Trip Report *COMPLETED* A Swolphin Sandwich (Thanksgiving Week 2017)

My DW M and I have returned from a wonderful week of Disney, family, and more Disney! I can make no guarantees for fast or frequent updates, but I'll do my best!

Introduction

Here's the PTR: ProcrastiNations: Deflections of Work. There you can read all about the cast and plans. We decided to take it easy on this trip as we've just gotten through an extremely stressful few months relating to our living situation. I've posted bits and pieces about it in various TRs/PTRs recently, but to make a long story short our building was purchased and our lease wasn't renewed, but we couldn't move into our new place until eleven days after we moved out and didn't find out until the day before we were supposed to move in. We had to put all our stuff in storage and stay in temporary housing during that time. Luckily the new landlord has done their best to make up for the financial strain of paying for last-minute temporary housing (they delayed our official lease date to December 1 so we didn't have to pay anything for the 2/3 of November we lived here). That said, this was a pretty horrible chapter of our lives and we lost a lot of sleep and got behind in work and...cried a lot!*

The biggest change to the trip was the decision not to do any early mornings at parks in an effort to catch up on sleep. This meant changing and canceling some ADRs, and only visiting two of the parks. We spent more time in the room than we typically do and chose rest time over busy park time when presented with the decision.

So, if you're ready for a million photos (mostly of food...and beverages... ) keep reading!

*Lest you worry about us, we are VERY happy in our new place now that the garbage of November is behind us. It is the biggest and nicest place we have ever lived in. We have a beautiful kitchen with a dishwasher AND we have our own washer and dryer in-unit, which is almost unheard of in this area! We are still waiting on two chairs to arrive but once they do and we have everything set up I'll post photos here.

Up next: The flight to Orlando!

 

[Pixieish]

Day 1, cont.

Our first FP of the day was for a longtime favorite of ours. It's the ride that makes me feel like I'm finally, really on vacation.

Yep, that's a forty minute standby wait.

As we approached the boat boarding area we overhead a 10-ish-year-old boy ask his parents, "Is this a roller coaster??" Sorry, kid.

A little remnant of fall!

Next we had a FP for Test Track.

Have I mentioned before that I hate the queue after the design studios?? It's always a mess!

Somehow our, erm, creation, won several of the tests against those in our car. And we were the most efficient vehicle of the day!

We had an important task near the front of the park. On the way we stopped to admire some merch:

Our task involved this place:

Back in August I purchased a new Tables in Wonderland card for the year. Sometime in October M noticed that our card said it expired in September of 2017 instead of 2018. A nice CM helped us sort it out and we left with a new, correct card.

We had a dinner reservation for later, but on vacation you can have dessert first!!
(TBH when I'm not on vacation I don't usually eat any dessert, much less dessert first. A nice glass of red wine [or two] is my dessert!)

Warm Apple Fritter with Cinnamon Ice Cream and Warm Caramel Sauce – $4.75
Holiday Beer Flight – $9.00

None of these particularly stood out to me. M liked the coffee blonde, but as much as I usually like coffee-flavored/infused things I didn't care for it.

I always like the honeycomb tiles in the Odyssey!

This entire trip became a trip of inadvertently watching fireworks. As we made our way to our dinner destination we had a darn good view of the Hollywood Studios fireworks (don't hate me, I don't know which show it was!). But by the time I got to a good spot to take a photo, this was all I could get:

Then, as we entered World Showcase proper they started again, so I got ready to take a photo, and...

Up next: A repeat favorite for dinner

Okay, where is the cookies nook?!?That apple thingy looks divine!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Your fireworks photos are AWESOME.

(FWIW, I never watch fireworks inadvertently.....it is always INTENTIONALLY!!)

 

[bee]

Thank you

You're welcome!

Wouldn’t be an @bee report without alcohol. Looking forward to more!

So true!

Okay, where is the cookies nook?!?That apple thingy looks divine!!!

Inside the "Festive Center" (aka The Odyssey). The apple thing was quite good and was a perfect amount to share.

Your fireworks photos are AWESOME.

(FWIW, I never watch fireworks inadvertently.....it is always INTENTIONALLY!!)

Thank you!!

Don't worry, there will be some INTENTIONAL fireworks viewing!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

Around 8:15 we checked in for our reservation at Spice Road Table. I know this restaurant has gotten mixed reviews from the beginning but we have been there several times now and always enjoyed the food, drinks, service, and atmosphere, especially outside! We requested an outside table and were seated almost immediately.

Though we were seated a couple of tables away from the water, we had no complaints about the view! Also, please notice the heating device in the photo. Every time the wind blew it was like a hair dryer turned on and pointed at us. It was too hot for us but clearly judging by the attire of our fellow guests we were the only ones who didn't like it!

We had a moment to peruse the menu before our server, Mahdi, greeted us. Did someone say, "Pitcher of sangria???"

I love the various lighting fixtures!

When Mahdi arrived we were ready to order a pitcher of sparkling sangria.

