The Awesome Foursome takes on Food and Wine trip report

Okay so I'm stuck at work for the next 4 hours with NOTHING to do, have no voice and generally feel crappy therefore I'm heading to my happy place of trip reporting!

Thursday 6th October

We woke up and turned the weather on to see Hurricane Matthew was still headed our way and was expecting to hit Florida late evening and through the night, we headed out for our reservation for Be Our Guest Breakfast and our FP but other than that we were leaving it open our reservation was for 8.30 but by 7.30 we were up and ready " so not like us so we decided to go ahead, got a bus no problem but whilst on the bus mam realised she had no Magic Band! So I got off at main bus stop ran/walked back to room to get her magic Band while she headed off to Magic Kingdom with her having the ECV we thought it was easier to squeeze me on a bus! In the time it took me to get to the room and back to the bus stop auntie and uncle had arrived at Magic Kingdom so they headed in to tell restaurant what had happened and we were on our way I waited forever to get a bus typical but once I did we headed in and managed to see the characters heading up for the welcome show! And got some great walking pictures of a pretty empty Magic Kingdom " best perk to a morning ADR!

IMG_3293 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

Characters were coming out for Welcome show

IMG_3294 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3296 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

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IMG_3309 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We had our food I wasn't really hungry but everything was great forgot to take pictures sorry! The food I had was nice but the chicken sausage was weird......

IMG_3313 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We had an early morning FP for 7 Dwarfs which was fab! Then we rode It's a small world standby then round to Under the Sea with our FP, we then headed down to Tommorowland for my Space Mountain FP (the rest don't like it but I love it!) it wasn't quite time so we jumped in the Carousel of progress and sang my way round " I think the family were ready to pretend they didn't know me! I love that song!

IMG_3320 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

I went off to ride Space Mountain, auntie and uncle went for a ride on the peoplemover and mam found somewhere she wouldn't get wet! When we all met back up mam had spotted on facebook that the parks were closing at 5, it was around midday and I finally got my hunger back so we all agreed we would head back to the resort early then we weren't far away if the bad weather hit and had to get back in a hurry, we made it back to the resort no problem I got some pasta to have now and we got some sandwiches to store in the fridge in room just incase, we sat for a while watching the world go by and the storm that passed over us!

IMG_3344 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

The place started getting really crowded so around 2.30 we headed back to the room I had a nap and auntie and uncle went on the boat to Disney Springs! Brave people I think they turned the boats off so had to try and get back by bus or they got so far then kicked off the boat I'm not sure! They then decided to head over to the main building for drinks and very kindly offered to take our mugs too

IMG_3359 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We didn't realise but we got upgraded to a pool view room!

IMG_3356 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

When they came back we stood and watched a storm from our room it was really fascinating! We stayed in our rooms all night luckily with our connecting door we kept knocking to see how we were all doing! The TV started going off around 9.30 and the only channels ironically we could get on was the weather channels it was really frightening watching the waves down at Daytona beach etc and that was before it was even on land, we went to bed hoping for as little destruction as possible

Friday 7th October

We woke up around 8.30 and from where we were it looked like we had gotten off very lightly there was a few wobbly trees, we turned TV on and it hadn't touched ground I'm not sure if it had veered off course slightly by now or if that was later but at some point it veered off Florida but Daytona and the beach resorts were all hit pretty bad, we had messages on the phones to ask people to remain in the rooms for now we kept ourselves entertained by sorting the MNSSHP sweets into categories I didn't realise we had so many!

