Trip Report Sweating at the Swolphin: a 2017 Food and Whine Report

Hello and welcome to another Bee trip report! My DW M and I had the privilege of attending the opening weekend of the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and the timing couldn't have been better! We both go "back to school" soon (she's an academic admin at a university and I teach voice and piano at a performing arts school), and last month we found out we have to move from the very affordable apartment we've loved for over three years because someone new bought the building and wants everyone out. We considered cancelling the trip given the moving news but almost everything was paid for already, and we decided in the end that we really needed this escape from reality. We made the right call!

You may know from the PTR to my California trip that this trip was originally scheduled for the end of September and beginning of October to coincide with Epcot's 35th birthday, but a flight change caused us to reschedule. More on that here.

The Plans
Who: M and me
What: A quick trip to Food and Wine!
When: Thursday, August 31-Monday, September 4
Where: Caribbean Beach and WDW Dolphin
Why: Because we needed a distraction from real life!
How: Lyft, Southwest Airlines, Magical Express, and more Lyft!

Keep reading for new experiences, old favorites, and of course lots of food and drinks!

 

[bee]

Okay. I want every version of the coffee listed on that menu!!! YUM!!!

You and me both!

I am so, so happy you loved the Fish!

As you know, we were supposed to have gone there the night before, but ended up at the Crystal Palace. By the time you were on the Boardwalk, we were home.

And I've never even seen an entire separate vegetarian menu. Is that standard at WDW now? I eat vegetarian + fish (and no dairy) most of the year, but I eat anything at WDW. Some of those dishes look like I'd really enjoy them.

Not every restaurant has one but many are starting to, and some have vegan menus as well. You have to ask the host or server for them. So far we've seen them at FF, Narcoossee's, Jiko, La Hacienda, and San Angel Inn. At Nine Dragons and (spoiler alert) Tokyo Dining there were little "V" icons next to veggie items. Servers have always been happy to clarify what items are suitable for us or can be modified (removing bacon, usually) for us.

I think this could make you, me, and bee a throuple!

Now I know where that giant green rat picture came from! This was in B's pics but I had no idea why.

View attachment 232563

Apparently the drinks at Nomad were that good!

We absolutely loved it.

HA!! Let's hope the quality at Nomad remains at this level!

Mega-congrats on the new place! Sounds great.

Thank you! We're so excited!

 

[bee]

Day 3, cont. (I feel like I've been on Day 3 forever!)

After dinner we had a FP for Navi River Journey. Since we changed our dates late in the game we couldn't get a FP for FOP, so we settled for this one. Oh well, next time perhaps.

In the queue:

As others have mentioned, they cram four adults into a single row on this ride. It wasn't quite uncomfortable...but it wasn't comfortable. We wonder if they'll stop that once the Pandora craze dies down.

I didn't take any photos until the end (you'll see why). Overall it was fine and the animatronic at the end is indeed pretty amazing. But there was so much CGI it was distracting. I might ride it again but I wouldn't want to waste a FP on it since FOP and NRJ are in the same tier.

At the end the boats got waaaay backed up.

And that was enough Pandora for us.

Lots of birds!

Dinosaur had a short wait posted on the app so we headed that way.

We passed this performance on the way! As you can see, it was raining!

I could have taken control of EVERYTHING while a CM stepped away! But I didn't.

While we were waiting an obnoxious kid behind us kept running into us and touching us. Did his mom so much as apologize to us or tell her kid to watch where he was going? Not once. I hate to go on yet another "kids these days" and "parents these days" rant, but I KNOW if I had bothered a stranger in public like that my mom or dad would have at least reprimanded me, and if I'd done it multiple times after being asked to stop I would have been punished.

ANYWAY, back to Dinosaur!

Indiana Jones>Dinosaur.

It was almost time for our Rivers of Light entrance window!

Up next: Nighttime at AK

 

[amjt660]

I could have taken control of EVERYTHING while a CM stepped away! But I didn't.

I know - it is so tempting when you are that close

Indiana Jones>Dinosaur.

Preaching to the choir!!!

