Trip Report *COMPLETED* Flowers, Family, and ??Fireworks?? (and lots of FOOD): A Memorial Week Trip Report

We are back! I am departing from my usual trip report procedure in that I haven't written the entire thing yet, but am instead posting a bit at a time as I go along. Tonight I am starting with introductions of the cast, since there are some additions who haven't previously appeared in my TRs.

The Cast

The cast of this trip of course includes my wife M and me, Bee. There are three new players, however: M’s mom, dad, and brother, all of whom I consider to be my own family as well! For simplicity I will refer to them as MIL (mother-in-law), FIL (father-in-law), and BIL (brother-in-law because his name starts with M as well! Oh and we all have M last names. Even MIL's maiden name starts with M). A little about each of us:

Bee (me)
Age: 27
Occupation: opera singer/voice and piano teacher
Vegetarian, obsessed with Disney, loves seeing Broadway musicals
Married to M for going on two years, honeymooned at WDW
The planner and organizer of the bunch

M (my wife)
Age: 27
Occupation: writer/academic advisor
Vegetarian, smart and funny, not exactly OBSESSED with Disney like I am but still loves going
Married to me for going on two years, honeymooned at WDW

MIL
Occupation: church musician/voice and piano teacher
Obsessed with Disney and giraffes, loves children
Married to FIL for (almost) 32 years, honeymooned at...you guessed it, WDW!

FIL
Occupation: HS guidance counselor
Quiet but secretly hilarious, reads all the time, half Italian
Married to MIL for (almost) 32 years, can you tell where we get our Disney obsession??

BIL
Age: 23
Occupation: HS math teacher
Did not get bitten by the Disney bug like the rest of us! Guessing if he gets married he will NOT honeymoon at WDW!

As you can see education is important to this family! It goes back to the previous generation as well because both of M’s grandfathers were university professors; one has a doctorate and the other was ABD when family circumstances prevented him from finishing. In addition, BIL, M, and I all graduated from the HS where FIL is now a guidance counselor (though he worked at a different school while we were are going there) and BIL now teaches there too.

The Plans

Dates
Saturday, May 28-Thursday, June 2 (Me and M)
Saturday, May 28-Monday, May 30 (MIL, FIL, BIL)

Hotel
Pop Century one night, WDW Swan four nights (Me and M)
Two nights offsite in LBV (MIL, FIL, BIL)

Tickets
Annual Passes (Me, M, MIL, FIL)
FL Resident Park Hopper (BIL)

Flights
Southwest Airlines nonstop (Me and M. The others drove as they live 2.5 hours away)

Transportation
DME and Uber (Me and M)
Rental car (MIL, FIL, BIL)

The week before our trip was busy and we didn’t have much time to pack and prepare for the trip. A few days before I finally dragged out the suitcase and started putting things inside, but it wasn’t until the night before we left that we finally got serious about packing. I had rehearsal in Westchester that evening and got home to NJ around 9:30. M had done a lot of work toward packing and we managed to get in bed before midnight for a brief sleep.

We debated whether to bring a large suitcase or a small one and decided on a small one so it wouldn’t be too much trouble to transfer from Pop to the Swan on Sunday. Since the suitcase was small enough we had the option to check it or carry it on. We decided to put the DME tag on it in case we wanted to check it, but to make the final decision in the morning after we saw the line for Southwest bag check. I had been reading TSA horror stories about crazy long wait times and missed flights and I didn’t want to add any unnecessary time to our pre-security time.

Next up: Day 1

 

[bee]

Sorry to hear about the car accident. Sometimes, even just a slight hit from another vehicle can really shake you up inside. I'm glad that the accident was not serious and that you are o.k.

