Sue (Holland) Rayford, Boardwalk Villas & DCL Dream, Oct 30 - Nov 10, 2014

Who/When/Where:

Who: Sue (55-56), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Chris (28), my son
Amanda (26), Chris fianc
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin
Dates: October 30 November 10, 2014
Resort: Disneys Boardwalk Villas Resort (8 nts) & DCL Dream (3 nts)
Experience: Very Experienced 16th stay at this resort & 12th DCL cruise (3rd on Dream)

INTRODUCTION:
This trip is the main Food & Wine Trip, which we always try to spend with our friends Pete & Judy. This year I also tacked on a 3-night Dream cruise to the end, since a friend/co-worker has commented repeatedly that shes never been on a cruise and wants to try it, but hasnt done so with her husband. I figured since Im not a fan of sharing a room, I could put up with it for only 3 nights. It will give her a taste of what a cruise ship looks like and DCL is the only line Id consider for a short cruise (the other lines that do cruises of less than 7 nights tend to put their crappiest ships on the shorter cruises and they attract a rather questionable clientele). The bazillion and one kids on board DCL will be a negative, but its one I can put up with for 3 nights.

The trip is actually broken into 3 reservations. The first 3 nights are in a studio at Boardwalk Villas with SB staying the first night. Chris & Amanda arrive on the 2nd night for 3 nights in another studio at Boardwalk Villas. Pete & Judy arrive on the 3rd night, staying in a 1-bedroom at Boardwalk Villas. I move to a 1-bedroom at Boardwalk villas on the 4th night, for 5 nights, with SB rejoining me for the entire time. Tiana comes in for the last night at Boardwalk Villas (using our sleep sofa in the living room), then she & I board DCLs Dream for the final 3 nights (while SB goes home). Itll be nice having the 1-bedroom villa in the middle of the trip, as I can do laundry and not have to pack as much. Plus, when its the 2 of us it just works better to have the villa, as its more like home than sharing whats essentially just a bedroom for 5 nights!

The main focus of the trip will be the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, which is why were staying at Boardwalk Villas. The only other resort considered was Beach Club Villas, which I prefer over Boardwalk, but its nice to change it up once in a while. Plus, staying at the same resort as Pete & Judy and Chris & Amanda has some benefit. If this was a solo trip I doubt I would have booked any dining reservations at all, but since I do have other people to consider I agreed to several reservations. Ill have the first couple days to just enjoy Food & Wine, before the others arrive. With my birthday falling in November I should get $25 credits to use at some of the non-Disney restaurants. One of those is Portabello in Downtown Disney, so we have lunch booked there on Saturday. That would be the first day the credit might appear, so hopefully it will be there on my account.

Just before the trip I learned a cold front would be passing through, leaving us with temperatures in the 40s Saturday morning (only rising to the 60s). That pretty much killed my original plan for a morning on the beach or by the pool, lol! I received an email today about a special (free) screening (for dvc members) of the latest Disney movie Big Hero 6. It comes out in theaters November 7th, but theyre running it twice for members on November 1st (Saturday) at the AMC Theaters in Downtown Disney. I checked with Chris, then signed up and secured seats at the 10am showing for Chris, Amanda & myself. Our lunch with Pete & Judy is at 12:40 (Portobello), so we can wander around Downtown Disney to fill the time between the movie and lunch, then we have fastpasses at Magic Kingdom for after lunch. I realized later the movie is probably going to be shown on the cruise, but I definitely would not be spending precious cruise time sitting in a theater watching a cartoon with potentially hordes of kids (including those too young to even appreciate the movie, who are likely to be making noise). Granted, I may find the same thing Saturday but it will be less painful <g>.

Monday is the only meal reservation where everyone will be together, and we booked lunch at Whispering Canyon over at Wilderness Lodge. Those with a big appetite can get the skillet, and those with smaller appetites and order from the regular menu. On Tuesday were booked at Beaches & Cream, which isnt fancy but its one of SBs favorite spots. Its also my birthday that day, but honestly Id rather just enjoy Food & Wine than sit in a restaurant especially since Ive agreed to give up a Food & Wine meal for Beaches & Cream! We did not book any meals for Wednesday or Thursday, since those are my last 2 days of the Food & Wine Festival. Friend/co-worker Tiana will arrive Thursday afternoon and can join us for Food & Wine Festival. She has an annual pass, so if theres somewhere else she wants to go shes free to do so but with it being my last day there I dont see myself going further than Epcot.

Friday morning Tiana & I head for the Dream, and SB may join Pete & Judy for lunch at Trails End before heading home at some point. Tiana loves WDW, so it should be fun seeing her reaction to the Dream especially since shes never been on a cruise ship before! We have a verandah stateroom and the itinerary thankfully skips the armpit known as Nassau and does a sea day instead. We also have a stop at Castaway Cay, and I think Tiana wants to get off to see the island but then spend the day on the ship. That works for me, as the island is no big deal. Its nice, but its a been there, done that sort of thing. With this being my 12th DCL cruise and her 1st, there are bound to be things that shell be interested in while Ill be thinking oh no, not again <g>. Ill do some things because theyre new to her, but I also plan to have time to relax by the pool and have let her know we do not need to be joined at the hip. She might want to see the show each night, while I certainly do not. I sat through them with SB 2 cruises ago and couldnt wait to get out of there! The DCL shows in general are too saccharine/childish for me, especially after seeing them numerous times. I can appreciate the costumes, sets, and lighting but thats not enough to enjoy sitting through any of the shows.

We have dinner booked in Palo for Saturday night, and the pirate night fireworks will be later that evening. Since this is only a 3-night cruise it means well only eat in 2 of the 3 main restaurants, and we wont know until we check in which 2 it will be. We can always try to change our Palo night once we get onboard if we want to change which restaurant well miss. I think Tiana will really enjoy the restaurants onboard, and the lounges we have a small amount of wine to enjoy on the verandah, but we can enjoy the public spaces on the ship too. I dont plan to get online while on the cruise, since its such a short cruise those reports will wait until I get back home.

Other than the first weekend the weather is looking good for the trip definitely better than early October!

The plans so far are:
Thursday 10/30: Work, Drive to WDW, Food & Wine
Friday 10/31: Epcot, Food & Wine, Chris & Amanda arrive at night
Saturday 11/1: Big Hero 6 movie, Portabello Lunch, MK w/Chris & Amanda, Epcot
Sunday 11/2: Change rooms, Animal Kingdom, Food & Wine
Monday 11/3: Epcot, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Food & Wine
Tuesday 11/4: Magic Kingdom, Beaches & Cream, Food & Wine
Wednesday 11/5: Animal Kingdom, Food & Wine
Thursday 11/6: Food & Wine
Friday 11/7: Board Dream, DVC Meet, Tour Ship
Saturday 11/8: Pool, Palo dinner, Fireworks
Sunday 11/9: Castaway Cay
Monday 11/10: Debark Dream, Drive to Gainesville


DAY 1 Thursday 10/30/14
Who: Sue (55), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband

Plan: Work, Drive to WDW, Food & Wine

Actual: It was another hectic, stressful morning but thankfully by 11:15 everything urgent had been taken care of and I was out the door by noon. After packing up the little cooler we were on the road at 12:15 for the uneventful drive to WDW. We talked with Pete & Judy and then Linda from radp along the way. We arrived at Boardwalk and were happy to see no parking lot shenanigans or passwords today! We parked in the self parking lot and dragged out stuff up the hill to the lobby. The cast members outside greeted us by name and took us inside. Happily our room was ready, and all of my requests were met (upper floor, near elevator) plus the verbal request at the time of reservation for a room overlooking the green/grassy area across from the boat dock was met too! During the online check in process Id indicated our arrival time would be 1:30, which Im assuming is why our room was ready for us.

I was also happy to see were in a dedicated studio no connecting door to allow noise from neighbors! My only irritation was with SB who after we got into the room seemed surprised that wed be heading over to Food & Wine NOW, lol!! Rain is expected by late afternoon or early evening, so were going to sit around the room & head out closer to possible rain time??? Made no sense to me, but I think I may have made a comment about how I love my solo trips <g>. I set up the computer to approve a couple payroll actions for work, then we headed over to Epcot.

It turns out the rain never came, and we were in the park until almost 6:30. Maybe itll rain overnight, but that wont matter to us. Part of the time it was cloudy (which was nice) but other times the sun was shining (making it just a tad too hot for my taste). Today is expected to be the warmest day of the trip, so good to get that discomfort out of the way!

We had no wait at International Gateway, and once inside the park headed left through United Kingdom. The lumberjack show was going on in Canada, but didnt look too exciting. The reviews have been awful, but quite a few people were standing around the area. I cant imagine anyone preferring this to something like Off Kilter.
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I called Linda from radp once we got past the lumberjacks and chainsaws, and sadly our schedules werent going to allow us to meet up today. She & Frank leave for home in the morning, so hopefully our paths will cross again next year sometime. Linda recommended the scallop in Scotland, and Id read good reviews of it, so since we were passing Scotland I had SB get in the queue. I wont touch them, but he loves scallops. He had the seared sea scallop with spinach-cheddar gratin and crispy bacon, along with the Innis & Gunn original oak aged beer. I thought hed love the gratin, but hes not a spinach fan. We each tried a small bite of it, but most of it went in the trash can. It was very good except for the spinach, lol! He loved the scallop, and the beer. The beer was a small cup, but thats good from the standpoint of it stays cold while you drink it.

In Patagonia I got the sparkling brut and SB had the roasted verlasso salmon with quinoa salad and arugula chimichurri. Both were excellent. Our next stop was Germany, which turned into a nightmare. They only had 1 cashier working, so the line was moving ridiculously slow. The sun was broiling us at this point, so it was truly miserable. When we finally got up to the cashier we learned they were out of bratwurst, had been out for a while, and werent sure when theyd have more (maybe 10 minutes). So, we stood in line for almost 20 minutes sweating to death when all the while they didnt have the most popular item on the 3-item menu!! I told the cashier she should suggest to her supervisors that when theyre out of something they need to put up a sign or have a cast member at the start of the line telling people. They had 4-6 people working inside the booth, and they were mostly standing around chatting & drinking water since there were so few customers (those wanting bratwurst just left after getting to the cash registers. Very bad show.

We left the area, not wanting to stand around in case bratwurst arrived. Italy was just down the road, and while the reviews say Italy is a terrible value (and I agree), SB remembered liking this booth in the past. He got the ravioli ($6 for a few cheese ravioli poor value) and the tiny cup of Moretti beer for $5. We shared the ravioli and it was ok but nothing special, and certainly not worth $5. No wonder the stand had no line, lol! We wont be bothering with Italy again, until the menu changes.

Next was America, and the Hops & Barley stand. The cashier was a young guy who remembered me from last trip! SB found us a spot at a table while I ordered us a Florida grass fed beef slider with pimento cheese and the warm craisin carrot cake with cream cheese icing. SB loved them both, as I do! We took a little bit of a breather after this, not stopping again until we came to Ireland. SB had the lobster & seafood fishermans pie, which he always enjoys. He said its as good as it was in previous years. As we passed through Canada the lumberjack show was running again.

As we passed the front area I got another glass of the sparkling brut from Patagonia and then in Mexico SB got a margarita. This was the next spot where the queue was in the direct sun, and it was hotter than hell waiting. We continued walking around, and I think the margarita was gone by the time we got to America those things go down easy! The line for the 5:30 Dennis DeYoung concert was very long, and it was only 4:30. I heard my name being called and saw Jack Marshall in the line. Im not sure when Jack is NOT here during Food & Wine Festival, lol!

I knew theyd let the people in line enter the theater in 30 minutes, so we got SB some popcorn and we sat at a table behind the Fife & Drum stand. I tried the popcorn, but it was way too salty for me. We sat back there until the line was let into the theater, then walked inside and took seats around 5:05. We were more than halfway back in the 2nd section, but I wanted to try out my new camera and wanted to be at a distance since it has 65x optical zoom! For whatever reason at 5:30 instead of the concert starting, assorted technicians started running around on the stage making last minute preparations. Somewhere 5-10 minutes after 5:30 there was an announcement that the show was delayed due to technical difficulties. It did start just a couple minutes after that, thank goodness.

Dennis DeYoung is one of the original members of Styx, and they put on a good show. I saw them last year but this was SBs first time and he really enjoyed the concert. The guys seated next to me couldnt have even been born when Styx was first big, yet they seemed to know all the songs. They did the full show, ending about 10 minutes late due to the delayed start. We talked about what to do next, and I wasnt hungry for more eating. We ended up deciding to just head back to the resort & relax there.

On the way we stopped at Boardwalk Bakery (my suggestion), where the $5+ cupcakes didnt look worth the money or calories, so we stuck with the familiar and always delicious oatmeal raisin cookies (2 of them since they looked smaller than usual). SB added a small carton of milk and when the cashier said it was $10.41 I thought surely it was a mistake so I told her we only had 2 cookies. She told us they are $3.99 each, lol and agreed with us that it was ridiculous. We probably should have left them there, but we paid for them and went up to the room with the final Disney oatmeal raisin cookies of our lifetime (other than those in the concierge lounge) unless we find them for a more reasonable price somewhere. I could have sworn they were just $2.59 or something like that, but maybe Im delusional.

Our room is so convenient just 2 doors from the elevators! I love this location, and especially love that theres no connecting door. I went out onto the balcony and noticed spaceship earth barely visible beyond the end of the Boardwalk Inn (and ESPN club). Using the zoom on the camera I got an incredible close-up of the exterior tiles on Spaceship Earth! I didnt even zoom it as far as it would go, since I would have had just a picture of gray <g>. Ill put it up on facebook if I get a chance later tonight.

I finished unpacking what I planned to unpack (the stuff for Sunday Friday is in a separate larger suitcase) and hung up the dresses Ill wear on the cruise. We watched the national news and the Jeopardy as I worked on the trip report. Sometime after that SB decided he was hungry again. Hed eaten his cookie & milk when we got to the room. Ive eaten a piece of mine, but for $3.99 it needs to serve as more than 1 snack <g>. SB loves the stand out on the boardwalk that sells chili dogs & stuff, and I agreed to walk down there with him.

A magician was performing his show right next to the stand, but we didnt have any wait to order and the food was up very quickly (as usual). He got a foot long chili dog and order of fries for less than the 2 cookies and tiny milk cost us earlier! I think it was $9.75. It was one of those big fat foot long hot dogs, too not the skinny one. This stand is not Disney, which explains why the hot dog wasnt $16.95 (before the fries)!

We went up to the studio, where I ate some of his fries and a bite of the end of his hot dog (without the chili). Both were excellent I do think hed be happy eating most meals from this stand, lol! They do not take magic bands or the dining card, since theyre not Disney. At this point were in for the night, with him watching a basketball game and me relaxing online after finishing up the trip report. Illuminations may be partly visible at 9, but well see. Starting Sunday well be overlooking the boardwalk and might have a better shot at seeing them then.

Today was a great day, and the weather turned out much better than expected (other than being a bit hot a couple times in the sun). I was thrilled to have our room ready upon arrival, as sometimes thats been challenging at this resort. Im also happy to have all of my requests met although for only 3 nights it wouldnt have bothered me if they werent. Requests are not guaranteed. Epcot was busy but not too crowded, although Im sure it was much worse after we left. Evenings are more crowded than afternoons. The Dennis DeYoung concert was great, and we didnt encounter any obnoxious people anywhere we went. Thats always nice, lol!

Tomorrow looks like a perfect weather day! Well spend the morning at Epcot, doing lunch at Food & Wine Festival. After that SB will head home at some point, and Ill spend some time by the pool. Chris and Amanda wont arrive until around 8pm tomorrow, and Ill head back into Epcot with them most likely.