Max

 

[Lyssa]

Oh and I'm a fellow jersey resident! Hello from Morris County! Well that was until joe ripped me away and made me move to Philadelphia I'll always be a Jersey girl! I miss those bagels

Yay for Jersey Another Jersey resident here before hubby made me move to Texas I'm from Bergen County and I think I miss those bagels more than anything

Let's feel some love for Philly. We have pretzels, cheesesteaks, and Wawas!

Yes I miss Wawa so much I went to school in PA and Wawa is everything to me

 

[Figgy1]

Yay for Jersey Another Jersey resident here before hubby made me move to Texas I'm from Bergen County and I think I miss those bagels more than anything



Yes I miss Wawa so much I went to school in PA and Wawa is everything to me

Bordering on grounds for divorce

 

[bee]

Day 3, cont. (almost done with Day 3, really!)

After a quick stop in a bathroom in Asia (no bathroom pics, sorry, @Tuvalu!) we scanned our bands for our Rivers of Light FP. We got decent seats even though we didn't rush to enter right at the beginning of the FP window. This was our view:

Later...

A blurry pic of the ToL Awakening in the distance:

I didn't take many photos so I could just be in the moment. But I did have to try to get a pic of the beautiful lotus blossoms at the beginning!

I thought the show was visually beautiful, with the combinations of water and light and fire and color. It was very exciting when the "Mother Flower" (that's what I'm calling it, I don't know if it has a proper name) came out. The dancers/percussionists got kind of lost in the mix of everything and to me the music wasn't especially memorable. It never reached the emotional heights that something like IllumiNations does for me, and I wouldn't not see RoL again, but I wouldn't plan my day around it. I am glad that AK is now consistently open later with lots of nighttime attractions and entertainment.

We were right by Everest when we exited RoL, but the last time I rode Everest in July 2015 I hurt my neck pretty badly. I figured it was just a fluke that time, though, and wanted to try it again! Standby was only fifteen minutes so we hopped on line.

I was careful to keep my head against the seat and I felt totally fine when we got off. PHEW!

Since we were REEEEEALLY determined to give Pandora a chance and we REEEEEALLY wanted to like it, we made one more stop there to see it at night.

Our opinions remained unchanged.

We exited the park and saw that a Swolphin/Boardwalk (WHY ARE THESE RESORTS SHARING??? ) bus was just leaving, and the line was still quite long. The Yacht and Beach Club bus line was much shorter so we gave it a shot.

Deserted ticket lines

We made the right call! a Y&B bus pulled up first, followed shortly by a Swolphin/BW bus. We got a seat and left quickly whereas lots of people waiting for the other bus had to wait for the next one.

We always like resort hopping, and here we were!

Back to the Dolphin we walked...

But wait! We hadn't had any ice cream today (pls ignore the fact that we had cheescake and cocktails and mimosas and pastries...)!

Caramel Cappuccino in a Waffle Cone!

And that was Day 3! We had big plans in Epcot (where else?) the next morning so we went to bed soon after we returned.

Up next: Our last park day

 

[amjt660]

But wait! We hadn't had any ice cream today (pls ignore the fact that we had cheescake and cocktails and mimosas and pastries...)!

ABSOLUTE ZERO JUDGEMENT FROM THIS DUDE - YOU ARE ON VACATION!!!

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Since we were REEEEEALLY determined to give Pandora a chance and we REEEEEALLY wanted to like it, we made one more stop there to see it at night.
Our opinions remained unchanged.

My favorite post of the report.

 

[bee]

Day 4: Sunday, September 3
Last Park Day...but we made the most of it!

We slept in a bit and started the day with in-room coffee.

It was a cloudy and humid morning, but it still made for a beautiful walk to Epcot (where else??).

Hello, friend!

We arrived at the International Gateway right around opening. We just beat a Friendship boat full of resort guests to bag check and breezed through. When I scanned my band Mickey turned blue about three times before the CM called over a supervisor with an iPad to "reset my band." Whatever they did, it worked, because I didn't have anymore issues the rest of the trip!

Where, oh where, would we be headed from the IG right at park opening? Running to Soarin' or Test Track? Maybe Frozen?

Of course not! It was breakfast time at the best in-park QS location on property!

Les Halles!

