Trip Report - March/April 2025

[Noreen411]

Monday 3/31/25 Continued
Later that evening we drove to the Boardwalk for our dinner reservation at Trattoria al Forno. We went early to wander the Boardwalk as well as for pre-dinner cocktails.

We quickly returned the items we needed to return at the store at the Boardwalk; it’s so convenient that you can return things anywhere on property. We walked around the Boardwalk a bit just enjoying being there.

We headed to Abracadabar for our pre-dinner cocktails. The bar itself was full but we were able to find a bar table.


I had my favorite Hoodunit’s Punch and Scott surprisingly had a glass of Cakebread Chardonnay


We were seated on time at Trattoria Al Forno


We started with the fried calamari. This was very good, not greasy and not too salty.


The bread is pretty good, but a lot of the food is bread-y so we didn’t really need the extra little rolls, but they drop them off so quickly. Of course we nibbled on them, but I would prefer regular butter over the dipping sauce


I had the Margarita pizza and added pepperoni to it. This was delicious. Of course I had plenty of leftovers.


Scott ordered the chicken parmigiana. Unfortunately, this was not very good tonight. It was dry and under-seasoned. Chicken Parmigiana is one of his favorite dishes that he gets in all sorts of places and was surprised an Italian restaurant that does other dishes so well did this so poorly tonight. It’s definitely not consistent since he had this here before and loved it. I guess it was just an off night for the chicken


Other than Scott’s chicken, we enjoyed our meal at Trattoria al Forno.

We skipped dessert at Trattoria and headed to the Boardwalk Bakery instead to pick up some desserts to go. We ate some of our desserts once back in the villa.

Scott wanted a cupcake so got a Cookies and Cream cupcake which he liked.


We ordered a crumb cake that was pretty good and we shared


Of course I had to get a Snickerdoodle muffin that I wrapped up since I wanted to have it for breakfast

 

[Mary Pops In]

I am fully enjoying your TR. You seem to be such a fun and compatible couple. Love your photos, cocktails, desserts and routines!

I understand you're looking at retirement options. May i suggest if you find an area you think you'd like, rent for several different seasons before buying a place and really immerse yourselves in the community. My friends did this and learned one community didn't work for them particularly due to health care, distance to airport when they needed health care and lack of diversity in the entertainment they enjoyed. They didn't realize the town shut down in the winter and spring.

 

[Noreen411]

I am fully enjoying your TR. You seem to be such a fun and compatible couple. Love your photos, cocktails, desserts and routines!

I understand you're looking at retirement options. May i suggest if you find an area you think you'd like, rent for several different seasons before buying a place and really immerse yourselves in the community. My friends did this and learned one community didn't work for them particularly due to health care, distance to airport when they needed health care and lack of diversity in the entertainment they enjoyed. They didn't realize the town shut down in the winter and spring.

Thank you very much; I enjoy writing them, it’s like reliving the trip.

It’s so funny you say that about renting first, we were just talking about doing that. It totally makes sense and is much less of a commitment than buying just in case we aren’t happy wherever we try.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25
We went to the gym at 7. Our normal morning routine of laundry, jacuzzi, showers, and breakfast followed. We shared the snickerdoodle muffin for breakfast. This is so good.



We drove to Hollywood Studios.



Our first attraction was Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad. While I still miss the great movie ride, this is a fun attraction. They should add some ride photos to it.

Of course we posed for more pictures.

I like when they have you do something different and/or have different magic shots.



And some of the more normal pictures as well.




We rode Star Tours next. It doesn’t get much love anymore with all the new Star Wars type rides that are in Star Wars land but we still like this one.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
We went to Muppets next. This has always been a cute attraction and we like that it has comfortable seats to watch the show in. With it closing it’s been more crowded that it’s been in the past.




After Muppets it was time for us to head to my favorite attraction at Hollywood Studios…Tower of Terror


Even with LL, Tower of Terror was backed up and it took a little longer than expected to get on.


We went to Smuggler’s Run next. This is OK, but I would prefer if the ride was controlled by Disney rather than if the pilots do a good job or not.

We headed into Toy Story Land next where we had several attractions booked sort of back to back (or slightly overlapping) which was nice.

We went on the Alien Saucers and Scott always marvels at the cars switching tracks.


Slinky Dog Dash is always fun. I usually have my arms up but put them down during the ride just when the picture happened.


Next in Toy Story Land was Toy Story Mania. We always like this ride and have been working together trying to remember the tips we read to get a better score.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
We decided to take the Skyliner to Epcot leaving the car parked at Hollywood Studios.

We walked around World Showcase as we like to do


We were getting a little hungry so got the seared scallops from the Northern Bloom booth. Scott loves scallops; I can take them or leave them. These were decent; Scott enjoyed it more than I did. But it was a good little snack for us to share.


We continued our stroll around World Showcase. I am sure some of my pictures are out of order here.


The topiaries are so amazing.




