"We're keeping the moon!" Another Nikki and Tom Adventure! TR link PG. 37!!

[stasijane]

I am with almost everyone else, that empty park looks AMAZING!! Its going to be a long 27 days before I get myself a margarita

 

[Zuzu03]

Wow! I LOVE Epcot with no crowds!!! Looks like it was perfect weather too!

 

[PopArtGal]

Wow! As much as I like the idea of walking-on on rides, I also like the energy of a crowded park. Where was the picture of Tom showing the (lack of) crowd? Was it the area behind the Fountain of Nation? It looks so different without people, I barely recognized it!

How were the margaritas? The lime one is the one I tried last August and I found it way too strong.

Isn't it strong? My mom said she could get drunk from the smell lol

 

[Queenofallthings]

Nothing better than an empty park and when you throw in a 'rita..... Looks like a great start to your first park day!

 

[jenseib]

Just wanted to chime in and say that I know most people don't read the comments, just the updates (I'm totally guilty of that) but I DID pretty much confirm the most correct guesses of the meaning behind the title so if you want to know, you'll have to go back and find that! Or just wait and see......

Well I have read all the post and I'm still not sure..

Fun times with Stephanie!!! I am so jealous. I love the empty park too. I want to go NOW!!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Here I am.

Taking a break from doing report cards hehe

I can get to ME with my eyes closed too

Did they change the coffee makers in the room?

Yay! Oh I was doing report cards hard core before the trip. I'm not sure about the coffee makers - we've never used it.

Epcot is so empty!
Your drinks look delish.
I may have to visit during early Feb. next year.

Drinks are always more delish in Epcot!

Wow! As much as I like the idea of walking-on on rides, I also like the energy of a crowded park. Where was the picture of Tom showing the (lack of) crowd? Was it the area behind the Fountain of Nation? It looks so different without people, I barely recognized it!

How were the margaritas? The lime one is the one I tried last August and I found it way too strong.

I agree Mel - it was kind of eerie almost! Yeah, that pic was in that wide open area behind the Fountain of Nations, you can see the monorail track in the background that might help with perspective a little.

The margaritas are soooooooo good! They are strong but I honestly think they don't even use tequilla, I'm pretty sure it's grain alcohol.

I am with almost everyone else, that empty park looks AMAZING!! Its going to be a long 27 days before I get myself a margarita

Oh 27 days is not far away at all! You'll have that margarita in no time!

Wow! I LOVE Epcot with no crowds!!! Looks like it was perfect weather too!

The weather really was just perfect! I got a little cold at night and in the mornings but that's just me. Most people were fine in t-shirts and shorts while I was shivering in my sweatshirt!

Isn't it strong? My mom said she could get drunk from the smell lol

Hahaha! I definitely start to feel it after the first one but then I just level out somehow!

Nothing better than an empty park and when you throw in a 'rita..... Looks like a great start to your first park day!

It was definitely a perfect start to the trip!

Well I have read all the post and I'm still not sure..

Fun times with Stephanie!!! I am so jealous. I love the empty park too. I want to go NOW!!!!

Haha!! Don't worry - you'll find out soon. We really had a great time that day. Would have been more fun if you and some of the other girls were there too!

 

[Nermel9]

OMG. I would do anything to go to an empty Epcot! That's like, my dream come true! It was almost that empty when we went in November in 09, but not quite!

Sorry you weren't feeling so well, there's just something about travel day that sometimes makes you feel crappy. Hope your 'rita helped!

Looks like you guys were having a lot of fun meeting up with Stephanie!

 

[stasijane]

Oh 27 days is not far away at all! You'll have that margarita in no time!

I know I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!

 

[Tracy161]

Cannot believe how empty Epoct was!!! Sorry to hear you started your time there feeling not so great! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Shannon84]

Wow EPCOT looks incredibly empty!!! that is one park I think would be so much fun to explore when empty!

 

[beachgirl2000]

I love your trip reports! I just subscribed!

And I cannot wait to hear about Wilderness Lodge -- I am thinking that we may try there next.

 

[stephielela]

I could really use one of those margaritas about now...

