July 2011 Trip Report Part 4 of 4..."Do I seriously have to go home already?"

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

So, I've FINALLY made it to the final part of my trip report! Below, the first 3 parts to easily refer back:

Part 1: July 2011 Trip Report Part 1 of 4...Days 1-3: Arrival and Immersion into the parks
Part 2: 4 Parks, 1 Day Adventure...July 2011 Trip Report Part 2 of 4 (Day 4: 7/23/11)
Part 3: July 2011 Trip Report Part 3 of 4...Days 5-7 (7/24-7/26)
Photobucket: http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/...3Dd3745946.jpg

Needless to say, your time in central Florida always goes by extremely quickly. In the final part of my trip report (long overdue, I'm aware ) I'll cover the final 2 days of my trip, 7/27 and 7/28. When I woke up on the morning of the 27th, the depression state began to set in because I knew I was down to my last 2 days as I was flying back home at night on the 28th. However...that meant it was time to make the most of my last 2 days.

First off in the morning we headed out to Downtown Disney, what would be my final time at DTD of the trip. Yep...was a big-spender on this day. First we actually ate lunch back at the house, then headed over to DTD so I could get a lot of...yea, let's just say I went souvenir-happy. So, here's a few pictures of Downtown Disney Marketplace (we never trekked back over to West Side on this day).











BRICKLEY!!!



Inside the revamped Lego Store (oooh...LEGOS!!!)



And now, an actually somewhat decent picture of myself!



We were at DTD for no more than about 2 hours. We left around 3pm or so to head back to the house to relax for a bit. Next up on the agenda...dinner at Teppan Edo in Epcot and IllumiNations!

More to come in just a few moments!

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

We got to Epcot about an hour before our reservation, so walking in late afternoon just seemed very cool and relaxing. My aunt wasn't feeling well so she ducked out...just dropped the 2 of us off. So, just my cousin and I going to a nice sit down dinner at Teppan Edo. Even though it was just the 2 of us every day in the parks, did this situation seem a bit awkward? Yea, a bit. But...AMAZING meal at Teppan Edo! Detaisl coming below. Some Epcot pictures first:







My final 7th and final time at Club Cool during the trip:





Passing by Off Kilter:



And now, it was to the Japan pavilion and Teppan Edo:









Table View in Teppan Edo before our chef showed up. We sat with a family of 6 (well, 5 and a grandmother) from Maine who were very nice. Very easy to talk to, and didn't seem all that awkward at all (thankfully).



Now the good stuff. Our chef thought it would be fun to take each shrimp and pretend it was Nemo...and then proceed to cut it up and cook it.





My dinner: Sirloin Steak. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING



One last look in Teppan Edo:



Once we got out of Teppan Edo, we began to walk around World Showcase. We stopped in America because 2U, the U2 cover band was playing at the American Gardens Theater, so I wanted to check them out. My cousin wasn't all that interested, but he was ok with staying for a bit. I specifically said, "If the next song they play is Where the Streets Have No Name, my favorite U2 song, we're staying. Otherwise we'll move." Sure enough...they play Where the Streets Have No Name Next. Of all the U2 songs...wow. So, I began to start singing along rather loudly.





After that song, we proceeded to continue around World Showcase.





My cousin's favorite WS pavilion is Norway. Thus, we stopped to go on the Maelstrom, since it only had a "10" minute wait. It actually ended up being 20, but it wasn't all that terrible.





Some more pictures around World Showcase:





Ok, so this isn't exactly World Showcase...but a good shot in the sunset



Meh...back to the bad pictures of myself.



Next post coming...right now! IllumiNations, and an impromptu surprise up next.

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

To wrap up this day, the intent of going to dinner at Teppan Edo was to see IllumiNations after. I hadn't seen it when I was down last summer (2010), and wanted to see it since it's my favorite night-time fireworks show. Unfortunately, around 8pm, an hour before it was supposed to start, it began to rain. By about 8:15, we began searching for a spot in the rain, but all the good spots that I knew of were all taken already (rightfully so). So we ended up in France, behind the caricature artist across from Les Chefs de France, a little off to the right from the bridge to the International Gateway and the UK Pavilion. Though the IllumiNations globe was blocked by some trees on the islands in the World Showcase Lagoon, we were still able to see it, albeit obstructed. But other than that, the spot was as perfect as any other spot for seeing the fireworks overhead. Remember how I mentioned rain? Well, we were quite nervous it was going to get canceled, and I did not want that type of disappointment on my last full night down. Fortunately, they played IllumiNations through the drizzle that was still commencing at 9pm. Even though some fireworks began to smoke due to the rain...it was still oh so worth it. Here's the pictures I got, but probably my worst pictures all trip:





















Remember in the previous post I mentioned an "impromptu surprise?" Well, my aunt wanted to know where to pick us up. Being logical, I figured that the parking lot would be quite crowded and traffic getting out. So, being the maniacal schemer I am, I said "Pick us up at the Beach Club." In those 7 words, my cousin and I both knew what was about to happen. We were going back to Beaches and Cream.



And enjoyed Beaches and Cream we did, so I could get one of their AMAZING vanilla milkshakes again. Smart, aren't I? My aunt picked us up after that, a bit short of 10pm. It was back to the house to shower, sleep...and prepare for my final day in Disney World. The next night, 7/28, I had a 6:20pm flight back home to New Jersey. And I said all along...there's only one thing I want to do at the end of my last day. And that's walk out on Main Street, USA watching Cinderella Castle fade into the distance. So, the next morning, it was off to the Magic Kingdom one last time.

Stay tuned, in the next few days I will post the report on my final day in Disney World. Thanks for following along, and for all the pleasant feed back I've been getting all along!

