Hey everyone! I am back with yet another post in our series chronicling our May / June 2025 trip down to Walt Disney World.
Yup, I am still writing these. And apparently? You’re still reading them. So now who looks foolish?
Oh. Both of us? Well at least we’re together.
And I know. It’s been a while since the last post. But I have a good excuse. I was on vacation you guys. And yes, I plan on blogging about that vacation too. And that vacation? It was also 12 days. So I plan on getting through all this by, I don’t know, 2028?
Let’s get on with Day 9!
Our 2025 “Celebrating Everything” Walt Disney World Trip: Day 9
Though it was a relatively chill day, Day 9 began somewhat early-ish, around 8AM. And it was a lovely AF day outside today.
Well, it began at 8AM for some of us.
That picture right there? That’s what those of us in the biz call a ‘shame picture’. In that as I took it, I said, I am taking a picture of you now not getting up so that I can publicly shame you.
And by “biz”? I mean “being a terrible parent business”.
Owen did eventually wake from his slumber and we quickly got ready and met up with everyone, including these two. Who were obviously ready for breakfast.
And we all made the short walk over to the Great Ceremonial House to catch the monorail.
See? I told you he woke up.
..
Actually, kidding. He was still asleep. The girls were totally Weekend at Bernie’s-ing him to get him to breakfast.
The monorail arrived at around 9:15. And while this monorail has very often taken us to the parks, today we were simply heading to another resort.
And in less than five minutes, we were there.
At another resort.
I literally just said that. Keep up.
And that other resort? Disney’s Grand Floridian!
And like the lobby was looking kind of craptacular as they were doing a poop-ton of construction work.
Grand Floridian? More like Bland Floridian. Amirite? I mean, nah. Place was still pretty but I would be sort of bummed if I was staying there and couldn’t fully enjoy the lobby. I mean, they literally had like a folding table in the middle of the floor serving as the check-in desk. Super 8 vibes.
But nothing was gonna get us down today. On account of we were having breakfast today at 1900 Park Fare.
See? Lookit. Lookit these girls. Not getting down today.
Now, we have been to 1900 Park Fare before for sure. But it’s been a while. Like, literally, according to blog time, it looks like its been over 9 years since we visited last. It also looks, according to that post, that I used to spell it 1900 Park Fair, not Fare. I don’t believe Disney spelled it this way. I just march to the beat of my own drum. And that drum? It can’t spell for crap.
But yeah, last time we visited it was a completely different situation. It was still a character breakfast but it was a slew of different characters – Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter – and the food options were different then, too. This restaurant closed back in COVID times and didn’t open back up until 2024, four years later.
And like I said, it reopened with new characters, a new menu, and a whole new theme centered around wishing and people who wish and wishes that come true and wishers who wish.
But – it is NOT about the movie Wish.
Which like…feels like had to be the plan at some point. At least until people were all, “that song that guy sings in Wish sucks.” Then Wish got thrown right out on its Asha.
…
…
You see, Asha is a character in the movie Wish. But also her name begins with “As”. Which also happens to be the same two letters in the word “ass.” Which, like, is often part of a common phrase “thrown out on your ass.” So I merely replaced the word “ass” with “Asha” in order to connect the two thoughts in a humorous fashion.
Well I thought it was done in a humorous fashion.
Pfft. I write a whole blog for you all. And this is the thanks I get?
Ha, I did it again!
Whatevz. Let’s get on with breakfast. The interior of the restaurant def got a glow-up. I mean, look at all these paintings showing all these different Disney wishers.
Oh wait. There’s Asha. She may not be meeting as a character but at least they stuck a painting of her in the corner. They love that IP. No doubt.
To drink, I started myself off with a coffee and some POG (Passion Fruit, Orange, Guava) juice.
But I mean. Of course I also got an espresso martini.
