Hi again Lynn! Hi Dagny!
Ok, quick trip report, mainly booze related for this thread.
Thursday-Checked into Dolphin, room 6082, nice view of the fountain (which wasn't running, because the bottom of the fountain was the stage for the band that played for the 1st annuals S/D food and wine classic) and the lake and ToT in the distance.
Had a few vodka/clubs in the room and on the way to MK, where we did the MNSSHP. Got back to the room at 1:30 a.m.
Friday, met friends at Epcot and did all the fun stuff there. Not too crowded (although certainly not empty. Got a FastPass for Soarin at noon, said come back between 5:30 and 6:30...Yikes!) Had an Oktoberfest beer at Germany around 3pm, then a Kirin in Japan, then back to Biergarten for our dinner reservations and the beer flight. Park was SUPER busy after 5pm. I mean...if it had been that busy when we first got there, we would have left. Crazy busy!
Saturday visited our friends at Ft Wilderness...wow, I am in love with that place! Now I want a camper! Anyway, guys hung out at the pool, girls did a canoe ride. Left DD to spend the night there, and DH and I went back to our room at 4pm to get ready for the Food and Wine Classic, held on the "causeway"between the S/D.
I won't do that event again, although maybe next year they will have the kinks worked out. A wristband for unlimited tastings was $50 (and boy would I have been mad had I paid that!) but we basically got them for $10 each. I had the teacher's rate at the Dolphin, $149...but on that night we paid $169.
Anyhoo, we started at about 6 pm. The line for the 3oz Shula Filet was literally 60 people deep. The sushi was chilled, I hate cold sushi, reminds me of supermarket sushi. Ketel One had a booth and I was so excited, but they did some novelty cr@p where ther made a "chocolate martini" into little frozen balls, like dippin dots ice cream (if you know what that is.) I waited in line for 15 minutes and ended up throwing it away.
Best booth was the Sqaure One Vodka, where two bartenders were having a showdown. The girl bartender's drink was the best...I love drinks w/savory herbs. Hers had rosemary and some other herb...and something sweet (sorry, I can't remember) and while it was good, it was a sample size.
Finally, DH and I looked at each other and said, "Lets go to a lounge! I just wanna relax and drink and eat!"
So, about 6:45, we went to Il Mulino. I had a great cocktail...something that usually comes w/gin, but I subbed vodka. It had thyme in it (again with the savory herbs in cocktails...I love it!) and some strawberry something. DH had a mojito. 2 drinks...$28!
I have the TiW cared...but still...dayum!
Went to BZ, had apps and a hibiscus mojito.
Sunday was an early lunch at Portobello at DTD and spicy bloody marys!
Anyway, sorry to be so chatty...just wanted to relive the experience a bit! Maybe the F&W Classic at the S/D will be better next year.
Have a magical day, everyone!
