(Updated 10/19) I May Be Just a Bit Crazy - Sept 2025 TR

[iHEARTflorida]

Enjoying the TR!!

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Happy to see another of your reports!

 

[HappyGal]

Bummer about the seating at Beak & Barrel. I’ve heard many people say they felt rushed. Did you feel like you had plenty of time there?

 

[Araminta18]

Enjoying the TR!!

I'm glad! Thank you for reading!

 

[Araminta18]

Happy to see another of your reports!

aw, thank you! I'm glad you're here!!

 

[Araminta18]

Bummer about the seating at Beak & Barrel. I’ve heard many people say they felt rushed. Did you feel like you had plenty of time there?

I didn't feel rushed, but that may have been cause I was annoyed about the standing and then my server being slow, and then I also eat really fast. If I'd been with Trevor and just enjoying looking around I can see how it may have felt rushed.

 

[summerlvr]

Love your trip reports and am looking forward to reading more. I also went to Beak and Barrel last month. I was lucky and got seated at the long table that is just inside the entrance. My tablemates were lots of fun, but I was solo, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I had been with friends/family.
Also interested to see how you liked Geo-82. I had a very odd experience there. Was super loud and chaotic and I definitely felt rushed!

 

[lindseyanne]

Long time lurker, first time commenter! And now, I am craving that Skipper Canteen cheese bread.

 

[cassidy57]

Yahoo so happy to be reading another one of your trip reports. No one is ever tired of hearing from you. Thanks for sharing!!!!!

 

[Araminta18]

Love your trip reports and am looking forward to reading more. I also went to Beak and Barrel last month. I was lucky and got seated at the long table that is just inside the entrance. My tablemates were lots of fun, but I was solo, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I had been with friends/family.
Also interested to see how you liked Geo-82. I had a very odd experience there. Was super loud and chaotic and I definitely felt rushed!

thank you for reading! Also that sounds like an awesome seat! Did you get to see all the effects and such? Though I can see how that would be weird to do solo.

Where did you sit at Geo-82? Were you solo there as well?

 

[Araminta18]

Long time lurker, first time commenter! And now, I am craving that Skipper Canteen cheese bread.

aw thanks for reading, and commenting! Aw dang me too - that bread with the dip is just SO GOOD!!

 

[Araminta18]

Yahoo so happy to be reading another one of your trip reports. No one is ever tired of hearing from you. Thanks for sharing!!!!!

aw thank you! both for the compliment and for reading!!

 

[Araminta18]

Shopping Blitz! - Sunday Sept 7 2025 (part 1)​

Sunday dawned bright and early and hot! My plan today was to rope drop the Disney store at the outlets, then head to Disney Springs for shopping and lunch at my absolute favorite place in Disney Springs, and then a bit of a rest in the hotel before Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party tonight.

The DIsney Store at the outlet didn't open til 11 am cause it was Sunday, so I had a bit of a leisurely morning at the resort. I got breakfast:

Eggs with onions and cheese, and bacon, and milk. Yum! Though it ended up being a bit much for me - I should have just gotten the kids meal. But oh well!

I looked around the resort a tiny little bit -

No idea what that is but I liked the whole big crest thing there above the door.

In the lobby of the main tower they had these awesome chandelier things:

It really is a lovely lobby.

I figured there'd be a line at the outlets, so figured I'd get an uber at 9:30. Which I realize is a bit of a crazy thing to do, but the deals! (that's the first "i may be just a bit crazy" thing ) I made it to the outlet at 9:42, and there was already a line:

We weren't scrunched up yet, but I managed to be like the last person in the shade. Phew! I can't imagine just waiting the hour and 15 minutes in the full sun. I was glad I had my portable fan - it helped a lot! But yea just sat there and waited for the outlet to open. The line really built up - at 10:55, this was the line:

So the three/four switchbacks in front of the store and then the long line on the side, and a switchback with the end of the line way back there by that black sign. CRAZY.

Thankfully I was able to get in in the first tranche - there were definitely folks at the front of the line who were resellers, prepared with GIANT bags (like seriously, 3ft x4ft - huge bags). But despite the resellers triggering my FOMO I was able to get all the stuff that caught my eye (honestly mostly stuff for Trevor). It was a pretty good outlet day, which was nice - sometimes you visit the outlets and there's just nothing and other times, lots of stuff.