And you are right about wearing a seat belt. (Back when I was in my late teens, I was with a boyfriend on New Year's Eve, and I was sitting in the front seat of his car, without a seat belt on. Another car crashed into his (they ran a stop sign) and my head hit the rear view mirror, breaking the mirror. They rushed me to a nearby hospital and I got 22 stitches in my forehead.) The emergency room doctor told me that hitting the rear view mirror may have stopped me from going through the windshield, which could have killed me. After that, I always wore a seat belt and I always advise everyone I know to wear one, too!!

Thank you, @MinnieM123! I'm glad you were able to learn the seat belt lesson the not-too-hard way. 22 stitches is no joke but thank goodness for that mirror! I now have a really icky purple bruise on my left chest where the seat belt was but I am so grateful to have the bruise and not something much worse!

I'm glad it wasn't serious!

Thank you, @figmentfan423! Me too!!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

We skipped Primavera Kitchen although we wanted to try the pasta because we were too hot for hot food. However, the Florida Fresh kale salad was calling to us! It was a more generous portion than we were expecting and the greens, cheese, fruit, and almonds really worked well together.

Did I enjoy the snack?
Yes!

Would I eat it again?
Yes!

We stopped in France because BIL said he was nearby.

<3 <3 <3 <3

Hodor This trip was right after THAT episode aired.

Sure enough, we saw him come over the bridge and had a quick reunion before we all continued toward Future World. On the way we stopped for the flight at Cider House. Everyone’s favorite was the black cherry, of course! The pear cider tasted good initially but by the end it kind of tasted like paint.

Cider flight

Did I enjoy the beverage?
Yes

Would I drink it again?
Sure

Our view while enjoying the cider

While we were enjoying the cider we got a text from MIL that the parents were on a bench across from the Refreshment Port, so we headed that way and found them. It was hugs time as we hadn’t seen them in about five months.

Floating planters!

Flower carpets!!

Those fluffy clouds!!!

We had FastPasses for Soarin’ and on our way to The Land we walked past the butterfly garden/kids’ playground area, where CMs were passing out large free samples of applesauce.

I've seen some of my younger students eating fruit pouches like this. It's the future!!

Next up: New-Old Soarin’ and the Vegetable Boat Ride

 

[Figgy1]

Day 1, cont.

We skipped Primavera Kitchen although we wanted to try the pasta because we were too hot for hot food. However, the Florida Fresh kale salad was calling to us! It was a more generous portion than we were expecting and the greens, cheese, fruit, and almonds really worked well together.

Did I enjoy the snack?
Yes!

Would I eat it again?
Yes!

We stopped in France because BIL said he was nearby.

<3 <3 <3 <3

Hodor This trip was right after THAT episode aired.

Sure enough, we saw him come over the bridge and had a quick reunion before we all continued toward Future World. On the way we stopped for the flight at Cider House. Everyone’s favorite was the black cherry, of course! The pear cider tasted good initially but by the end it kind of tasted like paint.

Cider flight

Did I enjoy the beverage?
Yes

Would I drink it again?
Sure

Our view while enjoying the cider

While we were enjoying the cider we got a text from MIL that the parents were on a bench across from the Refreshment Port, so we headed that way and found them. It was hugs time as we hadn’t seen them in about five months.

Floating planters!

Flower carpets!!

Those fluffy clouds!!!

We had FastPasses for Soarin’ and on our way to The Land we walked past the butterfly garden/kids’ playground area, where CMs were passing out large free samples of applesauce.

I've seen some of my younger students eating fruit pouches like this. It's the future!!

Next up: New-Old Soarin’ and the Vegetable Boat Ride

That salad looks yummy and I can't wait for more of your TR with 2 of my favorites coming up

 

[WDWDarling]

Loving the mini reviews of the F&G offerings and enjoying all your pictures as well! Definitely following along .

 

[Mindy16]

Alcoholic pool water! Hahaha yikes!

 

[bee]

That salad looks yummy and I can't wait for more of your TR with 2 of my favorites coming up

It was SO GOOD! Although now I'm thinking they were hazelnuts and not almonds. Glad to have you following!

