Yesterday was a fun day at F&W – as it always is. It was not terribly crowded at all (except in Port of Entry trying to buy passholder merch – more on that in a bit) but it was brutally hot so I didn’t try a lot. Rather than go chronologically through my day I think I’ll just hit some highlights here.
World ShowPlace – as mentioned there is no festival center. World ShowPlace is strictly for the daily events. No food, no merchandise. There was a sandwich board outside detailing the day’s events. I got a peek inside and immediately inside the automatic doors there was an area with the usual dark purpley lighting, draped to define the space, small cocktail tables with white tablecloths. I’m not sure if that was just the waiting area or if that’s where the actual demo was. If that’s the demo area, it’s certainly a switch from the classroom style seating of years past. The Shimmering Sips mimosa bar that was shown to be located here on an early map is over by the walkway from Future World.
The
walkway from Imagination has been finished and widened. What are presumed to be new restrooms by Refreshment Port are not finished and that is blocked off but all booths in the area are operational.
Former Festival Center “stuff”:
Merchandise is spread in kiosks around the lagoon. MouseGear and Port of Entry have the passholder merchandise. Cast members do have a binder detailing all the festival merchandise and where they are sold. I was looking for the Spaceship Earth cutting board and was told it was in MouseGear, Port of Entry or a kiosk near Japan. The cutting board is as cute as it is in pictures. For those who were wondering, the shapes on the rolling pin are “indented” so would leave interesting marks on your dough – might be more decorative. Port of Entry has only the two registers in opposite corners and each register had a line snaking around the store – so much so that it was hard to browse and in fact they were only allowing entry into the store through the back door. It might have been a first day thing or maybe they’ll iron out some better line logistics.
Port of Entry had, behind the counter, those
wine station machines that used to be in the Festival Center
Vendors like Cutco cutlery are around the lagoon. Cutco is by Morocco. I overheard the rep telling someone that they had all be dispersed around the festival.
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Ghiardelli is in the Land pavilion
I didn’t fully explore but I didn’t see a book store or a wine store.
Remy scavenger hunt – I didn’t do this but those who have done it in the past remember that the Remy figures are typically around the walkway and not hidden back in the pavilions as they are for events like the Easter egg hunt. Well, without offering any spoilers, I saw one Remy figure in a shop so I think they have made it a tad more challenging this year.
Emile’s Fromage Montage – for this you need to get an actual stamp at the register when you order. Stamps go on the last page of the passport. I forgot to get one and had no trouble going back and they gave me one. For all other booths, the “stamps” are stickers in the passport and you mark them off yourself.
Favorite item of the day: NY Strip Steak Green Shermoula Flatbread with Radish and Tomato Salsa (Morocco). So, so good. Flatbread a little deceiving in the sense that it’s not like a flat bread pizza. The bread is crisp – more like a tostada. There’s a fair amount of spice (but keep in mind I’m a mild salsa person). It was really so excellent. I will be having several of these, for sure.
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In France, they’ve changed the braised beef dish a bit and instead of traditional mashed potatoes it’s served with “puffed potatoes” i.e. breaded and fried balls of mashed potatoes. Solid dish but didn’t wow me.
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Lobster roll – I haven’t had this in a few years and this seemed improved from my last memory of it. I tried the coffee ale and I should have known based on the title but very strong coffee taste I didn’t care for.
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Blended Burger (Flavors from Fire) – this was a favorite last year and didn’t disappoint this year. It’s basic but the cheese sauce and crunch from the potato chip are so good. I thought that the grills were more “center stage” this year both at this kiosk as well as the Caribbean booth where they’re doing jerk chicken. I know they had the grills before but it seemed more of an “on stage” presentation to me - and more seating as well. I certainly feel for those chefs working over hot grills in that heat.
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Artist Palette of wine and cheese – I always enjoy this option. Very good.
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Biggest disappointment: Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons and Baguette (Alps – by Norway). I so wanted to love this and had high expectations as potatoes, cheese and bread are pretty much my favorite food groups, LOL. I don’t know… it wasn’t bad but the bread isn’t toasted and the serving I received had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while and the cheese had congealed a bit. I may give it another try.
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