spent all my time dealing with the other stuff, but we were on time leaving and our Lyft was there to pick us up quickly. We decided on the way to MK that we were just going give in a take a Lyft cause my feet hurt too much to do Disney transport. (Bus to DHS, Skyliner to Riviera)

Once we arrived at the Riviera, we found our way up to Topolino’s. We were seated almost as soon as we got there and we had a nice table by the window. It would be perfect for Epcot fireworks if we wanted to make it a 2 ½ hour dinner.

Here’s a look back at the room.

We were given the bread service, this bread is always tasty!

We split an order of the Gnocchi with Braised Lamb Shoulder, Exotic Mushrooms, Lamb Jus, Kale, Carrots. It was so delicious! I am ruined for store bought gnocchi now! These were handmade daily and they were fluffy little pillows of goodness.

We also split the Rigatoni, braised chicken sugo, broccolini, pancetta, wild mushrooms, black truffle. It was delicious although Jill didn’t care so much for the wild mushrooms. We took some of this home for leftovers.

We each ordered our own desserts. I had a chocolate molten cake, perhaps it was flourless, I didn’t note that in the TR note, but it was delicious!

Jill had the Lemon Tiramisu, which ended up being somewhat of a disappointment. We were thinking it would be more like this, a lemon curd based dessert with lady fingers and mascarpone.

Instead it was a traditional tiramisu with coffee flavors and a lemon creme on top. This was disappointing. We're expecting something more like this that I made when staying at my parent's house once. Or like Jenny's daughter Chloe made for my birthday last month. There was lemon curd In between the lady fingers and mascarpone.

It wasn't our server's fault so we gave him a generous tip, and went back to the lobby to wait for our Lyft.

I stopped in the restroom, and as I was exiting, a toddler in a little mermaid costume all by herself went running towards the bathroom and was able to push open the door and go inside.

As we rounded the corner a mother came running past us evidently in search of the toddler. We were standing in the lobby waiting for the notification that our driver was here, when the woman came around the corner trying desperately to keep ahold of the toddler who was flailing around as the mother tried to cradle her. The child’s legs were outstretched in one direction and her head facing the other. As the pair approached the sliding doors to exit the lobby, the kid was struggling so violently that she whipped her head and knocked the sliding doors out of their track. The kid had to have received some sort of concussion from that.

Disney staff ran out on the entry walkway where the woman and her male companion were standing. Other staff tried to put the doors back in place, but they no longer opened and closed automatically.

Our car was arriving so we continued out to the pick up area. It was a rather strange scene.

Back in the room we put away our leftovers. And I took a bath because my body was killing me. After nearly 22,000 steps what else would you expect?

I got out of the tub and laid down in bed and I immediately fell into a deep sleep.

 

[jedijill]

While we were on the way there, I got the notification that the room was ready. On the way to the car, I hit 14,000 steps

Good room luck! Epcot is BIG especially when walking from front to back!

I really wanted to take the monorail as I was at about 18,000 steps by now, but they were both like, “Oh, it’s not that far and it’s much faster.”

It's really not further and you don't have to climb the steep ramps!

I love the MK tree and decorations.

Well the Jingle Cruise had way too long a line, and I was pooped, so we just found a quiet place and we chatted some more.

It was great catching up!

Our bags came up quickly and we began the process of getting the room together, Britta pitcher in the fridge, food items on the counter, things out of the owner’s locker, clothing in the drawers, stuff like that

We decided on the way to MK that we were just going give in a take a Lyft cause my feet hurt too much to do Disney transport. (Bus to DHS, Skyliner to Riviera)

I wasn't arguing! Lyft is sometimes a nice indulgence!

We were given the bread service, this bread is always tasty!

Bread was delicious!

We split an order of the Gnocchi with Braised Lamb Shoulder, Exotic Mushrooms, Lamb Jus, Kale, Carrots. It was so delicious! I am ruined for store bought gnocchi now! These were handmade daily and they were fluffy little pillows of goodness.

So good! I love homemade gnocchi!

