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!
 

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
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U ok??


Thats the look of a dad who's been destroyed by Disney!

My daughter had that look once...
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bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hahahahahaha :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:
;)

I haven't read you before... but I had a feeling!
:D:p

Thats the look of a dad who's been destroyed by Disney!

My daughter had that look once...
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Haha, so true! We've all been there!

What's the matter with Boma at breakfast? Don't they know that zebra domes and coffee are the breakfast of champions?! :p
What IS the matter with them??
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It's opening night! My hair is up in curlers and I just finished my opening night cards for my fellow cast members. I don't really have to do anything for the next couple hours, so let's keep going with this trip report!

Day 7, cont.

Our first FP was not until later, so I checked the app to see if anything had a short wait time.

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M and I headed toward Dinoland while the parents continued shopping and had a snack (I think!).

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Wait, that doesn't say five minutes!

It was actually about a ten minute wait, which we didn't mind at all.

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M and I ended up riding it twice. The second time MIL and FIL came over to watch us as we flew by and I waved like a little kid every time we saw them. I think M may have been a little embarrassed! :hilarious:

It was an absolutely beautiful day to just walk around the park. We all walked over to Asia and watched the Everest trains.

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From a store near Everest

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Up next: First FP of the day!
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 7, cont.

Our first FP was not until later, so I checked the app to see if anything had a short wait time.

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I loved this just as much as previous times I've seen it. As a performer myself and as a voice teacher of professional and pre-professional performers sometimes it's hard to turn off my "singer brain" and just relax and enjoy the show, but I was totally engrossed in the story. I hope Disney adds more shows like this to the parks, especially now that a new theater is coming to Main Street USA.

After Nemo we split into pairs. MIL and FIL went to see Flights of Wonder while M and I went to one of our favorite places in the whole park...can you guess where?

Nomad Lounge!

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Tempting Tigress (L) and Mustang Coffee (R)

We also tried the
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Vegetarian Pad Thai. It was okay but not great and the dominant flavor was salt. It seemed like they took out the traditional fish sauce to make it vegetarian but replaced it with soy sauce.

Up next: Return to Pandora and the parents' first time on Flight of Passage. Will we be underwhelmed once again??
 
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bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm about a day behind reading here. So, although I didn't wish you good luck on time for your opening, I do wish you good luck now on your next show on Sunday! :happy:
I'm happy the first show went so well, good job! Sending you pixie dust for Sunday's performance.
Thank you both! I think overall Sunday went better than Friday. The audience was larger and much more responsive on Sunday too!

It's so true what our dear friend anonymous said:

"The two happiest days in a theatre person's life: The day you start on a new show and the day the thing closes."

I already have another trip coming up next month so I'd really better finish this TR!!!
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 7, cont.

We all met up near Nomad Lounge and walked into Pandora.

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Soon we found ourselves waiting for Flight of Passage.

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We had warned the parents that the ride might not be worth all the hype. I have to say, though, I enjoyed it far more the second time. I think it was a combination of not having such high expectations, and not sitting on the end of the row. I was between M and MIL, and I could hear MIL whooping with joy every time something unexpected happened during the ride.

After FOP we were all tired and made our way out of the park.

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Up next: Back to the Dolphin (including approx. 8651938452 photos of the lobby)
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 7, cont.

On the way back to the Dolphin, the parents told us they wanted to treat us to dinner at or near the hotel and asked us to pick the restaurant. We chose The Fountain.

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M and I shared the veggie burger. The kitchen was nice enough to split it onto two plates. MIL and FIL shared The Big Cib (I think?) and FIL had some soup as well.

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We were seated RIGHT NEXT to the ice cream case so of course we had to order some!

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M and I shared caramel cappuccino (surprise!). I thiiiiiiiink the parents had chocolate.

After dinner FIL went up to the room (he's an early riser and an early go-to-bed-er) while MIL, M, and I explored the lobby a bit more.

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Something is amiss here...

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And with that, we headed back to the rooms and called it a night!

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Uhhh...I know Marriott and SPG merged, but the Dolphin itself is certainly not a Marriott...

Up next: Last day! A morning in Epcot and the trip home :(
 

MinnieM123

Premium Member
Really liked the Christmas tree photo. However the rest of the lobby doesn't "make it" in the holiday decorative effects department. Not a fan of the red and green spotlights on the columns, for example. I think that without the holiday lighting, etc., the lobby would be far more attractive.
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Nor does the logo look like a dolphin....
I used to wonder about that. We all learn in school that a dolphin is a mammal, but the logo is clearly a fish. Apparently these “dolphins” are based on “nautical dolphins” which are actually fish.

Really liked the Christmas tree photo. However the rest of the lobby doesn't "make it" in the holiday decorative effects department. Not a fan of the red and green spotlights on the columns, for example. I think that without the holiday lighting, etc., the lobby would be far more attractive.
I agree! They could have kept it simple and elegant, but instead we have...this.
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8: Monday, November 27

We awoke Monday morning only to remember it was our last day. :cry: Since our flight wasn't until the afternoon I called the front desk and requested late checkout. They were happy to let us stay in both rooms until noon. Yippee!

We had breakfast plans, so we got dressed quickly and headed downstairs.

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Not sure what was happening here...

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We soon discovered it was an absolutely GORGEOUS day!

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Boooo

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Look at that skinny squirrel!!!

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Of course our journey lead us here:

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...for some of these:

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Up next: BEES!
 

bee

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8, cont.

After breakfast it was time for a morning beverage.

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Do you see my friend the bee??

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How about now?

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I honestly don't remember what this was. It seems to have chocolate in it, so maybe an iced mocha with Bailey's?

I'd made us one last FP for the trip so we headed to Future World.

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And boy, was that FP necessary!

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Who else remembers when a CM used to stand at this podium to firmly remind guests to keep their hands inside the boat?

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Why did I take this? What's going on?

As much as I wanted to linger, we had a flight to catch and needed to pack up and go.

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We didn't actually stop again. I think I was just stalling by taking pictures. :cautious:

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Definitely stalling!

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Up next: more of the last day
 

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