Episode 6: The Adventure Ends
Posted 04-21-2009 at 03:58 PM by Minnie
Today is Thursday and our last full day at Disney World. The week has gone by very quickly, as is always the case when one is having fun.
Since we were up late the following evening from our Fantasmic experience at the Studios, Kat slept in and I went out for an early lunch with two of my favorite Disney friends. I love seeing them, catching up on their lives over the last year and seeing photos of their kids.
We had lunch at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club resort which is one of Disney’s most beautiful resorts. It has a 3 acre mini water park pool that is just fabulous. The resort is actually three resorts joined by the pool and common areas. It is home also to Disney Beach Club Villas, a Disney Vacation Club.
All three resorts were designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern. The Beach Club reflects the beach cottage theme of turn of the century summer homes of Martha’s Vineyard, while the Yacht Club reflects a more sophisticated and elegant style of the late 1800’s seaside hotels.
After a fun lunch with friends I went back to our place to get Kat so that we could spend an afternoon at Epcot’s World Showcase. The World Showcase at Epcot is an area I never tire of seeing. I love the architecture of each county, the artwork, the authentic shopping and the interaction with Disney Cast members from all the countries.
We began at Mexico, moved to Norway to have some delicious pastries in their outside courtyard and enjoyed the attractions and shops at both of these pavilions.
We then moved on to China, viewing the attractions and browsing through the shops. “The Yong Feng Shangdian shop is one of the largest shopping destinations in the World Showcase. It has a wide variety of merchandise from silk clothing, lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay furniture, Yixing teapots and jade carvings, to stuffed pandas, incense, candles, and paper fans. Beijing Cloisonné Ware is one of the specialty items found here, as well as, Chinese lanterns, Oriental carpets and Jingdezhen Chinaware. In the jewelry section of the store you will find gorgeous coral, jade, and crystal pieces. After walking through the entire shop you exit into an open air market that offers books on meditation, calligraphy and the Chinese language.” I was not sure I would ever get Kat out of this shop, but we finally moved out into the open air market when I heard someone calling my name.
Even as big as Disney World is, 27,000 acres, I always see someone I know. It was the IBD family! After hugs shared by all, an update from little IBD about what she had seen and done that day and a few photos, they moved on to search for Donald Duck, after sharing a tip that I had seen him over at Mexico, Kat and I moved on around the World Showcase lagoon, to Germany. The shops here are some of my favorites so we spent a good bit of time just enjoying all they had to offer, the wine store is definitely a must do.
Next we moved to Italy and while Kat enjoyed the shops I made a phone call or two, enjoying the beautiful day and courtyard fountains and entertainment. I booked a dinner reservation at the Yacht Club Grill and just as I finished up, Kat came out and we moved on past the American Adventure pavilion. We had visited the American Adventure pavilion the day before and enjoyed the a cappella singing group, Voices of Liberty, performing American folk songs in the lobby and the presentation in the theater. The show is a patriotic look at the concepts America was founded on. Hosted by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, the 29-minute show blends Audio-animatronics with images shown on a 72' rear projection screen. Neither Kat nor I had seen the show recently so it was very moving to see the updates to it.
Japan is next as you move around the lake, but considering we had spent hours there yesterday, I was able to keep Kat moving on to France with a brief stop at Morocco. One of my favorite trips of all time was to France, so I love this pavilion and could spend hours here. I did some shopping, and Kat really wanted to sample the delicious offerings at the bakery but the line was the longest we had seen all week.
We enjoyed a sneak peek at the Epcot’s Flower and Garden show with some beautiful floral displays throughout the Epcot grounds.
We had visited the United Kingdom and Canadian pavilions the day before so we moved on to the Yacht and Beach Club resort where we had dinner reservations. Both of these resorts are walking distance to Epcot’s World Showcase, which makes them very popular. Since Kat did not go to lunch with me, I wanted to show her around the resort area as this was one of the last deluxe resorts on our “to see” list. We toured the Beach Club and Beach Club Villas resort area first and strolled over to the Yacht Club as it was getting close to our dinner time.