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

OMG. I would do anything to go to an empty Epcot! That's like, my dream come true! It was almost that empty when we went in November in 09, but not quite!

Sorry you weren't feeling so well, there's just something about travel day that sometimes makes you feel crappy. Hope your 'rita helped!

Looks like you guys were having a lot of fun meeting up with Stephanie!

It was pretty empty but believe it or not, we've seen it like that before ON the 4th of July in the morning because it was raining. It was eerily empty! It wasn't like that the whole trip - just that day.

I know I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!

Cannot believe how empty Epoct was!!! Sorry to hear you started your time there feeling not so great! Can't wait to read more!

Yeah this was not the best trip was far as health...the issues didn't end that day unfortunately....

Wow EPCOT looks incredibly empty!!! that is one park I think would be so much fun to explore when empty!

I love your trip reports! I just subscribed!

And I cannot wait to hear about Wilderness Lodge -- I am thinking that we may try there next.

Glad you joined!! You have GOT to try the Wilderness Lodge! It's my favorite, for sure! So peaceful and beautiful!

I could really use one of those margaritas about now...

Haha! Oh me too!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 1 Wednesday February 1, 2012

So after our ride on Test Track with NO wait, we decided to see if we would have the same luck on Soarin'.

I must have mentioned it in my past TRs but MAN that hike up to The Land pavilion is a killer! Especially after a few drinks!

I don't remember exactly what the wait time was (I think from my notes it was 40 mins) but it was longer than we wanted to wait so we got FPs. Again, couldn't believe how empty the FP area was!! Normally in the summer, this area is a total disaster and it always makes me nervous to try to get to a machine without being stuck behind a tour guide with a stack of tickets two-inches thick. So a picture was warranted....

So what do you do when you just got FPs for Soarin and don't want to leave yet because you think about how much energy it took to get up that damn hill? Ride Living with the Land, of course!

Now there was NO line whatsoever for this ride but there were people going to it, if that makes sense. So it was very funny with the CM handed the red card to Stephanie!!

She had it in her hands for literally less than 30 seconds!

After our brief stay in Future World, it was back to World Showcase! This time we started on the right going counterclockwise. I think I must've stopped in the UK bathroom because before I knew, when I got to a bench, Tom had a beer, chips and a water, which the CM at the Fish and Chips stand gave him for free! It was in a cup with a straw so I'm sure it was just tap but still, it was nice.

At this point, I was not feeling well. I think Stephanie got a drink too and I chugged the water (all of it!) while we shared the delicious chips! Those things are SOOOO good!

Having had all that water, I felt it was safe to get another drink so while we passed France, I stopped and got a Grey Goose slushie! Stephanie got one too and Tom got a wine from....I don't even know where!

Sorry, don't have a pic of the slushies for some reason!

As we rounded Mexico again, I took a closer look at the menu - NOT the one outside but the one behind the counter and lo and behold, there was the mango!! I was soooo happy! It was such a disappointment to have only lime and strawberry to choose from so even though we were about to head back to The Land to ride Soarin' I just HAD to have that mango 'rita!

BUT WAIT! There's MORE!

Not only did they have the mango but they then asked if I would like a shot of pomegranate liquor. But of course!! They put it on the bottom of the cup then add the frozen 'rita and it makes this awesome design!

Stephanie got a fiesta 'rita, also with the pomegranate.

We made it about halfway up the GIANT hill to The Land pavilion and someone had the brilliant idea to stop and rest. (Haha! I know it's ridiculous! I guess it's not THAT bad, I'm just really lazy!) I think the real reason we stopped was because we weren't finished with our drinks - either that or our FP time wasn't up yet. Either way, it was really nice to sit and watch people coming and going from The Land and it was also a nice time to chat a little.


Here's a pic I took from where we were sitting...

We made our way in and in no time were watching Patrick tell us about staying safe! Oh man...I love Patrick!

But before he came on....our feet.

"Nice work, pal!"

The ride was amazing and surprisingly, there were no narrators this time. You know what I mean - the people who feel the need to comment on every scene they see, usually mentioning New York City at some point.....