A little before noon, I checked out and hopped in an uber over to Disney Springs. I got gotten at security, which was disappointing but unsurprising considering I was bringing with me all my purchases from the outlets. There was a bit of a line though - it ended up taking about 15 minutes to get my bags searched. Woof! My lunch reservation was at 1, so I had about 35 minutes to do some shopping before lunch.

I ended up blitzing through several shops, including the Marketplace Co-Op where they had a super cute Halloween truck but also a photopass photographer! I've never seen a photographer there before, so of course I stopped:



Isn't that a cute little truck, with the Mickey pumpkins? Adorbs.

I looked in Crystal Arts, mostly 'cause air conditioning, but I saw the glass Haunted Mansion tumblers so had to buy those. I may have underestimated how heavy all my bags were! But next up, lunch at Wine Bar George. Wine Bar George is SO GOOD - if you've never been, highly recommend.

I got the Orgeat Lemonade:

This is so good - almond flavored lemonade which sounds gross but really is delicious.

Then I decided to go with something light for my main course: Burrata with bacon and avocado. It was brunch so I thought about getting an omelet or one of the more breakfast-type dishes, but the burrata with bacon and avocado just sounded amazing.

And it was! So yummy. The burrata is so light and fresh, and the brunch addition of bacon and avocado was just a great balance of flavors while still being light. Delicious.

I finished up at around 1:30, and decided to make a few more stops - Gideon's wasn't doing a virtual queue so I decided to head there last, after going to the Bowe's candle store and stopping at Salt and Straw for a weird ice cream flavor. At Bowe's I wanted to get some of their Disney scents, specifically one that was supposed to smell the Boardwalk. I don't know if it really smells like it, but it smells good!

 

[summerlvr]

thank you for reading! Also that sounds like an awesome seat! Did you get to see all the effects and such? Though I can see how that would be weird to do solo.

Where did you sit at Geo-82? Were you solo there as well?

Yes, it was a great seat and I got to see all the effects and the parrot doing his thing. I definitely would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been solo. The server actually thought I was with the girl sitting across from me, because she put my food and drink on her bill. I told her she was welcome to pay it, but she wasn't too keen on that, ha!
At Geo-82, I was solo as well, at a high top table against the wall. Loved the table and had a great view of the room. This was my 2nd time, first being in June not long after they opened. Interestingly, I had the same server both times and fully enjoyed that first visit (can't remember his name, but I definitely recognized him). This time he brought the check as soon as I got my food (funghi flat bread was awesome), and then said that if I wanted anything else, he could just add it on to the bill. Maybe that's what they are doing now, in order to get people in and out? Anyway, the first thing I did when I left was cancel the reservation I had made for November, which is fine because it gives me more time and money for f&w booths!

 

[Araminta18]

Gideon's Mistake - Sunday Sept 7 2025 (part 2)​

Then at Salt & Straw, I got the Apple Cheddar Cinnamon Roll ice cream.

It was yummy! Sounds weird but it was good. I got a kid's scoop (which cost $6.66 which I thought was funny). I also stopped at the Ganachery cause I wanted to get a chocolate chiller but it was pumpkin spice so ew. I'll pass. Time for Gideon's!

They were quoting a wait of about 30/40 minutes:

It ended up being about 30 minutes, which wasn't too bad with my fan. BUT! I was an idiot - I was concentrating so hard on what cookies I wanted, and then I got distracted because they had the parasol and one last card binder, I completely forgot to ask for the slice of cake that I wanted (chocolate chip marshmallow). I remembered halfway to the bus stop so I came back and the worker told me she couldn't let me in, I'd have to wait in the line all over again. Which I didn't really want to do, so I asked two girls at the front of the line if they wouldn't mind picking up the cake for me, and they were super kind and said yes! So I gave them a $20 (which was also a bit of luck; I never have cash on me!) and waited out front. 15 minutes later, I had my cake! Thank you kind strangers!

