Epcot 2015

Posted on December 20, 2015December 20, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Please understand that my plan for Disney was to spend one day at the Magic Kingdom to photograph decorations and hopefully get some shots I can use for Christmas cards.

Hidden Mickey

That was it. The rest of the time I planned to check out other venues like botanical gardens that I hadn’t been to before. I am not now and never have been a Mickey fanatic.

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Those plans got side tracked very quickly when I told my friend Joe that I was coming to Orlando in December. I booked the dates in March and that led to a continuous series of emails and phone calls with everything Joe wanted to do while I was in town. It pretty much revolved around the Disney parks.

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After much suggesting, pleading, assuming and just charging forward, Joe finally convinced me to book the Candlelight Processional with dinner. The two possible narrators while I was in Orlando were Neil Patrick Harris or Whoopie Goldberg . I enjoy both so it came down to when we could get a reservation. Dinner/show spots were all sold out so we settled on lunch/5 pm show. I booked Thursday because, I confess, I was doing this more to appease Joe than because I wanted to go so I wanted to get it over with. Thursday was the last night Neil Patrick Harris was the narrator. By having a 1:15 lunch reservation at Les Chefs de France it pretty much guaranteed we’d be spending the day at Epcot.

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Joe met me for breakfast at Kenzie’s and then we headed for the park. Epcot was beautiful as are all of the parks at Christmas. We enjoyed a few rides/shows before scrambling to make our reservation for lunch.

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We had a small two top (that’s restaurant speak for a table for 2) right next to the window so we could watch Father Christmas and other characters pass by. Lunch was acceptable. I’m just a plain and simple person when it comes to food so french cuisine is just “over the top”. Sometimes a grilled cheese should just be a grilled cheese.

I chose Les Chef de France because I wanted escargot but I’d just had that in New Orleans and it’s not an item I can eat every day. My favorite part was the dessert, puff pastry with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

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Joe had the mousse.

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Then with several hours to kill we went Soaring. This is a really popular ride and usually has long lines so I had never been on it before. All I can say is that it’s terrific. I hated to have it end. I guess it’s as close to flying as you’ll get unless you are one of those glider suit people.

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Kris Kringle was entertaining all comers with a series of Holiday Stories. He was funny even if he looked a bit intimidating.

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We followed up with a visit with Tigger and Poo Bear and then it was time to get in our seats for the main event.

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Love Poo Bear

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And Tigger!

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Mystic Dunes

Posted on December 16, 2015December 16, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Mystic Dunes turned out to be on the south side of Disney so several exits beyond my old friends at Cypress Point. Entering the grounds you have to go through a check point. As many places as I’ve stayed as a Diamond Resort Owner, I’ve never been in a gated community before. I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a good addition or a nuisance but the guard was very warm and friendly and gave me directions to the Welcome Center.

Easily one of the largest properties I’ve visited, Mystic Dunes is located on a “hill” I use the term loosely as I don’t think Florida has hills. Ok so it’s located on one of the highest elevations in the area and is over 600 acres. The grounds include a golf course, tropical landscaping, a nature preserve , 4 swimming pools, a clubhouse and restaurant.

View from my window

Diamond Resorts pride themselves on their friendly manner and over the years as the brand has developed I’ve watched this welcoming attitude grow but it was never more apparent than at Mystic Dunes.

When I walked into the Welcome Center I felt like Norm from Cheers where everybody knows your name. Well, they might not have known my name but they all said “Welcome Home” with wide smiles. The atmosphere was very warm and friendly! Check in was at 4 pm and I was early, yet they did not bat an eye. They issued my room key and handed over parking permits for me and for a guest.

My unit was a small single with the usual kitchen, washer & dryer, living room and bedroom. My voice echo’d because the only furnishings in the living room was the TV , a sofa bed and the coffee table.

When I mentioned my observation I was told it was because Diamond had only recently taken over the property and they were upgrading to bring all the units in line with their standards.

I was in a standard single, not the deluxe so they had not gotten to my unit level yet. Even so it was a perfectly nice unit and certainly suitable for my needs.

I got myself settled in and went about exploring the grounds.

Off I Go Again!

Posted on December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Mystic Dunes. Sounds kind of like a Fantasy novel doesn’t it? I’m about to find out if it lives up to its name.

