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“.....there are drinks that make you shrink. ….there are foods that make you grow.”
Ok, well, not really (except that part about foods making you grow. Sideways, that is.), but it's a fun concept nonetheless.
So, here is what I have lined up for meals on this trip, followed by my “must do” snack and drink list. If I don't write this stuff down, I will forget.
Day 1 – Arrival Day: after my noon-ish check-in at POFQ, I'll be procuring my refillable mug from Sassagoula Floatworks. I debated getting one or not this trip, but after careful calculation I determined I will indeed get my money's worth and then some. Will probably grab a snack of some sort at this point (beignets?!!) as I don't eat or drink prior to any early morning flight and will, in fact, be famished.
Dinner is going to be at Earl of Sandwich in DTD, and I will like as not get the original, which I think is to die for....!
Evening by the pool with an adult beverage.
Day 2 – MK day: The plan here is head to the MK first thing and go to Starbucks for coffee. Since I've heard that they've basically done away with the previous bakery items and it's all standard-fare from any Starbucks, we may or may not eat here. I've also heard that Gaston's Tavern has a mighty cinnamon bun, so that's plan B for.... ::ahem:: … “breakfast.” (I've started a Disney day with a rice crispy treat. Don't judge me. )
Lunch, such as it is, will consist of a snack here and there and then we are taking an afternoon break at Mizner's in the Grand Floridian with – an adult beverage.
Dinner is currently scheduled for Columbia Harbor House, which is someplace I've never eaten and I'm looking forward to something new.
Day 3 – Epcot: Breakfast at Sassagoula Floatworks; whatever strikes my fancy. It may end up being beignets because today we move to AKL.
Lunch: Flower and Garden Festival food booths!!! We'll be munchin' our way around World Showcase for sure. Can't even begin to guess what we'll be trying, but I'm sure it'll be good.
For dinner tonight we have an ADR at San Angel Inn in Mexico. This is a favorite of mine and I'm very excited! Last time I ate here was on a solo trip; I was not uncomfortable at all, and besides I had a really cute waiter. He was tickled to discover I spoke a teeny-weeny bit of Spanish, but I quickly put an end to it before I completely demolished his mother tongue. Anyway, I'm considering the chicken mole dish they have, but not sure on that yet.
Day 4 – DHS/Epcot: This morning we'll be waking up at Animal Kingdom Lodge.... . And, we are also having breakfast at Boma!! Uber-excited to try this, I've only had dinner there before. Great way to start our day.
Lunch will again likely consist of snacks here and there, since I've started the day with a buffet and have a fairly early dinner planned. I'll be walking from the Studios to EP, so I may swing into the Boardwalk Bakery and have a look-see.
And, dinner tonight is at Rose & Crown in the UK! Another one I've not tried but am really looking forward to. Just before I went to visit my dad the other week, I downloaded a few podcasts from WDW Radio (Lou Mongello); one of which was a live review of the R&C. It was very favorable and I'm more excited than ever now to try it out. Probably ordering the Cottage Pie, and some sort of ale.
Day 5 – AK/MK: Breakfast at The Mara this morning, will keep it light, maybe a yogurt parfait and a croissant or something. Because....
...lunch is to be at Flame Tree BBQ..... This is my all-time favorite counter-service eatery in the World. Love the food, love the atmosphere, and Tink and I have “our spot” down by the water where we sit and watch (and hear!) people on EE. Without an agenda, I could spend an entire afternoon just sitting there and soaking up the magic. It's one of “those” places for me.
Dinner is an unknown for tonight. I'm taking an afternoon pool break, since I'll be doing EMH at the MK tonight (til 1am!!!). Depending on when I get hungry, I'll either eat at The Mara, or wait til I get to the MK and choose from Casey's, Pecos Bill's, or perhaps Cosmic Rays. One thing the MK is not lacking in is CS eateries....
Day 6 – MK and ??... : ::sigh:: Last day. Alas. I have breakfast just planned at The Mara. Lunch will be the British Cheese Plate at Afternoon Tea at the GF. I love, love, love doing Tea there!! Just a little bit of pampering, but it goes a long way.
