- Joined
- Apr 26, 2008
Unplanned Awesomeness!
My work thing was done with at 3:00PM. I quickly selected some FP+ when I was dropping off my work bag and switch shoes and head to EPCOT earlier than I had planned! I arrived to EPCOT by 3:40PM. I was able to get Spaceship Earth between 3 & 4, Character Spot between 4 & 5, Soarin Between 8:30 & 9:30. I also got a dining reservation at 7:40PM at one of my cheaper favorites in the World Showcase. My plan was also to enjoy some of the Holiday Around The World options.
I headed straight onto Spaceship Earth as my FP+ window was closing and enjoyed my trip through the history of communication. I then was able to get through the characters quickly.
My first stop was inside of the Mexico Pavilion in order to get some alcohol in my system and start my relaxation at La Cava Del Tequila I've always been happy with my margaritas here and wandered the shops while I enjoyed it.
Don Julio Pomegranate - The perfect mix of Don Julio premium silver Tequila, mixed with Combier orange liquor, agave nectar, pomegranate liquor, pineapple and lime juice served on the rocks with a hibiscus Himalayan salt rim
I enjoyed my boat ride to see a wandering Donald before I headed into Kringla Bakeri og Cafe to enjoy one of their special Holidays Around The World Options
Frozen Peppermint Trifle - White Chocolate Mousse, Blue Peppermint Cake with Sparkling Topping
This dessert was sweet! As long as you know its going to be super sweet and thick, it can be enjoyable. It had started raining lightly at this time so when I got to the holiday stand in Germany, I needed something to warm up my system while I then hid inside of the shoppes in Germany to avoid the rain for a while.
Black Forest Cake - Cherry Liquor in German Hot Chocolate
The rain was not letting up so I decided on yet another alcoholic beverage while at the wine shoppe in Germany so that I could pass the time. My cider despite being called "Pure" was apparently evil as it rang up as exactly $6.66
Evil Cider
When I was looking in the Holiday Day In The World passport, I noticed that tonight's Candlelight Processional was Neil Patrick Harris. When I posted about it online, I was happy to find out that my friend from middle school that I've met up with plenty of times if you follow my reports for some time was actually singing in the choir that night as well. Despite the drizzling rain, I decided to get in the non-dinner package groups line an hour before the 6:45PM show and wait it out! The line was already to Italy and I knew I wouldn't get the best seat but I didn't mind!
Shortly before 6:30PM, we were let inside the American Theatre. I was put in the group that had the farthest back of the left side. I actually decided to sit on the end as I had a feeling I would have to sneak out early in order to make my 7:40PM dinner reservation. Neil Patrick Harris was such a great host to this telling of the Christmas story and the shear amount of people on stage singing is absolutely magical, even for non-religious people like myself. The songs are beautiful in that environment!
I did sneak out at 7:30PM even with the end nearing as I didn't want to be late to Chefs De France and I was starving at this point. My company has a general rule about dinners being around $35 so I knew this would be a great spot to be able to enjoy a cocktail and still meet that mark prior to tip. I ordered my two favorite dishes here - French Onion Soup & the Flatbread with Creme Fraiche, Onion & Bacon. Each of these were absolutely excellent. What wasn't excellent was my service though. I sat after being seated for 15 minutes until my server even stopped by and seemed off put that I wanted to order everything then rather than just my drink and it just kinda kept going from there. Food runners brought out my dishes and it was a pain to get a check from her & she seemed annoyed that I had a Chipped Credit Card w/ a Pin (yay corporate cards!) At least I've had enough good meals here that it won't stop me from going back again.
French Onion Soup
Flatbread baked with creme fraiche, onion and bacon
As this meal went so slowly and poorly serviced, by the time it was over with, I physically was just done with the day seeing as it started before 5AM and it was now nearing 9PM. I skipped going to Soarin and just walked back to my car and drove back to my hotel across the street from Universal. I was happy I got to see NPH and my friend and I did get to eat some awesome food on my company's dime. I left happy that I did get one unexpected final trip of 2015 since my next two WDW trips are running based and I know we won't be doing a ton of attractions then.