DAY 2 Friday 10/31/14
Who: Sue (55), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Chris (28), my son
Amanda (26), Chris fianc

Plan: Epcot, Food & Wine, Chris & Amanda arrive at night

Actual: Last night we did get the high Illuminations fireworks visible from our balcony and also from the mirror next to the bed. I got out there late and managed to take one picture, but that was it. They were showing a movie down on the grassy area and it was blaring! Im glad they start this by 8, because without the tv on it would have been heard somewhat in the room. They had blankets spread out on the grass for people to lay on. Being in Florida, theres no way Id be laying on the ground, but Disney does do a great job with pest control.

SB watched the basketball game until sometime in the 4th quarter. He was having trouble staying awake and was uncomfortable from the excessive eating he did once we got here. Turning the fan up high helped, but then I was cold so I put on his socks, his shirt, and added a bath towel on top of the bedding. He slept well once he got comfortable. I took a while longer to settle down, and we were both up by 6:30.

He was still feeling stuffed, lol he really did overdo it yesterday, but at the time he wasnt exactly open to hearing what I had to say about it! In recent months hes cut down on the quantity he eats, but yesterday he went hog wild being back at Food & Wine and ate like he used to. I asked if he wanted breakfast, lol he declined <g>. Hes still full, and can still taste his chili dog. Instead of going to Epcot and doing more Food & Wine hes decided to skip it, and go home to rest up for the next part of the trip. The fact that Breeders Cup is Saturday so the earlier he gets home Friday the more time he has to study the horses and get ready for that (he works during the day Saturday) also has something to do with it, and thats fine with me.

We puttered around the room, and eventually started getting ready to begin our days. I finished the expensive oatmeal raisin cookie for breakfast, but SB was still too full for anything. I left for Epcot around 8:45, figuring Id do a few things (including my Soarin fastpass) before Food & Wine opened.

Its not as convenient walking in from Boardwalk as it is from Beach Club Villas, but it was a beautiful morning for the longer stroll. They were still holding people at International Gateway but started letting people through as I approached. The lines were not very long at all, which was a pleasant surprise given that its a Friday (and gorgeous day)! They initially herded people with no bags through the lane at one end, and it took very little time to get through the bag check and entry process.

My first stop was the Land, where I walked right onto Living with the Land. I was the only one in my set of boats, and the sets ahead and behind were completely empty. I wanted to try taking a couple pictures in the farm scene, as previous cameras gave me really dark pictures. With the new Canon it told me to use the flash but it actually came out with and without the flash. I wouldnt have used the flash if there had been other guests around, but since I was completely solo it wouldnt disturb anyone.

After the boat ride I checked the bakery stand at Seasons and saw the oatmeal raisin cookies marked at $2.59, which is what they should be. I have no idea why Boardwalk Bakery was so high, and the receipt said 2 oatmeal cookies so the cashier didnt accidently ring up a pastry by mistake. Its very odd, but good to know we can still enjoy the cookies. I was within my fastpass window for Soarin so I did that next, even though the standby wait was posted as only 15 minutes. I had no reason to try to save the fastpass for later. At first I was put in the middle row of the seats on the end, but then they moved me and I ended up in the front row of the center section! That was cool to get that without asking! Unfortunately the lady in the couple next to me had some bad breath or body odor, so that wasnt cool and of course she sat next to me, lol.

After Soarin it was about 5 minutes before 10 I thought my Nemo fastpass was for 10:05 (since the Soarin fastpass had been 9:05). Luckily outside I checked my notes, because it was actually for 10:20. I decided to skip it, and checked the live tip board outside the Land and thought Spaceship Earth said 5 minutes. I walked over there and it was a 15-minute wait that was snaked around a bit, so I decided not to spend my time waiting. We have fasptasses for later tonight, if were not doing Food & Wine instead.

I went to the Festival Center, using the My Disney Experience app to move my Nemo fastpass back to match Chris & Amandas between 7 & 8 tonight, but its not likely any of us will use them. They probably wont arrive til about 8 and I cant imagine Future World beating out World Showcase when they first arrive. At the Ghiradelli exhibit I got my mini sample and tucked it away for dessert later. I checked out the festival merchandise and saw the mug SB got me for Christmas is nowhere to be found (checked MouseGear and out around World Showcase as well) so it has sold out. Glad I got it last trip! They have marked down the coasters, tote bag, and wine glasses. Perhaps more will get marked down as the week progresses.

Around 10:30 I wandered back towards World Showcase and walked around between the entrance and just past Mexico. The stands on the other side (Scotland, Hawaii) were taking customers, and so was Patagonia. Once I got past that to Australia I was going to try their Riesling but they said they werent opening until 11. Weird. Around 10:45 I walked back towards Canada and got the cheese soup. SB called to let me know hed made it home safely. I asked if hed stopped at his usual barbecue place to pick up ribs and he groaned hes still full, lol!

I took the rest of my soup and went into the Puerto Rico area, ordering the braised beef with rice. There were several tables occupied but I had no trouble finding one. I enjoyed this last time and it was great again today a very hearty portion, too! Id finished by 11, so I left the park and walked back to Boardwalk while eating the Ghiradelli sample. The weather is absolutely perfect today bright sunshine, comfortable temperature, low humidity, nice breeze! It simply does not get better than this, and its so much nicer than early October (or god forbid September).

I went up to the studio and changed into a swimsuit, gathered up what I needed, and went down to the pool. Most of the available chaise lounges at the main pool were in the shade, so I walked over to the quiet pool near Community Hall. Several people were there too, but no kids! The main pool was relatively quiet too. I set up my chaise lounge and spent a blissful couple of hours or so, first just resting with my eyes closed and then reading. I never even had to go into the pool or under the shower to cool off, it was so comfortable.

Just before 2 I went upstairs, then got some ice for the room. I quickly read yesterdays General Hospital recap to catch up while watching todays on tv. I had a small glass of wine and updated the trip report while watching an insane woman inject an evil pregnant woman (to eventually steal her baby) and a wedding blow up with the bride saying I do and the groom saying hell no why would I marry a lying cheating whore? just another day in the ficticious Port Charles, lol!

I had an email from Disney Cruise Line with a form to be printed, filled out & signed before arriving next Friday (concerning health & ebola stuff). I guess they expect people to be sitting at home or traveling with a printer (sigh), so I forwarded the email to my friend Michael & asked him to print the form and give it to SB to bring back to me. I didnt bother trying to ask Disney to print it, and although I could wait and do it at the terminal Id rather not delay things if I dont have to.

I still wasnt hungry after that cheese soup & braised beef, so I took my time taking my shower and getting dressed again. I was ready to head out and getting hungry by 4:15, so I moved my Nemo fastpass up and then changed it to Imagination. Im not sure Ill use it, but I might since its so close to World Showcase. Its booked for 4:35-5:35, so that gives me time to find dinner first.

It was very breezy/windy as I left the Boardwalk, and in the shade I could have used a light jacket! I knew it was still a while before sunset though, so I planned to mostly find sunlight while I was out. There was no real wait to enter the park, and I sped up as I saw a boat disembarking as I got into the area. I turned right towards France and made a loop around the countries. My plan was dinner at Singapore, and thats located in Germany.

Some food stands were a little busy, but many had no wait at all. At Singapore I might have waited behind one other person, but thats it. I ordered the lemongrass chicken curry with coconut and jasmine rice, and took it over to a table along the lake in Germany. It was very good, but had a definite kick to it! At first I was put off by there only being a single piece of chicken, but I cut that one up and did find a few smaller pieces mixed in the sauce. At $3.75 I thought it was reasonable, and actually I prefer the portions to not be too big because then I cant try as much.

On my way to Singapore I did stop between Japan and America to take a picture of Spaceship Earth. Actually, it was a picture of some of the tiles on the exterior, lol! This zoom is insane! After eating I was ready for something cooler on the palate, so I stopped in Africa for the M.A.N. vintners chenin blanc. The cast member outside the booth tore my ticket and yelled inside I need a MAN, lol! She explained that the M.A.N. was the initials of the winerys 3 owners wifes names. Awwww. The chenin blanc was only $2.50 (probably the cheapest option in the entire festival), the cast member actually poured a half glass (instead of a third or quarter, lol) and it was quite good. Id definitely get this again. I sat in China with it, on a sunny bench. When the acrobat show was getting ready to start I moved on to make room for people who wanted to watch the show.

I walked into Future World and went to the Land first. There I went to Seasons to get an oatmeal raisin cookie for the room, and there were only 3-4 left on the tray! There was probably a rush on the cookies by Boardwalk guests <g>. I got my cookie, had to stand in line to pay, and then left the building. I decided to use my Imagination fastpass, so I did that next. There was really no need for the fastpass, as the standby wait was posted as 5 minutes but was less than that.

After Imagination I returned to World Showcase, continuing around through Canada. The food stands still werent horribly crowded, which surprised me. Hopefully theyll still be ok when Chris & Amanda get here. I walked back towards America and sat on a bench in Japan listening to the Dennis DeYoung concert (on the America side). It was a packed theater, and they sounded great again.

When the concert was about to end I continued walking, deciding to get another food item. As I passed Poland I saw someone with the kielbasa and potato pierogie. We stopped getting this because it was a single pierogie and a couple small round bite-sized slices of kielbasa. This year its more substantial, so I decided to get it (with no wait). There were 3 small pierogies, small pile of sauted onions, and 3 long slices of kielbasa! The sour cream on each pierogie was even squirted into a hidden Mickey shape, lol! It was very good, and worth repeating. I found a table in Germany again, and ate there.

My last stop was Patagonia for a sparkling brut, which I enjoyed on a bench in front of the Duffy meet & greet area while reading my kindle. When the brut was gone I got up and left the park to walk back to Boardwalk. The resorts Halloween event was going on at the grass/Village Green, and they had trick or treat tables set up along the boardwalk. The characters were posing for photos with guests in an area under the porch that extends off the lobby, and a dj was set up at one end of the grass. At the other end was a giant inflatable pumpkin with smoke swirling on the ground. They had games for the kids, cheap prizes, LOUD music, and everyone seemed to be having fun. I thought it was ending at 7:30, but its 7:37 and the music is still blaring into my room through the closed balcony door. The movie tonight is Nightmare Before Christmas and that starts at 8, so the music will end just in time for the movie to blare until around 10 <g>. Thats the downside to a room in this location.

Chris & Amanda pulled into the resort entrance at 8:05, and the party was still blaring outside. I hope it doesnt make it hard for them to find a parking space. Parking is so tight here, and no doubt some of the people out there are locals here for the freebies. I decided to go down and meet them in the lobby, and I found Amanda. Shed already checked in and was waiting for Chris to come in from parking the car. Eventually he got there, and we went up to their room, which was very close to mine. Theyre a couple doors from the elevator on the standard view side. This will be very convenient on Sunday when I move my stuff into their room, and also when I retrieve it since theyre so close to the elevator!

Theyd brought SBs pants for their wedding, which wed forgotten when we were in Ft Myers a couple weeks ago, so we dropped them off in my room before heading out. The Halloween party was still going full blast. It was getting somewhat chilly, but the next couple of days will be much colder. I was in shorts/tank/flip flops but I added a light hooded jacket made of t-shirt material. Chris always wears shorts, but Amanda had long pants and a sweater.

We walked over to Epcot and started by heading towards France. Amanda was starving but shes a picky eater. Chris was still on his lets boycott Disney food over the Boardwalk cookie incident and only drink kick. We stopped in France, where Chris stood in a fairly long line to get a cup of Kronenbourg beer (very good beer). In Brazil Amanda saw the moscato on the menu so she got that and Chris got some other beer. In Japan Chris gave in and got the spicy hand roll.

As we were walking Chris was asking about food stands and food items from past years, including the slider that used to be at the Florida Fresh stand but is now at Hops & Barley in America. We went there next, and they both joined the queue. Amanda got the artisan cheese plate and one of the beef sliders without the sauce. Chris got a slider with the sauce and a cup of leinenkugels seasonal shandy (beer). He had me try the beer and it was orange flavored weird but good.

We shared a picnic table with some other people and watched the various Halloween costumes passing by. One family of several people were covered in black gauze (which they could see through) and had tiny white skeleton heads on top of their heads, so they looked like tall creatures with tiny white heads. Amanda thought it was creepy looking, lol!

Soon we started walking again, stopping in Italy for Chris to get the margarita with limoncello. It was very tart like lemonade. It took him a while to finish it, since it was so frozen. In Singapore Amanda got the mahi mahi but without the sauce. When we passed through Mexico we turned right and went to the Odyssey, where the craft beers are this year. Chris wanted to see it, but I dont think he was impressed with the menu. We exited out the other side so they could use their Test Track fastpass but Amanda pointed out there were no cars running. Chris checked his Disney app and sure enough, the ride was down. We could see people standing in line hoping it would be back up, but we decided to head back to the festival. We cut through Odyssey again and resumed our trek around World Showcase.

Amanda made notes in their passport next to the items they want to try another day. In Patagonia I got another sparkling brut, which Amanda tried and put a star next to in her passport. Our final stop was Ireland, where Amanda got the warm chocolate pudding (cake). I was going to get one too, but I still had half my sparkling brut and they dont really go together (plus I only have 2 hands). While she was in line at Ireland (1-2 people ahead of her) Chris went to the Rose & Crown Pub. Carol had long since finished her last set, but there were still lots of people in there. The 15-minute announcement about Illuminations (10pm tonight) could be heard as Amanda & I approached.

We found Chris on the other side of the bar paying for his drink hed gotten some type of whiskey or scotch or something, poured over ice. He said it was way more than the 1 shot he was charged for ($10) and he may have been right. It was a good sized clear plastic cup, full of ice and the liquor was almost to the top. Id guess it was an 8 or 10-ounce cup.

We headed back outside and the security cast member stopped Amanda to ask what her chocolate dessert was. That was odd, given that he works for Disney and Amanda got it from the stand approximately 100 yards away at most, lol! We headed towards International Gateway and Chris remembered they dont let you leave with alcohol and there was no way he could chug that drink down. We tried to figure out how to sneak it out, and I thought if we got a small merchandise bag perhaps he could carry it inconspicuously. He liked that idea, so I went into the shop to ask for their smallest bag but all they have are these big CLEAR bags now, lol! I took it, and they both laughed when I came out. Amanda checked her bag to see if she had an old merchandise bag in there, but she did not.

Finally I zipped up my jacket part way, put my hand in the pocket (like a hoodie) and had Chris slide the cup down so my hand could hold it. I then zipped the jacket up to hide the cup and casually walked behind Amanda to the exit. Amanda laughed that itll look suspicious if I start spilling it on the way out, but I said to just tell them Im old and I sometimes pee as I walk <g>. We managed to get out of the park, and once a safe distance away I gave Chris back his drink. Of course, its entirely possible they DO allow you to leave with alcohol now and we did this for nothing, but we had some laughs being derelicts.

Back at the Boardwalk the Halloween party had ended and the area cleaned up so youd never even know it had happened. We stopped in Seashore Sweets, where Chris bought a sprite to add to his drink so it would be more drinkable. Wed decided earlier to skip the Big Hero 6 movie tomorrow, for a couple of reasons. I never received the e-mail confirmation after signing up, so there was a slight possibility we would have a problem getting in. The other issue is the event is sold out, which means every seat will be filled. None of us looked forward to that aspect, and I dont think the movie is a must see for any of us. The original thought was movie at 10, then wed be meeting Pete & Judy for our lunch reservation at 12:40 at Downtown Disney. If we didnt get into the movie, wed have too many hours to kill at Downtown Disney.

Instead, were going to do the Ballyhoo tour at the Boardwalk. I did this a year or so ago and it was interesting all about the detail in the resort, what it all means, etc. I think theyll enjoy it too. It starts at 9 and runs about an hour and a half at the most, so we can head to Downtown Disney afterwards and have a reasonable amount of time to kill before lunch.