Since I have no idea where I will be at dinnertime, this remains a big huge blank on my schedule page. I will be at the MK in the morning, but not sure where the afternoon or evening will take me. Usually on my last day, I just wait and see what it is I want to catch one more time, or what didn't I get to see/do, etc.. It may be Epcot, as I simply just love that park and feel I'll have had more than my fill of the MK by now, even though for many people it's the must-do 1st and last park of a trip. Anywho, we'll see where the wind blows this day!
Now, the other thing I mentioned was a list of foods/snacks that I want to make sure I get to have this trip..... Some of these I've had previously, some will be new but are on my Disney Food Bucket List (yes, such a thing does exist ). And here, in no particular order, is My Food Hit List:
* a smoothie from Auntie Gravity's in the MK
* Gran Marnier slushy from the France kiosk in EP
* Citrus Swirl (was to be from Aloha Isle in the MK, will now be the delectable rum-
infused version from one of the F&G food booths in EP).
* School Bread from Norway
* Zebra Domes (!!!) from The Mara at AKL
* Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars
* Rice Crispy treats (the ones partly dipped in chocolate.....Yum!)
* Frozen Coke
* colossal cupcake from The Contempo Cafe at the CR
This chapter will be FAR more exciting in the final TR, what with food pics and all from the actual trip. But hey, it's a little taste (no pun intended....!) of what's to come!
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"There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. "
Magic Kingdom ~
You know, sometimes, a tour of the MK really does require you to be mad as a hatter! But, I'm hoping that's not the case in May. Because we have lots of ground to cover – literally! - and so without further ado, let us begin our virtual tour of that most magical of lands......
(Our “tour” is simply going to be about what I enjoy in each park, and not necessarily reflective of “how” I'll be touring it in May...I'll leave that for the TR after the fact. )
I know everyone has their traditions when it comes to touring the MK. Some bee-line it for a favorite ride, some carry out a carefully-wrought touring plan, and some people linger. I'm a linger-er. I like to spend a few moments in Town Square, listen to the music, and just take a deep breath. Especially on the first time in the park for that trip, it's a way to leave the real-world stress behind and fully immerse yourself in a little fantasy for a while. And there's nuttin' wrong with that.
I guess I've been to the World enough times that I don't like to go all commando in the parks. I'm at a point of wanting to stop and smell the roses, as it were....notice the little things, like the names on the upstairs windows along Main Street, the window displays at street level, stop and watch performances by the Dapper Dans. It also helps to let the crowds all go rushing by if you arrive at the park for Rope Drop.
That said, once I make my way up Main Street, more often than not I find myself going left. I love Adventureland, and esp. love the background music. It really drives home the tropical vacation feel! I like to tour the Swiss Family Treehouse (if it's not too busy; I don't like feeling rushed). Now, logically, one might next visit the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. It more or less looms right there on your way to the Jungle Cruise. But I've ridden it once and once will suffice. You'd feel that way too if the camel spit right between your sunglasses and your face and landed that wet kiss right on your eye. What are the odds??! But yep, I got it.
Moving on.....
Our next stop is the Jungle Cruise. It's the same ride every trip with pretty much the same corny jokes, but it's still good for a chuckle and a nice way to relax and cool of when it's hot. It also has a pretty interesting queue for those who take the time to really look (those little Disney touches are everywhere!). I'll reserve comment on the spider....
My next stop would be POTC. I'm not much for the Tiki birds. Meh. I avoided it for so long during the Iago years that I now just have no real desire. I saw its original version many moons ago, so I figure, seen it, done it, the end. I'm a little anxious about Pirates now, with the pictures and stories I'm seeing about how FP+ is affecting the regular wait time. We do have a FP for it, but I hope that's not the only time I get to ride this trip. I also need to vent here for a moment...... NOT happy with the latest “enhancement” that involves the mermaids. I know that's my opinion and some folks may love it, but for me personally, they ruined my favorite part of the ride and it will never be the same for me. I loved the part where you slowly passed the beach, the skeletons, the squawking seagulls, and all the while there was a slow, haunting flute-like tune playing (it was a version of “Yo Ho....”). Then you pass the skeleton at the helm of the ship on your right, with the storm raging behind him. Now all of that is still there, mind you, but now you have to listen to that silly “Jolly Sailor Bold” mermaid song. U.G.H.
