Wine and Dine...to the Finish Line! Fall 2017 TR NEW 1/25 The Last Day - THE END!

[adventuregirl]

Gorgeous meal at V&A. A long decadent dinner with friends and wine pairings is one of life's greatest pleasures. What an amazing treat for you all! I'm also keeping a list of all the delicious kiosk food in this TR. It isn't too early to plan a snack for 10 months from now, right?

 

[MeghanEmily]

It was a wonderful night! And thanks for all the allergy website recs! I've totally convinced Eva that Disney is the only place where she can have waffles.
And I'm pretty sure V&A can accommodate dishes for you. I'm not sure how much but it's worth it to ask!

You're welcome! Nathan and I joked about how leading up to our anniversary trip we had so much to be excited for, but that the biggest exciting thing for me was to be able to have allergy-friendly Mickey waffles again! I've heard of V&A doing cool stuff for vegans before, so I'm sure they could work with lots of different dietary restrictions. And I think that's awesome!

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

Great updates! I can't believe we're getting to the point that this trip was almost a year ago!!
I love how Hollywood Studios was ready for Christmas while MK was still in Halloween Mode. WDW is crazy when it comes to the holidays.
What a long day! To run a 5K in the morning, then eat a 10 course meal in the evening? Steve probably thought he was so funny ignoring your advice and riding RnRC 3x instead! LOL

 

[chunkymonkey]

Jimmy was SO excited with the little package you sent!! (Sorry for my delay in thanking you!!) He can't wait to try out his new cards (too bad he has to wait 400+ days!!) You're the best

Aww you're welcome! I'm so happy he is happy! I'm just glad it got to you!

Gorgeous meal at V&A. A long decadent dinner with friends and wine pairings is one of life's greatest pleasures. What an amazing treat for you all! I'm also keeping a list of all the delicious kiosk food in this TR. It isn't too early to plan a snack for 10 months from now, right?

Thank you! It certainly was a most decadent and amazing bucket list meal, and to share it with some Disboard friends was such a treat!
And it's never to early to plan a Disney vacation, right down to the snacks. In fact, that is perfectly normal!

You're welcome! Nathan and I joked about how leading up to our anniversary trip we had so much to be excited for, but that the biggest exciting thing for me was to be able to have allergy-friendly Mickey waffles again! I've heard of V&A doing cool stuff for vegans before, so I'm sure they could work with lots of different dietary restrictions. And I think that's awesome!

Aww that is so cute, it is just like the reaction that Eva had when I told her that there are gluten free Mickey waffles. Her face lit up!
Disney is so awesome with meals I'm sure they can make something work for you at V&A!

Great updates! I can't believe we're getting to the point that this trip was almost a year ago!!
I love how Hollywood Studios was ready for Christmas while MK was still in Halloween Mode. WDW is crazy when it comes to the holidays.
What a long day! To run a 5K in the morning, then eat a 10 course meal in the evening? Steve probably thought he was so funny ignoring your advice and riding RnRC 3x instead! LOL

Thank you!
Yup, it's been almost a year! Crazy! I only started this TR this year, but it was such a great trip, it had to be documented.
Steve just doesn't listen to anything I say. But I am used it it, LOL.

 

[chunkymonkey]

November 4th Part 1 - Lunch at Tiffins

Today was originally supposed to be our last day of the trip. What was I thinking? Of course I'd end up extending, LOL. We had to move resorts though because I had booked a DVC room by renting points and by the time I found out we were going to stay longer there were no more nights available anyways. I decided to just move to the Swan and used starwood points to book two nights there. The reason because, well DISmeets.

My friend Betsy was slated to come down that weekend and she had signed up for the post-race after party at Epcot and she somehow convinced me that we needed to attend too. The post-race party was open to all and was included for Wine and Dine half-marathoners. I had never been to a post-race party before so thought I'd check it out and see if it was worth it to attend. I think we paid about 60-70 bucks per person. Pretty pricey and doesn't really include anything, but I wanted to hang out with my friends!