Today was a completely delightful day, with perfect weather!! Crowds werent too bad, the food I had was excellent, I loved my pool time, and it was fun hanging out with Chris & Amanda. Tomorrow will be another busy day, although much cooler. Weve got the tour, lunch at Portobello, Magic Kingdom, and then probably some Food & Wine at night. Its also Amandas birthday tomorrow!


DAY 3 Saturday 11/1/14
Who: Sue (55), DVC Member
Chris (28), my son
Amanda (26), Chris fianc
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends

Plan: Big Hero 6 movie, Portabello Lunch, MK w/Chris & Amanda, Epcot

Actual: I slept well last night, although I didnt turn out the lights until almost 11:30. I was awake at 1 and got up to see if there was an extra blanket up in the closet. There was, so my use of a bath towel the night before was silly, lol! Some of the sleep sofas have everything stored inside, but this one isnt one of those, which is why the pillows and blankets are in a zippered pouch on the top shelf in the closet. I quickly went back to sleep and didnt get up until almost 6:45!

I cleaned up and made breakfast egg, slice of bacon, and cappuccino. I had the local news on the tv and also checked weather online. It looks like when SB goes to work tomorrow morning the feels like temp will be 33 degrees (in Gainesville). Itll be warmer down here, by about 10 degrees or so. I checked my loyalty card for Portobello/Fultons/Pucks and could see my $25 birthday reward on the account, so Ill be able to put that towards lunch today. Next year I wont get to use it, since our trip will be earlier.

I texted with Amanda around 8:15 they were up and Chris was in the shower, so theyd be on time. Last night I couldnt remember what our 3 fastpasses were today, so I gave her those and asked if she wanted me to change any of them to another attraction. She liked them all, so well leave them alone. Tomorrow we have the safari early, but Ill see if they want to try to push that back since its going to be so cold out. At 8:45 I brought a couple things over to their room, including Amandas birthday card. We gave Chris Disney gift cards for his birthday in September, and did the same for Amanda, so this trip should end up not really costing them anything. Life is good when youre dvc kids, lol!

We went downstairs to the Bellevue Lounge and they stood in line to buy their breakfast while I waited for them on one of the sofas. Their yogurt parfait was a good value at $3.19 and the $2.79 bagel was huge. I wonder if theyre each $5 at Boardwalk Bakery, lol! By the time Amanda had toasted the bagel the tour was ready to begin, so they finished eating while we did the tour. The greeter Jim was the tour guide today and he did a great job. We were the only 3 people, which was really nice!

He covered the same basic information as I heard last time, but spent less time on some of the details and also covered some things not mentioned last time. Overall, it was still interesting to me as a repeat guest since it wasnt exactly the same. Chris & Amanda both enjoyed it, saying they learned a lot and saw things theyd never noticed before. The tour ended in Seashore Sweets, where we each received a free small scoop of ice cream. We thanked Jim and were finished by 10:15, deciding to take a 30-minute break before meeting back up to head over to Downtown Disney via Disney transportation.

Its a beautiful day, but the wind makes it feel very cold colder than it really is. The temperatures wont be rising any today, so this is about as warm as its going to get until tomorrow afternoon. I only brought 1 pair of long pants and 1 long sleeve shirt, so Ill be wearing them both days! For today I threw my old Dixie Landings sweatshirt on top, figuring tonight Ill switch to something warmer.

At 10:45 I met Chris & Amanda at the elevator and we walked out to the bus stop. It seemed to take a while, but maybe thats because it was cooler than we liked. We were the last stop, so the bus was pretty full but we got to the only bus stop at Downtown Disney (Marketplace) ok. This whole bus stop area just seems congested now, and I realized later that theyre running extra buses to all the resorts so there are more buses in the area than there used to be when guests were spread out among 2 (or 3 in the old days) bus stops.

We browsed in a few shops in the Marketplace, then did the same at the West Side, easily killing the time before lunch. Amanda bought a pair of shoes that were hand painted with scenes from Little Mermaid, and Chris plans to come back for a cigar from Sosa for a friend of his. I didnt see anything I needed. It was pretty busy, and the entire area that used to be Pleasure Island is now blocked off by construction walls. Paradiso 37 is the only thing open. Pete & Judy had arrived at Boardwalk and their villa was ready, so that was good news. We all met back at Portobello right around our 12:40 reservation time.

This restaurant was busier than Ive ever seen it, but we were seated right away and had a really terrific server. Im not crazy about the focaccia bread and roasted garlic they serve here the bread doesnt have much taste and the garlic didnt do anything for me. Judy & I each had a glass of pinot grigio, Pete had iced tea, Amanda had coke and Chris had a honey lemonade that he said was excellent. For entrees Pete & Chris both had the rigatoni made with sausage, mushrooms & other stuff. Pete had it before, and they both really liked it but thought the sauce should have been thicker. It was more like a broth, so it didnt stick to the pasta. Judy got the chicken farfalle w/snap peas, asparagus & tomatoes in parmigiana sauce, while Amanda & I split the same thing but minus the snap peas & asparagus (and tomatoes on the side since only I eat them). It was very good, and perfect as a shared entre. Judy took half of hers back to the villa! We were too full for dessert, but they brought a vanilla gelato with a candle for Amanda for her birthday.

Both Pete & I have rewards/loyalty cards here and both had our $25 birthday reward on the card. I also used Tables in Wonderland and he got a dvc discount, so their lunch was $6 and mine (with Chris & Amanda) was $15 (before tip)! You cant beat that at Disney. After lunch Pete & Judy had some errands to run to get settled for their 10-night vacation, and the rest of us walked back to the Marketplace bus stops.

We had a bit of a wait for the bus, and when it came all the seats were taken so we stood for the ride to Magic Kingdom. Actually, Amanda sat on the steps (to the back upper section) for most of the ride. The first stop was the Contemporary, so we got off there and walked to Magic Kingdom. As we were more than halfway there Chris got an email from Disney saying our fastpass had changed because Mine Train was not operating!! This was the only real reason for coming to this park, lol! We had the option of riding any other ride on the list they provided, any time before the park closed at midnight. Mine Train was on that list. We decided to hope for the best, figuring surely such a popular attraction wouldnt be down for too long. At the entrance area they only had the bag checks on one side open, but it wasnt a big problem since the arriving crowds werent too bad.

We thought it looked like some of the Halloween decorations were already taken down, but I thought there was still one more party after 10/31. I know the first Christmas party is this Friday night, so theyll have the park all decorated for Christmas by then. People were lined up along Main Street for the 3pm parade and cast members were forcing guests to only walk on the sidewalks behind the people on the curb. It was pretty congested, and it took a while to get down Main Street to where we could veer off into Fantasyland.

It looked like the people in the standby queue at Mine Train were moving, and sure enough as we got closer we saw it was operating! Chris decided to skip it since the seat was so tight it hurt his knees, so Amanda & I gave him our bags to hold and got into the fastpass line. We ended up in the front row, which we thought would suck, but it was actually pretty cool. The train starts slow down the hills but then it sort of zooms, so its still fun plus we had a clear view of everything rather than the back of peoples heads. Its a cute ride, but over way too fast. Chris posted a video on facebook of us coming down the main hill, and recorded part of it in slow motion.

At this point it was around 3:20 and our next fastpass wasnt until 3:50 so we decided to check the Little Mermaid attraction. The standby wait was posted as 20 minutes so we joined the queue, and never slowed down until the very end. Its such a long queue it takes almost 20 minutes to walk through it, lol! Its a cute ride and Amanda loves this movie. Afterwards we walked through the circus area and saw a ridiculously huge line for Barnstormer. It was posted as 20 minutes but no way would those people get on in that time Id say 30-40 at least. We walked the pathway over to Tomorrowland, where Chris used his free pass from Mine Train to do Buzz Lightyear while Amanda & I used our fastpasses for Space Mountain.

The loading area had us both a bit annoyed. The line was not horribly long, but the cast member repeatedly would go the entire length of the line looking for a party of 3 and then pulling them forward into a rocket even though parties of 2 could have been seated (and should have been seated) before them. I can see going back a little ways looking for a party the exact size to not leave empty seats, but not clear back to the end of the line! This happened 2-3 times while we were there. At least the ride was fun, and we ended up in the first 2 seats of our rocket. Chris was waiting for us in the arcade, and I decided to leave them to head back to Boardwalk.

I walked back down Main Street and left the park, going to the Boardwalk/Swan & Dolphin bus stop. A big bunch of people were already there, so I wrongly figured the bus would be arriving any minute. It took forever, and it felt even longer since it was shady and the cold wind was blowing. When it finally arrived the bus stop was so crowded we had to leave almost a full row of people behind. I managed to get a seat, and thankfully Boardwalk was the first stop.

I went up to the studio and was going to update the trip report, but then Judy called to say they were headed over to Epcot, lol! I wasnt hungry yet but I knew I wanted to go over early rather than after it got dark (and colder), so I said Id meet them in the lobby. I got down there before them so I stood in line at the front desk and asked whether my magic band would work on this studio once I checked in to my 1 bedroom villa tomorrow. The answer is no. To check me in, the system has to check me out of whatever room I was in before. Since Im solo, Ill need to not check in until I have everything out of the studio.

Pete & Judy arrived and we walked over to the International Gateway. They said theyd just seen Chris & Amanda getting on the elevators. During the time I spent waiting for the damn bus they had spent time in the arcade, rode the People Mover, then left the park and hopped on a waiting bus getting back about 15 minutes after I did! Chris called & we agreed to meet over in Epcot. Pete & Judy needed to pick up their new annual passes and buy Tables in Wonderland, so the 3 of us headed over to get that taken care of. As expected, there were lines so it took a while. Some guests are just clueless, and Disney cast members are trained to ignore anyone waiting and just spend all the time they can ensuring the person theyre dealing with has a fabulous experience. I guess its fabulous if you want to spend 30 minutes of your vacation buying a ticket rather than rushing through it in 5 minutes, but for the people waiting in line its really irritating. When the cast member asked them if they wanted him to explain how Tables in Wonderland works, Pete told him no look at all these people waiting behind me. I someones buying it and doesnt know how it works, then the persons an idiot.

Pete & Judys transactions went pretty quickly, and we entered the park as Chris & Amanda were on the bridge from Boardwalk. We waited for them at the top of the hill and once they arrived we all headed into France. The line in France was HUGE, and most of the food stands were very busy. World Showcase in general was very crowded, but it wasnt the worst Ive seen it. We stopped in Belgium, where Amanda got a waffle and Chris got some type of beer. Im not sure which waffle she got, but it was probably chocolate. I know we stopped again in America, for the Hops & Barley stand. The line was pretty big, but it kept moving. Pete & I stayed out of the queue and eventually snagged most of a picnic table while the others were in line. Judy got a chardonnay and she & Pete shared the slider. They both liked it with the pimento cheese sauce, but said it was kind of lukewarm. Amanda got a plain slider (also lukewarm) and Chris got the lobster alfredo. He wasnt too impressed with the looks of it, but he found lots of lobster meat on the bottom and said it was very good.

In Germany Chris got a beer flight, and Amanda got the grapefruit beer. We continued on, and in Africa both Judy & I got the $2.50 M.A.N. chenin blanc. Pete tried a taste and they both really liked it. At the Farm Fresh stand Pete got the pepper bacon hash and loved it it was piping hot, and a little spicy. As we passed Mexico Chris & Amanda suggested the Festival Center so Amanda could try the peach moscato, so we all agreed to head over there. We cut through the Craft Beers place, where Chris got a pumpkin beer and some other one along with the crunchy snacks they include. It was also a good restroom break for some of the others. This place was hopping, and it did seem quite a few people had a little more beer than they needed. Nobody was obnoxious or troublesome just some were tipsy.

We all tried some of Chris crunchy snacks and declared it pretty good. He really liked the pumpkin beer out of all the others. At the Festival Center we got a table and sat around talking while enjoying our drinks. Chris still had some of his beer. Pete & Amanda had the peach moscato (sweet, and very peachy smelling) and Judy & I had the pinot gris. After we were done we browsed through the festival merchandise and Amanda bought me the wine glass inside a Tervis tumbler. She has some Tervis and swears they really keep drinks cold (or hot), so well see how it goes. It could be good for grilling in the back yard!

Next we went to the chocolate display and got our samples. Petes back was starting to bother him so he & Judy left to head back to Boardwalk. Chris wanted to buy some of the chocolate squares but didnt want an entire tin full of them, so he selected a few and joined the crazy long line at the register. I went to the cast member handing out samples and asked if they sold the squares individually and learned here they only sell them by the tin. I let Chris know, so he got out of line and put them back he may buy them at Downtown Disney if he goes back to buy the cigar for his friend.

We walked out, and Chris decided to ride the single rider line at Test Track. Amanda wasnt interested in riding in the cold, so she may have waited for him at the exit. I decided to head back to Boardwalk, so we agreed to head out tomorrow at 10, and I walked back to World Showcase. As expected, it was quite busy still. I moved through the crowd and came upon Pete & Judy in Canada so I walked the rest of the way with them. We just missed the boat, so Pete stretched out his back some and decided to walk rather than wait 20 minutes for another boat. We never saw the next one coming, so I think we made the right decision!

After I got back to the studio I took a few things from the refrigerator and brought them over to the fridge in Chris & Amandas room. In the morning Ill bring the suitcases and rest of my stuff. I made a small cup of cappuccino and ate half of the oatmeal raisin cookie while updating the report, and hope to be in bed before 11 tonight.

Today was a really nice day even with the colder than desired temperatures! I cant believe how quickly time is flying by, though. Tomorrow is my moving day, so Ill be homeless for a good chunk of the day. Chris, Amanda & I will spend some time at Animal Kingdom in the morning. Pete & Judy have their friend Bonnie coming up to spend a couple nights, but well all get back together (along with SB) tomorrow night for more Food & Wine Festival!


DAY 4 Sunday 11/2/14
Who: Sue (55), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Chris (28), my son
Amanda (26), Chris fianc
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends

Plan: Change rooms, Animal Kingdom, Food & Wine

Actual: Last night Chris called to tell me Mine Train was on fire. He and Amanda had gone to Magic Kingdom after leaving Epcot and were in the middle of the mess. Most people were thinking it started due to fireworks embers, but one cast member told him it was a train malfunction. By this morning the news was reporting official information from Disney, which was the fireworks story. Nobody was hurt & they had the fire out quickly. Once the fire alarm went off evidently sprinklers were activated in the area, as Chris said the ground was wet and it was misting (not from the fire hoses). In the immediate area of the fire there werent sprinklers or at least not the part that was visible (on the outside of the attraction). Hopefully theyll have it cleaned up and open today for all those guests with fastpasses!

It was also a very noisy night last night. Even with the balcony door closed & locked, noise still travels up here to the 5th floor. People outside are so loud much louder than they need to be, considering theyre in an area surrounded by hotel rooms! I dont remember the rooms overlooking the boardwalk being this noisy (except when Jellyrolls closes & the drunk people leave there laughing), but I cant imagine they used different doors/construction on the rooms that were not part of that view category. Once I got to sleep I slept well, and got up around 6:15 (which felt like 7:15).

My computer is having an issue, saying my McAfee real time scanning is turned off so Im at risk. When I turn it on, it almost immediately shuts off again, and when I try to manually run a scan it immediately gives me an error message. I have noticed sometimes web pages try to open on their own, and I think Im always in aol at the time. I decided to close everything out and restart the computer, hoping (illogically) that somehow it would be fixed or better than. Ill need my friend Michael to help me with this, but I wont be back home for another week and a half.

