Day 3 (part 3) - Saturday, November 13, 2004:
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Check into Boardwalk Studio - accomplished
2. Take Keys to the Kingdom Tour - barely made it through
3. Epcot and dinner at LeCellier - waiting to have fun
After unpacking at BWV and refreshening ourselves we headed off to Epcot and 7:30 dinner PS at Le Cellier. We left our room a little later than expected and just missed the Friendship boat to the International Gateway so we just began to walk. Went through the gateway and immediately the throngs of people were out for Food and Wine Festival. It was very crowded in my opinion. In fact I don't think that I've ever seen that many people in the World Showcase at any time I've been there in the past (of course I'm always there in the office season).
As we dodged our way through the gatherers in England we could hear the British Invasion singing and decided we could watch them for a few minutes (they had a nice crowd around them). We listened for 2 songs and headed to Canada. At this point it was about 7:10 at night and we used the walkway leading to Le Cellier to head on down. We stopped and took some pictures of the rose garden there as it is always so beautiful to admire. Then I went to stand in line and check in early. There were several people in line before me and the reservation hostess made a general announcement that they were booked up for the night and that no additional spots were available. At this point a few people in front and in back of me left so the line shortened up. It was a few more minutes before I could check in. The guy who was up before got the last beeper so I had to wait 5 more minutes for the next beeper to become available and had 3 other groups behind me now waiting for beepers as well. Mom and I walked the path to sit upstairs and watch the waterfalls while waiting. We made a couple of phone calls and by the time 7:40 came, I stated that they should be calling us soon so we began the climb down the stairs right as the beeper went off - what timing.
Off to LeCellier we go. We were seated and provided all the usual introductions. The menu has changed a bit since my mom was last there in Dec. 2002 and the meal she had then (some sort of fish dinner which she loved) was no longer listed on the menu (and mom doesn't like salmon). Mom also doesn't like thick meat but she ordered the porkchop (one really really thick chop came out) and she didn't like it (it was too thick for her). I always get the steaks and love them to death (perfectly cooked everytime, my fourth time here). I enjoyed everything from the various breadsticks to the cesar salads to the dinner. I would've ordered dessert as I usually do but it was already 8:45 and we needed to be out of there for Illuminations so we paid the bill which with tip was around $76 I believe. Even though mom enjoyed the bread/salad and the potato's she was disappointed that he fish wasn't listed and asked me to cancel our second ps for later in the week there.
We walked out and toward the International Gateway to wait/watch Illuminations. The entire area was very crowded with everyone waiting. As usual Illuminations began on time and was a wonderful show; however, I do have a question, I thought that it used to run about 20 minutes. This one lasted only about 13 minutes total, I could be wrong but have they shortened the show up a bit? Well we watched the show then jumped on the Friendship boats for the ride back. Got back to the room, made some hot chocolate and sat on the balcony and people watched for about an hour. Even though we were dead tired, it was a great day.
RECAP:
Le Cellier -
Epcot crowds -
Illuminations -
Drinking hot chocolate on the BWV Studio balcony -
Tomorrow I am at MK all day.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Check into Boardwalk Studio - accomplished
2. Take Keys to the Kingdom Tour - barely made it through
3. Epcot and dinner at LeCellier - waiting to have fun
After unpacking at BWV and refreshening ourselves we headed off to Epcot and 7:30 dinner PS at Le Cellier. We left our room a little later than expected and just missed the Friendship boat to the International Gateway so we just began to walk. Went through the gateway and immediately the throngs of people were out for Food and Wine Festival. It was very crowded in my opinion. In fact I don't think that I've ever seen that many people in the World Showcase at any time I've been there in the past (of course I'm always there in the office season).
As we dodged our way through the gatherers in England we could hear the British Invasion singing and decided we could watch them for a few minutes (they had a nice crowd around them). We listened for 2 songs and headed to Canada. At this point it was about 7:10 at night and we used the walkway leading to Le Cellier to head on down. We stopped and took some pictures of the rose garden there as it is always so beautiful to admire. Then I went to stand in line and check in early. There were several people in line before me and the reservation hostess made a general announcement that they were booked up for the night and that no additional spots were available. At this point a few people in front and in back of me left so the line shortened up. It was a few more minutes before I could check in. The guy who was up before got the last beeper so I had to wait 5 more minutes for the next beeper to become available and had 3 other groups behind me now waiting for beepers as well. Mom and I walked the path to sit upstairs and watch the waterfalls while waiting. We made a couple of phone calls and by the time 7:40 came, I stated that they should be calling us soon so we began the climb down the stairs right as the beeper went off - what timing.
Off to LeCellier we go. We were seated and provided all the usual introductions. The menu has changed a bit since my mom was last there in Dec. 2002 and the meal she had then (some sort of fish dinner which she loved) was no longer listed on the menu (and mom doesn't like salmon). Mom also doesn't like thick meat but she ordered the porkchop (one really really thick chop came out) and she didn't like it (it was too thick for her). I always get the steaks and love them to death (perfectly cooked everytime, my fourth time here). I enjoyed everything from the various breadsticks to the cesar salads to the dinner. I would've ordered dessert as I usually do but it was already 8:45 and we needed to be out of there for Illuminations so we paid the bill which with tip was around $76 I believe. Even though mom enjoyed the bread/salad and the potato's she was disappointed that he fish wasn't listed and asked me to cancel our second ps for later in the week there.
We walked out and toward the International Gateway to wait/watch Illuminations. The entire area was very crowded with everyone waiting. As usual Illuminations began on time and was a wonderful show; however, I do have a question, I thought that it used to run about 20 minutes. This one lasted only about 13 minutes total, I could be wrong but have they shortened the show up a bit? Well we watched the show then jumped on the Friendship boats for the ride back. Got back to the room, made some hot chocolate and sat on the balcony and people watched for about an hour. Even though we were dead tired, it was a great day.
RECAP:
Le Cellier -
Epcot crowds -
Illuminations -
Drinking hot chocolate on the BWV Studio balcony -
Tomorrow I am at MK all day.
