annie
Cast Member
Posts: 321
Registered: Aug 2002
|
Posted 11-18-02 11:18 AM
I typed this out in short spurts where I've found the time, so if something doesn't make sense or if it just reads weird, please forgive! I figured I could hold onto it till I had time to pretty it up (maybe never), or just post the darn thing!
Cast: annie (me) 30something mom
Pat (dh) 30something dad
The Plan:
Back in June we came down with our three sons for our first trip to Walt Disney World. We had a wonderful time, and I had an Annual Pass (which I'd bought for the room discount) burning a hole in my pocket, as I'd heard they do. As we walked through Epcot one evening I told my husband how I'd love a trip back someday, just the two of us. To my surprise he thought this was a great idea. Just before we left to come home he converted his Park Hopper into an Annual Pass, and the wheels for this trip were set in motion.
After considering the date options (kids had to be out of school so they could stay with my parents) we decided the cheapest (and soonest!) option was to come down in November, when the kids are out of school for the New Jersey teachers convention. I went back to all my favorite research places (RADP, Mousesavers and the Disboards) and found discounts on the room at French Quarter and on a rental car. The plane tickets looked pricey out of Newark, due to lots of NJ people traveling south I guess, but Jet Blue out of JFK was downright cheap. Even got a deal on parking there. Together with the Annual passes this trip was almost cheap!
Day One: An Epcot evening.
Had a slightly delayed flight from JFK, but flying Jet Blue was great. Very comfy seats and the Direct TV was cool (although there was nothing much on mid-afternoon.) Uneventful arrival at MCO, then off to the National counter for our rental and we climbed into a Dodge Neon with only 4 miles on it. We arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter and checked in. Our room was great, a corner king on the second floor of building 3. We overlooked a courtyard with a fountain, and it was so quiet! The room had two pedestal sinks with plenty of shelving for all my stuff, and a ceiling fan over the bed (we actually never used it but did need the heat a couple evenings!)
We unpacked a bit, then headed out to Epcot for the evening. The skies were clear and full of stars, and the air was cool. As we headed through Future World (checking Test Track along the way- 60 minute wait so we skipped it) toward World Showcase to sample the Food and Wine festival I called home to check in. The boys were happy, so I relaxed and we headed right over to the international beer booth for drinks. I got a white zinfandel, Pat got a nice big Norwegian beer and struck up a conversation with the Norwegian server with relatives in New Jersey, who would see us again whenever Pat wanted another big beer.
We walked by the Ireland booth and I was tempted to try the Oatmeal and Whiskey Flan, but thought I'd better eat some "dinner" type food first. A mistake, since I never got back to try the flan. Now starving, we headed to the China booth. I had the Chicken Sha Cha (skewed chicken in peanut sauce) and Pat had the Beiing Lau Bing (which was like a quesadilla). Both were excellent. The chicken was nothing like the Thai satay we have at home, the sauce was much darker.
Next to the temporary Spain pavilion for some sherry tasting. They were giving samples of a very dry young sherry, and it was... ok. But after talking with the server a bit he offered us a taste of a more aged cream sherry, and we liked that one so much we bought a bottle! We wandered over to sample some olive oil, little pieces of bread were sitting there dipped in the oil for tasting. Pretty good, nothing extraordinary, but the story of Spanish olive oil up on the walls was very interesting. The CM was from France, she didn't seem to know what she was doing in Spain but she gave it a good try!
As we arrived at the Germany pavilion they were about to start the Tapestry of Dreams parade. We found a spot and were able to watch as the parade came out in the the World Showcase. As always, the drummers impressed! At one point we had to shuffle a bit to the left to avoid a, er, friendly and talkative guest, but we still enjoyed the show.
Off we wandered, Pat got a Grolsch beer and I went for some champagne. Little Anthony and the Imperials began their performance at the American Gardens Theater, so we watched for a bit, then we were off to Japan for another bite to eat. I tried the Golden Shrimp, one large shrimp surrounded by a thick batter, and Pat had the Yasai Maki (sushi) which thrilled the CM, I guess the sushi wasn't selling so well! Had some baklava from outside Morocco for dessert, and headed for the bridge next to the Rose and Crown for Illuminations. Having seen it twice last summer I wasn't overly concerned with getting a great spot, but this one was pretty good (and luckily we're both pretty tall, since we were three rows back!) Pat ran over to France for a Remy Martin Cognac, which were were able to easily share thanks to the generous CM who poured it. As always, Illuminations was beautiful.
We were tired so we decided to head back to French Quarter. We strolled the grounds a bit and checked out the pool (crazy people were swimming, it had to be under 60 degrees!) Back to the room for a good nights sleep!
"Are the fires of Hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing? Who can provide the world with the answer to these pressing questions?"
"The candy man can," Rumsfeld added grimly.
|