There are many perks to owning a time share but one that always comes as a surprise to me are the free trips. Well, not entirely free. They require you to listen to a sales pitch for 90 minutes. At my last “update” I decided it was time to upgrade my membership. Changes were coming and it was likely that I would not see these deals again and I do love my time share. As a thank you for upgrading they gave me a “Dream Vacation” to Las Vegas (including round trip air fare for 2)and a trial trip of 3 days and 2 nights at Mystic Dunes in Celebration, FL. I also had a ton of points (think time share currency) that I would lose if not used by December 31 so I found myself back in the air heading to Orlando a mere month after my vacation to New Orleans.

Mystic Dunes

To fly down, come back home, and fly back again didn’t make any sense so I negotiated an extra night at Mystic Dunes and rented 2 more nights (for about the same cost as that extra airfare would have been), making my planned stay Dec 1-December 6. Then I planned to hop a commuter flight from Orlando to Miami for another week in South Beach Dec 6 – Dec.13. I should be good and relaxed when I get back to work.

I flew Southwest from Providence to Orlando where I made a spur of the moment decision to upgrade my Enterprise rental car from economy to what ever they had on the lot with a GPS. What they had was a Lincoln Navigator. Talk about a top of the line upgrade. I wasn’t sure if I was going to faint from shock or laughter. This huge behemoth of an SUV just for me! It had automatic running boards that popped out when you opened the door and a good thing too or I would have needed a step ladder just to get into it.

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The salesman helped me load my luggage in back and set the GPS for Mystic Dunes before sending me on my way.

Now remember, no trip is without its pitfalls. If you keep that in mind you will be able to handle the little trials that come out of no where.

I had just left the airport and was trying to pull onto RT 528 when I realized I couldn’t adjust the side mirror. It was folded in on itself. Trying to navigate Florida traffic without a passenger side mirror is suicide but pulling onto the shoulder to make the adjustment was even worse so I drove very cautiously waiting for an exit.

Before I could find one an alarm went off on my dash board. The rear hatch wasn’t closed. Apparently the salesman hadn’t pulled it shut when he loaded my luggage. I had visions of my bags falling out and bursting open all along the highway.

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By now I was on RT 4 and exits were starting to show up. I pulled off at an exit for a Comfort Inn. Using their parking lot I first closed the rear hatch, breathing a sigh of relief that both bags were still there, then released the side mirror and adjusted it.

Getting back on the highway was a little tricky but once there I settled in for a GPS directed drive to Mystic Dunes. But such was not to be. I’d barely gone 2 exits when another alarm went off on the dash. This one said low tire pressure. Give me a break! The car didn’t have 5000 miles on it. The next exit was my old faithful. The exit to the resort I usually stay at, Cypress Point so I pulled off knowing there was a gas station.

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Before I did anything I looked the tires over. They looked fine to me. Big tires! Then I tried calling Enterprise roadside assistance who told me to fine a tire store and have them fix it. The “helpful” woman gave me an address for a Tire store but someone did not have up to date info. There wasn’t one there. After driving around for 2 hours (on the allegedly flat tire) I found a Walmart where they helped me out in the tire center. The right front tire was “soft”. They topped off the air and sent me on my way once more.

As it was now approaching 2 pm and I had yet to even have breakfast I decided Mystic Dunes could wait a little while so I could enjoy some lunch. There was a Golden Corral right down the street so that was were I headed.

The Court of Two Sisters

Posted on December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 by Dusty Roads

It’s the last night of our Amtrak vacation adventure, our last night in New Orleans and the last night we get to use a voucher for dinner.

It’s still raining buckets with gusty winds. Our reservation is at the Court of Two Sisters only a couple of blocks from the hotel but in this weather, it’s a cab ride. No walking for us.

Our doorman called a taxi for us and we made a mad scramble to get in without getting too wet. However we learned a new reality about New Orleans, they close off streets. Yup, some of the streets in the French Quarter are closed nightly from about 4 pm to 7 pm. Our reservation was 6:30 so we had to be dropped off at the end of the street and make a run for it to the restaurant about a block down.

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Its called the Court of Two Sisters because the tradition is a brunch in the courtyard. This has been expanded to include a dinner menu and luckily for us, they have indoor seating too. I would not have wanted to try to eat in the courtyard in the pouring rain!

As you enter the restaurant you pass through a set of ornate gates.

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These charm gates at the 613 Royal entrance were wrought in Spain especially for The Court of Two Sisters. Legend says that Queen Isabella of Spain had them blessed so that their charm would pass on to anyone who touched them. Yes, we made a point to touch them.

Once inside we were shown to a lovely table in a beautiful room. The atmosphere is elegant to the point that you can almost taste it. Our waiter, Stephen, was wonderful.

