The Widow, Spinster, Missus and her Boy Toy celebrate new beginnings at WDW - Monorail Crawl 5/3

[franandaj]

Thank you for sharing, really loving your adventure.

I am definitely adding the cabin to our "to do" list. We exceed the occupancy limit but hopefully there are studios within walking distance to the cabins.

They're super nice for a relaxing stay with downtime in the cabin! Right opposite where our cabin was located is the building where the Boulder Ridge Villas are located. If you request a high number cabin and book a studio at BRV you could probably have exactly what you want.

We mostly stay at 3 bedroom villas now because my babies have babies (2 DD's their husbands and they each have to babies 11, 8, 6 and 4).

I can see that! Each family gets their own room and you can all stay together. I've only done the GVs for "parties" and such, since I don't have any kids.

 

[franandaj]

Wait… you’re already in ze Fatherland?? Have a great time!

Thanks! And I have an interesting answer to your question about the potatoes and foil. Evidently when you are cooking baked potatoes in a fire, you must cover them in foil otherwise they will burn. We had this discussion yesterday over lunch when two of the folks in our party ordered baked potatoes for their lunch and they came served in foil. I doubt that the restaurant cooked them in a fire, but Magdalene made that argument as a good reason to use foil. However baking them in an oven in a home. No Way!

 

[franandaj]

When we last left off we had decided to visit Panchito, Jose, and Donald on “It’s a Small Mexico”. The wait for this was only about 20 minutes, if that. I took this panoramic shot from the International Gateway as we made our way over there.

This Encanto topiary display was very cute!

Rocket is probably my favorite Marvel Character, so I couldn’t resist this photo of him and Groot.

Here we are approaching Mexico. We went up the stairs in the front of the building to get there. Now I know you might think….what’s so special about that? Well I have no idea when the last time I walked up those stairs was. My inclination was to go past the front and up the accessible path. It’s crazy how you learn certain entrances to places, and don’t realize that there a so many other options available when you’re not using a scooter.

They had this cute little Dia De Los Muertos display in the lobby.

We headed over to the ride, and there was line, but it was less than 15 minutes.’

When we were seated in the boat, we got this weird HA boat where a wheelchair could have rolled down the middle to sit at the front of the boat. We totally felt like this was a sign that Fran was here riding with us, so we took a picture.

Here we go!

Our plan for the day was to leave the park by no later than 2PM. It was just after 1PM. We were a little hungry, and didn't have plans to eat until we were on our monorail crawl, so we decided to hit up the food booth in the Odyssey Building. On our way there we saw this topiary from Coco.

Getting a snack at the Odyssey turned out to be a great choice! Not only was the food good, but they had table seating and AC. Here’s the menu before we go inside.

Here's the Tempura Shrimp with orange sauce and Lemon Meringue Pie.

We decided against any of the drinks with alcohol, we would be drinking quite a bit this evening and decided to just drink our waters and hydrate. The place was nice and cool.

Then we decided to head back to the resort. We passed by the Starbucks and decided that we could use a little pick me up. There was also a Bamkuchen kitchen in there making that delicacy to be sold at Starbucks, so we got an order of that too. Sorry no picture of our beverages, but we both got our standard warm weather Starbucks order. Jill's is the same in warm or cold. Mine is the one that changes.

We rode the bus back to the WL and arrived back to the cabin just as Jenny's friend was leaving.

 

[Alice Sr.]

We transferred to the Epcot monorail at the TTC and were on our way to Epcot for the second day in a row. Here we are approaching the Epcot monorail station.

We usually stay at BWV or have a car so haven't taken the monorail to Epcot in forever. Forgot how pretty that incoming view is.

Your pics and adult touring perspective has inspired me to grab a night at AKL Jambo to hang out in Epcot and check out the F&G show before it's packed up.

Safe travels for you!

 

[irene_dsc]

Why would not have pictured that as a cabin? I've had the benefit of staying in the Poly Bungalows before and those were really nice as well, but I'd take the cabin over the Bungalow for the sheer reason of the hot tub.

