Trip Report JenniferS is live - 9/3 - 9/16

Technically this is a pre-trip report, but we’ll be going live in less than a week!

This will be my third live September trip report.
2016:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/jennifers-is-live-9-7-16-9-17-16.918342/#post-7389286

2017:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/jennifers-was-live-9-6-17-9-16-17.931263/#post-7871205

It’s going to be a lot of same old/same old, as the cast, location, and ADR’s are pretty much the same. What can I say - we like what we like. And what we like is each other, Walt Disney World, Coronado Springs, and Free Disney Dining.

First, the who.
Me, JenniferS - Uber planning, pixie dust snorting Disney-aholic, 51 year old kid at heart (despite what the mirror says).

This is Hubby. He likes the Tar Heels, the Blue Jays, food, beer, and me. Not necessarily in that order.
The words most often heard coming out of his mouth are “Whatever you want, Baby.”

This is us. We are adorable together. We’re each other’s ride or die.

Last year, we were celebrating my 50th birthday (as much as women celebrate these “milestones”).

This year, we are celebrating Mike’s 50th (both of us born in August, so it’s close enough to count) AND our 25th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

We have children, but we don’t bring them to Disney very often anymore. If they decide to get married and start giving us grand-babies, I will re-visit this decision. But for now, they stay home. We are on Jen and Mike time.

After two live trip reports, I’m not sure how wordy this report will be, but it will be heavy on pics, most especially of food! As Mike says - I’m only here for the food.

To be continued ....

 

[JenniferS]

We just got back from the restaurant formerly called Pepper Market.

Its transformation is nearly complete. I noticed all the chairs have been swapped out, which is good, as the old painted wood ones did not match the crisper, less cartoon-y aesthetic. I’ll have to do pics later.

Squirty water and other pics from our walk to and fro.

 

[JenniferS]

Day 2 recap:
Skipped Rope Drop!

DHS:
RnRC (FP)
ToT (FP)
TSM or TSMM, whichever you prefer to call it
A$$ (FP)
MuppetVision 3D
Star Tours (FP)

Epcot:
The Ball
Soarin’
Soarin’ (FP)
Figment
Nemo

Lunch at Pizzerizzo
Dinner at Garden Grill

CS Credits redeemed - 2
TS Credits redeemed - 2
Snack Credits redeemed - 0

Health App says:

Mike’s Eagles are in the lead.
We’re planning on taking a shot at an early morning tomorrow, but probably not rope drop early.

We skipped IllumiNations tonight because someone (not pointing fingers) ate too much, so maybe tomorrow after the Yachtsman. (I know this place is one of @ajrwdwgirl ’s favourites.)

As soon as my hair is dry, I’m calling it a night. Thanks for tagging along today.

 

[worldfanatic]

I was wondering if the signage had changed yet at the former Pepper Market.

 

[worldfanatic]

Falcons Eagles is a barn burner.

 

[JenniferS]

Leftover pics that didn’t make it into the day’s narrative.

FYI - Mike complained multiple, multiple times about all the trees they cut down in front of DHS.

From the RnRC line, we could see some kind of filming taking place over the fence. Good thing no one saw us taking pictures, eh?

Forgot to take pics of these magnets I bought for Mike.

 

[MinnieM123]

FYI - Mike complained multiple, multiple times about all the trees they cut down in front of DHS.

If there's one thing they could certainly use more of at WDW, it's shade trees . . . I'm with Mike on this one.

 

[Rista1313]

We rode the Nemo ride tonight before dinner.
Missed it/skipped it (whichever) last year.

Man, it’s lame.

The highlight is the seagulls squawking out front, then the queue, then nothing. Really, nothing, until the ride is over.

Worse in fact than Figgy. There I said it.

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I felt like that too... lame version of the movie... this can be something else any time now.

 

[JenniferS]

We’re up. Or at least, I am.
I’ll go fetch coffee. (It’s my turn anyway.)
Anybody want anything?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Yay for the Yachtsman!

And since you are up I could go for a Mickey waffle.

 

[JenniferS]

First time navigating my way to El Centro completely by myself. When you don’t make three or four wrong turns, it’s really not as far as I thought. Maybe 40-50% further than last year, but that room was super close.

Construction on both the Lake Dorado restaurant and tower were in full swing at 7:15 am.

I couldn’t hear a peep from our room, but once I hit the walkway beside the lake, I could certainly hear it.

Pics from El Mercado.

For some reason , Mike likes high top seating.
I do not.

By far, the majority of the seating is comprised of these tables and chairs.

I didn’t walk all the way through, but this was the only banquette seating I saw.

And now, it’s coffee time.

 

[JenniferS]

This what the original schedule looked like for today.

That’s a whole lot of rain forecast for this afternoon. I think we’ll fall back on our usual AK MO. Get in, get out. We WILL be coming back to the resort in between parks, by the looks of it.

 

[JenniferS]

Dinosaur 33

 

[NYwdwfan]

For some reason , Mike likes high top seating.

Same reason I liked the seating at my mom's old preschool.

I can't believe you're up and out!

 

[JenniferS]

Same reason I liked the seating at my mom's old preschool.

I can't believe you're up and out!

In line for FoP Stand-By. I didn’t even bother to check the app, but the fellow holding the “end of the line” said 45 mins.

It is what it is.

 

[worldfanatic]

In line for FoP Stand-By. I didn’t even bother to check the app, but the fellow holding the “end of the line” said 45 mins.

It is what it is.

It's a great standby line to be in though.
Very cool theming.
Kind of like Indiana Jones at DLR.

 

[JenniferS]

Almost there.

 

[Andrew C]

Almost there.

View attachment 310732View attachment 310733View attachment 310734

best ride!

 

[NYwdwfan]

best ride!

So well done. Takes my breath away every time.

 

[JenniferS]

In Stand-By line for NRJ. It’s a long one, but we’re killing time anyway.

After this, KS, lunch, and Mike is iffy about EE.

A handful of pics for now.

 

[JenniferS]

45 min NRJ wait.