The Captain’s Grill is a favorite eatery of my family in that the service is wonderful, food delicious and beautiful décor. It is a favorite for the Disney management and I usually see some friends while dining. We had a wonderful meal and a very personable server and it was the perfect ending to our day in the Epcot area. Their dessert menu offers a delicious key lime tart, large portion not miniscule, but we were so full from dinner we could not sample it and put it down as something to do in the future. I could tell Kat was beginning to get that Disney syndrome of IDWTL (I don’t want to leave) so I had planned something special for after dinner.
We only had two resorts left to visit, the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which we were going to visit on our way out on Friday. So we drove over to the Polynesian resort to shop, have a dessert and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach. In the Polynesian shopping area you can send a handpainted coconut as a special postcard, so I sent one to my daughter at her restaurant. They teased her for days that her Mom went to Disney World and all she got was a coconut. But they all thought it was cool you could mail them. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful, magical week.
On our drive home we were already planning our next adventure.
Photos from our trip are available for viewing on my profile page. Here is the link:
Photo Album
Since we were up late the following evening from our Fantasmic experience at the Studios, Kat slept in and I went out for an early lunch with two of my favorite Disney friends. I love seeing them, catching up on their lives over the last year and seeing photos of their kids.
We had lunch at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club resort which is one of Disney’s most beautiful resorts. It has a 3 acre mini water park pool that is just fabulous. The resort is actually three resorts joined by the pool and common areas. It is home also to Disney Beach Club Villas, a Disney Vacation Club.
All three resorts were designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern. The Beach Club reflects the beach cottage theme of turn of the century summer homes of Martha’s Vineyard, while the Yacht Club reflects a more sophisticated and elegant style of the late 1800’s seaside hotels.
After a fun lunch with friends I went back to our place to get Kat so that we could spend an afternoon at Epcot’s World Showcase. The World Showcase at Epcot is an area I never tire of seeing. I love the architecture of each county, the artwork, the authentic shopping and the interaction with Disney Cast members from all the countries.
We began at Mexico, moved to Norway to have some delicious pastries in their outside courtyard and enjoyed the attractions and shops at both of these pavilions.
We then moved on to China, viewing the attractions and browsing through the shops. “The Yong Feng Shangdian shop is one of the largest shopping destinations in the World Showcase. It has a wide variety of merchandise from silk clothing, lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay furniture, Yixing teapots and jade carvings, to stuffed pandas, incense, candles, and paper fans. Beijing Cloisonné Ware is one of the specialty items found here, as well as, Chinese lanterns, Oriental carpets and Jingdezhen Chinaware. In the jewelry section of the store you will find gorgeous coral, jade, and crystal pieces. After walking through the entire shop you exit into an open air market that offers books on meditation, calligraphy and the Chinese language.” I was not sure I would ever get Kat out of this shop, but we finally moved out into the open air market when I heard someone calling my name.
Even as big as Disney World is, 27,000 acres, I always see someone I know. It was the IBD family! After hugs shared by all, an update from little IBD about what she had seen and done that day and a few photos, they moved on to search for Donald Duck, after sharing a tip that I had seen him over at Mexico, Kat and I moved on around the World Showcase lagoon, to Germany. The shops here are some of my favorites so we spent a good bit of time just enjoying all they had to offer, the wine store is definitely a must do.
Next we moved to Italy and while Kat enjoyed the shops I made a phone call or two, enjoying the beautiful day and courtyard fountains and entertainment. I booked a dinner reservation at the Yacht Club Grill and just as I finished up, Kat came out and we moved on past the American Adventure pavilion. We had visited the American Adventure pavilion the day before and enjoyed the a cappella singing group, Voices of Liberty, performing American folk songs in the lobby and the presentation in the theater. The show is a patriotic look at the concepts America was founded on. Hosted by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, the 29-minute show blends Audio-animatronics with images shown on a 72' rear projection screen. Neither Kat nor I had seen the show recently so it was very moving to see the updates to it.
Japan is next as you move around the lake, but considering we had spent hours there yesterday, I was able to keep Kat moving on to France with a brief stop at Morocco. One of my favorite trips of all time was to France, so I love this pavilion and could spend hours here. I did some shopping, and Kat really wanted to sample the delicious offerings at the bakery but the line was the longest we had seen all week.
We enjoyed a sneak peek at the Epcot’s Flower and Garden show with some beautiful floral displays throughout the Epcot grounds.
