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!

 

[becca_]

I LOVE the addition of GIFs in this TR!! Awesome job, bee!!

 

[bee]

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

Thanks for the running commentary!

I LOVE the addition of GIFs in this TR!! Awesome job, bee!!

Thank you! They are super easy to make on the Tumblr mobile app.

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

It was time to use our Safari FP!

I took a lot of photos, so I'm mostly going to let them speak for themselves over the next few posts.

There was a bit of a backup as we waited for a giraffe to get out of the road.

Up next: More safari!

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

(No idea why this is aligned this way haha)

Up next: A few more Safari photos

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

CHEETAH!

And with that, our safari ended. So many animals were out and about and it was definitely the best safari we've ever been on.

Up next: Wow, it's crowded!

 

[riverside]

Great safari pictures!!

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

After our safari we starting heading toward Pandora.

It was crowded!

After we fought the crowds we needed some refreshment before our journey to Pandora. Where else to stop but Nomad Lounge?

These seats were calling our names! Soon Tanya greeted us and asked if we had any questions, but we were ready to order!

We were both in a wine mood. I went with the Painted Wolf Pinotage (a favorite I've had before at AKL) and M had the Raats Chenin Blanc.

While we waited for our wine we decided we'd like to share a small plate.

We wanted to try to Pad Thai but thought it might be too much since we had a late dinner reservation. So instead we went with the cheese board.

From L to right: feta, cheddar, goat, blue, with various accompaniments.

I'm normally not a big fan of feta but I liked this one! I think most I've had have been overwhelmingly salty, but this was nicely balanced. My favorite ended up being the goat cheese. It was creamy and peppery and just perfect. I liked the blue and cheddar as well, and even M liked the blue and she's not a big blue cheese fan. The cardamom almonds (to the left of the cheddar) were a unique and flavorful addition with a distinct spice to them (not like heat spice, like flavor spice!). We enjoyed sipping our wines and trying different combinations.

Tanya was a wonderful server and made the experience even better. This made two successful Nomad visits in a row...would there be a third?

Up next: "Does this go to Africa?"

 

[bee]

Great safari pictures!!

Thank you! I got lucky to be sitting on the end when so many animals were out!

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

We still had awhile until our next FP, so we wandered a bit and ended up in Africa again. When it was time to go back to Pandora we took the path connecting the two. While on the path, another guest stopped us and asked, "Does this go to Africa?" She and her family weren't too pleased when I told them that they had just come from Africa.

Soon it was time to use one of the most coveted FPs we had managed to obtain: Avatar Flight of Passage.

I can't even plug in my hairdryer in Europe, but this moon has the same outlets we have??

Our reaction: Underwhelmed. I think this was for two main reasons: the hype, and the fact that we were near the end of the screen. M said it would have been worth the hype five years ago, but she was disappointed in the present. I was on the far left end of the screen and M was on my right, and I could see the edge of the screen so I had trouble focusing on the ride. We both agreed that we would have been angry if we'd waited three hours for it.

And with that, we walked back to the park entrance to head back to our resort.

Er...now? As in right now?

We decided to take whatever bus came first for the Crescent Lake area, and soon we were on our way to the Boardwalk.

We walked back to the Swan and found this on our door handle:

We had opted to "Make a Green Choice," aka forego housekeeping in exchange for either $5 off at a Swolphin restaurant or 500 SPG points. Housekeeping was nice enough to bring us more water bottles and coffee supplies for the next morning!

Throughout this trip I was on a mission to find a rainbow Mickey keychain for my new apartment keys. I checked the Shop Disney Parks app to see what was nearby and this was one of the options:

Give it to your gay best friend? Just gals being pals??

Up next: Unintentional fireworks viewing #2

 

[Go.Nijntje]

I am putting that cheese board at the Nomad lounge on my must try list. It looks so delicious.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I am putting that cheese board at the Nomad lounge on my must try list. It looks so delicious.

I had it as an appetizer at Tiffins and I second @bee It was delicious!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Give it to your gay best friend? Just gals being pals??

Up next: Unintentional fireworks viewing #2

My son got a rainbow mickey foam head key chain years ago to attached to the end of his pin landyard, he was 7, thought it was cool. Never new gays and rainbows had a connection until that year. I guess that's small town living for you, or living under a rock . Great safari pic's. That elephant in the GIF looks a little tipsy.

 

[bee]

I am putting that cheese board at the Nomad lounge on my must try list. It looks so delicious.

I had it as an appetizer at Tiffins and I second @bee It was delicious!

YAY CHEESE!

My son got a rainbow mickey foam head key chain years ago to attached to the end of his pin landyard, he was 7, thought it was cool. Never new gays and rainbows had a connection until that year. I guess that's small town living for you, or living under a rock . Great safari pic's. That elephant in the GIF looks a little tipsy.

That's actually exactly what I was looking for (the foam Mickey head) but I never found it!

I had to laugh because there is a...trope?...you might call it, of calling lesbian couples "gal pals" because some people can't wrap their heads around two women actually being in a relationship. If you google "gal pal lesbian" you'll see some examples. The rainbow "BFF" necklaces reminded me of that.

 

[MinnieM123]

The safari is my favorite attraction at AK. Never get bored with it--ti's different every time. Animals are always moving around and it's exciting to get a different experience each time.