Loving the mini reviews of the F&G offerings and enjoying all your pictures as well! Definitely following along .

Thanks for following, and I'm glad you like the mini reviews!

Alcoholic pool water! Hahaha yikes!

Hahaha! I didn't really get it at first but as soon as M mentioned it it was all I could taste! Don't make the same mistake we did!!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Can't wait to read more! I really loved F&G. I hate to say it, but I don't normally enjoy Epcot! That changed this year with F&G!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

Four of us have APs, but BIL bought his ticket the day before we left so of course FP availability was very limited. I could only get four Soarin’ FPs back when MDE opened the booking window for New-Old Soarin’ so both M and I offered to switch bands with BIL so he could ride (since we had FPs for later in the trip). I also used my phone to make BIL a FP for Living with the Land during our Soarin’ time. In the end FIL decided he didn’t care to Soar Over California so he switched with BIL and everyone got to ride SOMETHING.

I timed the FP wait and it ended up being about 20 minutes. Some other guests were complaining that the FP line took so long, but what do you expect on a popular, newly reopened attraction whose standby waits can reach 3 hours on an average non-holiday day?? I have to say though, that third theater must have really helped because we usually saw waits around 75-90 minutes instead of much longer, even though it was a holiday weekend.

Time to Soar!

I’m really glad they reopened old Soarin’ in advance of new Soarin’ and that we got to ride New-Old Soarin’ because the picture quality was so much better! The dust flecks were gone and we could see details we hadn’t noticed before.

A Soarin' cupcake?? What does it taste like, pine???

After the ride we met up with FIL, who said he enjoyed LWTL. Since we were there already, the rest of us rode LWTL standby (FIL didn’t want to re-ride, haha) and M and I got to ride all the way in the back of the boat! You may know from previous TRs that this is my favorite ride at Epcot now that Maelstrom is gone (). It didn’t disappoint and I loved seeing the extra flowers for F&G throughout the greenhouses.

Yay!

Back of the boat!

Loved this shade of pink

Banans! (I don't know why, but M and I call bananas "banans." The emphasis is still on the second syllable.)

Sunfleurs!

I was able to get a Nemo FP for all of us so we all got to ride together (well, close to together, in adjacent clam shells). I really wish they hadn’t added the Nemo overlay to this ride. I only remember riding it once before the update, back in 2003. I remember loving the queue and thinking the ride was really cool. But anyway, we had a nice time briefly exploring the aquarium and soon exited the pavilion a bit after 4:00.

Next up: A delicious dinner somewhere in WS! Headless scuba divers! Finally back at Pop??

 

[bee]

Can't wait to read more! I really loved F&G. I hate to say it, but I don't normally enjoy Epcot! That changed this year with F&G!

I think I might have enjoyed F&G 2016 more than F&W 2015. It was partly because of the crowds during F&W on Halloween weekend but partly because there were more veggie food choices I think. And LARGELY because of all the flowers!!!!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I think I might have enjoyed F&G 2016 more than F&W 2015. It was partly because of the crowds during F&W on Halloween weekend but partly because there were more veggie food choices I think. And LARGELY because of all the flowers!!!!

I really would like to see F&W! It was going to be possible next year, but then we moved our trip to the very end of November.. I don't think it goes that late, does it? I think what it is for me with Epcot is that I never have time to slow down with a toddler to take it all in ! Even in April, she was sleeping most of the time and that's how we got time to enjoy things. As soon as she was awake she wanted out of the stroller and pretty much ran wild. I remember being really stressed out, and not the happiest that day.

So next trip, hubby and I are taking an adult day to Epcot and we'll finally get to walk around and check out everything!

 

[bee]

I really would like to see F&W! It was going to be possible next year, but then we moved our trip to the very end of November.. I don't think it goes that late, does it? I think what it is for me with Epcot is that I never have time to slow down with a toddler to take it all in ! Even in April, she was sleeping most of the time and that's how we got time to enjoy things. As soon as she was awake she wanted out of the stroller and pretty much ran wild. I remember being really stressed out, and not the happiest that day.