We had visited the United Kingdom and Canadian pavilions the day before so we moved on to the Yacht and Beach Club resort where we had dinner reservations. Both of these resorts are walking distance to Epcot’s World Showcase, which makes them very popular. Since Kat did not go to lunch with me, I wanted to show her around the resort area as this was one of the last deluxe resorts on our “to see” list. We toured the Beach Club and Beach Club Villas resort area first and strolled over to the Yacht Club as it was getting close to our dinner time.
The Captain’s Grill is a favorite eatery of my family in that the service is wonderful, food delicious and beautiful décor. It is a favorite for the Disney management and I usually see some friends while dining. We had a wonderful meal and a very personable server and it was the perfect ending to our day in the Epcot area. Their dessert menu offers a delicious key lime tart, large portion not miniscule, but we were so full from dinner we could not sample it and put it down as something to do in the future. I could tell Kat was beginning to get that Disney syndrome of IDWTL (I don’t want to leave) so I had planned something special for after dinner.
We only had two resorts left to visit, the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which we were going to visit on our way out on Friday. So we drove over to the Polynesian resort to shop, have a dessert and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach. In the Polynesian shopping area you can send a handpainted coconut as a special postcard, so I sent one to my daughter at her restaurant. They teased her for days that her Mom went to Disney World and all she got was a coconut. But they all thought it was cool you could mail them. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful, magical week.
On our drive home we were already planning our next adventure.
Photos from our trip are available for viewing on my profile page. Here is the link:
Photo Album
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Actually, I don't think the adventure ends....I have a feeling this is just the beginning!!! I left half of my blog comment back on the 411 thread as an answer to Tootsie's comment and a new song for you.
I do NOT like saying goodbyes and especially leaving an adventure....so most of the day I let my mind just wander in and out of every little thing I could take in. The Yacht club was amazing. And it reminded me of the movie 'Somewhere in Time' with Christopher Reeves where he goes back in time.
I really enjoyed the boats rides, which I had never taken before. With kids they want to get there fast so the monorail it is. But, I think the boat was much nicer. In Epcot again I got to experience something without kids...The World Showcase. And, believe me it was so different to be there and take in every detail that Disney has created to make you feel as if you were there. With too much to see and do the day gets away from you. Visiting Mexico, Norway for some delicious pastries then on to China I get a great big hug from a sweet little IBD Princess all in pink. Here we were laughing with friends again and taking pictures. Then we separated and went different paths with smiles and waves knowing in our hearts we'd probably see each other again in Disney one day.
Minnie and I both took a peek at the Disney Flower Show soon to be open and wishing we could come back to see it. Then on to France where I wanted more pastries and Minnie bought her daughter some great things. Then a walk around to the Beach Club Villas and Resort. Everything is so wonderful to the 5 senses.
I ate too much at The Captain's Grill for Dinner and couldn't even muster a piece of Key Lime Pie....and it really looked good! But on we went as Minnie had something up her sleeve, and it wasn't a rabbit....it was a beach
at the Polynesian Resort with lounge chairs sat up near the water and again the best seats in the house to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. We were all bundled up as it was cold and I could have been anywhere in the whole world....and I was!!! I was a little girl again watching fireworks over Cinderella's Castle!!!
For me, I will leave our adventure right there because one day I will be back as that little girl ready to take on Disney World again!
Thank You Minnie
Posted 04-21-2009 at 05:38 PM by ItzKatzTime
Updated 04-22-2009 at 10:49 PM by Minnie -
Actually you are probably right, how does a visit to a life size Gingerbread House sound?Quote:Actually, I don't think the adventure ends....I have a feeling this is just the beginning!!!
Posted 04-21-2009 at 11:28 PM by Minnie
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I'm so there with you Minnie!!!!
Can't wait....love you!
Do I look happy?
That's me on the floor exercising!!!
Getting my legs stronger so I can keep up with you!
OMG A life size Gingerbread House!
Posted 04-22-2009 at 12:57 AM by ItzKatzTime
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I somehow missed the latest installment in the trip blog. So happy to have found it too. This has been a wonderful adventure for many of us, if not ALL of us! It has brought many smiles to me as I read through the blogs. Great fun and a great friendship was made. And that's what it's all about.
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. I can't believe you both didn't get a decent piece of key lime pie before you left. But if I remember correctly, Kat makes a mean key lime pie anyway!
.Posted 04-22-2009 at 06:43 PM by Johnrudy
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