IMG_6368 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3366 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We kept the radio on and they had a country hour which I just loved!!! It was great! Around lunchtime auntie and uncle decided to venture out to see if anything at the main building was open, they reported back to say food court was open so we headed over there on the walk over there was a lot of debris on the paths and leaning trees etc here is a few pictures I took on the way over

IMG_3373 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3374 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

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IMG_3388 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

There was also a blocked drain that some poor cast members were nearly knee deep in the water trying to unblock it! They were operating on a limited menu but I have to say they did a fantastic job! They had burgers, chicken nuggets and grilled chicken, they also were doing cheese flatbread, mac and cheese and chicken noodle soup aswell as offering ice cream sundaes as desserts, we got some burgers which were all fresh and welcomed! It was great to get outside of the room for a bit of fresh air! I think by now they had announced the parks would remain closed all day today but open as normal tomorrow they also announced Disney Springs would open for Disney resort guests only so auntie and uncle decided to head down there in their words you could not move in the World of Disney store the lines were just crazy at the checkouts so they were there long! We stayed in, watched Beauty and the beast and just relaxed. I started to get hungry again so we headed over to riverside mill they were still offering the same but at the carvery station they had this meat, turned out it was a turkey leg but I assure you it was like no ordinary turkey leg! I don't like turkey but I loved this!!!!

IMG_3390 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

The lines were huge to get served so I actually started eating it in the line it was so nice and warm I didn't want it to get cold! I got a funny look off the lady at the checkout! The forecast for tomorrow was sunny and no rain! So we were really looking forward to a sunny day!

I know the feeling! its okay I'm virtually taking you with me in April and in September!

I have never known a day like those buses!!!

there will be plenty for you after tonight i promise you!

It wasn't planned that way! it was after that photo had been taken I realised the resemblance! we need some more as these ones ripped so we had to leave them behind!

thank you i always worry I'm just waffling!

Saturday 8th October

Woke up and as forcasted a bright sunny day woohoo! We decided to go our separate ways this morning we headed to EPCOT for food and wine we had a lot to get through! We hit up Islands of the Caribbean for the mojo pork, pescado con coco (seared grouper) and Quesito which was a puff pastry dessert, I wasn't fussed on the pork or grouper but I loved the quesito!

IMG_3394 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

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IMG_3396 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We headed to Canada next for me to get a filet mam decided to hold out and try the stew at Scotland which she loved I didn't but it was a HUGE portion!

IMG_3399 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3400 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We kept walking and ended up in Brazil got 2 pork belly and a little hidden one meat pie I love the pork belly it's one of my favourite things! We also had a frozen caiprinha which is super yummy and on this insanely hot day it was welcomed!

IMG_3401 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3402 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3403 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We jumped into Morrocco just for some air conditioning the weather was sure making up for it after past few days! We also went into the American adventure we were upstairs waiting to go in and saw Voices of Liberty they are just amazing!

IMG_3406 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We came out of the American adventure and American Music machine were about to start, we had never seen them so we decided to watch, they were really good!

IMG_3422 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We just kept walking and ended up at Mexico so we decided we would jump on 3 Caballeros and there was a line! A long line!! We finally got through with the ECV parked it up and rode when we came off our 2 bottles of pop were on the foot rest part and the seat was folded down, we thought the bottles must have fell out of the basket or something, never really thought any more of it and headed out of Mexico and back around to the international gateway as we were headed to Beaches and Cream we met up with auntie and uncle and checked in for your reservation we all ordered 2 scoop sundaes but these aren't ordinary scoops they were HUGE!

IMG_3431 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

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IMG_3435 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

As we were sitting catching up on our activities we found out they had been on the 3 caballeros too but as we were getting on they were in the line of boats to get off! So to let us know they had been there they moved the bottles and put the seat down!

We were headed to Hollywood Studios and with it being such a beautiful day we decided to walk along it's a beautiful walk! Auntie and uncle decided to head back to the resort to have a freshen up but we headed into Hollywood Studios I decided to be brave and ride Rock n Roller coaster BY MYSELF! I ended up waiting as long as the stand-by but I lived to tell the tale in the second row!!! I try to be brave, I try to look cool and I end up looking like this.........