I so kindly let Steve sleep in today considering he was non-stop the day before. Haha. We were supposed to have breakfast this morning at 1900 Park Fare but I knew that having such a decadent meal the night before wouldn't make us want to eat a heavy breakfast so I had canceled that earlier and moved up our dinner at Tiffins to an early lunch instead. I packed us all up and by the time he woke up he really didn't have to do anything but shower. I'm so nice, aren't I? LOL. We brought our luggage out and headed to the main building and bell services. They were able to send our luggage to the Swan, thank goodness! I wasn't sure since it's not officially a Disney resort but yay to not having to Uber it over with our luggage. So we instead got a head start on heading to our park for the day...

They were filming the Christmas Special that day so there was all sorts of activity near Tree of Life

I had made the first seating for lunch which was at 11am. So technically it was our breakfast, haha. We were seated in a pretty empty restaurant, I think we may have been the only people at 11am.

Since this is not our first journey to Tiffins I won't bore you with too much description. We literally went there 6 times last year! We love it so much and always appreciate how the menu changes, but yet our favorites always remain.

Bread starter:

Steve and I usually do the pick 2 for lunch. It is smaller portions of their regular menu and a great deal and not too much food. It includes appetizer and an entree and we usually split a dessert. (Spoiler alert for anyone heading there soon...their menu has changed again! I'm not even sure they have the lunch menu anymore but we recently did the FoTLK dining package and had 3 course full-sized portions for everyone. It was a lot of food but as usual, fantastic. It was probably Steve's favorite meal. The cost of his entree alone was about 2/3 of the package price so that made it absolutely worth it for him!)

Anyways back to lunch a year ago, LOL...
I believe this was the Thai style lobster bisque. It was delicious.

My absolute favorite grilled octopus appetizer:

I got the Wagyu strip loin. It was served with forbidden rice and a veggie curry. It is a small portion but the steak is just delicious. It was the right size for lunch, especially with all the accompaniments.

Steve got the grilled swordfish I believe. You can see his plate and the accompanying sides. I love how they call black rice forbidden rice. I've always just known it as...black rice. Of course Disney has to put a villainous twist on it.

For dessert this is the only thing I ever get here, the Passionfruit Tapioca Creme. It's layers of grapefruit, passionfruit tapioca curd, and topped with citrus whipped cream and chocolate crumbles. It's the best dessert on property. Sweet, tart, creamy, fruity, with texture from the crumbles. I cannot get enough! I never usually order that much dessert but I always get it at Tiffins!

After lunch at one of our favorite signatures, we headed to...Rafiki's Planet Watch! I'm so surprised that this is closing. We really had no idea. It is one of my favorite areas in AK - seems like a fun little respite, it's never crowded and we like sitting in the sound booths which are pitch black and listening to the sounds of the forest.

We grabbed this PP pic on the way:

We managed to catch Rafiki at the tail end of his meet n greet without any line!

Steve doesn't too enthusiastic! But he was ok.

I had never visited the petting zoo there before, I honestly didn't even know they had one!

We headed back to Africa because we had an FP for the Safari!

Oh hello there!

Our next FP was for FoP but we still had some time, so we went to search for something to drink. I don't know how but we ended up in Asia.

I thought Steve was going to get a frozen coke but he went to Drinkwallah and he said they ran out so he got this monstrosity instead:

Yuck I don't like this drink so I just had water instead.

Coming up in next post, Pandora, we go on FoP, I eat AGAIN, we switch resorts, and head to Disney Springs!

​

 

[MeghanEmily]

Mmmmm Tiffins! Your lunch looks amazing. I didn't realize they used to have this option for lunch, but it's a shame it's not still around. I'd be a very happy girl if I were eating that octopus app right now...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Your lunch at Tiffins looks amazing!!! So hoping we can join you in May...

 

[pkondz]

Today was originally supposed to be our last day of the trip. What was I thinking? Of course I'd end up extending, LOL.

Of course!

The reason because, well DISmeets.

And that's an excellent reason!

she somehow convinced me that we needed to attend too.

"convinced"...…..


Betsey: "Hey, there's this post race party? Anyone can go though. I know you guys are supposed to be checking out but why don't..."
Su-Lynn: "YES!!!"

Pretty pricey and doesn't really include anything, but I wanted to hang out with my friends!