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He came over with a flashlight so we could read the menu in the dimly lit room and introduced himself as the “inspector”. His fine sense of humor kept the evening light.

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Our Table D’Hote Dinner Menu was for use with the voucher.

HORS D’OEUVRES

Turtle Soup Au Sherry

Creole Seafood Gumbo

Shrimp En Brochette: Bacon-wrapped Shrimp served over a crispy toast point. Finished with citrus Beurre Blanc. (add $6.00)

Barbecue Shrimp: This dish was created in New Orleans and is not barbecued at all. The shrimp are braised in a peppery butter sauce. Very unique and very tasty. (add $6.00)

Salades

Court of Two Sisters Dinner Salad: Seasonal greens and red onions in a Creole French dressing, garnished with tasso, pecans and chopped boiled eggs.

Caesar Salad: A classic prepared tableside (add $4.00)

Entrees

Chicken Oscar – Boneless skinless chicken breast served atop new potato mash and steamed asparagus. Topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and tasso hollandaise.

Corn Fried Louisiana Catfish – Served with jumbo lump crabmeat Napa slaw and green onion & cayenne tartar sauce.

Shrimp and Grits – Louisiana shrimp and Andouille sausage poached in a Creole Meunière reduction. Served over southern grits.

Trout Meunière or Amondine: Pan fried filet of trout served with rosemary roasted new potatoes and steamed asparagus. Finished with your choice of Meunière or Amandine style.

Char-Broiled Tenderloin of Beef – The whole tenderloin is lightly charred and cooked to perfection and sliced. Served with marchand de vin and béarnaise sauces and accompanied with new potato mash and haricots verts.

Veal Oscar – Baby white veal cutlets served atop new potato mash and served with sautéed jumbo lump crabmeat, tasso hollandaise and steamed asparagus.

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We could order from the main menu but we would have to pay for that ourselves. I did so ordering the Escargot Au Champignons: Mushroom stuffed Escargots sautéed in garlic butter with herbs.

Sandy bravely tried the Turtle soup for her appetizer.

The meal came with 1 glass of wine so we felt we could each have a 2nd glass as it would be like 2 for one then.

I don’t recall what Sandy had for her main course. I bet she will let us know in the comment section.

I had Trout Meunière : Pan fried filet of trout served with rosemary roasted new potatoes and steamed asparagus. Magnifique!

I also ordered an “extra” for desert. I wanted something flambe at table side so I ordered

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Strawberries a La Ray: Fresh strawberries laced with sugar and strawberry liqueur, flamed tableside with brandy and served over French Vanilla ice cream (add $4.00)

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Strawberries have never tasted so good.

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Everything was excellent. This meal was a real high point in the trip, easily the most elaborate that I’ve had in a long, long time.

Hurricane Patricia

Posted on December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Well all that threatening weather finally came to a head. It took the remnants of Hurricane Patricia to push it over the edge. As hurricanes go there wasn’t much left after getting ripped up on the mountains in Mexico but it was enough. It was like a nor’easter in New England but not a Hurricane. There was a lot of rain and some pretty good wind gusts.

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There were reports of a tornado out by the airport but we weren’t anywhere near that and there ween’t any reports of damage.

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We were on the way to take a boat tour of the bayou when we got the call. They were canceling all tours because of the wind gusts. I was disappointed but better safe than sorry. We were in the cab heading there when we got the call so we had the driver drop us off at the Aquarium instead.

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I know people who say once you’ve seen one aquarium you’ve seen them all but I disagree. I like fish, the ocean and seeing different exhibits.

NO Aquarium

Every aquarium shows off their collections differently and can even have different animals. A perfect example is the New Orleans Aquarium that has a mermaid exhibit.

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I’ve only seen that in one other place, Weeki Wachee Springs, a Florida State Park.

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They also had an Omni Theater. They only had one movie playing that day and it’s a good thing. If they had choices I might have picked something different but this movie turned out to be excellent.

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It was Hurricane on The Bayou about Hurricane Katrina and I thought I’d seen hundreds of hours of footage but this was outstanding. This amazing film tells the story of Hurricane Katrina and the impact that Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands has on hurricane protection. It also shows the survival of a region, the rebirth of nature and the spirit of humanity. Winner of 4 Giant Screen Cinema Association Achievement Awards

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If you can get to see it, I highly recommend it.

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After spending the morning at the Aquarium we finally headed back to the Hotel. The afternoon was spent watching a movie in our room. That’s something we don’t do every vacation!

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