Cake acquired, it was about 3 pm and I was heading to the bus stop. I really hate the bus stop at Disney Springs cause it always feels like a HUGE hike to get to any bus stop, and Coronado Springs was no exception though it could have been worse - Coronado Springs was the first stop after you go around the first loop. So could have been worse but still. Blech. On the bright side though, there was a bus waiting for me! Woot.

Back at the room I dropped my bags and rested for a little bit, before changing into my costume:

Sleeping Beauty "bound" - comfort is my priority for a costume so this was about all I was willing to do. Trevor and I have done this one before (he has a shirt with Prince Philip's outfit printed on it) but since he wasn't here, just me!

I left the room just after 4 to catch the bus, 'cause the app said the bus should come at 4:10. But, as I was walking to the stop, and was about a minute away, I see the bus pulling up, so I started running. Wasn't sure if I'd make it but figure I should at least try (though not sure why I thought that 'cause if I didn't make it I'd be super hot, out of breath, and still have to wait 15 minutes for a bus). And I made it! Though as I got on the bus driver said something about how he could tell I was a party person - I guess the costume tipped him off

We got to the Magic Kingdom at about 4:30, and I got gotten at security again, despite holding my umbrella out in front of me. Dangit! But soon enough, I was heading in. This year they're really trying to emphasize which entrance you use depending on your ticket!

The lines for the event entrance weren't bad, which is a benefit of coming in a little bit after 4 pm.

Obviously, once in, I headed for the bypass, passing Lady and the Tramp's heart:


Got a pic of my favorite statue:

And a selfie - at least this time I wasn't blocking her!

Every time Trevor and I try to take a picture with her one of us ends up blocking her or something funny like that.

I also like the bollards -

Hippie M&M!

I loved the artwork on the bags this year:

Anything with the gravediggers is a hit in my book.

I also liked how they had Cruella out talking to folks:

 

[Araminta18]

Yes, it was a great seat and I got to see all the effects and the parrot doing his thing. I definitely would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been solo. The server actually thought I was with the girl sitting across from me, because she put my food and drink on her bill. I told her she was welcome to pay it, but she wasn't too keen on that, ha!
At Geo-82, I was solo as well, at a high top table against the wall. Loved the table and had a great view of the room. This was my 2nd time, first being in June not long after they opened. Interestingly, I had the same server both times and fully enjoyed that first visit (can't remember his name, but I definitely recognized him). This time he brought the check as soon as I got my food (funghi flat bread was awesome), and then said that if I wanted anything else, he could just add it on to the bill. Maybe that's what they are doing now, in order to get people in and out? Anyway, the first thing I did when I left was cancel the reservation I had made for November, which is fine because it gives me more time and money for f&w booths!

Oh wow, that's crazy that they put your food on the other girl's bill! Glad you got to see all the effects though.

Interesting - that wasn't my experience at all at Geo-82! They were actually a bit slow at bringing the check, though I was seated at the bar. Totally don't blame you for canceling - that's not a great feeling at all.

 

[summerlvr]

Oh wow, that's crazy that they put your food on the other girl's bill! Glad you got to see all the effects though.

Interesting - that wasn't my experience at all at Geo-82! They were actually a bit slow at bringing the check, though I was seated at the bar. Totally don't blame you for canceling - that's not a great feeling at all.

Glad you had a great experience At Geo!
I think things were just crazy at B&B. It was a party night and I waited almost 30 minutes past my ADR time before I even got seated. Interestingly didn't feel rushed at all once I got in. They did bring me the wrong drink though. It was one of the ones I was considering anyway, so I didn't say anything.

 

[Araminta18]

Glad you had a great experience At Geo!
I think things were just crazy at B&B. It was a party night and I waited almost 30 minutes past my ADR time before I even got seated. Interestingly didn't feel rushed at all once I got in. They did bring me the wrong drink though. It was one of the ones I was considering anyway, so I didn't say anything.

Yea i wasn't super impressed with the service at B&B - the CM didn't bring me my water until after I'd asked 3 times and was basically done. Not sure what the whole deal is, but glad you didn't feel rushed once you were in! Though a 30 min wait past your time is nuts, especially on a party night!