So next trip, hubby and I are taking an adult day to Epcot and we'll finally get to walk around and check out everything!

Yep, that would make a huge difference. I'm pretty much always with just my wife, or at most with a few adult family members. I doubt F&W will go that late (but hey, they surprised me with how late they extended F&G this year so who knows). But if you're there after Thanksgiving you may see Holidays Around the World, which is another Food and Wine lite with a few kiosks with mostly desserts and drinks.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Yep, that would make a huge difference. I'm pretty much always with just my wife, or at most with a few adult family members. I doubt F&W will go that late (but hey, they surprised me with how late they extended F&G this year so who knows). But if you're there after Thanksgiving you may see Holidays Around the World, which is another Food and Wine lite with a few kiosks with mostly desserts and drinks.

Ooh! that sounds cool! Sounds awesome!

 

[MinnieM123]

Oh, I love those spring rolls at the China kiosk during F&G. They are so delicious--can't figure out what the sauce is that they serve with them, but wow, it was tasty!!

I love The Land pavilion. And I was happy that I went there in mid-May, just about 2 weeks before they brought back Soarin. I was looking at your pictures, and lamenting the size of the crowds that descend upon The Land, in large part, due to Soarin. I was happy that I got to enjoy that little reprieve of peace and quiet in there--I don't expect that will happen again for quite some time.

 

[bee]

Ooh! that sounds cool! Sounds awesome!

It is cool! Don't expect as many food and drink options as F&W but you may get to try something unique.

Oh, I love those spring rolls at the China kiosk during F&G. They are so delicious--can't figure out what the sauce is that they serve with them, but wow, it was tasty!!

I love The Land pavilion. And I was happy that I went there in mid-May, just about 2 weeks before they brought back Soarin. I was looking at your pictures, and lamenting the size of the crowds that descend upon The Land, in large part, due to Soarin. I was happy that I got to enjoy that little reprieve of peace and quiet in there--I don't expect that will happen again for quite some time.

We were trying to figure out the sauce as well! The spring rolls alone are tasty but the sauce takes them to the next level.

You are so right about the crowds caused by Soarin'! I still like having water or a snack in the pavilion to enjoy some AC rest time and there are still groups of tables that are relatively isolated and quiet, especially by the entrance to LWTL.

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

After Nemo I was quite hungry and we didn’t have any dinner plans. It was too hot to continue our eating around the world at the kiosks so I checked the MDE app for a table for five somewhere in Epcot or nearby. There was a reservation available at La Hacienda de San Angel at 4:30; everyone agreed upon the restaurant so I clicked that little button and we headed to Mexico.

We checked in just after 4:15 and were promptly seated. Our server (whose name I currently can’t remember) was excellent and kept our glasses full of cold water. FYI to vegetarians, La Hacienda has a separate vegetarian menu with four distinct options. I didn’t get a photo of the menu but here is one I stole from http://www.disneymusings.blogspot.com :

I think the prices were the same as this menu, except that the empanadas are now $18.

Inside La Hacienda

BIL and FIL shared a salad and a chicken dish and I think MIL had a quesadilla. I only got photos of my enchiladas and M’s empanadas, sorry! We were also served veggie rice, black beans, and non-veggie rice family style (none of which I got pics of because we were so hungry and ready to eat) and our server offered us refills of any of the sides. Spoiler alert, we didn’t even finish the first dishes of sides because it was so much food!

Enchiladas! Made with corn tortillas (my favorite)!

Empanadas

I really enjoyed this meal! I like that there is a separate veg menu with FOUR choices, and not just one boring pasta dish as is sometimes the case. I think the prices are appropriate for the quality of food and atmosphere being in Disney. I have been here twice and have had great service both times. The only downside is that they don’t take Tables in Wonderland, which I learned only at the end of the meal because I was silly and didn’t look it up beforehand. It was still worth it, and I would still pick La Hacienda over San Angel Inn any day.

