Wednesday 11th July
We are up and ready at reception for our 8.35 pick up by the Alamo courtesy bus to take us to Disney Car Care to pick up our wheels. The bus is bang on time and we're on our way with Jim & Bob - Jim has decided to hire a car as it took him 2 and a half tours to get from DTD to HS by bus on Tuesday.
Think he must have made some odd choices here! There's a short queue (not for Jim & Bob though - Emerald members
) and we're soon at a desk. Our agent clocks that our hire is for 21 days and we're returning to MCO and then the hard sell starts.
We've hired a compact (only the two of us this year) and she says 'we do realise how small that is' and shows us out to a Fiat 500 just outside the door. We look, inspect the boot and confirm that although it's small we'll fit our luggage in for our return. We question that the Fiat is a compact car and ask what can possibly be smaller and are told it's a Rio. Back at the desk I point out that the website stated a Nissan Versa or similar and that the Fiat is hardly that and we are told that of course they're very short of cars: 4th of July and all that (even though it's now a week later of course) and do we want to pay for gas now or later. I point out that we've taken the max option so it's included and decline the extra insurance. We're given keys and told to pick our car up from bay 67 where we find a nice white Nssan Versa parked in the space!!!!!!! Great car and just perfect for us. I did feel sorry for the couple just in front of us. I had noticed that they had a Virgin car hire voucher and so had already paid way over the odds. I'd forgotten to check we were sorted with the tolls and so had headed back inside just in time to see them thanking their agent and hearing them say 'because of course they don't tell you that at home' as they handed over $300+ in cash!
Now we had wheels our first stop was
Walmart for water, OJ, milk and cereal. After dropping off the shopping we headed for Epcot. By now it was pretty overcast and the rain was just starting as we parked the car. First stop then is Sunshine Seasons to escape the rain and also for our elevenses of Strawberry Shortcake and Coffee from the bakery
The rain seems to have stopped for a while so we head round to the American Pavillion for another couple of sets from Voices of Liberty (Oh Susannah both times
, but the second set features a lovely arrangement of Black is the Colour) and stop off in France, Morrocco, Japan, Italy and Germany to see what fare they have to offer at their CS. It's raining heavily when we leave America for the 2nd time so we make a bee line for Japan's Katsura Grill - new since our last visit - and choose to share the Tonosama Combo followed by the Matcha Roll.
The combo is very tasty but I'd pass on the Matcha Roll next time: a kind of green tea swiss roll with red bean paste.
We brave the rain again and head back to the car and OKW for some time by the pool. It's still raining lightly, but not a problem for us Brits given the weather we've had this year!
The evening's ADR is for Cali Grill and having the car certainly makes attending reservations much easier. The bus service is good to the parks but if you're trying to get to hotels it takes a little thought and walking (not great for Tony's arthritic knee). We check in at the desk on level two and are taken upstairs straight away. Our server is Rob and I notice he has a 40 year service badge stating he started with WDW in 1971! We start our meal with delicious soda bread and butter
I opt for Brentwood Corn Chowder
while Tony decides on the Sonoma Goats Cheese Ravioli
The menu looks totally delish however in the end we both plump for the Oak Fired Filet of Beef
We go our separate ways for dessert with Tony picking Heather's Cookie plate
while I choose the blueberry tart with home meade lemon ice cream and honey thyme creme anglaise.
Coffee and Fireworks from the viewing gallery then home for bed.
Mrs TT
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