We each had a Quiche Florentine and shared a latte. As usual, everything was delicious and we were very satisfied!

Up next: Nearly-empty World Showcase

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Day 4: Sunday, September 3
Last Park Day...but we made the most of it!

We slept in a bit and started the day with in-room coffee.

https://68.media.tumblr.com/346e2a53931285b528a5961692befd32/tumblr_ow6ap1D1Rh1un92rjo1_1280.jpg

It was a cloudy and humid morning, but it still made for a beautiful walk to Epcot (where else??).

Hello, friend!

We arrived at the International Gateway right around opening. We just beat a Friendship boat full of resort guests to bag check and breezed through. When I scanned my band Mickey turned blue about three times before the CM called over a supervisor with an iPad to "reset my band." Whatever they did, it worked, because I didn't have anymore issues the rest of the trip!

Where, oh where, would we be headed from the IG right at park opening? Running to Soarin' or Test Track? Maybe Frozen?

Of course not! It was breakfast time at the best in-park QS location on property!

Les Halles!

We each had a Quiche Florentine and shared a latte. As usual, everything was delicious and we were very satisfied!

Up next: Nearly-empty World Showcase

That place is such a gem for a quick, inexpensive but still special bite, any time of day!

 

[bee]

That place is such a gem for a quick, inexpensive but still special bite, any time of day!

Agreed! We go once or twice every trip! We especially like breakfast when we can enjoy our meal nearly alone.

 

[bee]

Day 4, cont.

After breakfast we had a FP to make in Future World. We enjoyed a leisurely walk toward the front of the park.

Up next: Vegetable/Farm/Alligator Boat Ride

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Love those pics.

 

[bee]

Day 4, cont.

I realized I'd never really stopped to appreciate this tree that grows up through a hole in the building. PS Note the action shot of people RUNNING to Soarin'.

Why, that looks like a walk-on!

And walk on we did, without bothering to use our FP.

I took this to remember something I'd neglected to get a photo of on a previous ride, that was now gone. The previous day there was some F&W-related sand art in the spot that's smoothed over above.

Happy Birthday, Epcot!

Up next: What are we gonna do with this FastPass?

 

[bee]

Day 4, cont.

The answer to the question above is...

USE IT!

Accidental shot of my BLACK leggings in the red light of the alligator fish area

Another angle of the 35

Heeeeey Spinach and Paneer Pocket

Boat backup!

Up next: What's a Disney trip without a ride on the monorail??

 

[bee]

Day 4, cont.

After our second ride on LWTL we exited the park and made for the monorail.

What was our first destination?

It's never too early for a cocktail, right?

Our bartender was Christine and she let us know we could order mimosas and Bloody Marys in addition to the regular bar menu. But we were on a mission to try...

...the famous Lapu Lapu!

We shared one and both liked it! Although afterward I found myself wishing I could have eaten the entirety of the insides of the pineapple...

We knew we wanted to continue our monorail hop but we didn't want to keep going through security at each station, so we decided to walk to the Gluten Free. Ahem, Grand Floridian.

Up next: IT'S HOT (WHINE)

 

[dizfan917]

Your pics are gorgeous.

 

[Figgy1]

Day 4, cont.

After our second ride on LWTL we exited the park and made for the monorail.

What was our first destination?

It's never too early for a cocktail, right?

Our bartender was Christine and she let us know we could order mimosas and Bloody Marys in addition to the regular bar menu. But we were on a mission to try...

...the famous Lapu Lapu!

We shared one and both liked it! Although afterward I found myself wishing I could have eaten the entirety of the insides of the pineapple...

We knew we wanted to continue our monorail hop but we didn't want to keep going through security at each station, so we decided to walk to the Gluten Free. Ahem, Grand Floridian.

Up next: IT'S HOT (WHINE)

I can't believe you were a Lapu virgin?

 

[bee]

Love those pics.

Thank you!

Your pics are gorgeous.

Thank you!

I can't believe you were a Lapu virgin?

Not only that...I was a Tambu virgin!

 

[Courtney6682]

Let's feel some love for Philly. We have pretzels, cheesesteaks, and Wawas!

And hoagies ...and Rita's ....and tastycakes ....and Herr's chips....