We also split the Rigatoni, braised chicken sugo, broccolini, pancetta, wild mushrooms, black truffle. It was delicious although Jill didn’t care so much for the wild mushrooms. We took some of this home for leftovers.

This was very good and I ate around the mushrooms.

Instead it was a traditional tiramisu with coffee flavors and a lemon creme on top. This was disappointing. We're expecting something more like this that I made when staying at my parent's house once. Or like Jenny's daughter Chloe made for my birthday last month. There was lemon curd In between the lady fingers and mascarpone.

This was not good for me....I expected it to be fully lemon. The menu did not describe this accurately. If I'd known what it actually was I would have ordered something else.

As the pair approached the sliding doors to exit the lobby, the kid was struggling so violently that she whipped her head and knocked the sliding doors out of their track. The kid had to have received some sort of concussion from that.

Disney staff ran out on the entry walkway where the woman and her male companion were standing. Other staff tried to put the doors back in place, but they no longer opened and closed automatically.

The sound of the kid's head reverberated through the lobby. I don't know how they didn't knock themselves out. Quite an end to a great day!

Jill in CO

 

[pkondz]

Well that's not very helpful!

And now I'm home and looked at the photo... and have no idea what I was talking about! Maybe that Jill hadn't finished eating it? No idea! Or maybe... hmmm... more likely it just doesn't look like a Wookie cookie to me. Needs some icing strands to simulate fur or something.

We just ate lunch, averting a hangry moment,

Much to the relief of all those in your vicinity. They have no idea of the direness of their situation, should you not have eaten.

On the way to the car, I hit 14,000 steps

Long way to walk to the car.

we walked over the MK

Always wanted to be able to do this from my room. Maybe some day... but probably not.

I really wanted to take the monorail as I was at about 18,000 steps by now, but they were both like, “Oh, it’s not that far and it’s much faster.”

I'm thinking it probably wasn't that much farther to CR monorail station than the MK entrance.

It was getting late (relatively), Jill and I had a 6:55 reservation at Topolino’s. I wanted to change into a fancy dress, and we still had not retrieved our luggage from Bell Services. We made the trek back from MK and said goodbye to our friend.

Short visit, but I hope a nice one.

She wanted to check the store at the Contemporary for a popcorn bucket

I'll never forget getting popcorn at DL... was stunned at how good it was. Still haven't had any at WDW, though.

Big room!

Yusssss....

And our view from the room.

I like it. I suppose the goal of most is a view of MK, but... I kinda like this. More serene. Calm.

We decided on the way to MK that we were just going give in a take a Lyft cause my feet hurt too much to do Disney transport. (Bus to DHS, Skyliner to Riviera)

Makes sense even if you weren't tired. Much quicker.

It would be perfect for Epcot fireworks if we wanted to make it a 2 ½ hour dinner.

Eat S L O W L Y...

We split an order of the Gnocchi with Braised Lamb Shoulder, Exotic Mushrooms, Lamb Jus, Kale, Carrots. It was so delicious!

mmmm... yes please!

I am ruined for store bought gnocchi now! These were handmade daily and they were fluffy little pillows of goodness.

Thanks for the warning. Don't eat the gnocchi at Topolino's!

We also split the Rigatoni, braised chicken sugo, broccolini, pancetta, wild mushrooms, black truffle.

That sounds really good too.

Jill had the Lemon Tiramisu,

I'd probably have gotten this as well...

Instead it was a traditional tiramisu with coffee flavors and a lemon creme on top. This was disappointing.

...and been just as disappointed.

I stopped in the restroom, and as I was exiting, a toddler in a little mermaid costume all by herself went running towards the bathroom and was able to push open the door and go inside.

The things you see at Disney...

As the pair approached the sliding doors to exit the lobby, the kid was struggling so violently that she whipped her head and knocked the sliding doors out of their track. The kid had to have received some sort of concussion from that.

Holy smokes!

It was a rather strange scene.

No kidding!

And I took a bath because my body was killing me. After nearly 22,000 steps what else would you expect?

Heck, with a tub like that, I'd take a bath after 20 steps.

I got out of the tub and laid down in bed and I immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Awwww... All tuckered out.