Did I enjoy the meal
Yes!

Would I eat there again?
Absolutely!

After dinner we had a FP for 5 for Spaceship Earth. M and her brother rode together, I rode with FIL, and MIL rode alone. FIL let me pick the language and I selected Deutsch! I speak decent basic German after studying in school for a few years and studying abroad in Austria one summer (not to mention singing in German all the time in operas), and FIL understands a little bit from what he studied in college. We were both laughing during the Rome scene that the translation of “World Wide Web” is “World Wide Web.”

My fave animatronic! Always gotta get a pic of her, even if it's blurry!

I made a silly face for my “future” but our photos didn’t work! Apparently no one’s did for awhile because we kept seeing headless scuba divers and such in the after show room.

It was still quite hot and we were tired from traveling all day so we decided to all head to Pop to check in and have a little birthday party for M (her birthday was the previous week).

WHY, FLORIDA??

Next up: Star Wars, sleepovers, and Mickey bars!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

The parents drove us all to Pop so we could check in and hang out in the room for a bit. We had decided to add BIL to our Pop room so the three of us could catch up after not seeing each other for awhile. When we arrived in the room, we saw not only our checked suitcase, but our two backpacks that we had left with baggage services as well! MIL and FIL parked and walked up to our room, which was in one of the 70s buildings on the top floor. I didn’t take any photos of the room or grounds because this was our fifth stay there and we have taken photos of most everything of interest.

After everyone was settled in we had a little “birthday party” for M. I had given her presents on her actual birthday but her family brought her a few things with them from home. BIL gave her a big book about the Legend of Zelda (I’m not a gamer so I don’t really know any details beyond that, sorry!) and FIL and MIL gave her some clothes as well as a nice Star Wars puzzle that prominently features Rey! When we all visited WDW in December (shortly after TFA came out) M and I had a very hard time finding Rey merchandise at any of the resort and gift shops. The parents noticed that M really likes Rey and they found this great puzzle! If we get around to assembling the puzzle I’ll post pics then.

The puzzle box

We were all tired, especially M and me, so FIL and MIL left and went to their hotel. M, BIL, and I stayed up a bit longer catching up and decided we needed some ice cream, so M and I went down to Everything Pop and bought three Mickey Bars! I like that EP and the other value resort QS locations take Tables in Wonderland.

Did I enjoy the snack?
Of course!

Would I eat it again?
Obviously!

We each took a shower and then went to bed after a long day of travel and fun.

Next up: Day 2!

 

[sheriffwoody]

Love that puzzle! I had the same experience in January looking for Rey merch all over the property. I finally found the action figure I wanted at Walmart back home. Looking for that toy was the only reason I've been in Walmart in like 5 years

 

[bee]

Day 2: Sunday, May 29

We woke up around 9:00 to get ready to switch resorts. The three of us went down to Everything Pop for some pastries for breakfast (no way were we going to stand in the lines for hot food!) and brought them back to the room.

MmmmmMMMMMMmmmm

Did I enjoy the snack/meal?
Yes

Would I eat it again?
Sure

FIL is an early riser and MIL is definitely not. While she was still asleep in their hotel room, he drove over to Pop to pick up BIL’s things since he would be moving to their hotel for the second night. FIL left and we packed up and called an Uber to take the three of us from Pop to the Swan.

The Uber ride was quick and M and I checked in at the Swan around 10:00. As we expected, our room wasn’t ready yet, but the front desk CM asked for my phone number and said we would get a text when it was ready. Fancy! We left our bags with bell services and the three of us headed outside toward HS.

