Ohhh dear...tough one! So Erin McKenna's is probably my favourite little piece of heaven at DTD. (I guess if we're going to use old names for things here, [e.g. DTD] then I should probably call it Babycakes instead!) It's such a luxury to have amazing bakery treats that I can eat safely. I just discovered a new type of cupcake there on our last trip that was rocking my world! I also love Basin, even if I don't purchase anything. But I like their lotion, and Nathan likes the bath bombs, so we sometimes bring a couple of little luxuries home with us. I also remember that my favourite place here when I was a wee little one was Rainforest Cafe! I brought home one of those little pucks that you put in water and it turns into a washcloth, and it was miraculous to me!
Fun things, all! I knew about your Erin's and we share a love of Basin, but the RFC did surprise me. Nice!
It sounded horrifying! I'd find this very stressful. I'm impressed that you will have done it more than once!
And I did it again this time. And it was MUCH better than in May. Maybe they learned some things!!!
I've finally been to Food and Wine! There are a lot of things I can't eat there, and others that I shouldn't eat but did anyway
I liked the crispy pork belly with black beans/tomato/onions from Brazil, and also the liquid nitro truffle.
Almost got the pork belly but didn't. So close! But got other things I'd wanted so it's all good!
Tough call. I think I like Maharaja slightly more as well. I love the tigers, and I'm crazy about the theming and artistry. The prayer flags are beautiful. And I also find this trail tends to feel less congested when we go, compared to the bottlenecks we encounter on the gorilla trail.
Totally agree on ALL of that.
Yes.
I'm sure it will be a wonderful overhaul. I'm just weirdly emotionally tied to Future World. I will be interested to see what comes next though! If I am being completely objective, I think it's probably time for a serious update. The only thing I'm really sad about is the loss of the Fountain of Nations.
EPCOT is in its current state a NON-park in terms of FW. Everything but the rides is fenced off, Starbucks is gone, The Jammitors are leaving, the fountain is gone, etc.... it's so weird!!! I am excited for the new things coming, but wowza, it sure was shocking!
WS restaurant...hmm...Possibly Teppan Edo. We don't eat habachi at home so it's a novelty, and our meals have been excellent when we've been here. We've also had great meals at Rose and Crown. We're trying La Hacienda for the first time in December! One of my favourite activities that's not food related is to splurge on a henna tattoo. I also love pin trading around the world and chatting with cast members as we go.
I have a couple of surprise meals to report on this time. Not surprises as to WHERE, but surprising as to the review/rating I can give.
Yep! Most days! (And we never have little ones along.) We've had a vehicle with us at the parks the last few trips though, so that helps. I find I have a hard time making it through the entire day without a bit of a recharge. But sometimes just taking it easy in a quiet attraction, or over a longer lunch is enough to do the trick.
I find it harder and harder each year I go. I must be old! LOL! But yes, sometimes I long lunch in a TS place does the trick!
Nice! Where did you end up going? I love Columbia Harbor House, and I actually really like Pinocchio's too these days.
PVH, Cosmic and Pecos. More on those coming up!
Fantasmic! is my favourite of the current offerings. I was a big fan of Wishes before it was retired because of the nostalgia associated with it, the reliance on more fireworks, the fact that you could watch it from many places in the park, and because it was story-heavy. When we watch Fantasmic, especially, I always stay till the end. The very last moment of the show is by far the very best part, and I always feel bad for the people who duck out before it and miss out. I like to sit and wait for 15 mins or so after it's over if I'm not in a rush. The theatre clears out quickly and then you don't have to do the stuck-in-a-crowd waddle all the way down that long path.
I think I'd stay longer than that and saunter out letting the crush at the buses clear out. Then again, with DHS being on the Skyliner, I'd be tempted to stay at POP or CBR and take that home now.
Like you, I also collect Disney pins! I have quite a pin problem, to be honest. I also trade, both in the parks, and in mail trades through online Facebook groups. My pin collection is ginormous and getting out of control. But most of my favourite pins are the ones I pick up to represent parts of our trips, like parties or EPCOT festivals, or resort pins. My pride and joy is my Merida pin collection. I also collect Animal Kingdom pins, Sulley pins, Bing Bong pins, current hidden mickeys pins, and sometimes mystery boxes/bags will catch my eye. I've also purchased a few Dooney and Bourke bags that are quite treasured. And even on trips where we're keeping a pretty tight budget, I've taken to bringing home one or two mini tsum tsum plushes from each trip since they're small and easy to pack/store.
I think your pin collection is FAR bigger than mine, I am only getting 2-3 per trip and usually those they kind of, in some say, sum up the trip as a whole for me. I like to get one with the year/date on it, maybe an event I've gone to (F&W,
MNSSHP, etc...) or special memory (VIP Tour).
We don't really have traditions for our last day, other than feeling depressed.
Often our flights end up being really early in the morning. So I guess one tradition is staying out later than we should at the parks the night before, even though we'll have an early wake up call, because it's just too hard to leave knowing that you'll be on a plane the next day headed home.
I completely get that!!
I'm definitely more of a planner. Even when we decide that a trip will be more loosey-goosey, the closer we get to the actual trip the more I tend to sneak in plans here and there until it's still pretty structured in the end. This November I've decided that we won't do ADRs quite as frequently as on past trips (at most one per day,) and I've made some FPs, but won't necessarily stick to them. ...we'll see how that holds as the trip gets closer.
The more I go, the more I become a non-planner. I have FiPs, but this trip I let them lapse more than any other time I"ve gone. Just busy doing other things, sometimes sleeping! And yes few ADRs too... The QS options just get better and better.
I'm curious to see what you thought of them. I have an opinion, but I'll wait to share it until either you give yours first, or I get to mine in my eventual TR.
I liked them, but not until the 2nd time I saw them.
More in my updates...
I hope you had a wonderful trip! You absolutely deserved it. Can't wait to hear about it!
Thanks, Meghan! I had an absolutely wonderful time and it may or may not be my last for a little while. I have other places I want to travel to, even in Florida, so I guess we'll see. Meantime, I'll make this trip last a long while by reporting on it.
La, la, la, la, I can't hear you.......
Then again I only pack half the amount of undies for a DVC trip cause I have a washer and dryer in the room. I'll need to rethink that for this upcoming trip as the second half of the stay is in a regular hotel room.
I have my little collection board right by my coffee maker, so see the every single day. I love that!