The only cabins I've stayed at have been rather simple structures, mostly a basic rectangular one room wood building with siding and a gable roof, maybe a couple windows, maybe an interior bathroom - or not. This is a cabin like how the fancy Atlantic coast cottages that are actually mansions are called cottages!

 

[jedijill]

Here we are approaching Mexico. We went up the stairs in the front of the building to get there. Now I know you might think….what’s so special about that? Well I have no idea when the last time I walked up those stairs was. My inclination was to go past the front and up the accessible path. It’s crazy how you learn certain entrances to places, and don’t realize that there a so many other options available when you’re not using a scoot

Here we are approaching Mexico. We went up the stairs in the front of the building to get there. Now I know you might think….what’s so special about that? Well I have no idea when the last time I walked up those stairs was. My inclination was to go past the front and up the accessible path. It’s crazy how you learn certain entrances to places, and don’t realize that there a so many other options available when you’re not using a scooter.

I offered to let Alison climb the pyramid but she declined.

Here's the Tempura Shrimp with orange sauce and Lemon Meringue Pie.

The shrimp were ok but I really liked the Lemon Meringue Pie!

Then we decided to head back to the resort. We passed by the Starbucks and decided that we could use a little pick me up. There was also a Bamkuchen kitchen in there making that delicacy to be sold at Starbucks, so we got an order of that too. Sorry no picture of our beverages, but we both got our standard warm weather Starbucks order. Jill's is the same in warm or cold. Mine is the one that changes.

I was so excited to see this! I've read about this pastry but I had never seen it being made in person. It was really tasty too....We got the vanilla version!

Jill in CO

 

[pkondz]

Evidently when you are cooking baked potatoes in a fire, you must cover them in foil otherwise they will burn.

I do get that.

However baking them in an oven in a home. No Way!

Definitely.
It is possible they tossed them in coals? Maybe? No idea what the kitchen is like there of course.

Rocket is probably my favorite Marvel Character, so I couldn’t resist this photo of him and Groot.

He’s the best.

We went up the stairs in the front of the building to get there. Now I know you might think….what’s so special about that? Well I have no idea when the last time I walked up those stairs was.

Oh no. I knew immediately what you meant when you wrote that. I thought “She took the stairs!”

They had this cute little Dia De Los Muertos display in the lobby.

I think I’ve seen that? So must’ve been there for a couple years at least. I think?

When we were seated in the boat, we got this weird HA boat where a wheelchair could have rolled down the middle to sit at the front of the boat. We totally felt like this was a sign that Fran was here riding with us, so we took a picture.

Awww…

We were a little hungry, and didn't have plans to eat until we were on our monorail crawl

You better eat then, or you really will be crawling!

On our way there we saw this topiary from Coco.

Just rewatched that a couple weeks ago. Such a good movie.

Here's the Tempura Shrimp with orange sauce and Lemon Meringue Pie.

Yes and yes.

There was also a Bamkuchen kitchen in there making that delicacy to be sold at Starbucks,

I’ve never heard of that… which is very strange for me.

I offered to let Alison climb the pyramid but she declined.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

That tempura shrimp & lemon meringue was really tasty! We had that last weekend as well. The lemon shandy was just ok so you didn't miss much by hydrating instead.

 

[franandaj]

We usually stay at BWV or have a car so haven't taken the monorail to Epcot in forever. Forgot how pretty that incoming view is.

Yes, I love the approach on the Epcot Monorail!

Your pics and adult touring perspective has inspired me to grab a night at AKL Jambo to hang out in Epcot and check out the F&G show before it's packed up.

I hope you had a fun time! I think the Festival is over by now?

Safe travels for you!

Thanks!

 

[franandaj]

The only cabins I've stayed at have been rather simple structures, mostly a basic rectangular one room wood building with siding and a gable roof, maybe a couple windows, maybe an interior bathroom - or not.