A boat was just leaving so we decided to walk instead of wait. It was quite hot already but at least most of that path includes some shade. We got through bag check and were soon inside the park. M and I had a FP for Star Tours starting at 11:35 (I couldn’t add anyone to our FP) and we still had almost an hour until then. BIL wanted to ride ST so we all rode standby together. The posted wait was 30 minutes and it actually ended up being over 40. But it didn’t bother us because we got to spend that time together! M and her brother have always been close and he was pretty bummed when we announced we were moving to NJ. We don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like so I will gladly take a forty minute opportunity to spend time and have conversation with family!

Waiting for Star Tours

Now. I was determined to be the Rebel Spy at least once on this trip. While we were watching the safety video before the ride I kept looking up and smiling, not remembering if the photo was taken before or after we entered the ride vehicle.

Receiving flight instructions

When we finally got to the ride vehicle, we realized the CM assigning rows had miscounted and there weren’t enough seats for all of us. So we had to wait once more. I kept up my Rebel Spy smile and soon we were in a ride vehicle with enough seats. Sadly I wasn’t picked this time, and we realized the photo was taken in the vehicle itself and not before entry. But I always love this ride (even if I’m confused by the presence of both Darth Vader AND Finn AND sometimes distinctly prequel-era locations/characters). I think we ended up on Naboo and went underwater to Gungan land.

Finally seated!

M and I wanted to ride again with our FPs and just before we got back in line we got a text that our room was ready! Woohoo! So we zoomed through the line and I kept up the smiling inside the vehicle. This time I was the Rebel Spy and my dorky smiling face was on the screen! I’m pretty sure there was a Coruscant scene this time.

YAY!

FIL and MIL joined us in the park soon and M and I were ready to go to our room at the Swan so we parted ways with plans to meet in the park later for some group FPs.

Next up: Journey to the Swan, and a room with a view!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Day 1, cont.

We skipped Primavera Kitchen although we wanted to try the pasta because we were too hot for hot food. However, the Florida Fresh kale salad was calling to us! It was a more generous portion than we were expecting and the greens, cheese, fruit, and almonds really worked well together.

Did I enjoy the snack?
Yes!

Would I eat it again?
Yes!

We stopped in France because BIL said he was nearby.

<3 <3 <3 <3

Hodor This trip was right after THAT episode aired.

Sure enough, we saw him come over the bridge and had a quick reunion before we all continued toward Future World. On the way we stopped for the flight at Cider House. Everyone’s favorite was the black cherry, of course! The pear cider tasted good initially but by the end it kind of tasted like paint.

Cider flight

Did I enjoy the beverage?
Yes

Would I drink it again?
Sure

Our view while enjoying the cider

While we were enjoying the cider we got a text from MIL that the parents were on a bench across from the Refreshment Port, so we headed that way and found them. It was hugs time as we hadn’t seen them in about five months.

Floating planters!

Flower carpets!!

Those fluffy clouds!!!

We had FastPasses for Soarin’ and on our way to The Land we walked past the butterfly garden/kids’ playground area, where CMs were passing out large free samples of applesauce.

I've seen some of my younger students eating fruit pouches like this. It's the future!!

Next up: New-Old Soarin’ and the Vegetable Boat Ride

I loved the floating planters! I think the F & G was so close to F & W, may actually win with me because of the flowers. I am homesick now! The Go-Go squeeze, my grandson, 3, just loves .. Lol, I don't get it. Can't wait to read the rest of the report!

 

[MinnieM123]

We checked in just after 4:15 and were promptly seated. Our server (whose name I currently can’t remember) was excellent and kept our glasses full of cold water. FYI to vegetarians, La Hacienda has a separate vegetarian menu with four distinct options. I didn’t get a photo of the menu but here is one I stole from http://www.disneymusings.blogspot.com :

That's great that they have a separate menu with vegetarian options. Shows they put some extra thought into creating some nice, meatless dishes. As for moi, I eat meat, but I also eat an occasional vegetarian meal. But I'll tell you who would love this menu -- that would be our esteemed WDW Magic forum member, @figmentfan423 . (Hey Figgy, did you see this menu yet?)