M and I both really enjoyed this sangria. It was lightly (not overwhelmingly) sweet, tart, tangy, and refreshing. There was enough in the pitcher for us to each have two full glasses and then some. I would go back to SRT just for this!

We placed our food orders and enjoyed the sangria and the views. Soon, but not too soon, we received:

Brie fondue

Hummus and olives

Grape leaves

Soon it was time for my favorite nighttime show EVER! (And one I intentionally watched, @Tuvalu!)

IllumiNations makes me cry every time already, but when the holiday tag began...I kinda lost it. This part especially has such a beautiful and increasingly relevant message: Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.

We really enjoyed this meal and will definitely return. Mahdi was a wonderful server and we never felt rushed. The food was great as always, the sangria was excellent, and the view of IllumiNations is hard to beat!

Up next: D.U.C.K.S

 

[Figgy1]

Day 1, cont.

Around 8:15 we checked in for our reservation at Spice Road Table. I know this restaurant has gotten mixed reviews from the beginning but we have been there several times now and always enjoyed the food, drinks, service, and atmosphere, especially outside! We requested an outside table and were seated almost immediately.

Though we were seated a couple of tables away from the water, we had no complaints about the view! Also, please notice the heating device in the photo. Every time the wind blew it was like a hair dryer turned on and pointed at us. It was too hot for us but clearly judging by the attire of our fellow guests we were the only ones who didn't like it!

We had a moment to peruse the menu before our server, Mahdi, greeted us. Did someone say, "Pitcher of sangria???"

I love the various lighting fixtures!

When Mahdi arrived we were ready to order a pitcher of sparkling sangria.

M and I both really enjoyed this sangria. It was lightly (not overwhelmingly) sweet, tart, tangy, and refreshing. There was enough in the pitcher for us to each have two full glasses and then some. I would go back to SRT just for this!

We placed our food orders and enjoyed the sangria and the views. Soon, but not too soon, we received:

Brie fondue

Hummus and oldieslives

Grape leaves

Soon it was time for my favorite nighttime show EVER! (And one I intentionally watched, @Tuvalu!)

IllumiNations makes me cry every time already, but when the holiday tag began...I kinda lost it. This part especially has such a beautiful and increasingly relevant message: Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.

We really enjoyed this meal and will definitely return. Mahdi was a wonderful server and we never felt rushed. The food was great as always, the sangria was excellent, and the view of IllumiNations is hard to beat!

Up next: D.U.C.K.S

I don't get the mixed reviews at SRT, it's been excellent. Good veggie choices and they handle allergies very well.

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

After IllumiNations we took our time exiting the park and walking back to the Swan. We'd walked on the Boardwalk side on the way to Epcot so we walked by the Yacht and Beach Club this time.

We noticed these ducks hanging out on the YBC dock:

It's hard to tell from the photos, but there were three males and two females on the dock and one female in the water swimming toward them. I decided that they were the duck equivalents of the Friends characters and Monica Duck was swimming toward her Friends. (It made more sense then than it does as I type it out, haha!)

This is blurry but I thought it looked cool anyway so I included it!

The "moldy" Swan paintings

Up next: Day 2! A change of plans and an "interesting" surprise...

 

[dizfan917]

We've always enjoyed our meals at SRT as well. We ate almost exactly what you did, but we had Hummus Fries instead of the Grape Leaves. I can also vouch for the deliciousness of the pitcher of Red Sangria. yum! I fear we're a long way from Peace on Earth... but with IllumiNations as an inspiration, I can always hope.

Your new place looks GREAT!! Hang that art already...

 

[bee]

Day 2: Tuesday, November 21

The original agenda for today was to rope drop MK and ride a bunch of rides we don't normally have the patience to wait in line for, FP some rides in the late morning, and have lunch at Skipper Canteen. Since we were so exhausted from LIFE we decided to instead sleep in, skip the MK for the whole trip (blasphemy, I know!), and have a big brunch somewhere nearby. Our destination was just a short walk away; on the way there we passed the beginnings of the holiday chocolate display in the Swan lobby.

On our way...

Almost there...

Here we are!

After a few minutes we were seated and given menus.

Real plant at the table!

We knew we wanted the buffet so we could try a little of everything. Our server, Tucker, greeted us soon and brought us fresh coffee and sent us to the buffet.

My breakfast! Veggie omelet, diced tomatoes (I love tomatoes!) and potatoes.

Jam and butter

Coffee, and special green juice

Mickey!!!

Fruit

I am not normally a sweet breakfast eater (except for fruit) but these cheese danishes were SO. GOOD. I was tempted to go back and eat about ten of them...but I didn't!

Tucker was a really good server and kept our coffee mugs full. He even offered to bring us to-go cups of coffee, which we OF COURSE accepted.

Now, the unexpected surprise. Near the end of the meal the fire alarm went off, followed shortly by announcements that it was only a test.

Thank goodness it happened at the end because it was still going as we left!

All in all it was a good breakfast but I wouldn't rush to go back. Boma and other official Disney restaurants have better selections for the price, and Fresh Mediterranean doesn't accept TiW or AP discounts. I'm glad we tried it and I'm glad it was so close to our room because we waddled back and let the food settle before we ventured out again.