But that wasn’t no ordinary espresso martini you guys. That there is the Maple-Vanilla Espresso Martini, made with Tito’s, Kahlua, Espresso, and Maple-Vanilla Simple Syrup. And while I usually prefer a lighter espresso martini, this thing was pretty damn good.
Jeesh. Damn? Ass?
This blog has really gone downhill.
1900 Park Fare is a buffet situation so like I obviously went with two plates to start.
Figuring out everything on my plate at a buffet two months later is probably the biggest challenge I have faced this year. But being the hero I am, I am gonna give it a shot. In that first plate on the left, we got some Watermelon, Eggs Benedict, Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits and Gravy, Beef and Potato Hash, and Cheese Potato Casserole. And in the plate on the right, some Potato Barrels and this little bit of exquisite called Croissant Breakfast Pizza.
Seriously, everything was delicious there but that Croissant Breakfast Pizza was all kinds of dreamy.
But while the food was amazeface and everything, that’s only part of the draw here. The characters are obvs squad a big part of what makes this experience. First up at our table was Mirabel.
Who like. I loved Mirabel. As a character experience, she was top-notch and it’s cool to see a character you don’t normally see. But I mean. I’m no Encanto expert but did she make a wish in that movie? Like, all the other characters you are gonna see here explicitly made wishes in their movie. Or at least, you know, sang about them.
She does ask for a miracle I guess? Which is kind of like a wish but not really?
Not complaining here. Loved seeing Mirabel for sure. But feels like they maybe shoehorned her in here. Almost like they had a slot to fill. Hm.
Next up was Aladdin. Aladdin was great. Probably the best. But I am only saying that because he talked to me a lot.
I like to feel special.
Also? Aladdin made wishes. Totez fits.
Next up was this guy.
Such a character.
Tiana showed up next in her adventure outfit.
And Tiana? She also made a wish. So I mean.
Oh so yeah. If you recall from Day 8, Tony had an issue with Tiana on account of we sort of forced him onto her Bayou Adventure after the fireworks. And like, he got wet.
Which really bothered him.
Remember? Remember this?
Well so yeah. We had Tony take a picture with Tiana. And before I snapped the picture, I shouted out, “Say getting extremely wet.”
And yeah. I immediately regretted saying such a thing.
But here’s the picture regardless.
I made it awkward but look how handsome Tony is. Worth it.
And last but not least? Cindy!
And while technically she did not make a wish, like out loud. Technically. She did dream. And then she sang a whole song about how a dream is a wish your heart makes. When your fast asleep.
So you know. She did kind of wish. By proxy.
But yeah, 1900 Park Fare kind of slapped you guys. It’s kind of sidled into a top-tier character breakfast spot I think. I mean, I think Topolino’s is still in the top spot but 1900 Park Fare was great stuff.
Oh shoot – I almost forgot. So, at breakfast they hand out these wish card things for us to write our own wishes down and then, like, they do this whole wishing ceremony. I’d like to walk through the girls’ wishes, if I might:
- Mia wished for more roller-coasters. On account of being a pre-teen. I think she was kind of trying to say Disney World was not thrilling enough. But…if I might. I’d like to remind you of her face on Tower of Terror.
- Scarlett wished to see Tiana and Mirabel and Aladdin and Cinderella. On account of she likes to play it safe.
- And Sophia wished they didn’t have to leave Walt Disney World. On account of the Pittmans were leaving today. Womp-a-domp. Sad face. Sucktown.
After we finished up with breakfast, we went for a little wander around the Grand Floridian. And when we stopped in at Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries and saw something I was must-having.
I mean, that thing had it all. It was candy. It matched my Magic Band. It was themed after A Goofy Movie. It’s a candy that started as a prop in the California version of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railay. AND it was a product that felt like a natural fit with the movie and character it was promoting. Like it felt like something that would actually exist in the Goof-world. As opposed to something, say, called “Powerline’s Taffy,” I could see Powerline actually releasing said candy.
Yeah. I think a lot about a lot of things.
But whatever. This candy had levels.