When the ride ended, we grabbed our things out of the compartment under our seats and I heard a loud CLUNK! Tom had the camera bag and it was either not zippered or the zipper got snagged as he was putting it in/taking it out. Regardless, the cluck was the sound of the very large, very expensive camera falling out of the bag and hitting the floor. I actually stayed pretty calm and just grabbed it to take a look and make sure it was okay. As we were walking out, I took some shots to test it.

Working just fine!


After Soarin', it was BACK to World Showcase. We still had a bit of time to kill before our 7:45 ADR at La Hacienda so what were we to do? Get more drinks, of course!

Actually before we did that, we stopped in the store at the entrance to World Showcase for some Duffy clothes shopping. My sister had called me to tell me she heard about the "3 outfits for $30" deal and to see if I could pick some up for Emma's Duffy - or as she calls him "Tuffy!" She wanted the sailor, Germany and Italy. There was much confusion because I couldn't tell if the France outfit was supposed to be France and Italy because it kind of looked like it could be a gondolier's outfit but the helpful CMs showed me the doll of Mickey dressed in an Italy outfit and that was NOT it! They told us to look at MouseGear and I'm actually glad I didn't get back to it until a few days later because by the time I did, a new outfit had come out! A Mousketeer outfit and that was too cute not to get!

Anyway.........clockwise around World Showcase we went. I must've gotten a 'rita but there are no pictures so I can't be sure. Actually it's possible that I didn't get a drink at all because my head still didn't feel great. WAIT, now I remember. I got a coffee! I was hoping the coffee would help fix my headache once and for all! I also think this might have been the point where we stopped and got a picture with Duffy. I know we got a pic with him at some point, just not sure when. This might have been it.

By the time we got to Italy, Stephanie's new drink of choice was a Peach Bellini.

We had a seat in Italy and Tom went off to get who knows what! But imagine my surprise when he came back with a Red Stag Lemonade!!

This was especially exciting because it was sold in America at the drink stand but as an extra just for the Food and Wine Festival! It even came in the F&W size! Not sure why it was still available...maybe they thought it was popular enough to keep year-round. Either way, I was thrilled!

As you can see, it was starting to get dark by this point but we still had a ways to go before our ADR. That kind of freaked me out because, again, usually when I go in the summer, it doesn't get dark until minutes before Illuminations starts and then everything closes. So that fact that it was getting chilly and it was getting dark with everything still open was almost disorienting to me!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We kept moving on from Italy and we must have been getting tired because we stopped again to sit in America. We were sitting on a ledge under a tree and just chatted for a while. Suddenly, a leaf fell off the tree and landed PERFECTLY in my drink! It was the weirdest thing. We actually heard it fall into the cup and what are the odds that it would land exactly there?!

This is my, "What the heck?!" face.

Rounding the UK, Tom stopped inside the Rose and Crown to get one of his favorite beers - Boddingtons.

By the time we came around to Mexico again, it still wasn't quite time for our ADR and Stephanie expressed interest in getting a pic with a large hat. You don't have to ask me twice!

After our pic, we headed across the way to La Hacienda. It was pretty weird to be in a place so familiar and it be all new. (Did that make sense?) I mean, I have been enjoying the Mexico Pavilion for years and now I'm there with this totally new place! It was very pretty inside and we only had to wait a minute or two before being seated.

It doesn't look like Tom has a Boddingtons in his cup so I'm pretty sure he stopped and got ANOTHER beer somewhere!

At this point, I was really not feeling well at all. My leg/butt was still killing me and my stomach wasn't great, which was probably a result of the headache I've had all day. But I've had the Queso Fundido on my to-do list since I first read the menu of this new restaurant!

Just for a back story, Queso Fundido was my dish of choice at San Angel Inn when I was younger. The last time I had it was in 2003. When Tom and I went in 2006, I was soooo upset that it was no longer on the menu. Cut to years later when the menu for La Hacienda is first released and it was like a dream come true!

So Stephanie and I both ordered that and Tom ordered the tacos trio - all from the appetizers. To be honest with you, the prices for the entrees were very high. And get this - while we were waiting, we saw chips and salsa being brought to some tables so I asked our waitress if we could have some. She said they were $4.50! What a rip! But we got them anyway....