I know as a kid my parents used to rent Cabins where we would go skiing, but I was so young, I don't remember anything about them. So now this is my only frame of reference. I'm OK with that.

This is a cabin like how the fancy Atlantic coast cottages that are actually mansions are called cottages!

I have a feeling that most cabins in California are now similar to this as well.

 

[franandaj]

I offered to let Alison climb the pyramid but she declined.

Yeah....hard pass.

The shrimp were ok but I really liked the Lemon Meringue Pie!

Is that why you let me have the last one?

I was so excited to see this! I've read about this pastry but I had never seen it being made in person. It was really tasty too....We got the vanilla version!

I got a bite, and it was tasty, but maybe next time, I'll try a little bit more. If I'm not so hungry from eating the last shrimp!

 

[franandaj]

Definitely.
It is possible they tossed them in coals? Maybe? No idea what the kitchen is like there of course.

I doubt they cooked them in coals. They probably just did that for ease of serving, but it doesn't help them taste better.

He’s the best.

Oh no. I knew immediately what you meant when you wrote that. I thought “She took the stairs!”

Yes, stairs are a big thing for me and still not so easy.

I think I’ve seen that? So must’ve been there for a couple years at least. I think?

Very possible, I haven't been back for a few years!

Awww…

You better eat then, or you really will be crawling!

Right!

Just rewatched that a couple weeks ago. Such a good movie.

That was the 4th movie I started on the Transatlantic flight over here, and I didn't get to finish it. I know what I'm starting with on the way home!

Yes and yes.

I’ve never heard of that… which is very strange for me.

Yeah, even my German friends over here are a little stunned.

 

[franandaj]

That tempura shrimp & lemon meringue was really tasty! We had that last weekend as well.

Glad you liked it! I thought it was a solid choice.

The lemon shandy was just ok so you didn't miss much by hydrating instead.

Good to hear, it didn't sound that great, and as you said we were hydrating.

 

[franandaj]

We had just returned from our short day at Epcot. Jill and I sat in the main room. I worked on the TR some more and launched the first chapter before we got changed for our Monorail crawl. Jenny and Michael did something in their room. I think she tried to take a nap. When Jill and I started to get ready, Jenny took a shower and got ready as well.

We got going around 4:15 and snapped a few pics along the way.

Captain Rusty was our skipper for the evening, he took us to the Contemporary after a brief stop at Fort Wilderness to pick up more passengers. Here’s a look back at the Wilderness Lodge.

Oh look! There’s our cabin! Somewhere in there!

And here we are approaching the Contemporary!

They still had an Easter Egg display in the ground floor next to Steakhouse 71.

These were some of my individual favorites.

We took the escalators up to the 4th floor, again something new to me. I only knew about the elevators. Pretty soon we were on the monorail and on our way to our next destination. The first stop on our monorail crawl was The Enchanted Rose at the Grand Floridian.

We were seated immediately at a table for four by the window in the main bar.

I was in a quandary as to what to drink for the evening. I didn’t want to mix alcohols because that would be a for sure hangover. Because most of the drinks at Trader Sams are rum based, I decided that I would stick to rum for the evening. I know, sorry @pkondz

I ended up with the Mojito. It was tasty. Jill got a cosmo martini, Michael got a beer and Jenny got a salty dog.

We didn’t plan on eating anything here as the menu didn’t really appeal to me. Here are some pictures of the library that I took when I went to the restroom.

We finished our drinks, and our next stop would be the Contemporary Resort, the Lounge at Steakhouse 71. We were able to secure a couch and tables in one of the side rooms. This is where we had planned on getting most of our food. I liked the “Contemporary” light fixtures in our room.

Jill and I both ordered Daiquiris, served shaken and up. They were pretty good. Jenny got another salty dog, but declared that the one from Enchanted Rose was better. Michael got a beer again.

All of us ordered the crab cakes with Old Bay Remoulade and a corn hash. Jill and I got the onion rings, and we split them both. Jenny and Michael got French Onion soup with their crab cakes. Jill and I were full before we could finish all the onion rings, but we ate all the crab cakes.