Up next: Back to Epcot!

 

[Tuvalu]

we decided to instead sleep in, skip the MK for the whole trip (blasphemy, I know!),

Might have to rethink our friendship....

 

[bee]

Might have to rethink our friendship....

Somehow I KNEW you would be the first to react to that bit!

 

[Figgy1]

Might have to rethink our friendship....

What she said X2. Who are you and what have you done with @bee

 

[Go.Nijntje]

Not sure if i know you well enough to say this @bee but For Shame!
Who skips the Magic Kingdom?
I hope it was worth it.

 

[Y-Guy]

What? Wait, did I read this right, "ow we would get from MCO to the Swan since we can't use DME and Uber/Lyft aren't allowed to do airport pickups." First I've heard that uber/lyft can not pick up at MCO and you share a bit of info about this?

 

[coachwnh]

What???? No champagne at breakfast????? That might be worse than skipping MK!!!

 

[bee]

What she said X2. Who are you and what have you done with @bee

Not sure if i know you well enough to say this @bee but For Shame!
Who skips the Magic Kingdom?
I hope it was worth it.

We didn't go to MK on our Labor Day weekend trip either.

What? Wait, did I read this right, "ow we would get from MCO to the Swan since we can't use DME and Uber/Lyft aren't allowed to do airport pickups." First I've heard that uber/lyft can not pick up at MCO and you share a bit of info about this?

MCO now does allow rideshare pickups but they only started allowing this recently. Some airports throughout the country have contracts with local taxi companies that only allow taxi pickup and not Uber/Lyft.

What???? No champagne at breakfast????? That might be worse than skipping MK!!!

Don't worry, the drinks are coming!

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

After a bit of rest in the room we headed downstairs and back to Epcot.

Progress!

The forecast had said rain today. Apparently we had missed some while in the room!

I promised drinks, and basically as soon as we got into the park...

From the Joffrey's in Canada:

Gingerbread Chai: Hot, Creamy Spiced Chai Tea flavored with Gingerbread Syrup and Baileys Irish Cream and topped with Whipped Cream – $9.49
(But, as you can tell from the photo, we had it iced.)

This was good, but very sweet, not that I was expecting any different. It wasn't bad to share but if I'd had a whole one myself it might have been too much.

And next, from Yukon Holiday Kitchen...

Frozen Coffee with Tap 357 Whisky – $10.00
Unibroue Éphémère Elderberry – $4.25

We liked both of these, especially the frozen coffee with whisky. It was more creamy than the frozen coffee things Joffrey's serves, and the whisky was the PERFECT complement to the texture and flavor.

Time for more beverages!

Crazy Elf: RumChata® Cream Liqueur and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky topped with Steamed Light Cream and Whipped Cream – $9.49

We also had the Crazy Elf iced. It would have been better without the added cream and whipped cream, I think.

We didn't have much of an agenda today so we decided to take the monorail to the TTC and see where we felt like going from there.

Hi, Gluten Free!

Up next: Where will the monorail take us???

 

[riverside]

Not sure if i know you well enough to say this @bee but For Shame!
Who skips the Magic Kingdom?
I hope it was worth it.

I'm not saying I'm proud of this but to take some heat off @bee I'll come clean!! A couple of years ago I had a conference for work at the Marriott right down the road from Disney. We had 1 1/2 days in the parks. My boss(not a Disney fan) said "anywhere but Magic Kingdom!"
Animal Kingdom & Epcot it was then!!
I

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

Confession time: next we did something you're not reeeeeeally supposed to do...

We stayed on the monorail and went back to Epcot.

RIP Universe of Energy

Sorry, I always have to photograph the ugly backstage areas!

We thought about going back into the park, but honestly we didn't want to go through security an extra time and we didn't really have any pressing rides (or drinks) we wanted to experience at that time. So we hopped to...

...

Even the Passholder line was backed up!

Up next: A trip to Pandora

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

We had some FPs for later, but in the meantime we made a quick trip to Pandora to have a late lunch. I used Mobile Order for the first time.

Chili-spiced crispy tofu, potato hash, onion chimichurri

And what's a Pandoran visit without a green beer?

(Oops, I spilled some)

This was pretty good but not life-changing. I hate to keep being that person that complains that things aren't spicy enough, but when something is called "chili-spiced" I expect it to have, I don't know, a bit of spice? I did like the onion chimichurri, though. The beer was fine but not something I need to have again.

In the restaurant:

And back to the floating mountains...

We had a FP in another part of the park so catch, so we said goodbye to Pandora, until later that evening.

Up next: the best Safari ever!

 

[AKemily]

Cheese Fondue in a bread bowl

"Is this a roller coaster??" Sorry, kid

Did someone say, "Pitcher of sangria???"

skip the MK for the whole trip

we decided to take the monorail to the TTC and see where we felt like going from there

We stayed on the monorail and went back to Epcot.

This trip report is a roller coaster ride of emotions already!