After restarting the computer the McAfee seemed to be working the constant scan was on, and it let me run a quick manual scan (no issues found). My mind somewhat at ease (for now), I took my shower and got dressed, then made breakfast. Once again it was an egg, slice of bacon, and a refillable mug of cappuccino. SB called and said it was very cold up in Gainesville hes working outside at the moment.

Around 9:30 I contacted Chris & Amanda and moved my stuff over to their room, then went downstairs to check in for the next reservation (in a 1-bedroom villa). The cast member was surprised by the number of magic bands I have, and suggested I might want to make several of them inactive. She said having most of them active can be a drain on the battery (or maybe the door battery) because its looking at every band. She also confirmed my requests were met, for near the elevator and an open (slatted not solid wall) balcony. She showed me the section Id be in and it was the same wing as my studio. It looks like that wing is all studios, with a 1-bedroom at the end, then the grand villa is the next wing, so I sort of know which room should be mine. Unfortunately it wasnt ready yet and she gave me the opportunity to change to something else but I realized this is probably the closest boardwalk view 1-bedroom so I kept it for SB (since he grumbles about walking far). Once that was done I went back up to get them and drop off my check-in packet.

Chris & Amanda gave me my birthday present, which was the Tervis festival wine glass mug, but also another box. I opened the box and it was another Dooney! This one has a black background and is smaller they thought it would be good for on the cruise. Its really cute, and very thoughtful of them!

We headed out for the parking lot, opting to drive over to Animal Kingdom rather than deal with Disney transportation. Its an easy drive, and although we were parked in the Unicorn section we were the first car to be sent down to start a new row so we were at the very far end! We just walked in diagonally from there though, cutting through the cast member lot. I think this was almost faster than walking to the tram. Bag check was a zoo, but both sides were open. We also had a short wait at the entry. Its amazing how many people show up at 10:15am which seems really stupid to me (unless you dont really care about doing much in the park). It was a very crowded walk back to Harambe, yet nobody seemed to have any sense of urgency whatsoever.

I didnt catch the standby wait time at the safari, but the queue was pretty much all filled in and moving slowly. We had fastpasses, so we zipped right up to the loading area. We were put in the front row, which sucks for pictures but good for asking the driver questions once in a while. I sat in the middle, to make it easier to take a picture from either side. It was a good safari, although it would have been nice to catch the lions or cheetahs upright to try out the camera. They were all snoozing flat on the ground. In the lion area there were 2 females, laying on either side of the male.

Chris & Amanda were hungry, not having had any breakfast, but every food stand and counter service place had ridiculous lines. We walked through Asia and Amanda used an Expedition Everest fastpass, which went very quickly. As usual we missed her coming down the hill. We continued walking and arrived near Dinosaur about 20 minutes before our fastpass window, so we joined the standby queue. It was posted as 30 minutes but was really about 15. After this we worked our way out of this too-crowded park! Amanda bought a cheese Danish on the way out and wolfed that down as we walked to the car. We drove back to Boardwalk and walked into Epcot, hoping irrationally that it wouldnt be too busy at Food & Wine. Ha we were foolish, lol!

World showcase wasnt the worst Ive ever seen, but the lines at all the stands were ridiculous. Ill be glad when some of these people start going home! We started on the France side, but didnt stop anywhere until we got to America. The Hops & Barley stand wasnt too bad, probably because its set back and less visible. We all got sliders, Amandas plain. Shed brought a mustard packet from the Boardwalk Bakery and used that on hers. Before leaving America we went up to the Chase lounge, where Chris got some soda and Chris/Amanda got wrist bands for the viewing area in Italy for tonights Illuminations.

The next stop was Poland, where Chris got the kielbasa and potato pierogies and really liked it.

Chris was interested in the Farm Fresh stand, I was interested in the Africa chenin blanc, and we were both interested in the corn cheesecake in Mexico but the lines were beyond ridiculous (especially Mexico). The dessert stand had no wait, but the desserts didnt appeal to any of us. Amanda wants the crme brulee from France, but we need to catch that less busy or suck it up and stand in line later tonight. I mentioned Puerto Rico, so Chris & I went in there while Amanda waited outside. I didnt need anything, but Chris got the braised beef with rice and the fried plantains. He enjoyed both and that filled him up for now.

We decided to head back to the resort for some rest. Amanda took a nap, Chris played with his phone, and I updated the report while trying my new wine mug. Pete & Judy texted to say they were in Epcot, but Im not going anywhere until after my damn room is ready and Im all settled in. Im getting tired of waiting, but its still within the timeframe. It was 3:15 so I called the front desk to inquire about the room and learned it was ready. I didnt ask how long it had been ready, as I didnt want to aggravate myself! We moved my stuff down the hall to the exact room I thought was mine. As suspected, theres no balcony off the bedroom only one off the living room. The bedroom has a set of windows instead. At first I was disappointed, but then I thought maybe itll make the bedroom quieter. I dont have a problem using the other balcony when I want to sit out there.

I got unpacked while Chris & Amanda hung out in the living room. SB called around 10 minutes to 4, saying he was on the road. Were hoping the crowds will let up over at Food & Wine, but so far even at 4:30 Pete & Judy say theyre still crazy. Usually by Sunday night its a lot lighter, with the weekenders leaving, but so far it hasnt happened.

We left the villa around 5, stopping at Chris & Amandas studio briefly and then walking over to Epcot. Nothing beats walking into this park rather than dealing with the obnoxious front entrance! There was no wait at bag check, and only a brief wait at the entry. We headed towards France again, and the line there was still insane. Amanda has been wanting the salted caramel crme brulee, but not if it means waiting in the lines weve seen lately.

We continued towards Brazil and I waited by the table area while Chris & Amanda went through the line. He got the crispy pork belly with black beans, tomato & cilantro, and Amanda got the sparkling moscato. Chris liked the pork belly, but after eating it he said he felt like it was a whole bunch of grease. I tried a tiny nibble and it tasted like pork. While I was waiting for them I talked to 3 girls eating the crme brulee and they said it was excellent, and better than the chocolate from previous years.

We continued walking, and Amanda got the seared mahi mahi in Singapore. She loves this, and gets the sauce on the side. We ate it on a trash can at the exit area of Germany, where Chris got the bratwurst in pretzel roll and some type of beer. The bratwurst looked a little thicker and a little shorter than recent years. I had a text from Pete & Judy saying they were headed to World Showcase, so I told them to do the Mexico side. We stopped in Africa, where I got a glass of the chenin blanc, and then we continued to the Farm Fresh stand. Chris got in line for the griddled yard bird (chicken) with braised greens and habanero sauce, and we spotted Pete, Judy & Bonnie between there and Mexico. Farm Fresh is located on the Mexico side of Norway. We all met up there, and I tried a bite of Chris chicken it was excellent! It was also a huge chicken breast, and larger than what Id seen earlier. After standing around chatting/greeting for a while we continued towards Mexico, and finally the line was fairly short there.

Chris had raved about the sweet corn cheesecake, so Pete & Amanda secured a table over at the cantina while the rest of us got in line. I got the cheesecake, Chris did also, Bonnie got the rib eye taco and cheesecake, and Pete & Judy shared the shrimp taco and cheesecake. I wasnt sure after the first bite, but after that I was ok everyone thought the sweet corn cheesecake was exceptional. It was too much for me to finish, so Chris finished mine. Hed shared his with Amanda, who is really picky but even she liked it. While we were there I called SB to see where he was and he was in the bedroom at the villa getting ready to head over. I told him where we were and once we were done eating we started walking in his direction.

I called SB again as we passed Australia to see where he was, and didnt understand what he was saying. I was expecting a country, but he was near Terra the fake food stand <g>. We found each other pretty easily at that point actually he found us first. After the usual greetings, he & Pete were engrossed in conversation, wandering away, lol! We ended up making another complete loop of the countries.

This time in France we stopped, and the line was much smaller. Amanda finally got her crme brulee, and was disappointed with it. She said the texture wasnt quite right. Pete got a Kronenbourg for himself and a chardonnay for Judy. He loved the Kronenbourg, and had never had it before. Next we stopped in Belgium, where Pete got the potato & leek waffle, which he was somewhat disappointed in this year. Bonnie had the waffle with berry compote and said it was great.

We stopped again in Germany, where Judy & I found and held a table. Pete got the schinkennudeln (mac & cheese with ham), SB got the bratwurst in pretzel roll, and Im not sure what Bonnie got. Chris got a beer flight from the brewers collection next door Amanda took the grapefruit one and SB took the BaufactuM Colonia. Chris had the other 2. Amanda had gone looking for a pretzel, but they were out of cheese sauce so she came back empty handed. The same thing happened to her last night at the Magic Kingdom must be a cheese sauce shortage here.

Next we stopped at Farm Fresh, where SB got both the pepper bacon hash and the griddled yard bird. I ate part of the chicken while he ate the hash, then passed the rest to him. He enjoyed both, and he was satisfied in terms of food but wanted dessert. I thought of what wed be passing and none of it really appealed to him. Chris & Amanda left us at this point they were heading into Future World to ride Test Track (single rider) before returning for Illuminations later.

The rest of us continued walking, stopping at Patagonia for sparkling brut for me and Pete/Judy and an empanada for SB. As we made our way towards International Gateway I mentioned the warm chocolate cake thing at Ireland, so SB got that. After a bite or 2 though he decided he wasnt wowed by it. Hed rather have ice cream. So, it was left to me to finish it. It was delicious!

We left the park and walked back to Boardwalk, parting ways with Pete/Judy/Bonnie outside Seashore Sweets. SB and I went inside and he got a double scoop cone chocolate and butter pecan. The thing was huge!!! Im not sure he realized how big it would be, as I certainly wouldnt have guessed. We went up to the villa and I ended up helping him eat it, which is the last thing I needed! Hes watching tv and Im finishing up the trip report I think Ill be headed to bed (maybe to watch HGTV) right after Illuminations!

Today was another wonderful day great company, great place, great food it doesnt get any better than this! It would have been nice to get into the villa sooner, but in the long run its ok. We like the room location, although its weird not having the balcony off the bedroom. This villa is a dedicated 1-bedroom, meaning there is no studio connected to it. Its small but cute, and plenty of space for the 2 of us for the next 5 nights!

Tomorrow were spending the morning at Epcot with Chris & Amanda, then we all meet the others at Whispering Canyon for lunch. Following an afternoon break the older folks will do Food & Wine Festival again tomorrow night (Chris & Amanda will be home)!


DAY 5 Monday 11/3/14
Who: Sue (55), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Chris (28), my son
Amanda (26), Chris fianc
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends
Bonnie, Judys friend since childhood

Plan: Epcot, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Food & Wine

Actual: SB was asleep before me last night, and I turned the tv off before 10:30. This room was silent last night, so hopefully thats how it will be the rest of the trip. I woke up at one point, sure it was almost time to get up, but it was only around 1:30 in the morning! Oops, I went back to sleep and woke up again 3 hours later, and really wasnt tired. I didnt get up quite yet, but by 5:20 I decided it made no sense to lay in bed awake, so I got up and quietly began my day.

I made cappuccino and enjoyed it while spending time online and watching the morning news. This is whats so nice about having the 1-bedroom villa I can be up doing this, while SB can sleep undisturbed in a completely separate (dark) room. He was up by 6:30, and a little later I made us breakfast my usual for me, while he had 2 eggs, 2 sausage and grits. Its so much nicer cooking in the real kitchen!

After breakfast we hung out in the villa until it was time to get ready for the day. The morning is going to be cool, but it should be around 75 this afternoon. I took my shower around 8 and he followed at 8:30. I found it amusing that while showering I could see Spaceship Earth! The shower stall is clear glass, and I can see straight through the bedroom, past ESPN to Spaceship Earth.

Chris & Amanda were over around 9, dropping their luggage and stuff off in our villa. We walked over to Epcot and had no wait at bag check or entry. I was hoping this was a good sign that the park would be quiet, but that wasnt the case. We arrived at the Land by 9:30 and the line for Living with the Land was already snaked around. Chris got a chocolate croissant and Amanda got a cheese Danish from Seasons and they quickly ate them as we walked to Soarin. The fastpass line was backed up all the way to where it turns the corner! Ive seen this late in the day, but never 30 minutes into the morning!

We ended up in the bottom row, but center section. It was a nice ride, and once we got off (around 10) the standby queue was 90 minutes. Living with the Land was 25 minutes this is insane! We went outside and walked over to Spaceship Earth, which also had the queue snaked around on both sides. SB asked if this was really worth the wait, but with our fastpasses we bypassed everyone quickly. SBs picture had Chris fingers next to his ear, but at least I was able to select English as our language before Chris could hit portugese or Japanese for us!

We got off the ride at 10:45 and had to leave the park in order to make it to lunch in time. After a quick stop at Club Cool for Chris & Amanda we left via International Gateway and walked back to Boardwalk. At the villa we got Chris & Amandas stuff and my car keys, then went out to our cars and drove over to Wilderness Lodge. Pete texted as we were pulling in, saying they were sitting on the couches in the lobby. We parked and went inside, and learned Magic Kingdom had been a nightmare way too crowded, even first thing in the morning. They had parked here and took the boat over, and that cost them almost 45 minutes waiting for and riding on the boat.

We checked in at Whispering Canyon and were given a beeper, which was annoying since less than 1/8 of the tables were occupied! But, most tables are for 4, and some for 6. Within a few minutes we were beeped and taken to a round table for 7, so maybe we had to wait for it to be cleared? Our server was the lady we had for breakfast in July, and she did a great job.

SB had the skillet and a beer. I had the appetizer salad and a glass of wine. Judy had wine and the pulled pork sandwich. Pete looked like he had a martini, and the chicken quesadilla. He fussed about the price for the quesadilla but when it came and he started eating it the moans turned to pleasure so I guess it was worth the price despite the initial sticker shock, lol! I think it was $18.49, which IS shocking for a quesadilla! Chris and Bonnie both got burgers, and Amanda got the pulled pork sandwich. Bonnie had no idea, and asked for ketchup immediately setting off a very loud parade of every ketchup bottle in the restaurant being delivered to our table, lol! We were stuck with it all until the next person needed ketchup, then Chris delivered it all to that table. We paid for Chris & Amandas lunch, and after Tables in Wonderland the check for the 4 of us was $86 and change. We were all full, and both Amanda and Pete & Judy took leftovers home.

Outside we said goodbye to Chris & Amanda, and agreed to meet up later for Food & Wine Festival. SB & I stopped at Hess to fill up the gas tank, then ran into the others in the Boardwalk parking lot. We went up to the villa and I took care of some work stuff, ending it as General Hospital was getting started.

Wed been talking in the car (which means I was saying all this) about not liking the time of our planned lunch at Beaches & Cream tomorrow. Its booked at 1:50, which just kills the entire day in terms of Food & Wine. Im not here for restaurants Im here for Food & Wine, and since the food is so good this year SB is agreeing. I also think given the ridiculous crowds its not worth going to Magic Kingdom, even for Mine Train! SB could care less. I checked online and was able to move the lunch up to 11:20 (so it would leave us ready for Food & Wine later in the day) but when I called Judy I learned theyd also been making plans, lol! They booked breakfast at Flying Fish before Bonnie goes home, so they wouldnt be hungry for lunch at 11:20. But, they didnt care whether they did Beaches & Cream or not. I ended up just canceling Beaches & Cream, when SB said he didnt have to eat there.

Judy called back and suggested she change their breakfast tomorrow to a party of 5, and we agreed. Well do breakfast, spend time at the pool, catch General Hospital, then head into Epcot for Food & Wine. Thats a much better sounding day than dealing with crowds and lines at attractions. Now well see if we keep our Animal Kingdom plans for Wednesday or bail on those as well!