 

[coachwnh]

Great safari pictures. This is the first trip report in a long time that made me miss Disney, and it was the Safari ride of all things. Looking forward to more.

 

[bee]

The safari is my favorite attraction at AK. Never get bored with it--ti's different every time. Animals are always moving around and it's exciting to get a different experience each time.

I agree, and I think it is one of the best attractions in any park!

Great safari pictures. This is the first trip report in a long time that made me miss Disney, and it was the Safari ride of all things. Looking forward to more.

Thank you!

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

Back in the room we watched a bit of TV, and during an episode of Chopped we heard a boom outside. M went on the balcony to investigate, and what should we see??

After we enjoyed our private fireworks show on our balcony, it was time to walk over to our dinner destination.

Is it just me, or do these Swans look creepy at night?? Especially the one on the right...

Bun Friend!

Up next: We try a fan favorite restaurant...will we love it??

 

[bee]

Day 2, cont.

Soon we arrived at a restaurant that somehow, as many times as we have been to WDW, we had never tried before.

BEACHES AND CREAM!!

Our server was Kimberly and she was marvelous! We decided to split the veggie burger and she had kitchen actually split it onto two plates.

With onion rings!

Okay, funny (?) story here. M and I have been vegetarians for almost ten years, and before we went fully vegetarian we both cut out red meat, so it's been well over ten years since either of us has eaten a hamburger. Normally Disney restaurants serve either the Morningstar black bean burger, or a housemade veggie burger that contains vegetables you can see. This was neither of those. M took a bite first and had a strange look on her face, and afterward said, "We did ask for the veggie burger, right?" It's hard to see in the photo but it did look more like meat than most veggie burgers. I smelled it and bravely took a bite, and fortunately recognized it as a particular patty made by Boca Burger. It's all very funny to me, because I'm sure a meat eater would have immediately recognized it as NOT meat, but we were both (briefly) fooled.

Kimberly stopped by to ask if we would be getting dessert (as if she didn't know) and I asked her, "how big IS the No Way Jose?" She said it is a very large sundae and that we should probably share it. So we did!

I should add that we were seated by this large party on a family vacation together...

...and I said, "If they don't order a kitchen sink I want my money back!"

Luckily for everyone, not only did THEY order a Kitchen Sink, but another table did as well!

And soon, we were served this beauty:

This dessert has been calling my name for years now, ever since the first time I saw @Tuvalu post a photo of one. Chocolate? Peanut Butter? Vanilla? Fudge? Chips? ALL TOGETHER??? Yes, please!!!

WE DID IT!

I would definitely return to B&C! We enjoyed a generous amount of food and ICE CREAM for a reasonable price, and we loved the SHTICK of it all! My mouth is watering right now thinking of the No Way Jose...I may have to ask M to concoct a homemade version of it for my birthday later this month...

Up next: In search of Rainbow Mickey

 

[lostpro9het]

Day 2, cont.


Luckily for everyone, not only did THEY order a Kitchen Sink, but another table did as well!

And soon, we were served this beauty:
This dessert has been calling my name for years now, ever since the first time I saw @Tuvalu post a photo of one. Chocolate? Peanut Butter? Vanilla? Fudge? Chips? ALL TOGETHER??? Yes, please!!!

Yes way, Jose!

 

[Figgy1]

Day 2, cont.

Soon we arrived at a restaurant that somehow, as many times as we have been to WDW, we had never tried before.

BEACHES AND CREAM!!

Our server was Kimberly and she was marvelous! We decided to split the veggie burger and she had kitchen actually split it onto two plates.

With onion rings!

Okay, funny (?) story here. M and I have been vegetarians for almost ten years, and before we went fully vegetarian we both cut out red meat, so it's been well over ten years since either of us has eaten a hamburger. Normally Disney restaurants serve either the Morningstar black bean burger, or a housemade veggie burger that contains vegetables you can see. This was neither of those. M took a bite first and had a strange look on her face, and afterward said, "We did ask for the veggie burger, right?" It's hard to see in the photo but it did look more like meat than most veggie burgers. I smelled it and bravely took a bite, and fortunately recognized it as a particular patty made by Boca Burger. It's all very funny to me, because I'm sure a meat eater would have immediately recognized it as NOT meat, but we were both (briefly) fooled.

Kimberly stopped by to ask if we would be getting dessert (as if she didn't know) and I asked her, "how big IS the No Way Jose?" She said it is a very large sundae and that we should probably share it. So we did!

I should add that we were seated by this large party on a family vacation together...

...and I said, "If they don't order a kitchen sink I want my money back!"

Luckily for everyone, not only did THEY order a Kitchen Sink, but another table did as well!

And soon, we were served this beauty:

This dessert has been calling my name for years now, ever since the first time I saw @Tuvalu post a photo of one. Chocolate? Peanut Butter? Vanilla? Fudge? Chips? ALL TOGETHER??? Yes, please!!!

WE DID IT!

I would definitely return to B&C! We enjoyed a generous amount of food and ICE CREAM for a reasonable price, and we loved the SHTICK of it all! My mouth is watering right now thinking of the No Way Jose...I may have to ask M to concoct a homemade version of it for my birthday later this month...

Up next: In search of Rainbow Mickey

Too funny. Those bocas are a bit meaty for me. My dh likes them