Monthly Archives: June 2009

Wednesday – Yachtsman Steakhouse

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We started off going over to Hollywood Studios.  Got a Fast Pass for Toy Story Mania and decided to get in line since it was only 30 minutes.  Beat Pam 172, ooo to 117,000. We looked for the Annual Passholder’s Star Wars Limited Edition pin, but found out it was only available during the weekends.  Went on the Great Movie Ride to cool off and then back on Toy Story Mania.  Didn’t do as well, even though I thought we both were hitting the high scoring targets more often.  We then came back to OKW and went to Olivia’s for lunch.  Nice sandwiches, big enough for us to each bring half home as leftovers.  Now a little worn out from the heat at Hollywood Studios, we closed our eyes for just a second and woke up after a 2 and a half hour nap.  Much needed I guess.

Showered and got dressed for Yachtsman.  While not Victoria and Albert’s, it is still a little more upclass than most restaurants, so I don’t like to wear shorts or t-shirts.  I was impressed that as we were waiting to be seated a family came in to eat and were instructed to remove their hats.  I know we’re in a resort area, but that doesn’t excuse bad manners.

Once again, a fantastic dinner at the Yachtsman. I asked Thomas, our server, about a Shiraz and he said he wasn’t impressed with what they had to offer by the glass.  I then asked about a Merlot and he said they had a very nice one – De Toren Z.  I was a very nice wine.  This time around I ordered the porterhouse.  24 oz of aged beef.  I SHOULD have gone with the NY Strip, but thought I’d give it a try.  Excellent as usual.  This is the only place where I’ll order my steaks medium-rare.  Most beef just is a little too tough, but here it melts in your mouth.  Pam had the Braised Short Ribs and said they were great, but she couldn’t finish them all.  Banana Napolean for both of us and then we came home and while I started getting these posts done, Pam read.  I bought her the books on which “True Blood” is based.  I think she’s on the second book already.  I’ve read “Digital Fortress” by Dan Brown (daVinci Code / Angels and Demons).  It was a great read.  I’m now reading “Getting Things Done” by David Allen.  I listened to it on my iPod (from Audible.com), but wanted to review it and figured the hardcopy would be better this time around.

Tuesday – Up, Up and Away ! ! ! (and wine)

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John post flight

John post flight

Tuesday morning we went to Downtown Disney for some shopping.  Pam saw the Characters in Flight balloon floating over the area and wanted to go see it.  When we got there, she wanted to go on it, so I sucked up the courage and we went on.  There is a great write up on AllEars.net about the whole experience so I’ll point you there for a description of the balloon and such.  Just let me say, “DO IT”!  I’m a wuss, and truly terrified of heights if I get even the smallest feeling that I could fall.  But I felt completely secure on this ‘ride’.  It was great to be up 400ft and see all around.  All the way up to Orlando, and all the areas of the resort.  The only complaint is it is a 10 minute ride, and you spend almost 4 or those minutes going up and down, which by the way is smooth as silk.

We then spent LOTS of money and came back to OKW for a dip in the pool.  After the pool, we came back in to shower and hang when I remembered that Tuesday nights were ‘Wine nights’ at Epcot with Owner’s Locker.  Pam and I went over early and went to Yakitori House for some Japanese counter service.  I had never been there before, but it was suggested to me by a co-worker.  Thanks Chris!  I really liked it.

John van Meter and HeyHeyJP

Me and John van Meter from Owner's Locker

At 7:15 we went over to France and sat way back in the shade to keep cool.  At 7:30 sharp, John van Meter from Owner’s Locker showed up.  We went over and introduced ourselves.  John bought me a glass of wine and we sat down to talk with him.  Within 15 minutes Beverly and her daughter Emily showed up.  Within the next hour we had about a dozen people there, all having a great time.  Matt Roseboom from Orlando Attractions magazine was there too.  I didn’t get everyone’s names, but there was Rouxchef from the Owner’s Locker boards with his family and there was Lisa.  3 other ladies showed up, one of whom had just received her Masters of Education.  GRATZ on that!

Another great view of Illuminations from next to the wine kiosk at France.

Monday – Dinner at Sanaa’s

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Monday was spent hanging at the pool mostly.  We then drove over to Kidani Village to have dinner at Sanaa’s.  Sort of weird to park in a parking garage, but guess it beats a hot car or getting wet in the rain.  Took the elevator up to first floor to go to lobby, and disappointed how much Kidani looks like a hotel.  Great art work, don’t get me wrong, but just door after door.

Since we were there about an hour early, we sat out on the balcony and watched the animals. Finally went down to the restaurant and we were seated almost immediately.  We started with an appetizer for two that was great.  Pea and potatoe samoas, pulled duck and roasted califlower.  The califlower was spicy, but not overly spicy.  I had Tandoori Lamb and Pam had the Tandoori Chicken.  Both had a great flavor and the 5 grain rice was nice and nutty.  No bland white rice.  I’m hoping that this restaurant doesn’t have its menu changed because the dishes aren’t appealing to the burger and chicken nugget crowd.  It would be a shame to miss out on these wonderful dishes.  Dessert was Coconut Rice Pudding for me and Cordamom-Butter Cake for Pam.  Both were unusual.  The cake had mango and cream, and we were instructed to have a piece of mango and a little cream with each bite.  Definitely made the difference.  I was expecting the rice pudding to be the consistency of tapioca with a coconut flavor, but it was a nice hearty pudding with firm rice to chew.  Very nice.