We hopped back on the monorail to head back to the Polynesian and on the way there, Sophia used her new magic wand she got at Cinderella’s Royal Table the night before to make Tony’s sunglasses move up and down.
But shhh, I think he was moving them himself. Tony was moving them.
Back at the Polynesian, Jeff and Shannon met us back at the room. As evidenced by this picture of Jeff.
In our room.
Only the facts here, man.
Most of our party made their way down to the pool at this point but me, being a modern man, took our laundry down to the laundry room to get some stuff washed so we could last the next couple of days.
The laundry room was located in the Moorea building next door.
And thankfully, they had a vending machine because I was STARVING.
Those fruit roll-ups weren’t that great though. Tasted like a spring breeze, but the texture was very odd.
They were dryer sheets, you see.
This is the humor portion of the post.
While the laundry was being switched and finished, I kind of kept walking back and forth from the pool and back because I was trying to both be a clean, non-dirty-clothes wearing person AND hang out with the Pittmans AND with Jeff and Shannon, since they were also heading out today. Again, sucktown.
I did finish up with everything though around like 2ish. So I met up with the gang down at Captain Cook’s for lunch.
I went for the Thai Coconut Meatballs (House-made All-Beef Chili-Garlic Meatballs cooked in a Coconut Cream served over White Rice).
Which were real good. And def had a little bit of spice to them.
For lunch-dessert, a few of us walked around the corner to the Pineapple Lanai for some sweet treats.
Specifically, I wanted to try the Experiment 626 Cone, which was part of all these limited offerings celebrating Stitch on account of the live-action movie having just come out. This here is blue vanilla soft serve with a cotton candy flavor and white chocolate Stitch ears.
It was. I mean, it was fine. It essentially just tasted like vanilla honestly. Which was a bummer since I really dig cotton candy ice cream. No trace of that shizz whatsoever. But whatever, it was cute, right? And it’s not like I abhor vanilla soft serve or anything.
After lunch, it was time to say our goodbyes to everyone leaving today. This meant saying goodbye to Steph, Mikey, Soph, Scarlett AND Jeff and Shannon. That’s like way too much heartbreak there. But it was awesome spending time with some of our favorite people in our favorite place.
Memories. Light the corners of my mind and what not.
Post-goodbye, we spent some more time over at the Oasis pool with the Falzones. Which meant I spent some more time with my Rose Gold Margarita, this time with a Tajin rim.
First stop was the hot tub for some reason. Did I mention it was literally the sun in Florida today. Like literally. Surface of the sun.
And Nickie obvs made things even hotter.
Intelligently, we did end up finding our way over to the pool. Which made a lot more sense.
We didn’t spend a ton of time in the pool, maybe like a half hour or so, on account of we had to get back to the room to get ready for our fancy pants dinner tonight. Look at Myles. Look how fancy pants.
We all weren’t looking too shabby neither.
We ordered up two Ubers, one for us and one for the Falzones, to pick us up over at the parking lot.
Our Uber? Legit KILLING IT with the music.
Our destination? Legit KILLING IT with the being pretty.
For those that don’t recognize it at first glance, that there is Disney’s Riviera Resort. Schwank, right?
Dinner tonight was up on the top floor at Topolino’s Terrace. Which, I don’t know, does it make a run at one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World?
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OK fine. Yes, you’re one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World, Topolino’s. Don’t wine about it.
We checked in at the front and then found ourselves back in our natural habitat. At the bar.
I ordered up a Modern Fashioned (Knob Creek Rye Whiskey, Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum, Vanilla Bean, Bitters).
A real good drink right there. The addition of rum and vanilla really creates something new and exciting. Like, I love me a standard old-fashioned and everything but I also really like I can come here and drink something like this once in a while to do a little something different.
Plus, this ice cube.
Ok so. I want you to pay attention to something here. According to my timestamp, we were seated at this very seat at 7:30PM.
7:30.