Pete & Judy texted about 4:30 to say they were ready to head out. SB decided to stay back in the villa since he wasnt hungry & was very comfortable. Hed pulled out the sleep sofa and was laying on top of it watching tv. He also had a movie on You Tube he wanted to watch, so I left him here and went down to the lobby to meet the others. They were already there, all wearing jeans and jackets. I was still in shorts, tank, and flip flops but I did have my heavy sweatshirt. It turned out that was enough.

We walked over to Epcot and got into the park pretty quickly. We started to turn towards France but the sun was right in our eyes so Pete suggested going the other way. Bonnie wanted to go to Mouse Gears so we walked over there. She ended up buying a gift for the person watching her cat while shes away. I looked around but didnt see anything I needed to buy. We walked back to the countries and started on the Mexico side. World Showcase was very crowded again, as we expect it will be all week. Some of the food stands had some pretty significant lines, while others were ok. We keep saying well never come back this week!

We stopped in Africa, where I got the M.A.N. chenin blanc and Pete & Judy shared the tenderloin tips. Bonnie was craving something sweet so in Germany we went into Sommerfest and she got the apple strudel. She loved it at Food & Wine last year, but the festival piece was barely 1/3 or 1/4 the size of the everyday Sommerfest piece, but at just over half the price. Do the math poor value. She got a giant piece for $4.19 plus tax! Pete had secured a bench so we hung out there and she cut up the strudel so Judy & I could each have a little piece. It was delicious!

Continuing on, I dont recall if any of them got any more food items, but back at the International Gateway they decided to head back to the resort. I decided to stay for one more solo loop. In Australia I finally tried the dry Riesling, which was ok but not a favorite. I didnt stop again until Poland, where I got the kielbasa and potato pierogies. The line was very short, but the kielbasa portion was smaller than the other day (still 3 pieces, but smaller pieces). It was still very good, and hit the spot for a great dinner.

The Boys II Men concert was starting in a few minutes, and it was packed beyond belief! I had no intention of going into the theater anyway, but it was a little bit of a challenge finding a spot on a wall to sit in the courtyard in front of American Adventure. I listened to most of the concert, disheartened when they started off by encouraging everyone to stand and remain standing doing it again a couple songs into the show. I go into the theater to SIT and enjoy the concert. If everyone stands up and my only view is some ***** then I might as well skip the whole theater mess and just stay back by American Adventure (or even over in Japan).

When they were almost done I got up and started walking to the International Gateway, staying ahead of the mob that would soon be following! As I walked towards the exit I saw the boat arriving, so I rode back to the Boardwalk. Being a party of 1, and a relatively small size, I was able to sit comfortably in a seat out back between a large guy and another couple. As I got to the elevators SB called to see when I was coming back. He wanted a burger, so I said Id wait for him to come down.

We went out to the boardwalk to his favorite food stand, where he ordered a hamburger and French fries with chili on top. The tables in that area were mostly empty, so we sat outside while he ate we shared the fries but I picked the ones without chili. Once we were finished we went up to the villa for the night, getting in about 8pm. At 9 well see the high fireworks from the villa, then Ill be watching HGTV in the bedroom while he watches some football game in the living room. Gotta love a villa makes for a happy marriage, lol!

Today was another nice day weve had a great time with everyone together. I really hate that NJ week makes it so crowded, though. The weather was great today and will only get better the next few days. Im really looking forward to a real laid-back day tomorrow, and Im glad to be skipping both Magic Kingdom and Beaches & Cream theyll be there for some other time!


DAY 6 Tuesday 11/4/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends

Plan: Magic Kingdom, Beaches & Cream, Food & Wine

Actual: I was asleep again just after 10:30, while SB stayed up watching football or something. It was quiet again either nobody has been making noise outside the past 2 nights or having windows rather than a balcony door makes a difference in the soundproofing. I was comfortable, but cold. I used an extra blanket but the tip of my nose was like an ice cube! I woke up at 1:15 and 4:20, then finally got up at 5 turning the air conditioning to a higher temp while SB was unaware <g>. I took the time to caption all the photos Id let uploading when I went to bed last night, and then around 6 made my cappuccino. Its nice sitting in bed watching the sun come up and the boardwalk come to life! It definitely beats being at work <g>.

Todays my birthday, and thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I love that Im spending it here, but itll probably be the last time since my birthday will always fall during NJ week and its just too busy. SB was up around 6:30 or 7, and since we are meeting the others for breakfast at Flying Fish I didnt make breakfast in the villa. We went downstairs around 8:15 and waited for them outside Flying Fish. SB knew Pete would be on time, and he was right they were actually about 5 minutes early.

We went inside & were seated right away. Since Kouzzina closed theyre doing a breakfast menu at Flying Fish until the new restaurant opens up in Kouzzinas place. Pete & Judy love the breakfast at Kouzzina and were hoping it was the same menu, but it was not. Its fairly limited, with a frittata, few egg options or a waffle, with oatmeal or yogurt parfait for small appetites. Our booth was one of those rounded ones, so the women took the booth and the men sat in the 2 chairs. It worked well, and we had a nice time. It seemed like it took a while for the food to come, but we were busy chatting & didnt mind.

SB & I (and Pete) both had the scrambled eggs with tomato, basil & natural mozzarella, Judy had the frittata and Bonnie had regular scrambled eggs. All of our choices came with delicious home fried potatoes, crispy bacon (chicken sausage was the other option) and a whole grain croissant that was unbelievably excellent! Who would have thought of a whole grain croissant??? My eggs were terrific nice basil flavor, diced fresh tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. Nothing was overpowering it just all worked together well. I didnt quite finish it all, passing it over to SB. Pete & Judy bought us breakfast for my birthday, which was very nice. Not sure why SB should get breakfast on MY birthday, though <g>.

After breakfast we stopped in the Boardwalk lobby to say goodbye to Bonnie and to meet a friend of Pete & Judys who works there. Pete & Judy went up to their room, SB waited for me in the lobby, and I ran upstairs to our room to drop off the camera and get the car keys. We drove over to Premium Outlets figuring wed spend a little time before it was time for the pool.

Women, you know how when you tell a man something he insists he already knows that, but when he misses something he asks why you didnt tell him?? Well, on the way over I was telling him hed be turning right or turning left, etc and he said this isnt my first rodeo. Then when he sailed past the entrance to the outlets I expressed panic and said thats the entrance youre supposed to turn there. He asked why I didnt say something before then, and I told him well, its not your first rodeo, lol! About a mile later we came to the next entrance and backtracked from there.

We went to Character Premiere and SB decided to sit outside and wait for me, saying to let him know if I found anything I wanted. Hes working on Christmas now. I wasnt in the store 5 minutes when Michael from work called on my personal phone. Hes the top dog where we work, and hes also a close friend so I was thinking he was calling to wish me a happy birthday. Unfortunately, it was a work crisis. But, I was also having phone issues.

When I answered, it was a missed call. Each time Id call back it would never connect and actually ring. Finally on the 4th try it did ring, and while we were talking about the work issue he couldnt hear me anymore. Id moved outside to the table where SB was sitting by this point. After the usual frustrating can you hear me crap I hung up and called him on the work phone, where we talked through the issue and he was able to find something in my office that would help with the resolution. I mentioned not receiving any emails since yesterday, despite taking out the battery a few times to reset the phone, and he had the same thing happen but his is working now.

After we ended the call it was getting late and when I went back into the store my heart just wasnt into shopping any more. I went back out and told SB we should just go back to the resort. There wasnt any other store either of us was interested in. On the way through the food court he got something from the Chinese food stand and brought it back to the resort.

Back at Boardwalk I changed into my swimsuit and went down to the pool. Id called my counterpart at the other work location while in the car, but he was in a meeting. Hed called back but I missed his call, so I figured I wait til I got down to the QUIET pool to call him back. I get down there and sure enough, the groundskeeping crew are using leaf blowers all over the place, lol! I set towels on our chairs and went into Community Hall to call him back. We talked through some work issues, then I went out to my chairs and found Pete & Judy had just arrived.

They wanted sun and shade, so they grabbed a table with some chaise lounges nearby and I moved my stuff over there. After I got settled I called Michael back on the 2 work issues. The main one will wait until I return next week, and the other isnt important enough to bother with. Email still doesnt work but maybe thats a good thing, lol!

Eventually SB came down, and he spent some time in the pool before coming back to nap on his chaise lounge. It was a nice relaxing time. SB left shortly after 1 and I followed by 1:30. Hed detoured by Leaping Horse Libations (pool bar) for a pina colada on his way up, as expected <g>. I took my shower and we watched General Hospital at 2 I was able to update the trip report during that hour, and drink some wine in my Tervis wine glass.

Judy called around 4, as SB was getting dressed after his shower. She invited us down to help partake of the fruit, wine & cheese their Boardwalk friend had sent to the room, so we headed down there. We had a little wine and some crackers/cheese and fruit before heading over to Epcot for Food & Wine Festival. It was still fairly busy around World Showcase but less busy than the last several days and most food stands had very short lines or no lines at all. France and China were the exception.

Pete & SB were in the lead, and turned left into United Kingdom so we went in that direction tonight. Judy got the cheese soup in Canada since there wasnt any line at the time. In Scotland we stopped for Pete to get the seared scallop, which looked really big. He enjoyed it, even though the short line seemed to move a bit slow. I would have gotten the sparkling brut in Patagonia but there was a line so I decided to take my chances later. In Australia SB got the garlic shrimp that Linda had recommended. He thought they were ok, but not up to the level of some of the other Food & Wine choices. They were a good size, though!

At Farm Fresh we stopped again, and SB got the yard bird. Once again I had a few bites, and it was very good. The chicken portion seemed smaller but the greens portion was larger. He enjoyed it, and thats all that matters. In Africa we stopped so I could get a glass of the M.A.N. chenin blanc, which was freshly poured so nice & cold. We continued around and the 5:30 Boys II Men concert was about to start. We tried to get into the theater but it was so full they had the back all roped off. We sat at a table by Liberty Inn for the first couple of songs, then continued on our way. This group has gotten hugely popular!

We made it the rest of the way around the countries, and when we started the second loop I stopped in Patagonia for the sparkling brut. This time there was no line! In Mexico SB got margaritas for him and Pete, and I took a few photos of the sunset from the table Judy and I held for them. We continued walking and fortunately I decided to get the kielbasa & pierogies in Poland (since I didnt realize I was running out of time tonight). The line for the 6:45 Boys II Men concert was extended way past Poland, which is IN Germany. It ran through America, was snaked around in the spot before Italy, ran through Italy, and was deep into Germany! I cant imagine everyone got into the theater Ive never seen this before! Needless to say, we didnt see the concert, lol!

I got the kielbasa/pierogie and shared them with SB, thinking wed continue walking around and I might get the slider or something on the next loop. It was a gorgeous night, and it felt really good being here couldnt think of a better place to spend my birthday! We continued walking, and as we got to the International Gateway the 3 of them turned towards the exit. I was stunned, lol and was torn between staying solo vs leaving with them. Id figured we were good for at least 3 rounds, but I was wrong. In the end, I left the park since I knew wed be back the next 2 nights.

SB wanted more to eat. Hello how about Food & Wine??? He mentioned the cart on the boardwalk and I mentioned the tuna & stuff wed brought from home. In the end he agreed on the tuna, and I stayed on the boat to get some reasonably priced cookies for the room. I got off at Yacht Club and walked over to Beach Club Marketplace, where I was shocked to find nobody in line! Ive never seen it like this! I got a couple oatmeal raisin cookies and one of the yummy coconut bars, and then walked back to Boardwalk.

SB was watching the History Channel, so I boiled some eggs and cut up 1 in his tuna, then toasted a couple pieces of pita bread for his dinner. He also had some tea Id made earlier, and an oatmeal raisin cookie. I made a small cup of cappuccino and broke off a sliver of the other cookie and the end of the coconut bar. He doesnt know about the coconut bar, lol well see how much I get to eat before he finds out <g>.

Were in for the night now hes got a show at 9 on the History Channel that hes been waiting for, and Ill watch the Illuminations fireworks and go watch HGTV or read. Today was exactly the kind of Disney day I like best other than the work crap, of course. I really enjoy puttering around the resort at my leisure vs dealing with the theme parks and crowds. Tomorrow we ARE going to Animal Kingdom as planned, but most likely well only be doing Dinosaur (walk on immediately after opening) then safari fastpass and Festival of the Lion King fastpass. Well end the day back at Food & Wine!


DAY 7 Wednesday 11/5/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends

Plan: Animal Kingdom, Food & Wine

Actual: Last night I went out onto the balcony at 9 to watch the Illuminations fireworks and for the first time noticed that to my left (beyond Yacht Club) I had a perfect view of Wishes! Wishes fireworks are much more impressive, so this was a nice treat. I didnt get my camera until near the end, but I was able to take a photo and it came out just as if I was standing at Bay Lake Tower watching the fireworks! After the fireworks I watched HGTV for a while, then turned in before 11.

This morning I didnt wake up at 1 thinking it was time to get up I woke up at 2am thinking Id overslept, lol! I went back asleep and got up for good just after 5. It was another silent evening, which was nice. I made my cappuccino, took my shower and spent time online while SB slept, then he got up around 7:15. I threw a load of laundry in at that point.

I cooked us breakfast big breakfast for him and my usual egg and slice of bacon for me. I did add dessert to mine, with another piece of the coconut bar while SB was in the shower. We were meeting Pete & Judy in the lobby at 8:30, so we headed down there at 8:15. Today is our trash & towel day, so hopefully that will be done by the time we return. Pete & Judy were on time, and we walked out to the parking lot to their rental car. Of course, they parked in a different area yesterday, so we were walking all over the place looking for the car, lol! We found it, though!

Pete drove us over to Animal Kingdom, and they were directing cars into a different lot (not Unicorn). We walked in from our parking spot, and both bag check areas had huge crowds. Pete & SB were able to bypass this mess, but Judy & I looked around and chose the line that was moving faster than the others. It only took a couple minutes, even though the lines looked awful. Once we got past that we realized the lines for entry were backed up almost to the bag check area!!! We made a quick restroom stop then noticed some short lines in between several long ones that extended well beyond the ticket booths. We walked over there and joined the end of a couple much shorter lines. Its amazing that people will stand in lines 100 people deep when there are lines with only 10 people!

Once in the park we walked over to Dinoland and rode Dinosaur with no wait. When we finished that we were in our fastpass window for the safari so we walked over to Harambe. I didnt see the posted standby wait time, but it couldnt have been too long. That side was backed up, but not all the way to the entrance. We zipped right through the fastpass lane and soon were on our truck. It was a bit congested at the start, so trucks had to wait for other trucks to get moving and out of the way.

We had a great driver, who gave lots of interesting information. A cheetah was walking away, but unfortunately all lions were laying so low by the rocks they could not be seen. We still enjoyed the safari, though. We finished up around 10:10 and checked the Festival of the Lion King schedule but the early shows were at 10 and 11. We had fastpasses for the 11am show, so we hung around until joining the fastpass queue. SB & I had gone to a stand in Harambe and got popcorn to share with everyone and a beer. This popcorn was much better than the salty crap we got in America the other day!

This was the first time any of us had seen Lion King in the new location, and Pete & SB both thought there were some small changes to the show. Theyre probably right it makes sense to tweak things along the way. It was a great show, as always! We left the park at this point, arriving at the tram just as the guy was saying no further boarding, so we walked to the car since it wasnt far at all. Pete got us back to Boardwalk safely, and we talked about going down to the pool but in the end SB & I skipped it. Were all doing the dvc thing at 2, so the timing wasnt really working for me and SB could care less about the pool.

We ended up going down to Leaping Horse Libations (pool bar) since SB had seen a giant hot dog there yesterday. We ordered the hot dog (comes with small bag of chips for $8.99) and brought it up to the villa. The hot dog is good, but wed both prefer a regular soft hot dog bun rather than the stiff sub roll they serve it on (similar to what they use at Sommerfest in Germany). I cut an end off the hot dog for me, and SB had the rest. Were chilling out in the villa for now. Our trash & towel service was done while we were out earlier, so thats a good thing!