Pretty soon our meals arrived. Oooooh, cheesy goodness!

This dish at San Angel had a layer of chorizo under the cheese which I was expecting with this but see that little sprinkle of chorizo on top? That was it! I didn't think it was going to be enough but it was so flavorful, you only needed a little bit. Oh by the way, it came with flour tortillas so you could scoop the cheese in and roll it up. So delicious! But it was VERY filling and, as I said, my stomach wasn't the greatest as it was so I only had a little bit.


Here was Tom's tacos. It was pork, chicken and....something else.

Tom ate his tacos all up and then proceeded to take little nibbles of my cheese!! Stephanie and I kept warning him he's going to regret it later!! It was the kind of thing that tasted SOOOO good but you knew if you ate too much of it, it could be bad! Tom was a little drunk to understand that at the time so we tried to warn him!

We finished our meals with plenty of time to spare before Illuminations. The original plan was to maybe watch Illuminations from the restaurant but as soon as we sat, that plan was out the window. We were seated on the opposite wall.

So what do we do with time to spare before Illuminations? Walk around World Showcase of course! YES, that makes FOUR times around World Showcase that day. I felt like I could throw up any second and couldn't BELIEVE when Tom said with certainty that he was getting a funnel cake!

So we walked with pretty much no stops until we got the America for this beauty!

And then we kept walking.... We pretty much made it all the way around by the time Illuminations started. We were close to the Promenade Refreshments stand, if you know what I mean. I was happy with this spot because I was glad to make a quick exit after the show. SOooooo unlike me, right?! I'm usually the hang around, take the long way out, kind of person but all I wanted was to go to bed. Remember, I hadn't slept much the night before at all and was on my way to the airport by 5:30am that morning.....

Illuminations was AMAZING, as always! It's my absolute favorite and I'm pretty sure I teared up a bit! Despite having just walked until the show started, we had a great spot just behind one row of people against the railing and they even bent down so I attempted to take many pictures. Here's on that came out semi-okay....

As soon as the show was over, we headed out and my reasoning for taking the long was out was confirmed. It kind of stunk to be in the herds of exiting guests but I was trying to enjoy the last few minutes we had with Stephanie before saying goodbye.

We made a quick stop at the lockers on the way out. I had NEVER been in there before so I had to take a picture, of course!

We continued our looooong walk to the buses and parted ways to find our respective bus stops.


Despite not being at my best, it was sooooooo much fun hanging out with Stephanie and getting to know her better. And what better place to do that than Epcot!!!!! I hope to see her again on another Disney trip VERY soon! I might have to insist that she align her travel with ours from now on!


Up Next: Uh-Oh - Will I ever sleep again?! and Wild Africa Trek

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I am really surprised you were able to make it to Illuminations with your headache and stomachache. Of course, now I'm wondering if you got any sleep. I'm hoping you did!! Can't wait to hear about the trek!!

I read about the red stag lemonade being on fife & drum's permanent menu. I'm so excited! My DH loves red stag so he'll enjoy having another drink to try (because we can't find ANYTHING yummy at Epcot )

 

[PopArtGal]

Seems like a fun day. But I can understand how your body was starting to complain.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm glad that they had the Mango 'Rita at the other location! And how awesome that they put the pomegranate shot in it to make it pretty.

I love queso fundido, and I would also be disappointed if it only had that amount of chorizo on it. But, if it was flavorful, then I guess it's okay.

I'm sorry about the headache and generally not feeling well. Good job making it through the day though. I don't know if I would have been able to.

 

[beachgirl2000]

Stephanie and I kept warning him he's going to regret it later!! It was the kind of thing that tasted SOOOO good but you knew if you ate too much of it, it could be bad! Tom was a little drunk to understand that at the time so we tried to warn him!




HAHAHAHAHA -- Been there/done that!!!!!!

What in the world is on top of the funnel cake -- at first I thought it was cheese and then butter (gag) but I am guessing ice cream? OMG! Beer and ice cream!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

DH and I always stop at various QS locations to get ice water, they always give it for free. I think we bought 1 bottle of water our entire trip last year.

I give you credit for trucking through and consuming alcohol with a headache/stomachache. You still looked so happy.