STUDIO_ROCKNRCOASTERRIDE_20161008_7824531954 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

IMG_3438 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

We arrived at our meeting place but auntie and uncle had been delayed getting back so we rode Star Tours while we waited, when they got to us they stood in stand by for Star Tours and we went to use FP for Tower of Terror and met up at the entrance to Fantasmic! where we went straight in to, we had FP but also had the ECV so we were directed to a cast member who told us that 2 had to sit directly infront of mam and 1 had to sit in the row infront alone, we asked why and we were told you had to stay within the limits of the ECV space....never heard of this before! As we were sitting mam and auntie got talking to a lady next to us and I kid you not within 15-20mins I was nearly married off to this very lovely lady's son! He wasn't on the trip but he nearly got flown down! So that kept us occupied til the show started! Beautiful as always I love Fantasmic! Oh we also got some free popcorn which I think was how they got talking in the first place it was really nice!

IMG_3439 by Amy Roberts, on Flickr

Once the show finished and we got out we headed back to resort picked up some food and bed!

Sunday 9th October

Me and mam decided to go our separate ways from auntie and uncle today we decided to head to Animal Kingdom as there was things we hadn't got done last time we managed to get into Festival of the Lion King in the elephant section again! We didn't manage to see this is April so seeing it twice this trip just totally made up for it!

we headed towards Kilimanjaro Safaris but the wait was too long so we skipped it we were a little hungry so we set off in search of food but found that Finding Nemo the musical was due on soon so we got great seats for that!

by this point we were starving so headed into Restaurantosaurus I love this place but the desserts always let them down, they have changed them and oh I can only say for the better! Yum-my!

We managed to get on Expedition Everest without much of a wait I love the picture! We made our way out of the park to go back to the resort and freshen up before our night at EPCOT

We headed out later than planned and we were heading to see Plain White T's at 6.45 so we hurried round and made it just in time, now before I went I only knew 2 of their songs but I did love them so I wanted to see what else they sang OMG this was the best Eat to the Beat concert we have ever been to I loved all the songs (and immediately downloaded them when I got home!) they were seriously amazing!!! If anyone has the opportunity to go see them you should! Hey there Delilah was my favourite song of theirs it's actually now my least because their songs are AMAZING!! only thing that put a slight dampener on it was this stupid man in front literally holding his hands with a camera up as high as he possibly could blocking peoples view, he was clearly doing it on purpose because he kept turning round and sniggering he also kept blocking the girls who were sat next to hims view too and just to rub salt in the wound at the end when everybody stood up he even held his hands in the air to block even more and he just saw it as a joke! Now I know everybody films me included but I keep it in front of my face and just tilt the phone I would never ever lift my phone higher than me unless there was nobody behind me but it was still one of my personal highlights of the trip and keeping my fingers crossed they do the same dates next year so I can go see them!

It was food and wine time so off we headed to Japan I think it was called a pineapple breeze it was blue and it was beautuiful! We then headed to France and got 2 La Passion Slush which were very yummy!

We had a FP for soarin so we headed off in that direction I really love this new version more and more each time! Then we headed home for an early night and some pasta!

which ones there are so many!!! but they were all very good!

I would have to agree I just wanted it to be bigger!!

Monday 10th October

We had a later start I think we started packing some stuff up (I'm not ready to go home yet!!) and we headed to EPCOT for character spot we had great meets with all 3!

We headed into the land for Soarin once again my notes actually say "I've ran out of words" and there really is no words to describe it!! We went and had lunch at Sunshine seasons which was very yummy as usual! however I will note I had the apple cupcake, looks beautiful but it was cinnamon flavoured and that's a big no no for me!

We decided to part ways and me and mam were going to ride living with the land but they said they were experiencing technical difficulties so we headed out, shortly after we saw on facebook that the land had been evacuated completely and rumours of a fire? But we never heard any more so we aren't really sure what happened! We walked round world showcase taking it all in but it was super busy! We picked up a few things to bring home and headed back to the resort to do some more packing (sobbing face)

oh I obviously got some drink to try, I have notes of this but I do know I tried all of the drinks in China could be one of those......any suggestions pleease feel free to jump in!

