Our Dream Disney Vacation - Day Three

Morning was upon us and we were so ready to get out the door and to Epcot! I was particularly excited for this day because I frickin' love the International Food & Wine Festival. My mom and I experienced it last year and I knew I had to go back in October just for this event.

The walk to the TTC wasn't too bad even though we were in the furthest building away. Mind you... this was at like 7:45 a.m. I had energy then. I'd come to later realize that walk seems like 10 miles when it's midnight or later.

We walked off of the monorail and right up to the turnstile. Waited for like 45 minutes and then hauled tail to the rope drop. We were, of course, in the front row of the first Soarin' ride of the day. That's because I know how to manipulate a crowd and get ahead. ;)

Keeping with the smart people plan we went to Test Track but the crazy crowds already beat us to it and we had no patience to wait in the long line so we grabbed FastPasses and walked all the way back to visit Michael Jackson. Yes, friends. We saw Captain EO. But not until we took fun photos to commemorate the blessed event. MJ made me groove in my seat and definitely took me back to the great era that was the 80's. I admit that I had some issues at times with my 3-D glasses though. For some reason I just couldn't focus on the effects properly.

After Test Track blew the pants off of us we headed into World Showcase because it had opened up. We spent a lot of time in the first country we came to... Mexico. My mother-in-law bought some goodies and then we high fived The Three Caballeros in small boats. This is where we began to realize that for some dumb reason, every cast member saw us as one giant person and never ever seperated us into two rows. I'd like to just state for the record we are miniature people. My husband's arms take up more space than my whole body. And my hips take up more space than Jupiter.

Before we checked into our lunch reservation at Biergarten in Germany I had had had to visit the new bakery/confectionary/shop/mecca of all things caramel. Karamell-Kuche is the newest hot spot in World Showcase and it's easy to see why. Every glorious sweet that you could imagine that would taste good with caramel has been made. You can watch them make things like caramel popcorn and caramel and chocolate dipped strawberries. Then you can buy a freakishly huge apple on a stick covered in almost anything.

Finally the ADR I had been waiting so long for had come up. We were seated quickly inside of Biergarten and our orders were taken. Matt, Diane, and I got a beer while my mom got her typical Coke. Honestly, I can't remember what beer we ordered but I know it was the same as I ordered last year. The family we were seated with wasn't as stuck up as last year so I was REALLY pleased about that. They actually spent some time living in Germany so it was cool to listen to them talk about what foods tasted really authentic to them. While I was waiting in the buffet line I saw something really cool behind the host/hostess counter.

We were all thoroughly entertained from the German band and sufficiently stuffed from the crazy amount of food. I'd like to mention that I didn't see the red cabbage my first trip up to the buffet and when I saw my husband come back with some on his plate I freaked out, hopped up, and got me a plate full of it. I could live off of red cabbage folks.

It was time to work off the food by walking the World Showcase some more. It was pretty freaking hot this day so we found little ways to take breaks here and there. I took quite a few pictures in the countries.

We decided go to Universe Of Energy because it would be an extended period in air conditioning. In fact, we were so hot that we left Epcot and went back to the Polynesian Resort to swim for a bit.

The beach was packed and the volcano pool was packed. We realized how wonderfully empty the quiet pool was and relaxed our tushes there for a while.

After freshening up back in the room we walked back to the TTC and got on the monorail to spend the evening at Epcot. By this time everyone was ready to dive into the Food & Wine Festival. We started in Canada and worked our way around. Matt started it off by getting Cheese Fondue with Croutons and Roasted Potatoes from Charcuterie and Cheese. We were pretty unimpressed. Blandness ensued in our mouths.

I visited Ireland and grabbed a favorite from last year's festival... Fisherman's Pie! The hubby got the Kerrygold Cheese Selection and my mother-in-law enjoyed the delicious, albeit small, Warm Chocolate Lava Cake. I distinctly remember thinking one of the pieces of cheese tasted like vomit. The rest was good though. I know Matt didn't like the chutney served with the cheese.

 

I then chose to go "down under" to Australia and get the Seared Barramundi with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes Arugula, and Lemon Oil. It was DELICIOUS!!!

 

Diane and Matt hopped over to Morocco and got Falafel Pita Pockets. Not quite as good as the ones at Tangerine Cafe but still decent. We also got the Seared Albacore Tuna from Spain which was yumtastic.

Diane decided she needed something sweet at the Hops and Barley booth so she ordered the Pecan Bread Pudding. I know she was really impressed with it.

My mom finally decided on what she wanted to get believe it or not. Her stop was in Italy to get Baked Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Bolognese Sauce Melted Mozzarella. She was in love.  Matt and I ran over to Japan to try a Spicy Tuna Roll.  I tried sushi once before and it was... nasty.  Very very nasty.  I can now very proudly say that I LIKE SUSHI!  Apparently I just can't eat it if it's a Calfornia Roll.  Yay!  Even Matt likes sushi now.  In fact, we both liked it so much we forgot to get a picture.

 

Our last stop was in Poland for mom.  She got Golabki (Pork stuffed cabbage).  Mom regretted this decision.  It was edible but not anything memorable. 

 

Our bellies were clearly so full that we were about to burst.  We wanted nothing more than to go "home" and lay around like bumps on logs.  On our way out we made the obligatory stop on Spaceship Earth.  So I leave you with this picture...