While we were in the room I transferred more photos from the camera, and decided to split the Food & Wine portion of the trip into 2 albums. I dont like putting more than 100 in an album, and I already had 104 before today. So, the first 104 can be found on Shutterfly now (and the rest will follow in tomorrows report) at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...ZNGTdm2bMWjI4g

At quarter to 2 we went downstairs and met Pete & Judy out on the boardwalk. There was a big long line for the 2pm DVC Welcome Home Wednesday thing, but it moved quickly. We grabbed a table in the back, thinking wed be able to exit quickly. The snacks consist of fruit, pretzels, cracker jacks, water and lemonade. Each person gets a ticket for 1 snack, but you can get as many drinks as youd like. They played several games and the entire 45-minute experience was excruciating. SB slept through most of it. I played suduko on my phone. When it ended we got our free baseball caps on the way out and were disappointed theyre the same ones theyve had for years. We wont need to be hat whores next year unless the hat design changes.

Each couple went back to their villa for about 30 minutes before meeting back downstairs for Food & Wine Festival. The guy at bag check was a very serious type, so really rummaged through Judys backpack. He didnt bother much with mine, so Im not sure what his problem was. We entered the park quickly and once again headed towards United Kingdom.

Our first stop was in Hawaii, where SB & I shared the pork slider. It was excellent! There was a good portion and the pineapple stuff and special mayo works really well with the pork. At Terra Pete & Judy shared the fake chicken, and I dont think he realized it was fake when he ordered it. Neither of them seemed impressed. In Africa I got the chenin blanc and SB had the tenderloin tips with pap. The beef was fresh off the grill, so it was nice and hot.

Next we went to Singapore, where Pete had the curry chicken and Judy had the mahi mahi. She ended up with a large piece, so SB went to the booth and was disappointed when his piece was smaller. He also got a Tiger beer, which he enjoyed. Sometimes the items, especially fish or meat are not exactly the same size. SB wanted funnel cake, and Pete & Judy werent exactly discouraging him. We stopped in America and the 3 of us found a table while SB went to get a funnel cake for us to share. He came back with 2 of them! They are smaller than they used to be, but still 2 for 4 people pretty much killed the ability to eat much more Food & Wine Festival stuff. They were delicious, though!

As we began the second loop I got a glass of the sparkling brut from Patagonia. In Africa Judy got the chenin blanc. Pete had been talking about the bratwurst in Germany but I think the funnel cakes did him in. The Boys II Men concerts were once again ridiculously crowded, with no hope of getting into the theater without waiting in line for an hour or more. We werent willing to do that. Weve never had a problem walking in fairly last minute and getting decent seats for this group, so its got to be NJ week thats making the difference this year!

As we approached the International Gateway my group was fading fast. I was happy to stay in the park solo, so SB left with Pete & Judy to go back to Boardwalk. I walked into Future World and got him an oatmeal raisin cookie at Seasons in the Land, then walked over to the Festival Center. I picked up a Ghiradelli sample for Tiana and got a glass of the pinot gris before walking back to World Showcase. I sat on a bench in Japan to finish the wine and kill time until the 6:45 Boys II Men concert.

Shortly before 6:45 I picked up another chenin blanc from Africa and went to the Hops & Barley stand in America. There was a line, but I could listen to the concert while waiting. I got the beef slider and took it and the wine over to an empty spot on a wall to enjoy while listening to the concert. Midway through the final song I continued walking, stopping at the Festival merchandise stand to buy a pair of wineglasses for Tiana for Christmas, then continued out through the International Gateway.

As soon as I got back to the villa SB wanted to get a sandwich, so I walked down to Boardwalk Bakery with him. He got the roast beef sandwich, warmed up, and we brought it back to the villa. He had that and his oatmeal raisin cookie, while I finished the coconut bar from last night. Were in for the night, and Im getting ready to go watch HGTV while he watches a basketball game.

Today was another nice day, except for the Welcome Home Wednesday thing. That is just awful its embarrassingly awful. I hope I remember this next year so I dont subject myself to it again, lol!

Tomorrow is my final day here, so its going to be my ideal Disney day. Well spend the morning by the pool, then head in for Food & Wine sometime after Tiana gets here mid-afternoon. Pete & Judy are taking their boardwalk friend to lunch at Big River Grill but will meet up with us at Food & Wine later.


DAY 8 Thursday 11/6/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
SB (57), my husband
Pete & Judy, longtime dvc friends
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin

Plan: Food & Wine

Actual: I cant believe how quickly this trip has passed, and that its day 8 already! Last night SB was sound asleep before 9, which is very early for him. I think were both dragging a little bit, being out of our routines for so long now. I went to bed before 10:30 and did the usual wakeups just after 1 and then again at 4:20. I checked the time a little later thinking it would be 5 and late enough to get up, and to my surprise it was just after 6! I read email, then around 6:45 made my cappuccino. Today I need to pack up everything, but that can wait a little bit.

SB was up around 7:30, and I made us the same breakfast as yesterday. I also did a tiny load of laundry primarily his funnel cake clothes from yesterday. We watched General Hospital (yesterdays episode) online at 8:15, then I took care of some work stuff before I headed down to the quiet pool at 10. SB got caught up watching tv and would join me later.

The main pool wasnt busy yet and I found chairs by the Jacuzzi and shower so I set up there. For the most part it was quiet there. SB came down around 11 or so, and enjoyed some time in the pool before relaxing on his chaise lounge. They started playing musical pool games at noon, but it wasnt too loud or annoying.

Around 12:40 we reluctantly left the pool area. I knew Tiana was getting off work at noon to drive down here so I was assuming shed be here around 2-2:30. SB was sure shed be late getting on the road, and I should have called her to find out. But, I didnt. We had a quick lunch on the boardwalk, from that stand SB likes so much. He had a burger and we shared fries and a hot dog. It was gorgeous out there, and we both couldnt believe how quickly this trip had gone by! Usually hes ready to go home after a couple days, but hes on his 6th day and hes sorry its almost over.

After lunch we went up to the villa, and I took my shower. Tiana called as I was getting out of the shower, saying she was getting on the road, lol! It was 1:23 (I asked). Oh well, at least her arrival wont interrupt General Hospital, as it may have seemed mean to say hi, welcome, please shut up til the show is over <g>. At this point she should arrive by 3:30, which works for going over to Food & Wine later.

Tiana called right about 3:30 to say she was on Western Way (on property). She ended up getting a little lost but was finding her way back. I took a couple merchandise bags down to put in our trunk and called her again. She was just passing through the guard shack, so I got out to the road and saw her. I told her (on the phone) to just STOP THE CAR, lol she did, and I hopped in. It was easier directing her into the parking lot from the front seat rather than via phone <g>. We got her bags and went up to the villa.

I had a little wine left so I poured her a glass and finished the rest in my Tervis wine glass before the 3 of us headed over to Epcot. The security cast member at bag check told Tiana there was a problem because she had an iphone in her bag. He told her Snow White doesnt like Apples, lol! We headed to the left after entering the park. Since Tiana had never been here Id given here a printout of the F&W offerings but she found it easier for me to give the play-by-play commentary as we came to each stand.

Our first stop was Puerto Rico, where SB got the beef & rice and the medulla light beer. He really liked both especially the beer. Hed never had this before. In Mexico Tiana got the shrimp taco and loved it. We stopped at Farm Fresh, where SB got the yard bird and Tiana got the peppered bacon hash. SBs portion of chicken was very large, so he admitted his small mahi portion last night was perhaps not due to him being black <g>. Tiana liked her hash, but liked the yard bird better.

We got a text from Pete & Judy who were in Germany. I told them where we were, and said to sit tight. They were walking though, and we eventually passed them near Africa. Judy & I got the chenin blanc from Africa, then we joined Pete & Judy for a while walking back the way wed come. In Mexico SB and Tiana got margaritas, and once we got to the entrance to Future World Pete & Judy split off to go shopping at Mouse Gears.

Tiana, SB & I continued into United Kingdom and stopped into Rose & Crown Pub. We joined a couple at a table, and they were very nice. Carol Stein was making her way towards the piano and stopped to greet us and meet Tiana. She even improvised me into her first song, lol! We only stayed a little while, but it was fun while we were there. Once outside SB got the fish & chips, which he enjoyed.

When we got to America the David Concert (5:30) was about halfway through, and I was able to see him using my camera from just outside the theater. Tiana & I watched for a little bit, then we all went back to the Hops & Barley stand. Tiana got the lobster alfredo and carrot cake, while SB got us the carrot cake to share. The carrot cake was huge, so we should have gotten 1 to share between the 3 of us! Just as we sat down I noticed a text from Pete & Judy saying they were across the way outside Liberty Inn. We went over there and joined them to eat our food.

We heard the rest of the concert from there and spent our last time with Pete & Judy. Well see them again in April at Chris & Amandas wedding. Pete & Judy decided to suffer through the line for the 6:45 concert, and the rest of us continued walking. In Patagonia Tiana & I got the sparkling brut, which she liked. At International Gateway SB left us to return to the resort. 2 rounds is his limit, but Tiana was ready for more!

We approached America again shortly after the 6:45 concert began, and this time we went to the entrance (by Italy) and then found seats in the 4th row of the front section! Pete & Judy texted and theyd also gotten in, but were on the opposite side, near the front of the back section. The concert was great he did a nice job. Hes grown up some and looks better than he did on Idol, too.

After the concert we stopped in Poland, where I got the kielbasa and pierogies. It was delicious, as usual. Tiana tried it and liked it too! Our final stop was back in Africa, where we both got the chenin blanc before heading towards the International Gateway. We walked back to Boardwalk, and Tiana was impressed by everything out there. Once back in the villa we found SB on the couch ready for the football game. That worked well, as it gave Tiana the chance to take a bath since nobody was in the bedroom.

SB asked if Id brought him an oatmeal raisin cookie, and since there was time I said Id walk over to the Beach Club to get it. When Tiana got out of the bath she said shed go too, so she & I walked over to Beach Club Marketplace for cookies. I got a couple oatmeal raisin cookie for us and Tiana got herself a chocolate chip cookie. On the way back we stopped in Seashore Sweets, where Tiana got an ice cream cone single scoop after she saw someone with a double! After that we returned to the villa, and a few minutes later it was 9pm.

Tiana & I went out onto the balcony to watch Illuminations & Wishes, then came back inside. I finished up the trip report & photos while they watched football and talked shop. Tianas our Security Chief at work, and SB works in that department. I hope they quiet down when I go to watch HGTV in bed, lol!

This has been a fabulous Food & Wine trip! Yes, the NJ week crowds have been a big negative, particularly in terms of getting into the concerts. The attractions are never my priority and frankly if this had been a solo trip I probably would have spent mornings by the pool and only gone into the parks for Food & Wine. That said, I did enjoy what I did in the parks with other people. Thank goodness for Fastpass+!! Despite its shortcomings, overall its a big plus for my trips. The rest of the photos are on Shutterfly at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...ZNGTdm2bMWjJHA

Tomorrow begins the cruise portion of this trip 3 nights on DCLs Dream. I like the prettiness of this ship, but normally wouldnt bother with a short cruise like this. It was a good way to let Tiana experience cruising, though and this specific itinerary skips the crummy Nassau day in favor of a sea day. Since the cruise is so short I do not plan to get online at all, so the rest of the trip reports (and cruise photos) will be posted after I return on Monday.


DAY 9 Friday 11/7/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin

Plan: Board Dream, DVC Meet, Tour Ship

Actual: I left SB & Tiana to their football game around 10:15 and went to bed, but SB followed about 20-25 minutes later. I was barely awake at that point, as I was tired. Usually before a cruise Im excited, but instead Im sad to be leaving here. A DCL cruise just doesnt do it for me like a HAL cruise. That said, I definitely had my fill of Food & Wine and got to try everything on my list and even a few things that I hadnt planned.

I was awake at 4, and had trouble getting back to sleep because thats when SB is most likely to be snoring and he was. It wasnt a big deal because Id set the alarm for 5 anyway, so I could have my quiet time to relax before starting the day. I got up just before 5 and shut off the alarm. After making my cappuccino I retreated to the chair in the corner of the bedroom (with the table next to it) and did my online stuff while SB slept. It was definitely more comfortable when I could do this with the drapes open to watch the sunrise and while watching tv, but with someone sleeping in each of the rooms here I am in the corner, lol. To my surprise he ended up waking up just after 5:30, so then I was able to open the drapes and move back onto the bed. We both got online and watched the local news.

I took my shower shortly after 6, then dried my hair and finished packing the suitcase I was bringing on the cruise. Id told Tiana Id be making breakfast around 7:30-8 but we were actually a bit ahead of that. While I was drying my hair I sent Tiana to Boardwalk Bakery to pick up a few individual margarine packets for their grits. After the $3.99 cookies I need to stick it to the mouse, lol!

Breakfast was delicious eggs, grits, sausage & bacon for SB & Tiana, and my usual egg and slice of bacon for me. We were finished and had everything cleaned up by 7:30. I finished packing up my stuff, and SB left just before us, so I walked him out with some of our stuff. Tiana & I hung out until 8:30, then walked out to her car and made the drive to the port.

Its an easy drive to the port from WDW, taking just about an hour. We arrived earlier than normal, so although we were able to park the car (in the garage - $60 to park at the port for 3 nights) we were not able to get into the terminal. They had us line up inside the garage on the 3rd level, and were told it would be 10:30 before they started letting us in. The line formed quickly, and it soon became apparent most parties were families with more kids than adults!

There was one odd family a couple parties behind us. The boy (around age 10 or so) was wearing what looked like a 1-piece pajama thing with cartoon images on it. His mother or grandmother was toting a box of munchkins from Dunkin Donuts on a cruise??? They seemed normal, other than the poor fashion and the donut hole mania, lol!

They actually started letting us into the terminal around 10:20. After going into the building we went through security quickly and were among the first in the terminal. Since Tiana was staying in my stateroom she was able to join me in the Castaway Club check in line (not that it made a difference this early). We were given boarding group #1, I received my platinum lanyard, and we were sent on our way to sit down and wait for boarding to begin.

When it was finally almost 11:30 they asked for people to please stay away from the boarding area until their number was called, but of course hordes of people clogged up the entire area. When they called #1 we had to literally fight our way through strollers, people, luggage, etc. They were already past our number before we reached the entrance to the queue. This is really ridiculous they should have a cast member sending people away from that area.

Once onboard I stopped for the boarding photo since I knew Tiana wanted to do that. We were announced as we entered the lobby, and since it was so early only Cabanas was open so thats where we were directed. We went up to Cabanas and it really wasnt open the food wasnt available yet, but they were working behind the curtains to get it ready for 11:45 (the time posted in the Navigator). Tiana got a hot chocolate and I got some ice water, then we tried to get a table outside in the sun. Unfortunately the tables were all pretty much in the shade and it was too windy and too cold to eat out there, so we came back inside.

Neither of us ate a lot for lunch, and Im only taking pictures of my food so the food porn isnt very exciting <g>. I had a spoon of potatoes, half a chicken finger, and a tomato/mozzarella sandwich. She had some shrimp and other salad stuff. We did each have a chocolate mousse for dessert, then we began walking around so she could see the ship and take pictures before it was mobbed with people.

Staterooms were ready at 1:30 I know I probably griped about this last year, but if HAL can have all staterooms ready at 11:30am so can DCL (and all the others). I unpacked, but Tiana decided to live out of her suitcase. Theres plenty of storage here, so she could have unpacked, but I guess its more fun dragging a suitcase out from under my bed, lol! Next we went to the 2:30 dvc presentation, which was a million times better than the Welcome Home Wednesday we suffered through at Boardwalk. They did a game, but it was reasonably fun. We received a dvc baseball cap on the way in, and on the way out we each got one of the backpacks they had last year and an insulated mug. I also won a dvc flash drive during the game.