Very good reason.

I'm so nice, aren't I?

Yes you are.

They were able to send our luggage to the Swan, thank goodness! I wasn't sure since it's not officially a Disney resort

Oh! Nice. I wouldn't have expected that either.

They were filming the Christmas Special that day so there was all sorts of activity near Tree of Life

Interesting. Was that cool or annoying?

Pretty top.
I saw it earlier, but didn't really see the lace detail. Pretty.

Since this is not our first journey to Tiffins I won't bore you with too much description.

Yes, you've mentioned it before. Some day I need to get there.

I believe this was the Thai style lobster bisque. It was delicious.

mmm.... lobster bisque. Say no more.

My absolute favorite grilled octopus appetizer:

I did remember that.

I've always just known it as...black rice. Of course Disney has to put a villainous twist on it.

For dessert this is the only thing I ever get here, the Passionfruit Tapioca Creme. It's layers of grapefruit, passionfruit tapioca curd, and topped with citrus whipped cream and chocolate crumbles. It's the best dessert on property.

Really!
I might have to make a trip there just for that.

I'm so surprised that this is closing. We really had no idea.

I think it surprised a lot of people, but I suspect the reason is...

it's never crowded

… that.

we like sitting in the sound booths which are pitch black and listening to the sounds of the forest.

Huh! Never even heard of that.

I had never visited the petting zoo there before, I honestly didn't even know they had one!

Really! That's the only reason I went (twice... with the kids)

Oh hello there!

ho hum... just a giraffe looking at me.

I don't know how but we ended up in Asia.

I suspect you may have walked.

Yuck I don't like this drink so I just had water instead.

what is that?

 

[missangelalexis]

Yum, your lunch at Tiffin's looks so cute! Sounds like a great afternoon at AK!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Mmmmm Tiffins! Your lunch looks amazing. I didn't realize they used to have this option for lunch, but it's a shame it's not still around. I'd be a very happy girl if I were eating that octopus app right now...

It was delicious! Tiffins never disappoints! I checked the lunch menu online and it looks like this option has gone away, but you never know, by May it might very well be back!

Your lunch at Tiffins looks amazing!!! So hoping we can join you in May...

Yes! I see that you are coming earlier now...does that mean you are in? LOL

And that's an excellent reason!

The only reason, really

"convinced"...…..

Betsey: "Hey, there's this post race party? Anyone can go though. I know you guys are supposed to be checking out but why don't..."
Su-Lynn: "YES!!!"

You are correct it went exactly like that. Am I a pushover?

Yes you are.

Thanks!! Coming from someone who has never met me, that is good!

Oh! Nice. I wouldn't have expected that either.

Me neither! Saved us about 30 minutes of Ubering!

Interesting. Was that cool or annoying?

Hmm, I guess I was indifferent. It didn't really bother us since we had already been to AK during the trip and I had already done everything that we wanted to do but if it was my only day there and I wanted to get some pictures of the Tree without the big scaffolding then yes it would be annoying.

Pretty top.
I saw it earlier, but didn't really see the lace detail. Pretty.

Thanks!
*puts it aside in pile labeled Pkondz's Disney Wardrobe*

Yes, you've mentioned it before. Some day I need to get there.

You must! You would absolutely enjoy it!

Really!
I might have to make a trip there just for that.

I love that dessert. Even more so than Ohana. I mean Ohana's bread pudding is good ole comfort food, but this dessert is a masterpiece of flavors.
And no coconut in sight!

I think it surprised a lot of people, but I suspect the reason is...

… that.

But that's why I loved it so much!

Huh! Never even heard of that.

What? You have not heard of the luxury nap rooms? People take hobo naps in the parks all the time but no, we have some class. We have an air-conditioned pitch-black room with surround sound headphones and privacy because there's a light up sign that says "Session in Progress" outside of each room so no one would disturb you! Best kept secret in WDW!

Really! That's the only reason I went (twice... with the kids)

I guess I was just too busy...napping in my luxury nap rooms.

ho hum... just a giraffe looking at me.

Just a regular day for me.

I suspect you may have walked.

Magic carpet ride count?

what is that?