[eeyore79]

love it!!!

i so missed doing anything of world showcase on my visit except lunch in norway and the mexico ride with my mom, kay, and amy f. p. who i finally met! soo mad that we didnt go back and do more....guess its on my list for next years trip. so much to do at disney, never enough time.

cant wait for your next post. imma work on mine tomorrow.

[HauntedGabe]

You were so lucky it didn't rain!

There is a picture toward the top, a man on a bridge overlooking the water with gold fish. I had to take a double-take, like as if he was fishing.

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

Glad you had a good trip... hard saying goodbye to each park at the end of a trip.

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

Thanks everyone for the compliments thus far! Now, I have FINALLY (yea, I know) made it to recapping the last day of my trip. That last day of a WDW trip is always tough to get through, but rather sulk that I'm leaving, I just try to enjoy it. I siad all along that the last place I want to be is in the Magic Kingdom. And, this was actually the first time that I went to MK on my last day; and that proved my theory that I should go there on the last day over on the first day (or, you could just do both...I'll have to try that in the future). Anyway, we got to MK right at 9am, via getting dropped off at the Polynesian again (sorry, I am NOT waiting in that line at the TTC...I only had a few hours as my flight back home was 6:20pm that evening). And into the park we go for my last day.







We first fastpassed Space Mountain (again), but the ride wasn't open. And, the fastpass times had already crept up to 1pm. So I already knew what my last WDW attraction on this trip was going to be. Then, it was off to Splash Mountain, my favorite attraction, one last time, followed by BTMR one last time.





After the 2 mountains, my cousin and I just strolled the park for a bit. I really wanted to savor the sights one last time, taking in all the detail and nostalgia of the park.





And while going through the park, we decided to stop in to see Mickey's Phillarmagic, which I had missed on my last trip and without this stop would've missed here, too; so thank God we did!





Then, we had made it back to Tomorrowland, around noon at this point. So, we decided to hit up the TTA Peoplemover one more time.



Some more sights:





At least in July, there were still some remnants of the closed Toontown Fair at the walkway next to the Arcade at Space Mountain. Of course, it was roped off.





And then, it was time for the final attraction of my trip: Space Mountain.



Sadness. Now around 1:30, my cousin and I decided to go to Columbia Harbor House for lunch, a place I hadn't been to in years. We went upstairs to eat, where it is notorious for being not that crowded; and not-crowded and peaceful it was. Also, definitely one of the best QS meals I ever had.





And now, around 2pm, it was time for some final pictures of Magic Kingdom before I left.







Before I get to the final picture of my trip, this is what my suitcase and backpack looked like after all the souvenirs and all packed up ready to go to the airport ...I actually didn't go as overboard as I had expected.



And...that brings us to the final picture of my trip report. Once I snapped this picture, I wasn't sad. I knew I was leaving, about to get on the monorail to go to the TTC to pack, head to the airport and head home. But, I was glad that I even had the opportunity to get back down this past summer, a reality I thought wasn't even going to happen 3 weeks before I went. Not knowing when the next time I go is, I just took in those last steps in the park...and, yes, I did walk out walking backwards.



Thank you, everyone, for following along, and for your patience in me getting through my trip report. As it should, school really took me over this semester, but thankfully I had opportunities to finish here. I'm going to do a final synopsis/what I learned post, probably tomorrow or in the near future. I hope you guys enjoyed reading, and thanks for following along!

[eeyore79]

GREAT report!!

(dont feel bad, i am way behind on mine)

I love that when you left you walked out backwards....cause I did like the same thing!!!!!!!

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

GREAT report!!

(dont feel bad, i am way behind on mine)

I love that when you left you walked out backwards....cause I did like the same thing!!!!!!!

Thanks! You just try to cherish those last seconds you have there, and appreciate the chance that you were there.

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

I'll be brief, here...

What did I learn/reinforce from this trip?
-GET TO THE PARKS AT ROPE DROP. Of course I always have known this, but in the midst of summer at the highest crowded times of the year, still were the parks not too crowded before 10:30am.
-I still have never seen Fantasmic!...I should probably get on that
-Trying new restaurants is fun!
-Going to the resorts to walk around, shop, etc. is still fun even when you're not staying at the particular one you're at at a given time
-Magic Kingdom as last stop is the way to go
-Fastpass Space and then head right to Splash/BTMR...THEN take the time to simmer down, and just enjoy the details and sights of the park (same idea applies to other parks...at least, that's just me).
-I would not survive without Club Cool and Beaches and Cream
-I should probably see Wishes on my next trip...at least I did get to see IllumiNations
-Downtown Disney is best to go to right when it opens
-Lastly, but certainly not least, enjoy the moments you have there...it really is something special until the next time you can go.

Thank you everyone so much for following along!

[HauntedGabe]

Great Report!

Well if Columbia House was the best QS, what did you eat? Picture?
You know I love a good food picture don't ya?

I really, really want one of those signs. Mickey's B-Day.....Toon holds great memories for me with my kids.

[N.J.boy@N.C.St.]

Great Report!

Well if Columbia House was the best QS, what did you eat? Picture?
You know I love a good food picture don't ya?

I really, really want one of those signs. Mickey's B-Day.....Toon holds great memories for me with my kids.

Thank you! And, sawwy, no picture from Columbia Harbor House. If memory serves me right, I got the "chicken breast nuggets" which came with fries and cole slaw. It was actually very good, not very good for QS, a very good meal period.

It would've been nice to get some type of memorabilia from Toontown, though.

[weepstah]

Looks like you had a great time. I had to check that 'fishing' picture HauntedGabe mentioned. Are you sure that wasn't carp they were serving at Teppan Edo?

[mickeyforlife]

really have enjoyed your TR. makes me even more anxious for my upcoming trip end of nov.

[Chrissy&Tayen]

love it thanks for all the pics