By the time the dvc thing ended it was time to get ready for our muster drill, which was held in the Walt Disney Theater. This was a chore, as it began late and they do everything in both English and Spanish. Finally it ended! We stopped by the stateroom briefly and went up to the top deck for sailaway. Luckily the wind wasnt too bad, as we got spots over the bow right up against the railing without the glass partition. The Royal Caribbean ship was already out to sea and the Carnival Liberty was pulling away. We were the last to leave, and got to see them drop our ropes before we drifted away from the dock and began moving forward. By the time we got going we had hardly any time to get ready for dinner.

I would have liked to have a glass or wine before dinner, but that wasnt going to happen with the time crunch. Late dinner is too late for me (8pm) so were stuck with eating at 5:45, which is very early when you dont start sailing away until almost 5! We ran downstairs to the balcony for the end of sailaway, and we had a really pretty sunset on our side. We quickly changed for dinner and arrived at Animators Palate right after 5:45.

We were taken to a table for 8, where a couple was seated at one end and another couple was seated right after us. The missing couple never showed up perhaps they were at Palo or Remy. The table next to us was literally 6 inches away, and full of kids. In fact, looking around we were the only table without kids in the visible vicinity. Our table mates were very nice, and so was our server Graziella.

For dinner I started with the tomato tarte, which was sort of like a pizza but with a different crust and no sauce. It had tomato slices, glazed goat cheese, and some radish shreds it was very good! Tiana tried the bacon cheddar cheese soup but didnt care for it, so instead she got the pasta purses with black truffles & loved that. I had the bacon cheddar soup for my next course, but only ate half since it was thick and filling. Tiana had a jumbo shrimp salad that was huge. She ate the 3 big shrimp and a little of the salad. For entrees I had the lemon thyme chicken breast, which was very moist and flavorful but honestly nothing special. Tiana ordered the everyday sirloin steak and it was a little overcooked. She was so full at that point she only ate half shed made the mistake of filling up on the excellent bread before the meal! Cant blame her, as I know I was starving at that point and she probably was too. Our afternoon just didnt give us time to get a snack or anything.

The guy across from us (Bruce) was wearing a birthday button, as today was his birthday. He & Tiana told our steward mine was a few days ago, so they brought us each a small birthday cake, and an anniversary cake for the first couple at our table. It was funny Bruces cake had a Happy Anniversary banner and the anniversary couples had Happy Birthday <g>. We also ordered real desserts, and didnt really touch the birthday ones beyond a bite. I had the chocolate walnut cake, which is mousse on a bed of walnuts. Tiana had the brownie cheesecake (brownie on bottom, cheesecake on top).

One strange thing our meal was kind of slow, because the guy in the first couple ate an enormous amount of courses. He was an average sized guy, too I have no idea where he put it! He had multiples of every course, including at least 2 entrees plus a bowl of macaroni & cheese from the kids menu. I noticed he didnt finish his dessert, but Tiana mentioned hed had an ice cream sundae before that, lol! Ive never seen such a thing in all my cruises.

After dinner we stopped by the shops, which were not nearly as busy as I expected. I bought a Disney Vera Bradley purse SB is giving me for Christmas, and Tiana found a Guess purse she liked. I get 10% off for being platinum, so I put both on my account and shell pay me when we get back for hers it saved her $11.80. Next we picked up wine glasses from a bar in the District, then stopped by the stateroom. Our steward Lita came over to introduce herself and as I turned my wine glass slipped out of my hand and fell onto the carpet, breaking into pieces! I felt like a jerk, but Lita was very gracious. I stood guard while she got a vacuum cleaner to get up any small pieces that werent visible.

Wed received our card from DVC and took the paper medallion inside to the DVC desk to get tonights gift. To my surprise they gave both of us a cool metal thing to wear on our lanyard to identify us as DVC members. Last year they were in the one per stateroom mode, and Lori & I had to remind them that we are 2 separate dvc memberships. This year theyre throwing stuff at Tiana and shes not even a member, lol!

It was almost time for the show so we walked to the Walt Disney Theater and Tiana took a seat in the back row, on the aisle. I stood there for the introductions and first song, then headed out. I thought shed stay for the whole thing since it was new to her, but she was tired. I went up to the shop on deck 11 and bought a swimsuit, then took it to the stateroom and wasnt entirely happy. Tiana came back while I had it on, and liked it but it felt like it was just a bit too long in the torso. She said to just adjust the straps and pull it up, but that was completely ridiculous! I told her the white stripe is supposed to be flat all the way around, not arched up in the back to my shoulder blades, lol! I went back upstairs while she took her bath, and was able to take a size small to the restroom nearby to try that one instead. It was a better fit, so the cast member did the exchange.

I returned to the stateroom, and started working on the trip report its tough doing a full day at one time!!! Tiana went to bed and may be asleep by now. I plan to step out on the balcony briefly, then got to bed myself.

Today was a tiring day, but not sure why. This ship feels REALLY crowded at times, and there are way too many kids and babies on board. But, thats DCLs demographic, so Im the one who doesnt quite fit. The stateroom is great, although we do have loud obnoxious children next door. So far theyve only been a problem on the balcony, so well see how it goes. I like our dinner table mates, and look forward to seeing them again on Sunday.

Hopefully tomorrow will be warm enough for some sun, and tomorrow night we have our dinner at Palo. Im going to have to warn Tiana to pace herself!

DAY 10 Saturday 11/8/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin

Plan: Pool, Palo dinner, Fireworks

Actual: I forgot to mention last night at dinner I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, and the steward came back later to tell me he was sorry but they still hadnt gotten any of that wine. I clarified that he meant it wasnt available on the ENTIRE ship, and he said yes! Whats up with that??? I chose a sauvignon blanc instead, which wasnt as good but was ok.

Last night I shut down the computer finally & went to bed around 10:30. The bed and stateroom were very comfortable, although I could hear noise from kids too old to be making noise in staterooms nearby. Im always tempted to book another cruise when Im on one, wanting to repeat the positive parts, but Im realizing that DCL is just a bad fit for me, given the huge number of kids and the large percentage of parents who just let their kids run free and act however they like. Last night at the DVC desk we were interrupted by this little girl and her even younger sibling who were doing the detective thing she wanted the dvc guy to tell her where another clue was. This girl couldnt have been more than 6-7 years old, and here she was roaming the ship unsupervised with an even younger child. This activity would take them on most decks forward, aft & midship. I guess bad things cant happen to little girls because this is Disney??

I had woken up at 1, then again at 4 and pretty much stayed awake until I finally got up after 5:30. Unfortunately with this crazy light system (you have to put your room key or any card in the slot to activate the lights), when you put the key in the slot it turns on all the overhead stateroom lights! I think what I need to do is leave the key in the slot overnight, and manually leave the overhead lights turned off so then I just have to turn on the bathroom light if I want to get up earlier than Tiana.

She said she was awake anyway, but still I prefer the HAL way where you just turn lights on or off at your control. We got dressed for walking and went down to the promenade deck at 6:15. It was nice that hardly anyone else was up (at first), and since we basically have no distance to cover today the ship is barely moving so its not very windy or cool. We did 5 laps, which is 2 miles.

After that we met up at Cabanas around 7 I made a detour to the stateroom to pick up my dvc mug with cappuccino power in it. I should have read the Navigator for the breakfast hours, because they started continental at 7 but hot food not until 7:30. This is really rather late I realize its a sea day, but full breakfast should be available by 7, with continental starting at either 6 or 6:30. The steward was still setting up the tables outside, and thats where we wanted to sit. I didnt like feeling like I was interrupting him, but this is my (expensive) vacation and I wasnt going to go away or cool my heels elsewhere. We took a table hed already moved into place, then asked if we could just move our own chairs.

Tiana got some fruit and oatmeal, and I got a croissant. It was good, but nowhere near as good as the new multigrain croissants they have at WDW. I was hoping to see those here, but didnt. We sat at the table chatting and by 7:20 it looked like the back section was open so I got a fried egg and a sausage link (bacon wasnt crispy). Later Tiana went up for a fried egg, croissant and some orange juice & hot chocolate. It got quite a bit busier out there, so we were glad to get breakfast done early.

It was still very cloudy, but Im hoping well get some sunshine soon. After breakfast I took her up to see Remy, Palo, Meridian Lounge, mini golf, and the restrooms outside Remy & Palo. The restrooms are very ornate pretty but almost too over the top. At least in these 2 bathrooms they do like HAL and provide real hand towels rather than paper towels. After the little tour we stopped by the front desk to get a 2nd copy of the Navigator and I once again stressed to Tiana that she needs to read it and keep part of it with her so shell know whats happening when, where things are, what the hours are, etc. Otherwise, she may find out about something she wants do, hours after it ended.

She went up to deck 11 by the quiet pool to relax on a chaise lounge and I returned to the stateroom thinking Id read on the verandah for a bit. I ended up working on the report, so make it not so tedious later. With this being a sea day Im thinking the decks and pool area will be a zoo, so part of me says to get up there early. The other part of me is saying I paid good money for a verandah and need to use it (especially while screaming banshee kids arent out on theirs). I didnt see Tiana when I passed through the adult pool area so I continued up the stairs to the very top deck with the nice cushioned chaise lounges. It was so early it wasnt busy at all, so I grabbed a couple chaise lounges and a table on the sunny side, and set up camp there.

I had periods of sun, but mostly clouds and cool breezes until around 11:30. Id just removed the towel I was using as a blanket when Tiana arrived shed looked for me but hadnt gone far enough before. I purposely stayed here figuring shed figure it out sooner or later and if I went looking for her wed probably keep missing each other. She was still in long pants and a tanktop, and had been sitting in the shade down on deck 11 looking out at the water. I was 2 decks up on deck 13.

At one point when I was up there (solo) a yoga class came and set up in the area right next to me. I wasnt thrilled, but at least yoga is a pretty silent activity. There must have been 20-30 people with their little mats, doing their poses with the instructor. When the class ended they rolled up their mats and left. Earlier this morning while walking Tiana & I came across a woman on the promenade deck with a big thick hula hoop. She was just hoola hooping away, and when we came around again she was jumping rope. She had a duffel bag full of her exercise stuff that was another first for me!

I knew Tiana was hungry and she assumed wed be eating, so just after noon we walked down to Cabanas to fix plates to bring back to our chairs. Im not a lunch eater on a cruise, as it would kill my dinner. They had weiner schnitzel so I took a piece of that, a bite of pasta and around 4-6 shoestring French fries. She had small portions of fried fish, mac & cheese, Bavarian roasted potatoes, grouper, carrots, short ribs, and a salad with some type of chicken breast on top. Its hard for a new cruiser to resist all the choices!

We ate at our chairs, then she took our plates over to the counter above the trash area. We took advantage of the sun, but pretty quickly she got too hot & moved over to the shade. Soon some other people came down and set up their chairs in the shade with her, and they all got to talking to each other. Next thing I knew Tiana had a strawberry pina colada delivered by one of the bar stewards, so I knew she was happy & comfortable there! Id had enough of the sun for one day, so shortly after 1 I let her know I was going back down to the stateroom.

I opened the wine Id brought and had a glass out on the verandah, then updated the report before going back out to the verandah for a bit longer. Soon the sun was beating down, making it too hot to stay out there. Id picked up a DCL cruise brochure and looked at dates. Just before 3 I went down to the future cruise desk and booked another 3-night Dream cruise. Yes, I know I just said DCL is not a good fit for me, and in many ways its true. However, I do love being in the adult areas and being on the ship. If I cruise solo I pay for 2 people, so I booked it for Tiana & me and Ill offer her he same deal as this time she provides the transportation to/from the cruise, pays for parking, and pays my gratuities ($36). Ill have no trouble renting some dvc points to pay for the cruise, and I get $100 shipboard credit to play with or buy stuff. Ill talk to her when she gets back its a good sign that shes able to be independent of me on her first cruise!

When I returned to the stateroom I took my shower and dried my hair. Our first engagement today is the 5pm reception for gold and platinum guests, followed by our 6pm Palo dinner. Id received a phone call from Palo earlier to confirm our reservation, remind me of the dress code, and ask if we were celebrating anything. Tiana came back while I was in the shower, wondering where Id been. Evidently she came back when I was booking the future cruise, and went back up to the adult decks looking for me.

After I got dressed & came out she asked again where Id gone, and I spilled the news about the cruise. Im such a considerate person, I told her if she didnt want to go or couldnt go that was ok and Id bring someone else <g>. She assured me she was coming, lol! The cruise is Martin Luther King weekend for us, and since that Monday is a holiday from work (and the day we return) it will only cost me the 1 extra vacation day I was going to take for a stay at Jambo House concierge level over that long weekend.

We hung out in the stateroom for a while and decided to dress for dinner before going to the 5pm Castaway Club reception. Its being held in Evolution, which is in the very aft of the ship, and Palo is also at the aft. This way we can just go straight from Evolution up to Palo via elevator without having to return to our stateroom near the front of the ship to get dressed and then walk back to the aft.

Around 4:40 we left the stateroom and stopped on deck 5 to sign up for the midship detective game. Tiana controlled the card, and we chose the saving puppies version. We had time to do the closest location before going down to Evolution on deck 4 for the Castaway Club Reception. It wasnt quite open yet, but a few minutes later they opened the doors and welcomed us. While waiting we chatted with another group from Gainesville.

We received champagne and found seats at a small table. Soon a steward came by with a tray of canapes, then another with a tray of fruit, and finally another with a tray of chocolate chip cookies. The turnout was not that great they invited 110 people but Id say well less than half that attended. Last year we had Donald Duck in attendance, but this year it was Peter Pan. He made the rounds, stopping to talk at each table. It was somewhat disconcerting talking to a grown man acting like Peter Pan.

The captain also came in and sat to chat with us for a while before moving on to visit at other tables. Both he and the cruise director made short speeches thanking us, then they showed a video from the president of DCL. On the way out we were given a Mickey ears rice krispie bar.

We made a quick trip back to our stateroom to drop off the rice krispie treats, then went immediately to Palo and were seated immediately. Our table was way in the back of the restaurant, which isnt a problem. I saw the separate room they have for big parties, with a large round table very nice! Our server was a guy from Portugal and he provided excellent service. This type of dining experience was all new to Tiana, and she enjoyed it.

We started with antipasti, which isnt really my thing so I just ate a few bites of the parmegiana cheese. For an appetizer I got the caprese (tomato and mozzarella). The presentation is different than in the past, but its still excellent. Tiana had the jumbo shrimp, which had 2 of the hugest shrimp Ive ever seen in my life, standing atop a couple asparagus spears and something else. She cut the shrimp with a fork and knife, getting 3-4 big bites from each one! For entrees we both went with the Palo filet mignon, which is a ridiculous 9 ounces. I commented to our server that a smaller option would be nice, and he agreed but said DCL insists on it matching what the meal would really be like in Italy and that meant the 9-ounce portion. I ordered a small portion of saffron risotto with mine in place of the mashed potatoes & spinach, and Tiana added a side of another risotto with shrimp, clams & other stuff in it. Our meals were excellent, but neither of us could finish.

For dessert we both had the chocolate souffl, which was amazing but also couldnt be finished. Shed never had one before, so this was another treat. Shed also never heard of sorbet or cleansing the palate, so this cruise has been educational, lol! We pretty much rolled out of there.

