This past weekend I went to Disney World with some friends of mine. Now, I hold an annual pass so I get in there for free, as do they. These friends of mine like to go there more to stay that the resorts and get away from things back home and at work, whereas I prefer to go to the parks in order to get away from everything.
We drove down on Friday evening, and about half way there I realized that I had left my wallet in my car back at their house, so I was completely without any funds, ID, or anything else. This… sucked. I had my pass with me, so I would be able to get into the parks, but if I wanted to do anything else I was completely reliant upon them for funding, etc.
I also kept feeling my ass because my wallet was missing, but that is a different matter.
So, as we were approaching Disney we were debating where to eat. Now, I don’t have any real preference on where we eat, as I can eat just about anything anywhere, so I let the others in the truck argue over where to go. There was some debate on going to Jiko which is in Animal Kingdom Lodge, and we even managed to get reservations there. Then they decided that it might be more fun to go to Citrico’s in the Grand Floridian instead. We have a waiter there who is a good friend, so we managed to get reservations there instead without any issue.
We got to Disney and checked into our hotel (Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa), then drove over to Citrico’s for dinner. Nice dinner, as always.
On Saturday, my friends were a bit… slow… in getting going. We went to breakfast at the Concourse Steakhouse in the Contemporary Resort. Decent little place to get breakfast, though I am not a big breakfast person. From there we went to Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM Studios) and went to see exactly one thing… Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. After that we left the park. Yeah… we went and saw one thing. As I said… they go to enjoy the resorts, I go to enjoy the parks. Ah well. We then went back to the hotel and rested until late afternoon, when we got all gussied up to go to Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand Floridian.
Now, Victoria & Albert’s (aka V&A’s) is not some restaurant where you can just check in at anytime. This is a restaurant where you have to be in coat and tie (if you remove your coat at the table, they ask you to put it back on) or a dress… basically you have to be dressed to the nines just to get in. This is a full-service restaurant where you are escorted to the bloody bathroom if you have to go (no, they don’t follow you inside, but the do escort you to the door.) The prices are fixed (>$100 a seat, guaranteed) but you get a full seven course meal that is very very good.
The maitre-de and waiters know their stuff as well, and if you want a specific wine they probably have it, or can recommend a number of substitutes for what you want.
Anyway, a really good meal was had, and I even found a new wine that I enjoy, which is bloody impressive seeing as I only like sweet wines that don’t have that bitter dryness to them.
Afterwards we got back to the hotel, and I was still feeling antsy because I just had not moved around enough that day, so I walked across the street and the whole way through Downtown Disney and back before going to bed.
The next day we went and had breakfast at Rainforest Cafe just outside of Animal Kingdom, then went in to see the Finding Nemo show and then go on Expedition Everest. From there we went home.
Again, I would have done a lot more in the parks during my stay, but my friends are just not ones to do so, which is unfortunate.