We headed out to Disney Springs on the night and headed to Wolfgang Puck mam had salmon, auntie and uncle had Meat Loaf and I had chicken and it was all delicious we all had cheesecake which was super yummy!

We had a little look around the shops and went in the coca cola shop that place is awesome! I really need to go have a drink up there in April! We headed to get the bus back ready for our final day in a park

Tuesday 11th October

There was only 1 place we were heading today and that was Magic Kingdom! According to my notes we saw Main Street Trolley show on way in but I have no pictures to confirm or deny this! We missed our Pirates of the Caribbean FP and standby was too long so we just skipped it me and mam had Haunted Mansion FP and auntie and uncle had Peter Pan's Flight we both enjoyed equally then met up for Seven dwarfs mine train auntie and uncle were very brave and rode in the front row they loved it!

We had a bit of time to kill so we went on the teacups as per a family member at homes request (we had a group message set up so we could keep in contact while we were away and send updates on all we got up to!) we had lots of fun! We had a look round Big Top Souveniers and as we came out the Main Street Philharmonic were coming to perform! At the beginning of this Trip Report I said that we had never seen them perform so we watched them until it was time to go for our lunch!

It was amazing as usual and has become a last day tradition! We decided to head out to do some more packing (we had LOTS of bags to pack!) and then headed out to EPCOT on the evening I have written down that we ate lots of different foods at different booths but these are the only ones I know for sure, I had the peanut butter dessert and some kind of pork thing at some of the future world booths I loved the dessert but I can't actually remember the pork thing!! I know we will have had filet at Canada because we could never just walk past it! I know we passed France and stood outside of Brazil but whether or not we got food is unknown! Haha I did make a point of going to Belgium to get a chocolate waffle and a berry waffle as every year I've wanted to try them and never had the chance! I did really like them but they aren't a must do!

We stood in front of the Brazil booth and watched Illluminations we all had a drink (where each was from I have no clue) and savoured the last moment!

When it finished I happened to discover it was EMH, we weren't ready to go home yet so we decided to chance on standby at Soarin! Off we headed got in I don't know how long we stood but it did seem to go fairly fast!

It was the absolute perfect end to the parks portion of our trip we did have nearly a full day tomorrow but not at the parks and we really felt like we did the trip proud!

Wednesday 12th October

We were up pretty early, did final packing had a mad rush to Fultons to use up some more snack credits (I have no idea how many we used but I'll post a picture from when we got home!) managed to squeeze as many into the cases as possible! We called bell services to collect the bags and got a taxi really quickly! Last year with all the construction at Disney Springs we were dropped off what felt like miles away from our bag drop plus that day was super hot I had to move the bags gradually as we had so many, this year was no different bags wise however the really really nice taxi driver (possibly my most favourite taxi driver in the WORLD!) literally dropped us off across the road from the bag drop and even apologised that this was the closest he could get us!! I could have kissed him as we could make it in 1 trip! I know there is an extra cost to use this service but anyone travelling with Virgin Atlantic and not having a hire car I urge you to use this as for us it just takes the stress out of it all and once at the airport no check in desks or anything I cannot urge anymore!

Once bags were dropped off we just had mine and mams small cases (auntie and uncle checked theirs in as we had extra baggage on way back) so we walked through Disney springs taking it all in then took our last boat ride back to the resort

I had a quick shower before we checked out of the room and did final checks and left room, auntie and uncle decided to go for a last trip on the boat to Disney Springs while we took a slow walk over to the main building with our little cases and handed the ECV back, we all met up at Riverside Mill for a final meal (also known as how many magic cookie bars can I fit into the containers to bring some for some very special friends who were suffering from the Disney blues!) I think we possibly stopped back in Fultons to use more snack credits for sweets to bring home (we had a LOT!) and then waited around for the Tragical Express and before long it was that time, I think our faces say it all.......