My work thing was done with at 3:00PM. I quickly selected some FP+ when I was dropping off my work bag and switch shoes and head to EPCOT earlier than I had planned! I arrived to EPCOT by 3:40PM. I was able to get Spaceship Earth between 3 & 4, Character Spot between 4 & 5, Soarin Between 8:30 & 9:30. I also got a dining reservation at 7:40PM at one of my cheaper favorites in the World Showcase. My plan was also to enjoy some of the Holiday Around The World options.
I headed straight onto Spaceship Earth as my FP+ window was closing and enjoyed my trip through the history of communication. I then was able to get through the characters quickly.
My first stop was inside of the Mexico Pavilion in order to get some alcohol in my system and start my relaxation at La Cava Del Tequila I've always been happy with my margaritas here and wandered the shops while I enjoyed it.
Don Julio Pomegranate - The perfect mix of Don Julio premium silver Tequila, mixed with Combier orange liquor, agave nectar, pomegranate liquor, pineapple and lime juice served on the rocks with a hibiscus Himalayan salt rim
I enjoyed my boat ride to see a wandering Donald before I headed into Kringla Bakeri og Cafe to enjoy one of their special Holidays Around The World Options
Frozen Peppermint Trifle - White Chocolate Mousse, Blue Peppermint Cake with Sparkling Topping
This dessert was sweet! As long as you know its going to be super sweet and thick, it can be enjoyable. It had started raining lightly at this time so when I got to the holiday stand in Germany, I needed something to warm up my system while I then hid inside of the shoppes in Germany to avoid the rain for a while.
Black Forest Cake - Cherry Liquor in German Hot Chocolate
The rain was not letting up so I decided on yet another alcoholic beverage while at the wine shoppe in Germany so that I could pass the time. My cider despite being called "Pure" was apparently evil as it rang up as exactly $6.66
Evil Cider
When I was looking in the Holiday Day In The World passport, I noticed that tonight's Candlelight Processional was Neil Patrick Harris. When I posted about it online, I was happy to find out that my friend from middle school that I've met up with plenty of times if you follow my reports for some time was actually singing in the choir that night as well. Despite the drizzling rain, I decided to get in the non-dinner package groups line an hour before the 6:45PM show and wait it out! The line was already to Italy and I knew I wouldn't get the best seat but I didn't mind!
Shortly before 6:30PM, we were let inside the American Theatre. I was put in the group that had the farthest back of the left side. I actually decided to sit on the end as I had a feeling I would have to sneak out early in order to make my 7:40PM dinner reservation. Neil Patrick Harris was such a great host to this telling of the Christmas story and the shear amount of people on stage singing is absolutely magical, even for non-religious people like myself. The songs are beautiful in that environment!
I did sneak out at 7:30PM even with the end nearing as I didn't want to be late to Chefs De France and I was starving at this point. My company has a general rule about dinners being around $35 so I knew this would be a great spot to be able to enjoy a cocktail and still meet that mark prior to tip. I ordered my two favorite dishes here - French Onion Soup & the Flatbread with Creme Fraiche, Onion & Bacon. Each of these were absolutely excellent. What wasn't excellent was my service though. I sat after being seated for 15 minutes until my server even stopped by and seemed off put that I wanted to order everything then rather than just my drink and it just kinda kept going from there. Food runners brought out my dishes and it was a pain to get a check from her & she seemed annoyed that I had a Chipped Credit Card w/ a Pin (yay corporate cards!) At least I've had enough good meals here that it won't stop me from going back again.
French Onion Soup
Flatbread baked with creme fraiche, onion and bacon
As this meal went so slowly and poorly serviced, by the time it was over with, I physically was just done with the day seeing as it started before 5AM and it was now nearing 9PM. I skipped going to Soarin and just walked back to my car and drove back to my hotel across the street from Universal. I was happy I got to see NPH and my friend and I did get to eat some awesome food on my company's dime. I left happy that I did get one unexpected final trip of 2015 since my next two WDW trips are running based and I know we won't be doing a ton of attractions then.
I hope it tasted devilish as well!
Looking at your last day of your Mexican Rivera cruise, you stayed out late 
Christmas Decorations and Adventurous Dining sounds good to me! I'm excited to see your Launch Bay next month - I'm cool with it being more of a museum. I didn't go much inside of the one here in Hollywood Studios so it will mostly be new for me, except the shopping ideas. No need for Overpriced Costumes in my house! I think I already have enough Disney Art that is right in my price range. It seems 