I think it was a blue cherry icee. It's what you find at movie theaters. They are so artificial tasting blech.

Yum, your lunch at Tiffin's looks so cute! Sounds like a great afternoon at AK!

I thought it looked cute as well because everything was so compartmentalized! It would be better if it was actually served in a tiffin lunch tin!

 

[Lesley Wake]

I love how they call black rice forbidden rice. I've always just known it as...black rice. Of course Disney has to put a villainous twist on it.

I tried making it once (I loooove sticky rice), but it didn't come out well. And stained my rice cooker/steamer like crazy! I think it's called forbidden rice because it used to be so rare that only the emperor could eat it. So it was forbidden for any commoners to eat it!

 

[soniam]

Dude! I can't even remember the post-race party anymore I know we had tickets, and I think we went Either I was really tired or drank waaaay too much. We won't be at Tiffins in November unfortunately Your meal is making me hungry and sad. The tapioca is making my mouth water so much. I am also now dreaming of the whole fried fish with the amazing fermented bean sauce. We only have 1 day at AK for our Thanksgiving trip and decided to do TH breakfast, which we have never done. We might be doing Sanaa in March instead of Tiffins too. I can't believe I might not eat there for more than a year Maybe even more, because after March 2019, I don't think we will be back to WDW until Summer 2020!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I tried making it once (I loooove sticky rice), but it didn't come out well. And stained my rice cooker/steamer like crazy! I think it's called forbidden rice because it used to be so rare that only the emperor could eat it. So it was forbidden for any commoners to eat it!

Yes it is very very pigmented apparently! I've ony actually had it in Singaporean desserts. They make a rice pudding from it and put coconut milk on top. It's divine.
I'v never made it myself and now that you told me that, well maybe I'll just leave it to the professionals and I'll just eat it!

Dude! I can't even remember the post-race party anymore I know we had tickets, and I think we went Either I was really tired or drank waaaay too much. We won't be at Tiffins in November unfortunately Your meal is making me hungry and sad. The tapioca is making my mouth water so much. I am also now dreaming of the whole fried fish with the amazing fermented bean sauce. We only have 1 day at AK for our Thanksgiving trip and decided to do TH breakfast, which we have never done. We might be doing Sanaa in March instead of Tiffins too. I can't believe I might not eat there for more than a year Maybe even more, because after March 2019, I don't think we will be back to WDW until Summer 2020!

To be honest, I have few pictures of the evening, and since we already ate before attending the Food booths didn't interest us. We really just went to see friends but I remember being a little disappointed in the offerings at that time. Rides were crowded, booths were crowded. I dunno, I guess I expected more but it was just glorified EMH. And yes all the runners were drunk!! LOL

Oh that is too bad you are missing Tiffins! It's so hard to choose meals. We like to try new things but also fit in old favorites. We like Tiffins because it's a nice break in a beautiful space in AK and it just happens to have such great food. Tusker is fun too and I'm sure your son prefers it. We just had the fried fish in Sept. My sister and I both got it and Steve got the surf n turf. It's really pricey think it was 68 bucks for his entree, but he absolutely loved it. The lobster and steak were melt in your mouth tender. It's gonna be hard to skip Tiffins for us. But we managed to fit in Sanaa as well on our last trip and it was fabulous, you can't go wrong with anything in AK or AKL

 

[pkondz]

You are correct it went exactly like that. Am I a pushover?

When it comes to Disney.... aren't we all?

Thanks!! Coming from someone who has never met me, that is good!

I'm a good judge of unmet people.

Hmm, I guess I was indifferent. It didn't really bother us since we had already been to AK during the trip and I had already done everything that we wanted to do but if it was my only day there and I wanted to get some pictures of the Tree without the big scaffolding then yes it would be annoying.

I can see that.

Thanks!
*puts it aside in pile labeled Pkondz's Disney Wardrobe*

Yay! I'll wear it to Tiffins.

I love that dessert. Even more so than Ohana. I mean Ohana's bread pudding is good ole comfort food, but this dessert is a masterpiece of flavors.
And no coconut in sight!

Whoa! High praise indeed! With an even better qualifier.

