Hey guys. So before we get into Day 4, I thought I should give a quick intro.
OK, so this will be our first foray into a Disney park during a pandemic. And it’s really rattling us. And like, not JUST for normal pandemic reasons. Obviously, those reasons ARE there. And believe me, we are legit calculating the risks almost every day. Which is why these blogs are by no means a guarantee this trip is going to happen either how I am laying things out or, honestly, even at all.
But Disney comes with its own “COVID is the new reality” situation that requires us to do things so differently. No Dining Plan. No FastPasses. No nighttime spectaculars. Reduced park hours. No traditional character meet-and-greets. And a general slim-down of offerings, from restaurants to shows.
So yeah, hot take – things are different in 2020.
And while I do always caveat these posts with a disclaimer releasing me from any liability if plans change from blog-to-trip, there is such a HIGH chance of things not working out as expected, that I feel like I need to reiterate this.
Great. Now that we have that out of the way…
Kumite!!!
Wait, no….I mean, its time to go to EPCOT.
Van DAMN that was close.
Day 5 – Our first Park Day – EPCOT!!
So on Day 5, the plan is to wake up probably around 7ish and get ready for the day. If I can, I may get up earlier to go for a run but I really don’t know how running is being handled at Walt Disney World right now. When I have been running at home since the pandemic started, I have been using a gaiter since full-on running in a mask is tough. And while at the parks, I know gaiters aren’t allowed, I am still not 100% on what I could do early in the morning on a run. I don’t know.
Wait, what was I talking about?
Bah, that feels like a waste of a paragraph. But I already wrote it, you already read it. It’s happened.
Whatever. After we are all up and ready, it’s time for breakfast! So we will head out and jump in the ca…
Ha, nope. No car needed. Breakfast is a short walk from our hotel room at Trattoria Al Forno on the Boardwalk!
Now, we have been to Trattoria Al Forno for breakfast in the past, but things are a tad different this time around. While this has traditionally been a character meal featuring Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Ariel, and Prince Eric, COVID wasn’t having any of that. Sooooooo….it’s just breakfast.
Also though…JUST BREAKFAST?? That’s a pretty dumb thing to say.
Yeah I mean, breakfast is pretty awesome, dummy. And Trattoria Al Forno’s is no different. Unfortunately, they don’t have the Shipwreck Al Forno breakfast calzone thing they used to have. But they DO have steak and eggs. And a pretty mean-sounding avocado toast.
They also do a poached egg thing with Sunday Gravy (aka tomato sauce.) But look…I don’t know. I have gotten tomato sauce-egg things for breakfast. And while I love both of those things on their own, I don’t like LOVE tomato sauce in the morning. But it does have polenta. So I may be willing to give it another try.
So what I am saying is this breakfast? It’s a mystery.
After breakfast, we have a little bit of time before our park for the day opens up at 11AM. So we may stroll the boardwalk for a little bit. Maybe go back up to the room for a bit. Not sure.
But soon enough, it will be time to go see the hottest girl in school….
Yup, it’s EPCOT Day, y’all.
And being that we are on the Boardwalk? It’s a nice leisurely stroll over to the park and we get to enter through the best of the EPCOT entrances – The International Gateway.
Pretty sure first thing will be to head over to Future World and see what we can get on (again, no FastPasses). Test Track? Soarin? Spaceship Earth? Body Wars?
But our time in Future World will most likely be limited. On account of Pip! Pip! Cheerio!
Right. What I am saying is we have lunch today at Rose & Crown, which is a hecka-good choice for COVID dining on account of their outdoor patio right on the lagoon.
And blimey, in addition to the patio being bee’s knees, the nosh at Rose & Crown is bloody brilliant.
We love us some Rose & Crown. Is what I’m saying.
I think I have gotten the fish and chips, the curry, and the bangers and mash in the past. And all were delicious. Tonight, my mind is thinking curry. But there is a chance I may be thinking differently 40 days from now. Maybe.