After a quick stop at the stateroom to change we went back out to finish saving puppies, and then decided to do the other version and find the stolen art. This let us run all over the ship, as we only used the stairs and had to go from one end to the other. We certainly didnt work off that dinner, but every little bit helps! We took a short walk on the promenade deck, then wandered around deck 12 to see them getting ready for the pirate party stuff. I saw 3 cruise ships off our starboard side, waiting for our fireworks. Tiana was fading so she got a little hot chocolate and thought listening to music would help so we sat in District Lounge. I was about ready to go up and work on the report when she said shed go up too.

I got the report updated, so after fireworks I can just go to bed. Around 10:20 we went upstairs to deck 12 to wait for the fireworks. A few people had their kids in pajamas, which would horrify me as inappropriate on HAL but it seemed perfectly fine here given the hour. Although, the thought of kids young enough to need pajamas at this hour being on a cruise ship at all still horrifies me <g>. We grabbed spots by the starboard railing and waited.

It felt like the captain turned the ship around to just the right position, as the position of the moon and those other cruise ships changed too much in a short period of time. At 10:30 the preshow started in the midship area (we could hear it), and it seemed to go on forever! It always does when youre waiting for something. Finally the fireworks began and they went on for quite a long while. They were much more impressive than I remember from past cruises. Tiana was struggling to stay awake, but afterwards she admitted they were worth it. We returned to the stateroom as soon as the fireworks ended. Tiana took her bath and I read until she was in her bed, then turned out the light.

Today was a nice relaxing day, although dinner at Palo is a killer in terms of amount of food/calories consumed! The weather couldnt have been better, once the clouds cleared away this morning. Im a bit surprised I booked another DCL cruise honestly Im hoping I dont regret it, but at this point its done. I have until November 2015 to cancel or change it.

Tomorrow is Castaway Cay day and Im not sure if well be getting off the ship or not. Tianas never seen it, but she seems to be struggling a bit so Ill leave that up to her.


DAY 11 Sunday 11/9/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin

Plan: Castaway Cay

Actual: Last night was my best sleeping night since this trip started 11 days ago, lol! I dont think I woke up until almost 5, then dozed back off until 6. It was getting light outside so I got up and got dressed for walking, and when I came out Tiana was in the other bathroom. Shed decided to skip walking for now, so I went down to the promenade deck to do 5 laps and then returned to pick her up. We were approaching Castaway Cay and I knew wed be backing in to the dock, so our outside spot at Cabanas would be a good place for breakfast.

She needed to stop by Guest Services so I told her Id meet her at Cabanas. I brought my dvc mug with my cappuccino powder and added hot water up there. I also got a glass of ice water for myself and a large orange juice for Tiana. I had my kindle, so I read while waiting for her, and chatted briefly with the many cast members who stopped to say hello. Early in the day its nice & quiet up here. I dont like that full breakfast doesnt start until 7:30 though thats just too late.

For breakfast I repeated the fried eggs, with most of a sausage link since the bacon is still too limp. Its like floppy pieces of greasy fat, and I like crispy bacon. Ill get better bacon on HAL in January. I also took a blueberry muffin, which turned out to be delicious! Tiana arrived as we were turning to back into the dock, and she selected an assortment of breakfast items. She later went up for a Mickey waffle and came back with a pancake, not able to find the waffles. She knows they were up there though, as someone walked by with some on their plate.

The water around the island looks beautiful, and the day looks perfect in terms of weather, at least for now. The captain said a cold front would be approaching but he thought it should hold off until at least 3pm. For now we had clear blue skies and bright sunshine, with a nice breeze and an expected high around 80. We stopped by the front desk to check our accounts and everything was correct. From there we headed to the gangway and had a brief wait for the 8:30 going ashore announcement.

We walked around the island so Tiana could see it, taking pictures along the way. We went as far as the pelican bar, then caught the tram back to the ship. Neither of us had any desire to sit on a crowded beach with hordes of other people. I changed into my swimsuit and went up to the same spot on deck 13, and soon Tiana came up and sat in the shade there. I lazed around, did some reading, and just enjoyed the peace & quiet of the beautiful surroundings and lack of a crowd! She took a nap, then got chilly in the shade, so she moved to the sun as well.

Just after 11 she went down to Eye Scream for an ice cream cone, and brought it back up to the shade since it was melting too quickly in the sun. A little after noon we went to the Aqua Duck and I watched while Tiana rode she really liked it! From there we went to Cabanas to check out the lunch buffet. I got a chocolate chip cookie, some cheddar cheese and a spoonful of chicken pot pie. She tried small portions of several items, really liking the salmon. We took the plates back to the stateroom, and picked up some chicken fingers from the counter service place before the adult pool area.

We poured some of the wine Id brought and had lunch on the verandah. Our verandah faces the island, so its a nice view. After eating we played with the zoom on my camera and could see people in great detail, when without the camera we couldnt even tell people were there. Tiana was laughing that it was a spy camera, lol!

At 2 we brought our lunch plates and her pool towels back up to deck 11, then went up to the sports deck (13) for mini golf. I got a hole in one on the first try, which was pure dumb luck. We played both the Goofy and Max for each hole, and although neither one of us was very good, she was absolutely terrible, lol! She was hitting the ball all over the place, not even lining up her shots before whacking the ball with her club. It was so bad I couldnt even try to offer tips I just let it go <g>.

After golf she suggested ping pong so we played that for a while. We didnt keep score or follow any rules it was just about keeping the ball in play somehow, any way possible. It was fun, and thankfully the table was in the shade! After this she wanted another ice cream, so we stopped at Eye Scream and I also got a small cone (banana ice cream inside the cone, topped with a little vanilla/chocolate swirl. It was very good! Tiana stayed on a chaise lounge in the adult pool area to eat her ice cream while I ran down to the stateroom to get my camera. Lots of people are back from the island now, so its getting a little busier. Its still not as bad as yesterday, though!

I took a few pictures and found Goofy playing mini golf with a family up on the sports deck. Tiana decided to stay on a chaise lounge in the shade to watch the movie on the big screen while I went down to the stateroom for my shower. While I was in there she returned to say she was going to the adult hot tub and for me to pick her up there when I was ready to go down to deck 4 for sailaway. I finished getting ready, and went up to the adult hot tub. Tiana was chatting with some people from Brazil, but got out and dried off so she wouldnt miss sailaway.

We went down to deck 4 (promenade deck) and watched the final guests coming back onto the ship, and the loading of all the dirty pool towels. Just before 5 the gangways were removed and the ropes began going slack. Before we knew it we were away from the dock and starting to move forward. As usual the cast members left on the island waved goodbye wearing Mickey gloves. The captain had given a weather update, letting us know the front was not too far away, and we should expect 50% chance of rain and temps in the 60s tomorrow in Port Canaveral and WDW. Id planned for that, by bringing my warm HAL sweatshirt. This forecast was known several days ago.

We watched the ocean for a few minutes, then went up to the stateroom. I was already dressed for dinner except my shoes, so I changed those while Tiana got dressed and then we went to the shops to return a pair of shorts shed bought on embarkation day that didnt fit her right. After that we went to Shutters for her to look at the photos taken during the cruise. Since its her first cruise she wanted to buy our embarkation photo, and she plans to look for a frame after dinner. We didnt have time to stash the photo in the stateroom, so she brought it to our dinner at Royal Palace.

Once again our table for 8 was just the 6 of us, and no new people arrived last night while we were in Palo. So, whoever else was assigned must have eaten elsewhere all 3 nights. Royal Palace is themed to Cinderella, with the bread basket looking like her coach, and Cinderella paintings on the walls. Its a pretty room, and the menu is a bit more upscale than the other 2 restaurants.

For an appetizer Tiana had the jumbo shrimp with lobster. These shrimp were not as big as the ones she had in Palo last night, but they were decent. I skipped the appetizer, as none of them were anything Id eat. Escargot is another option here. I skipped the soups and had the farmhouse salad. This was ok the best part is the crostini topped with goat cheese. Tiana had this salad too, and might have had a soup.

For entrees I had the chateaubriand, which was very tender. They put a barnaise sauce on the side, and I liked the potatoes they paired it with. Tiana went with the lamb chops, which she enjoyed. For dessert she got the strawberry shortcake ice cream sundae and I got the trio of little desserts. Tonight it was a delicious crme brulee, pretty good dark chocolate peanut butter mousse thing, and a surprisingly good mango cheesecake. I hate mango, but this just tasted like cheesecake. We learned that Tiana had never had crme brulee before, and one of our table mates gave her a clean spoon with a bit of his when she asked what that was. She loved it, and asked our steward to bring her one of the small portions of that as well. I couldnt believe anyone wouldnt have heard of and tried crme brulee before, but she was telling the truth!

We really enjoyed talking with our table mates this cruise they were all really terrific! The guy who ate a truckload of food the first night just ate normally tonight, so I guess that was a fluke. Everyone got along really well, and there were hugs all around after dinner. It would be a pleasure to cruise with any of them again. During dinner we found the cold front, as lightning could be seen out the window.

After dinner they had good live music playing in the atrium, so we stood and listened while watching people get formal portraits taken on the staircase. Some people were dressed really nicely, making beautiful family portraits. Others looked like slobs, and we saw a fair share of overweight women squeezed into mini dresses that barely covered their butts. That was not a pretty sight, especially on a full stomach. Many little girls had their princess dresses on, and most didnt pair them with sneakers. A few little boys had suits or shirt/tie/vest, including one little guy who was barely old enough to walk. His suit & tie matched his dads in terms of colors. He was really cute, and loved smiling at the camera!

Around 8 I went back to the stateroom to pack, and then updated the report and poured a glass of wine. I dont want to take it back off the ship, and hopefully Tiana will drink one when she gets in. She wasnt planning to go the show (Believe) so Im not sure what shes doing. Its been raining since sometime during dinner. I cant complain though, as weve had near perfect weather this cruise!

I went out for a walk, and Tiana must have returned while I was gone, because when she came back later she asked where Id gone to, lol! She ended up going to see Believe and really liked it, other than the obnoxious people who came late, who got up to take their kids out and back in, etc. It was funny listening to her, because it was the same stuff I griped about when I first started cruising DCL and going to shows. If your kid cant handle an hour-long theater show, parents really should be considerate enough to either skip the show or put the kid elsewhere for that hour.

Tiana finished up the wine with me, then took her bath. I got dressed for bed and read my kindle until she was ready for bed. Lights were out by 11.


DAY 12 Monday 11/10/14
Who: Sue (56), DVC Member
Tiana (46), co-worker, cruise virgin

Plan: Debark Dream, Drive to Gainesville

Actual: Today we have to experience DCLs process for getting off the ship, which is not nearly as civilized as Im used to on HAL. Here theres no room service after 1am this morning, so thats not an option for breakfast. In fact, on DCL unless youre in a suite or concierge level all you can get for breakfast via room service is continental. On HAL its a full hot breakfast every day including the day you leave the ship. DCL insists you leave your stateroom by 8am and if you go to breakfast you take your luggage with you. On HAL you go eat breakfast if you like, and you can wait in your stateroom until its time for you to leave. Days prior to the end YOU tell HAL what time slot you want to leave during. Our restaurant breakfast is assigned at 6:45, were supposed to drag our luggage to breakfast, and then leave the ship immediately after eating. I understand needing to get the ship ready for the next guests, but if HAL and do it their way AND have staterooms ready by 11:30 for incoming guests then theres no excuse for DCLs process. Ok, enough soap box for today <g>.

I slept well again, and woke up at 5. I could tell we were very close to the port, and I stayed in my bed until just before 6. While I was getting ready in the bathroom Tiana got up and called out to tell me they were hooking up our ropes at the dock. About 6:30 I went upstairs to make my cappuccino at the beverage station and confirm that Cabanas would be open for breakfast. Last night our server was pressuring us to come to breakfast this morning at Royal Palace, but we both prefer to skip the table service at breakfast. Cabanas was getting ready to open on one side, with the full buffet, so I went back downstairs to let Tiana know.

We left our luggage out of the way along the wall in the stateroom, and went upstairs to Cabanas. It wasnt overly busy when we arrived, so it was a piece of cake getting our breakfast and finding a table. Today we each added a Mickey waffle to our usual, and were able to actually have bacon that wasnt dripping in grease for a change! After breakfast we returned to the stateroom to get our luggage. As we got there they made the announcement that the ship had been cleared (7am), so we went down to deck 3 and exited the ship. I was hoping they would have put up the garland and tree last night, but they had not. The holiday music was playing and the gingerbread house looked done, but thats it. Theyll do the rest once our passengers are gone, before the new group starts boarding at 11:30.

The terminal had lines at customs, but at least it moved quickly. Overall it wasnt a bad experience disembarking, since we were handling our own stuff and wanting to get on the road early. Because wed arrived early last Friday, Tianas car was parked very close ground floor of garage, about 4 spaces over from the entrance. We were on the road in no time at all!

Tiana loved her first cruise experience, and is looking forward to the next one. She turned out to be a good travel companion overall, as she didnt need to stay attached at the hip and was always considerate & gracious. That said, 3 days is about my limit for sharing a stateroom I just like my space/solo time too much to consider cruising with a friend for an entire week.

I loved this itinerary, although since I never get off the ship Im not sure why it would even make a difference. I guess I liked the fact that we were still moving (other than while at Castaway Cay) rather than sitting still, and the movement was so slow we werent killed with heavy winds (bad hair). The next one will be the traditional itinerary of Nassau & Half Moon Cay, and I expect to stay on the ship both days.

We got really lucky in terms of dinner companions they were terrific! We were less thrilled with every other table in the vicinity having multiple kids, and while some behaved just fine many did not. Tiana was aghast last night at one table where the little boy was using a knife to poke at his sister and act like he was cutting her chest all while the parents sat there ignoring them.

Speaking of kids, there are WAY too many of them on Disney ships, and I cannot imagine cruising with kids who are too young to appreciate it or act right. One of the couples we had dinner with said they had constant noise in their stateroom crying baby/toddler, voices, etc. I asked if they had a connecting door in their stateroom and they said yes you HAVE TO avoid those. I wouldnt cruise DCL if my only option was a stateroom that connected to another, because your neighbor may have unruly kids or crying babies! Quite often I saw kids running like hellions through the ship, especially on the stairways. This is nothing new they run down the stairs, leaping over several at a time so they land with a giant thud. Parents are either ignoring them or nowhere to be found. Im very happy to be returning to HAL for a couple more civilized cruises before the next Dream cruise <g>.

The food was good some of it just ok, some good, and everything at Palo was great. Tiana loved the soft serve ice cream at Eye Scream, and I have to agree it was very good. She enjoyed Believe. Our 4 table mates all enjoyed Golden Mickeys and said Villains was among the worst things theyve ever seen. I agree that show sucks it really needs to be replaced with something else.

I mostly spent my time relaxing on deck, which is my preference. The movies & entertainment on DCL are too childish for my taste, but I truly enjoy lazing around so I really dont mind that theres nothing tempting me away from my normal routine. The fireworks were very impressive I always enjoy those!

The stateroom was very nice, in a great location. For the next Dream cruise were in the same stateroom, but on the port side rather than starboard. HAL has bigger verandahs, but the staterooms are basically the same size, with most of the same features. The split bath on DCL works well for traveling with Tiana, as we both had a space to get ready. As a solo, it would be needless & somewhat annoying to have 2 separate bathroom spaces. The beds are comfortable on both cruise lines, and Tiana said her sofa bed was very comfortable.

Overall this has been a terrific trip, although its been long enough that Im ready to return home for a while <g>. The cruise photos are on shutterfly at share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZNGTdm2bMWjJPg

My next trip is a quick weekend starting this Friday 11/14/14. One of my best friends from college is in town for a conference that ends Friday, so I booked Jambo House for Friday & Saturday night so we could spend some time together. She wont have park access, so it will be a resort trip. My next cruise will be in January, back on HAL. Until then, thanks for reading!