We aren’t normally frozen drink/slushy fans but the Cucumber Watermelon Slushy sounded interesting so we got one. It was very refreshing.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
Back in Future World (I know that’s not the name anymore but it is still Future World to me), we rode Spaceship Earth. I don’t know why Scott’s head didn’t show in the picture; this isn’t the first time that happened.


We stopped for one of my favorite types of pictures


While this next picture should be one I like since I like the Magic Kingdom version of it, somehow it just isn’t the same. It looks like a postcard but we’re there near the ball.


We think Figment is adorable so are always happy when he shows up in our pictures.



It was time for us to ride Soarin so we headed over to ride. I guess it’s more involved than I’m thinking it should be but the same way they’ve had Soarin around the World as well as the original Soarin, it would be fun if there were various versions so you don’t know which one you’ll see when you ride. I know they’ve already gone around the world but maybe into space or under the sea could be options too.

Living with the Land was next. For some reason this little farmhouse with the dog on the porch is just such a peaceful thought of what some people’s lives are like. It looks so peaceful but I imagine that farm life probably isn’t this laid back and relaxing life that the little house makes it seem. I guess something different than what you are used to, you think about just the good parts not knowing the bad.


It’s interesting how they add additional things for the different festivals so there is often something new to see

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
Since our car was still at Hollywood Studios we figured we would just walk from Epcot to the Yacht Club for dinner and we would take the boat to Hollywood Studios later to get the car at the end of the night.

While not as elaborate as the Grand Floridian, the Yacht Club also has decorative Eggs displayed.



We went to the Crews Cup Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails.


Scott had a Martini. I had an Old Fashioned. I was looking at the Whistle Pig drink but it’s made with Whiskey instead of Bourbon, the bartender said she’ll put the candied bacon in my regular Old Fashioned. That was a nice extra touch. We enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartender; if we were just at a table ordering drinks we wouldn’t have been having a chat about the candied bacon or the different drinks. That little square next to the cherry on the stick across my drink is a piece of candied bacon.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
We were seated at Yachtsman’s Steakhouse on time. I like that the bartender at Crews Cup Lounge was able to check us in and someone came to get us when our table was ready.


Hands down, the best bread at Disney (maybe anywhere) are the onion pull apart rolls at Yachtsman’s Steakhouse. I’m sure the sourdough rolls in the basket are good too, but we only had eyes for those onion pull apart rolls.


We skipped ordering an appetizer. While the shrimp cocktail is usually pretty good, we weren’t in the mood. They used to have a fantastic tuna tartare but that hasn’t been on the menu in a while.

I ordered the Pork Duo that I had earlier in the trip and loved. Unfortunately, the pork belly was way too fatty this time. I know pork belly in general is fatty, but this was too fatty for me. I gave the pork belly to Scott. The rest of the dish was still good.


Scott ordered the Chilean Sea bass and offered to switch dishes when I wasn’t happy with the pork belly, but since everything else was good, I was fine. His fish was very good too.


He also had the macaroni and cheese. I am not a Mac & cheese fan, but the one here is pretty good. Scott loves Mac and cheese.


For dessert we went with the waitress’ suggestion of the lemon meringue cake, she said it’s her favorite. It was a great choice, it was very light and airy.


We enjoyed our meal at Yachtsman’s Steakhouse.

 

[Noreen411]

Tuesday 4/1/25 Continued
After dinner we walked out to the boat dock. The fireworks were about to start so we figured we would watch them from there or from the boat. There was a boat sitting there but the doors were closed. There were plenty of other people on the boat dock so we just assumed maybe the boat doesn’t go during the fireworks and we would get on after.




The fireworks ended and the boat still didn’t open its doors. There was a driver inside so I asked him if he was taking passengers. He said the boats aren’t running because there is lightening in the area and the bus may be an option to get to Hollywood Studios but to ask in the lobby. Since there were a decent amount of people lined up for the boat, you would think the boat driver would have told us without me having to ask. I get waiting until the fireworks were over, but then when everyone was still standing there obviously waiting to get on the boat, a little communication would have been nice. We asked a woman in the lobby who said they were sending a bus and it should be maybe 15 minutes. We went to the bus area along with others that were also waiting for the boat.

Almost 15 minutes later a bus showed up that said Boardwalk/Beach Club/Swan. I asked the driver if she was going to Hollywood Studios after the resorts and she said we should take the boat. I explained that the boat wasn’t running because of lightening and we were told to take the bus instead and there were a group of us that were all told the same thing and have been here waiting for the bus. After hearing that she said that she will go to Hollywood Studios after the resorts so we all got on. One of the other ladies who was at the boat dock thanked me for taking charge and pushing this or who knows how long they would have been waiting either at the boat dock or for the bus.

We made it back to Hollywood Studios, got the car and drove back to the resort. While it’s nice to sometimes take the various modes of Disney transport around the property, tonight would have been easier had we taken the car with us rather leaving it at Hollywood Studios earlier. I know tonight was just a fluke.