She Said - He Said Day 10

[nicster]

Cast:
She (nicster) – 10 years old at WDW. Real world age? Between 50 & death…
He (DH) – 11 years old at WDW. Ditto on real world age.

September 29:

THE PLAN: Mini Golf– Epcot – Teppan Edo – Richard Marx – Tokyo Dining

We head over to the resort food court for some breakfast. It’s tolerable (had a Western Omelet) and we’re at the bus stop at 9:53. This is going to be one of those tricky navigation things. We want to do the Miniature Golf at Fantasia Gardens, near the Swan, which we’ve never done. That mini golf course is probably a 5 minute drive from CBR. So anyway, we head first to DHS. The bus for that arrived at 10 and we’re at DHS at 10:17. The boat we want is still pulling up. So we’re on it, but it doesn’t leave until 10:30. At about 10:40, we’re at the Swan, but have no idea where to go. We wander around for a bit, and finally go in the resort to ask for directions. So we get to Fantasia gardens around 10:50. About an hour spent for a 5 minute drive. Hmmm. Maybe having a rental car is not a bad idea. Anyway, we sign up for a round at 10:55 and we are to start at 11:00. It’s really hot this day and I’m dying. I lose one ball on the course, and go and get a replacement. I win the round. I did better the first half, but Nicci was making a come back in the second half. Good thing for me I had a sufficient lead. LOL.

You shoulda seen Richard looking all over for his golf ball! Talk about men not wanting to ask for directions! this man did not want to have to ask for another ball!! LOL
The golf course is so great. It was entirely too hot when we were there, but I would have loved to have lingered. I wonder what it would be like a night? Do they have glow in the dark golf balls for people who get a little too enthusiastic??

So we walk back to the Swan and catch a boat to Epcot. We head to the International Showcase and finish Canada, hitting all of the shops and seeing O Canada with Martin Short. We re-visit the UK and those shops as well, but I don’t believe we bought anything at either.

Okay, don’t think me crazy, but I had this cute half sized USA passport from the craft store (in the scrap booking section). So I was determined to take it and get it stamped at all the World Showcase countries. I had a great time doing it! Each of the cm’s talked to me a bit, and wrote a personal message in his or her native tongue. I am looking forward to repeating the process with our DGS Otto, when we take a family trip.

Then it’s on to France. Nicci gets a top there and we’re thinking about doing the show, but we don’t really have enough time. I keep hoping they’ll modify the show to include a couple of scenes from the Tour de France, but they never do. Maybe it’s because the French haven’t won their tour in decades. I love it. Go Lance!

Okay, girls I found the cutest top in the France pavilion. It is a long sleeved tee, brown in color, with very subtle prints of the Eiffel Tower, and postage cancellations on it. Anyway, it is just so me, I am wearing it right now. I am so pleased when what I buy is not just the Disneyfever but something I will actually enjoy wearing when my head is cool again.

So instead, we head to Morocco and check out the shops, and then it’s time for lunch, and on to Japan. We check in at 1:48 for Teppan Edo for a 2 PM ressie. We have a few minutes wait and then we are seated. It’s interesting what is going on with 4 folks at our table, and the entire table behind our “chef”, but I’ll let Nicci fill you in. My comments would probably be too mean.

OMG! I couldn’t believe what these families were doing. I noticed that there was a bunch of back & forth between the couple that was waiting to be seated & the staff at Teppan Edo, what is going on there? Are we going to have trouble with our seating too?? Well, it soon became clear, when three other families arrived with children in tow, and trays with French fries on them. Afterward they were all escorted to their table, and we followed a short time later. We were all in the same room, and a couple with their children that were in that group were at our table with us. They explained that children from the other families wouldn’t eat anything but French fries the whole trip. So that was it! They brought the kids, who were taking up space at the table in this nice restaurant, outside food! I can understand the dilemma that management was having over that! Anyway, we had a wonderful meal, entertaining & delicious.