Our driver was lovely but he had a very strong accent and we could hear a word he said! Luckily we know the drill by now so we knew what we had to do and within no time we were there, because we had no bags to check in we just bypassed that whole area and I made a beeline for the Disney store I needed my fix! We had a little look in the shops taking turns so we didn't have to take our travelling bags with us and then headed through security, had a little look round duty free but there wasn't much we were interested in so we headed down to sit beside the gate, there was a slight delay in getting on the plane but I don't actually think we were late as we heard there was only 206 on board which is only just over half full! We were in premium economy which is a lot comfier and auntie is more settled up there, there was a couple sat in front of auntie and uncle who were querying about an upgrade for their other 2 party members who were sat in economy but sort of just behind me and mam, they said they would have to pay which we heard them say they would just move once we were in the air because they weren't prepared to pay and sure enough after the meal was brought round they moved, nobody said anything and they also gave them the better breakfast! I don't know if it was just us but this really annoyed us that we paid more specifically to be in premium economy and because they didn't want to pay they just moved anyway and nobody batted an eyelid!

The food wasn't great they ran out of the only meal I would even consider eating (which I found difficult to believe seen as there was only about 6 people served before us, they did offer me the economy meal or sandwiches but I don't like those either so I didn't have any and the breakfast wasn't great I was looking forward to my cooked breakfast but it wasn't we actually had a better breakfast in economy in April! Didn't sleep but I did watch finding dory which we saw at the cinema and just loved!

Once we landed we all stood up to get bags etc there wasn't many of us so there was plenty of room but the family who moved obviously felt like they didn't have enough room I can't remember exactly but they either shoved at my uncles back or they whacked him with one of their bags, no sorry or anything and uncle is unsteady on his feet, I squeezed in front of them so I could grab our cases and get down and wait for the rest of my family and I think one of the women quite frankly wanted to be on my back I was carrying 2 cases and she was so close to me pressing one case into my back that if I'd lost balance I would have fallen down the stairs, we headed off to baggage claim and it turned out that we were heading through at the same time as this family who clearly had no manners! We were going through one after the other and uncle kindly let us through first being the gentleman he is however one of the members of this other family who had this huge long bag decided to physically push my uncle out of the way with both his body and his bag, luckily there was a wall behind him as otherwise he would have completely fallen over and could have really hurt himself, I got really angry and wanted to say something, I did make a comment that some people don't have manners but I don't think he heard me, I like to hope he did! We waited for uncle to finally get through bless him and made our way to the cars to make our way home, it was a HORRID drive it was cold, wet and miserable! Combine that with tiredness and it was a loooooooong drive home!

And that concludes September 2016 trip! Currently on countdown for 2 trips in 2017!!!! Can't quite believe this is actually happening! The fab 4 are heading to the Flower and Garden Festival in April, Auntie and Uncles first experience of flower and garden and they are such green fingers they will just love it!

Then a girly trip with me and mother goose in September hopefully hitting EPCOT's 35th Birthday, Food and wine (obviously!) and cramming as much as possible into 11 days!!!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks I really loved it too that picture and the one with uncles ice cream are just some of my most favourite pictures it sums up why I return to Disney time and time again!

Thanks! few more months to wait but it will certainly be coming!

I know I was just about stuck to the sofa that day and was like "wow I'm so lazy at home!"

you absolutely do! its a tough task but someone has to do it and I'll happily be your drinking buddy! just need those menus now to start planning my attack!

thank you all for reading!

I wish!!! its took all my effort to get these holidays from work!!! we will all meet up someday I have faith! because I don't know about you guys but I'm not stopping going to my happy place anytime soon I'm in for life!

oh yay we should try and meet up if our plans go together!

I try it keeps me going when I'm not at disney!!! thank you!

I don't want to say anything for sure for the 24th because that's the day we arrive and we are either full of beans with energy or just basically needing to sleep! and the 25th we are heading offsite for the day as we aren't using our park tickets until the 26th to save a few penny's and managing on a 14 day ticket.

if we are up to doing anything on the 24th it will be Disney Springs you never know we might bump into eachother!