'Nuf said. Off my soapbox. I still love the ride, and that one change did not ruin it for me to the extent that taking away the Jeremy Irons narration did for Spaceship Earth, but that's for another day and another park.
Off to Frontierland! (I will always remember heading this way when my boys were younger, and the Woody's Roundup gang came out just as we were passing, and did their little song and dance show. My middle son, 8 at the time, sang that song for the rest of the day!)
Splash Mountain I will do with no line or a FP. Otherwise it's not something I stand in line for. It's super cute inside but I get anxiety over that drop, so I can't ever seem to fully enjoy myself beforehand! Now, Big Thunder?!....... LOVE love love that ride!!!!!!!!!! It is actually my all-time fave in all of the World. It makes me laugh, makes me happy, and I could ride it over and over all day. We have a FP for it later in the trip, but I also hope to get in a bunch of runs on Sunday night during EMH.
If there's no line and I'm looking for a break, I'll head to Tom Sawyer Island. Even without the kids, I enjoy just walking around the island, or sitting on the porch of Aunt Polly's. Otherwise, heading now to Liberty Square, I like to take the little path that follows the river (unless I'm doing some shopping or hitting the shooting gallery). And, this little path will take us right over to the Haunted Mansion! My next-favorite ride in the MK. “Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion....” ::sigh:: Can't. Wait. <3
Fantasyland poses a bit of a conundrum to me at this point. And again, I think the whole new FP+ bit is really messing with wait times, and never mind that Fantasyland already had some of the longest waits in the park. I will, indeed, do It's a Small World. My favorite part is the South Seas with the little drum beat going on in the background. I won't see Peter Pan's Flight unless it's late on Sunday and there's a very short wait. I like the carousel, and love Winnie the Pooh. I haven't seen the New Fantasyland, so will have to reserve comment until after the fact. I will hit up the Mad Hatter's Tea Party (when I'm there alone.....TK and Tink don't do spinny). And on to Tomorrowland......
Any time I am going from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, or vice-versa, I will take the little meandering path tucked in along the back. It's usually quiet (crowd-wise) and it's a nice break from the rest of the park.
I like the Tomorrowland Speedway when my boys are with me, but will probably skip it this time around. I'm not a fan of doing Space Mountain alone, either, and since I'm not sure if Tink is game for that, I'm putting it on the back burner. What's left?!.....Carousel of Progress, the WEDway (I will always call it that), Buzz Lightyear, and the Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor! I plan to do everything at least once, but the WEDway will get several rides. That's my all-time favorite non-thrill ride in the World. I love riding it at night especially. I love the lights, the music, and I've caught Wishes! a few times while breezing around the no-moving-parts linear-induction-motor track.
That about wraps up our ride/attraction tour of the Magic Kingdom, but there is one other thing I want to make sure I see, and that's the Flag Retreat Ceremony at 5pm. I saw this for the first time a little over a year ago on a day-trip to the MK. So sorry I'd not seen it before! I found it to be very well done and something worth seeing at least once. Take a moment from the hubbub and busyness of an MK day and just watch and be still for a few minutes.
Well, thanks for reading along, and join me again next time as we head to Epcot!
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He was tickled to discover I spoke a teeny-weeny bit of Spanish, but I quickly put an end to it before I completely demolished his mother tongue. Anyway, I'm considering the chicken mole dish they have, but not sure on that yet. 
. And, we are also having breakfast at Boma!! Uber-excited to try this, I've only had dinner there before. Great way to start our day.
PassPorter Guide Author
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Deb
I loved the part where you slowly passed the beach, the skeletons, the squawking seagulls, and all the while there was a slow, haunting flute-like tune playing (it was a version of “Yo Ho....”). Then you pass the skeleton at the helm of the ship on your right, with the storm raging behind him. Now all of that is still there, mind you, but now you have to listen to that silly “Jolly Sailor Bold” mermaid song. U.G.H.
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