There was another group there that was also doing a Monorail crawl with a small child. They had already been to the Poly and as they were leaving they were headed to the Enchanted Rose which was their final stop. They were encouraging the small child to be very obnoxious, egging her on when she was misbehaving. The one gal justified it by saying to us, “I’m the fun aunt!”

[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

After one round, we paid the check and moved on to the Polynesian. The sun was just setting as we got off the monorail.

We checked in at Trader Sam’s and they were quoting a 90 minute wait. We decided just to check outside for a table, and there were three different parties leaving all at once, so we snagged a table easily.

We started off with our first round, Jenny and Jill got the Krakatoa, I got the Dark and Stormy, but did not upgrade it to category 5, because my tummy was feeling a little bit wonky. Michael got a Mai Tai.

Not 10-15 minutes after we sat down, did we get the text from Trader Sams that they would be calling us for our reservation. We decided that sitting outside was fine. Yet another first for me, I’d never sat outside before.

Once we finished our drinks, we asked for the check and our waitress was like, “are you crazy? The fireworks are starting in just a few minutes!” When we asked she said, 15-20 minutes. They would be showing right here.

Michael got another Mai Tai on the second round. Jenny and Jill got Spikey Pineapples, which was essentially a Dole Whip with Rum, and they both got a second shot. I went with the Polynesian Pearl which had a creamy Rum Chata and that seemed to soothe my wonky tummy. Jenny and Michael split an order of the Kalua pork tacos. Jill and I still were not hungry.

The fireworks were awesome it was HEA.

There were two little girls who really wanted to get closer but seemed hesitant, Jenny told them to go ahead and stand up at the railing. They were so excited! They were twins, 5 ½ years old and on their first trip to WDW. Throughout the show, we were all making comments about the music, and the messages, Jill made a snarky comment, and one of the dads said, “I want to hang out with you guys!” Little did he know….

Jenny gave the girls the glow cubes from the Krakatoa Punches that she and Jill had ordered. We exchanged some pleasantries and then the four of us headed up to Tambu Lounge the last stop on our monorail crawl. As soon as we walked up to the bar one of the hightop tables that seat six or eight became available. We sat at one end of the table in case anyone else wanted to join us.

Pretty soon people asked if they could sit in the empty seats, and it was the two dads and their daughters. They were very cute and Jenny was their new best friend since she gave them glow cubes. The girls had been at some “camp” earlier in the day. The dads didn’t know until later that they did not feed them dinner there, so they had secured a late night reservation at O’Hana and were waiting for their table to be called. While they waited, the girls insisted that we play several different silly games, none of which I really understood. Mostly Jill and Jenny played along. I started preaching the benefits of DVC to the dads, and soon their table was called.

In the meantime I had ordered a Lapu Lapu and some Bread Pudding. Michael ordered the sticky ribs. At this point I was the only one still drinking. Everyone else had given up.

I was disappointed In the bread pudding. It was more like a slice of cake than bread pudding, and I'm pretty sure they sprinkled coconut on the top of it too. Needless to say I didn't eat hardly any of it.

Then we headed back on the monorail towards the Contemporary. We shared an immediate car with a family, and we laughed the entire way to MK where they exited. I don't remember the conversation but at one point the wife said to the husband, “You need to drink a glass of man up, and chug it!”

Michael and Jenny laughed so hard at this the entire way back to the Contemporary. As we were exiting the monorail Jenny overheard a couple from the adjoining car say, “We need to get away from these people, they lack Jesus.”

Jenny wouldn't admit that she was tipsy, yet as we waited for the boat and Captain Rusty was still at the helm, she commented, “He's the cook at the Crabby Patty.”

If you're like me and were like, “huh?” That's a SpongeBob reference.

We took a selfie with Captain Rusty and if you think it looks blurry that’s because the picture captured how we felt.

Here’s my step count and stats for today.