The meal is good, but the chef makes a mistake and gives me part of Nicci’s steak. So she ends up with part of mine. Mine was clearly better. Oh well.

So we head out, do some more shopping, get some more shot glasses, do the show at France, and head over to hear the 3rd Richard Marx show.

I figured out how to get a great seat without having to wait in the line. I will share, if you will promise not to tell. They line everyone up on the right hand side of the stage, then let them in 20 or so minutes before the show time. After the last one from the line is let in the Disney folks drop the ropes from the other entrances. I had noticed that when the people from the line go in they find a seat in the middle of a row and sit, and everyone else fills in the rest of the row. Sooo, going in from the left after the rope drop I just walked right up to the front row, and was about 6 people off center!

We do some shopping at Japan and then head to Tokyo Dining. Since our ressie is at 8:40, I ask to be seated at a window if possible. And so we are. We have a great view of Illuminations. I have the tempura shrimp and scallops, and it’s pretty good.

The view of Illuminations was fantastic, the only thing better would have been if they had dimmed the lights in the restaurant a little so we didn’t have so much reflection. I had the tempura sea scallops, very good, but in hind sight I wish I had gotten something more varied, it was too much fried food for one sitting.

After that, we head out to the Epcot bus. I don’t remember any details about that, but since we’re leaving the park way after closing, it was all pretty quick. Pretty easy navigating when there is nobody there.

So a good day, all in all. But tomorrow is my favorite day of the whole trip. It’s always nice when your last full day is like that. Patience, patience.

[SBETigg]

Wow, great tip on seating. So did you do Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining on the same day, lunch and dinner, or did I miss something? Sounds good.

[KylesMom]

You know, we keep saying that we're going to get to the Fantasia course, but we never seem to make the time - even with free passes this last trip! Glad you had a good outing, even if it did take too long to get there.

Ah, secret's out with regard to good seating at performances!

Excellent seating location at Tokyo Dining - and a wonderful way to end the day. Looking forward to your next post!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I love the story about the trays of French Fries! That is just crazy

[Phantod]

Wow, great tip on seating. So did you do Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining on the same day, lunch and dinner, or did I miss something? Sounds good.

Yes we did. We had originally booked Teppan Edo 90 days ahead of schedule as we had never been. With the cancellation of the Luau, we now had another TS to use (along with one we had never booked when we extended our trip). So Nicci called Disney to see if there was any where we could get a TS ressie. I believe she did that Sunday morning. The options were Nine Dragons, pretty much any day any time, and so we went there on Monday, and the only other place on Tuesday was Tokyo at 8:40, so that's how we ended up in Japan twice on the same day.

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for the Report!

[faline]

What a lovely day! There were a few glitches but you took them in stride! I'm really enjoying the differing viewpoints! Wish I coult get my husband to do this but I doubt such a thing will ever happen!

[DisneyBarb]

Enjoying your reports!!! I want to Mini golf when we go next month, basically we can walk from the Swan??

[ChipDale]

Sounds like a really fun day. I can't believe the people with the french fry kids either. Thanks again for sharing with us!

[Phantod]

Enjoying your reports!!! I want to Mini golf when we go next month, basically we can walk from the Swan??

Absolutely. It's like right across the street. Here's how we got there. From our resort, we took a bus to DHS. From there, we took the boat to the Swan/Dolphin port. As you head up, the Swan is on your left. Turn left and head towards the back entrance to the Swan. Before you get there, tho, look right and you'll see a pool. There's a big path way, so turn right, and go past the pool and all of the Swan's buildings. Once you're there, turn left and cross the street and you'll see it.

If you are at the front of the Swan, facing the building, you could walk down the street to the left and when you get far enough, you should see Fantasia on the left. We didn't try this one, but that's my guess.

[DisneyBarb]

Thank you!! Mini golf, followed by Beaches and Cream for ice cream sounds like it will be in the plans!

[Mickeydream]

Sounds like a full day! We are planning to do the mini golf too, but were unsure of which one to do...hmmm? They both sound like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.

[vizsla]

Thanks for the report.