But for sure…FOR SURE. I want to get a Scotch Egg. Man, I love their Scotch Egg.
And maybe, actually…Nickie and I could even end up splitting an entrée. Which would def mean no curry. And I know. It’s sort of blasphemous to split. But we have sort of a gluttonous day ahead of us.
Because in the World Showcase? It’s eat-and-drink-until-you’re-sick day!
Sorry – I mean it’s the 2020 Food and Wine Festival.
And for those who don’t know, the Food and Wine Festival consists of these kiosks that often each focus on a different country, region, or culturally-focused cuisine or just sort of a type of cuisine. It’s a bit paired down this year compared to most years but still…food. AND WINE!
So yeah – we plan on eating A LOT. Looking through those menus, here are some things that interest me (some of which I have already tried):
- Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread (Brazil)
- Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce (Canada)
- Black and White Coffee Cocktail Garnished with a Donut Hole (The Donut Box)
- Liquid Nitro Chocolate Cake Pops with Crushed M&M’s® Candies (Desserts and Champagne)
- The Corned Beef Corner Route: Smoked Corned Beef with Crispy Potatoes, Cheese Curds, Pickled Onions, and Beer Cheese Fondue (Flavors from Fire)
- The S’mores Whoopie Pie-lon: Smoked Chocolate Cake, Graham Cracker, Marshmallow, Chocolate Ganache, and Candied Bacon (also Flavors from Fire)
- Swine Brine: Jim Beam Bourbon mixed with lemon juice, apple cider, and dijon mustard. Topped with a piggy wing (ALSO Flavors from Fire)
- Lobster Macaroni and Cheese with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce and Lobster Cream topped with Herbed Panko (Mac and Cheese Booth)
- Canard Confit à l’Orange: Braised Duck Confit à l’Orange with Mashed Sweet Potatoes (France)
- Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet-and-Sour DOLE Pineapple Chutney and spicy Mayonnaise (Hawai’i)
- Freshly Baked Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Icing (Hops & Barley, American Adventure)
- Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce (Japan)
- Chirashi Sushi Flowerpot: Fresh-cut Salmon, Salmon Roe, and Spinach served over Sushi Rice with Furikake and topped with Poke Sauce (Japan)
Plus, I mean. Wine. But you never know. There may be something else that catches my fancy. And I mean, I am obviously not going to eat or drink ALL of that. But I’ll do my best.
And we will be walking around the World Showcase so it all gets worked off anyways. Right? Hrm?
Also super exciting times…we may be meeting up with our friends, the Hills at some point in the day.
Please stop.
Of course, when I say “The Hills,” I mean our Florida friends – Missy, Eric, and Olivia.
Better.
And dinner that night will be…
What? Why are you looking at me like that?
Pfft. Don’t give me that “you’re a disgusting garbage person” look. I know. I get it. By this time, I would have eaten enough to sustain a normal person for a week but hear me out.
I was actually gonna say that dinner that night is kind of up in the air. We don’t have anything booked and yeah there is a very real chance we will be too full to eat legit anything. But if we aren’t, the counter service options at EPCOT are pretty stellar. I think, if I do have the space, I would love to try the Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue.
Not only do they have beer and barbecue, but the “eagle” in Regal Eagle? It’s Sam Eagle from the Muppets.
He doesn’t walk around or anything like that, but there are little Muppet-y touches all over the place. And even a little Sam Eagle is worth-it Sam Eagle.
Also…bonus awesome for Regal Eagle? It sounds like Regal Beagle, the bar in Three’s Company. So who knows? Maybe we’ll see Larry. Or even Lana.
So barbecue, beer, Sam Eagle AND a potential Mr. Furley sighting? Sounds like some sort of dream I once had.
But honestly, who knows? We may even leave the park and walk back to our resort. The Boardwalk Inn shows “Movies Under the Stars” by the pool so maybe we will head down there. The night is our oyster.
Whatever that means.
And that’s about it…stay tuned for our pre-trip Day 6!
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