What? You have not heard of the luxury nap rooms? People take hobo naps in the parks all the time but no, we have some class. We have an air-conditioned pitch-black room with surround sound headphones and privacy because there's a light up sign that says "Session in Progress" outside of each room so no one would disturb you! Best kept secret in WDW!

I honestly can't tell if you're kidding or not.

Magic carpet ride count?

Ah. Didn't think you'd pay the price. I hear those things are more expensive than Minnie Vans.

I think it was a blue cherry icee. It's what you find at movie theaters. They are so artificial tasting blech.

yuck

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

I think Rafiki's planet watch is going to reopen? Or at least I think I heard that somewhere. . . I never have had any intention of going over there though. Animal Kingdom really has soooo much to do and see and it's a surprise every time because you never know what animals and street performers you might see!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

This looks really good.SO, I just went and checked out the menu and it looks complete different. I think I wan to put this on our August trip list. I know Andy's sister has gone there and love it. The kids menu is a little scary, though. Gwen will ONLY eat the pasta option. Throw some chicken nuggets on there, for peats-sake!

 

[annie170]

Your Tiffins lunch looked delicious, as usual.

I've only been to Rafiki's Planet Watch once. I'm curious if it will be something Zootopia themed. That could be pretty cool.

Your photos with Rafiki are adorable and you captured some great images on the safari!

 

[Steppesister]

For dessert this is the only thing I ever get here, the Passionfruit Tapioca Creme. It's layers of grapefruit, passionfruit tapioca curd, and topped with citrus whipped cream and chocolate crumbles. It's the best dessert on property. Sweet, tart, creamy, fruity, with texture from the crumbles. I cannot get enough! I never usually order that much dessert but I always get it at Tiffins!

I am so totally 100% getting this next time!! WOW!!!!

After lunch at one of our favorite signatures, we headed to...Rafiki's Planet Watch! I'm so surprised that this is closing. We really had no idea. It is one of my favorite areas in AK - seems like a fun little respite, it's never crowded and we like sitting in the sound booths which are pitch black and listening to the sounds of the forest.

I'm seriously going to miss it too.

So freaking cute!!!

 

[franandaj]

Disney math, it always works!

It's a VERY GOOD thing we were so close to our room. Although having a golf cart ride could have helped, LOL.

A Golf Cart ride is always helpful. I was lucky that the VGC is so small so I could make it back to my room after dinner at Napa Rose the other night.

I need to get this too! @franandaj maybe we can meet up in AK to get some of this goodness!

I forget the days of your trip, I know you cut a few for the May trip. Tuesday we are in AK on our trip.

We were supposed to have breakfast this morning at 1900 Park Fare but I knew that having such a decadent meal the night before wouldn't make us want to eat a heavy breakfast so I had canceled that earlier and moved up our dinner at Tiffins to an early lunch instead.

I can totally see that. But Fran would kill me if I canceled her Strawberry soup restaurant!

I had made the first seating for lunch which was at 11am. So technically it was our breakfast, haha.

Perfect. I do that a lot. But above you said you let Steve sleep in. In my book getting somewhere at 11AM means you didn't get to sleep in! We are usually calling Bell Services at quarter to 11!

Since this is not our first journey to Tiffins I won't bore you with too much description. We literally went there 6 times last year! We love it so much and always appreciate how the menu changes, but yet our favorites always remain.

Based on your comments and a few other people, I tried to convince my parents to dine there, and I thought they might be adventurous enough to sway Fran to try it, but nope. They thought the menu was weird too!

I'm so surprised that this is closing. We really had no idea. It is one of my favorite areas in AK

I just found that out on Liesa's thread just before I read over here.

Steve doesn't too enthusiastic! But he was ok.

He looks happier than he did on some of your cruise photos and previous pictures with characters.

I had never visited the petting zoo there before, I honestly didn't even know they had one!

That's one of the few things that I have done there. I could never get into the booths due to people like you sleeping in there!

I'm seriously going to miss it too.

Yeah, but you actually watched the surgeries and such!

 

[Steppesister]

Yeah, but you actually watched the surgeries and such!

Yes, I did. Loved that. But then again, I get to watch people-y surgeries too.