I admit it ... I think that this food line-up is a pretty good one. I think I must have changed it around at least five or six different times thanks to the Food and Wine Festival programming - and I don't mean that in a good way.
Because I'm looking so forward to this trip, I thought I'd share some more details about our itinerary, the why behind some of our choices, and explain the gaping holes I've left on my calendar for certain days of our trip.
October 8th - Our welcome home day as we arrive at Saratoga Springs later in the day than I originally planned ... thanks for nothing American Airlines, you're now officially on
The List. I anticipate that once we've checked in, unpacked, and stashed our few groceries that we will be gnawing our fingers from our hands in hunger. Right now we're planning on finally having lunch at Earl of Sandwedge ... we hope that by 1PM on a Wednesday it won't be too busy. Once we're finished with this meal we intend to head over to the Magic Kingdom to start the trip off on the right note.
Somewhere this afternoon we will stop by Aloha Isle. We've never tried the infamous Dole Whip. For one thing, I don't like pineapple and for another thing, the line is always so long that we end up opting for a Mickey Bar instead. But it seems like the hubba and I should try this supposed delicacy and then offer our unwanted opinions on it, so Jay will try the traditional Dole Whip and I'll get a rootbeer float and all will be right with the world.
Later this evening ... about 8:30 ... we have a reservation at Raglan Road. This is one of our favorite casual places to have dinner and we really enjoy the Irish band. We have a $50 gift certificate to work our way through, so that should cover most of the evening's bill. Not the entire bill, of course, because we will no doubt be trying the "create your own beer sampler" on top of some other drinks ... Celtic Sangria anyone?
October 9th - Our first full day at WDW!!! We plan on having a light breakfast in the villa and then we will make our way over to Epcot where we will spend the bulk of our day scoping out the Food and Wine Festival and taking our first stab at those festival food booths. Our only ADR is for dinner at California Grill ... we're actually happy with our 6PM dining time because we think all the brouhaha over watching fireworks from the restaurant's observation deck is totally over-rated and results in a noisy, often over-tired throng of people moving through the dining room to watch the show while diners are trying to enjoy their meals. We should be long gone before the madness starts and well-positioned somewhere on the ground to watch the pretty explosions over the MK that night.
October 10th - Thanks to many stellar reviews here on the DIS, Jay and I bit the bullet and made a 9:30 reservation for breakfast at Boma. From here we may head over to the Animal Kingdom for a few hours of steamy, hippo-swimming, monkey butt-scratching fun. I have my eye on some light snacks at the AK that will no doubt need to be washed down with at least one of those Yak Attacks that I keep seeing pictures of.
Since this evening is an EMH at Epcot, we've planned a late dinner at Tokyo Dining with lots of yummy sushi! The good thing about sushi is that it's light and we will still have room for some food booth snackables as the evening wears on.
October 11th - This day is totally up in the air, although at the moment we're leaning towards MGM and a light breakfast at Starring Rolls. The other option is to just make this a really lazy day where we just hang out at the pool, in which case we might wander over to DTD and have breakfast at Wolfgang Puck Express. The reason for no real food plans is that we're gonna be stuffing our faces at Party for the Senseless at Epcot tonight.
For those of you unfamiliar with PFTS, here's the official description:
Feast on this tribute to the sensory arts! Begin your evening with a reserved seat at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre (we'll be skipping this, thanks anyway). Following the show, the World Showplace Pavilion becomes the setting for a sensational evening showcasing the talents of more than 25 eminent chefs and the diversity of over 70 wines and beers. Wander among tempting tasting stations in the midst of imaginative decor and live (not Cirque) entertainment.
We plan to grow large with food this evening and there may be a rumble at the cheese station if Kabuki and I arrive there at the same time ... stay tuned for further details!
October 12th - No plans for breakfast ... I expect we'll sleep in a bit and have some coffee and croissants in the room. We have to be at Epcot before noon for another F&W special event: A French Regional Lunch at Bistro Paris. The F&W description is as follows:
Explore the rich and unique flavors that define the many world-renowned food and wine regions of France. Each event includes a three-course lunch prepared by the chefs of Bistro de Paris celebrating the local foods and drink of the featured region.
Our lunch will feature the cuisine and wines of the Loire Valley.
Later in the evening we have an 8PM reservation for dinner at Kona Cafe. We have never had anything but breakfast at Kona but so many of our DIS-friends swear by dinner here that we decided to take the plunge and try a new meal. If it stinks we'll blame you all, but I suspect a few lapu lapus will make us forget why we even chose it in the first place.
October 13th - Thanks to another gift certificate we have a breakfast reservation at the Rainforest Cafe over at the Animal Kingdom. We expect to play around at the park for a while once we're done eating and then I don't know what we're going to do. We had planned a dinner at V&A this evening but decided to cancel and save it for next year. In its place we're going to take a big risk and have dinner at Wolfgang Puck's upstairs dining room. There are decidedly mixed reviews here on the DIS, so Jay and I will arm ourselves with a healthy dose of low expectations. I have to say, however, that the updated menu at this restaurant sounds much more appealing than the one I looked at last year, so I am looking forward to our meal here.
October 14th - This could be the day of days. We're attempting the Hank Scorpio Drink Around the World Showcase Challenge at Epcot ... our livers will never be the same. To start ourselves out on the right foot, we've made a breakfast reservation at the Grand Floridian Cafe. This way once we're done we can just hop the monorail to Epcot (well, to the TTC and then to Epcot). We will stop for a late lunch at Rose and Crown and quite frankly, everything after that will no doubt be a tipsy blur.
October 15th - A huge empty spot on the calendar ... I think we're going to need the morning to recover from the previous day, anyway.
We have a dinner reservation at Blue Zoo with BriarRosie, Tink rules, and The DISneyFamily ... should be good times indeed! It's a late dinner so I'm sure Jay and I will need to find some sustenance prior to the evening but I'm drawing a blank ... I'm not used to winging it and that blank space in my planner is making me nervous ... I wonder what we're going to do?
October 16th - Our last F&W special event takes places today at Epcot ... Kitchen Conversations with Robert Irvine. The description:
Visit with an acclaimed culinary personality and discover how he or she enjoys life in-and-outside the kitchen. A cooking demonstration, tasting, and an autographed copy of the presenter's book are included in this delightful (really? I'll hold you to that) event.
We also have an early dinner reservation at Citricos ... our last meal before heading back to the resort to pack for the trip home.
There won't be any time to enjoy breakfast on property the next morning, thanks again to American Airlines and their compulsive need to change our flight times. Thanks a lot, you corporate schmoes, did I mention that you're now officially on
The List?
So, what do you think? Any suggestions for those holes in our plans? Any requests that you might like to see Jay and I write a review on? Talk to me ... help me pass the time ... let's drool together, shall we?
I was sad thinking you weren't going back to WDW this year and we weren't going to get to enjoy your restaurant reviews from our "happy place"! Looks like you've got some good restaurants to eat at. Can't wait to hear more.
and
about this - happy because I love me some oybolshoi food reporting, and sad because hubby and I had planned to be there too from the 13th to the 18th, but had to move to the trip to January.
Whatever...
What would we read if you didn't??
But Brenda is older than me.
I can't wait! The Kitchen Conversation with Robert Irvine thing sounds awesome. It's sad you have to leave on your birthday though.