Carrie, our waitress had suggested that if I was going to have wine with dinner to choose one of the flights that had been designed to showcase some wines that went together well.  I choose the Johannesburg Flight which consisted of a Cabernet, a Shiraz and a Pinotage.  Again, a great recommendation.  Carrie came over at dessert time and told us she just got a printout of an email that was sent to Deb Wills of AllEars.net that had mentioned her (Carrie).  She said Deb was seated just over the wall from us.  I didn’t want to bother her at dinner, I would hate to be interrupted.

Drove home and spent a nice night just relaxing.

D23 Flowers and Fireworks Event

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So I joined D23.  $75 to declare that I’m a Disney Nut.  You can take a look at the perks yourself at the D23 site, but essentially, the ‘club’ is for the REAL Disney Nut.  The only thing going on for D23 members was an Expo at Disneyland, and I wasn’t going to make that, but you do get a nice magazine 4 times a year, and the promise that other events would be forthcoming.

Well, a couple of days after joining, D23 announced a bunch of events.  One of them was one that I could actually attend.  It was the ‘D23 Flowers and Fireworks Event’.  This last month was the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.  As part of that, there is a ‘Flower Power’ concert each weekend with a performer that was big in the 60’s or 70’s.  This last weekend was the LAST weekend and Sunday was the LAST concert.  Tony Orlando was the performer.

The ‘D23 Flowers and Fireworks Event’ provided VIP seating for the last concert of the day and then a private viewing of Illuminations with coffee and dessert.  The website had announced the event, but said ‘check back later for registration information’.  For the next 5 days or so I would check back, but nothing changed.  One day at work, I loaded the page and kept it up in the background.  I would occasionally check back and refresh the page to see if the information was up.  FINALLY the link for registering appeared and I signed up.  I’m glad that I perservered as I heard that it ‘sold out’ in one day.  Now, on the confirmation page, it clearly stated that I was to get a welcome packet at Guest Relations at the main entrance to Epcot.  But of course, I overlooked that and only saw that we should get to the American Gardens stage by 7:15pm for the show.

Pam and I drove over to the Boardwalk and parked so we could go in the back entrance to Epcot and get out quickly after the fireworks.  I know . . . you’re not supposed to do this.  I have no excuse.  So we popped into Epcot around 5:00 and grabbed some dinner at the American pavillion. Nothing great, just cheeseburger and chicken strips.

I asked one of the cast members where to sign in, but he had no idea and pointed to the brick building at the rear center of the stage and said he thought we were to meet there before being seated.  Pam and I sat in the shade of the outdoor tables at the American pavillion and I saw some other guests with the D23 event pass hanging around their necks.  I walked over and asked and they said that we had to pick them up at Guest Relations outside the park at the main entrance.  It was only 6:00 so we had plenty of time and took off to get our passes.  It only took us about 10 minutes or so to walk to the front of the park and we got in line at Guest Relations that was running only 2 of the 3 windows.  A gentleman at one of the windows must have been having trouble with something as we were STILL waiting 25 minutes later.  The other window was servicing guests as fast a possible but the line was moving slowly.  We were next in line for the other window when the 3rd window opened.  We went over and the cast member went to a table of boxes in the back room to get our packet.  We got it and made a mad dash back to the American Pavillion.

When we got back, there were a few other people standing back by the brick building, so we stood in a spot of shade.  Some other folks joined us and as luck would have it, when it came time to be led down to the VIP section, we were at the HEAD of the line.  We went in and were in the first row of the area behind the handicapped seating.  Not right up front, but still very close.  There were 6 rows of about 25 people each, so I’m guessing about 150 D23 people attending.

While waiting for the concert to start, I went through the packet.  In addition to the passes (that we were wearing of course) there were two park maps, two Flower and Garden Festival pamphlets, a letter welcoming us to the event and two Fast Passes for Soarin’ that are good for a ride any time within the next two weeks.

The concert was great, good to hear a bunch of songs from my teens.  In the middle of the concert, Tony pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and announced that there was a group in attendance that was the ‘bassman’ of Disney called . . . “D23”.  He had us all stand up and during the rest of the concert would occasionally mention us, asking us to join in, etc.  Very cool.

After the concert, we were asked to stay seated and then were ushered over to the viewing area just off the bridge by France.  Lots of desserts spread out, supposedly favorites of Walt’s.  I’m glad he liked ice cream floats!  Nice to meet other D23’ers and to watch Illuminations from such a great vantage point.  As we were leaving, we each received a bag of D23 pins, not the cloisonne type, very nice.

All in all a great start to the vacation.