Make a note.
Dinner started with some housemade French bread and olive oil.
And I moved onto a Grey Goose Martini, Dirty.
And at this point, it was close to quarter past eight. Which meant sunset-time. And thankfully, we had a patio right outside the restaurant to take advantage of it.
So pretty, right? I mean, there is absolutely no way this sunset could get any more beautiful or impressive. No possible wa….Oh sorry. My mistake.
For starters, we went with the Short Rib Gnocchi…
…and the always-incredible fresh Ricotta.
I am pretty sure most around the table would say the Short Rib was the winner here, but I dunno. I mean, the short rib was rull good. Rull good. But that Ricotta. Oof. So creamy. So fresh. I would honestly eat that stuff every day if I could.
You oughta get this ricotta. Is what I am saying to you now.
Oh btw. Look at this artwork I saw on the way to the bathroom.
And that reminds me. I never really talked about the whole atmosphere / ambiance situation going on at Topolino’s. It’s both elegant and inviting in that it mixes a minimalistic design with little touches of Disney like those paintings on the way to the restroom there. Plus, I mean, that patio.
Speaking of which. At this point, it was around 9:00 which meant we were nearing the start time of the Luminous: the Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular at EPCOT. Which btw you could see from that outdoor patio. Our waiter informed us he would hold off on getting our entrees out while we went out to enjoy them.
So nice, right? Oh and hey – time check. It was now approaching 9:30. It’s been around two hours. And we were just approaching our entrees. So like, settle in you guys.
When we got back to the table, we ordered a bottle of Caymus for the table.
And our entrees followed soon after that. I (and Myles as well) went with the Sea Scallops (served with heirloom tri-color spring carrots, tarbais beans, potato garlic crisp, and anchovy XO sauce).
Very good dish there. I was not intensely hungry so I was very glad I went with this one given it was light and fresh and delicious and all the things.
A few people around the table ordered the Filet (with Truffle Pomme Purée, Broccolini, Sherry Champignon Ragoût, and a Red Wine Bordelaise).
Topolino’s makes a very good steak and it seemed everyone that ordered this dish loved it.
I also snapped a pic of Nickie’s Chicken Sugo Rigatoni (Red Wine and Brandy-braised Chicken Sugo, Broccolini, Pancetta, Exotic Mushrooms, Black Truffle).
And there is a reason why this dish is seen as a signature dish at Topolino’s. This is a great dish bursting with just so many different and contrasting flavors. We have ordered it before as a pasta course and I kind of was regretting not doing that tonight.
At this point, it was 10:15 (yup, nearly three hours) and both Nickie and Larissa were feeling drunk buzzed tipsy tired. So they decided to head back to the hotel before dessert. But the rest of us stuck around on account of we were on the dining plan and there was NO WAY we were leaving an included dessert on the table.
Plus, now we had their dessert credits to use on cappuccinos to accompany our treats.
We ordered a couple dishes of the Warm Chocolate Cake.
Served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, I bet you thought this thing had a chocolate center, didn’t you?
Well, dummy. It actually had a caramel center.
Myles also got the Tiramisu Crème Brulee.
Oh and in addition to the cappuccino I never took a picture of, I also had a Lagavulin on the rocks.
Of course it was good. Doy. It was Lagavulin.
We finished our desserts up and as we looked around, we realized we were the only ones left in the dining room. Legit no one else. It was a completely full restaurant when we got there.
It was time to go. Is what I am saying to you now.
We eventually got the check. And we made our way downstairs. And we took this picture below at 11:30PM.
Which means this dinner right here? It was officially a 4-hour dinner. 4 hours. Incredible. We really know how to dinner.
And that’s pretty much Day 9 you guys. We all ordered up an Uber, headed back to the Polynesian, and went to our respective beds to rest up for the next day. A park day.
So get excited y’all for Day 10. It will get written at some point I’m sure.
Last post – Day 8!
Next post – Day 10!
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