Orlando Riviera Extravaganza - Nov 2022 - Day 3
Woke early and took a bus to the Magic Kingdom. We approached the bus stop just as one was leaving and could not fit anymore ECV's so unfortunately, we didn't get there quite as early as we wanted to. The original plan had been to get there when early magic hours started, and get in line at the front of the rope drop for Seven Dwarves Mine Train, but because we waited another 20 minutes, by the time we entered the park, there was already a line for Seven Dwarves. Looking at that rope drop line, we decided it would not be possible to keep up with that crowd in an ECV... we'd just get cut off, so we changed the plan and followed our hearts to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Strategic ride to rope drop? No. But It was what we wanted to do as we didn't really care for Peter Pan or other rides in Fantasyland, and the other side of the park with Adventureland and Frontierland were not part of early entry.
While on the TTA, my husband, who was still at home with the kid and would be arriving on Tuesday, started texting me that he was testing the daughter for COVID. Panic set in. This is the "fun" of planning any sort of travel during the pandemic. Apparently, she got an exposure alert from her school and was congested. If it turned out she had it, she would be unable to fly on Tuesday. This left us with few options which included:
The husband missing his conference and isolating at home with her
Sending her to her elderly grandparents while he joined me in Florida and thereby exposing them
Me coming home early so he could go to his conference
This was all VERY BAD. I was stressed and my mood became sour and mom kept trying to cheer me up, but that just wasn't happening until I knew my kiddo was in the clear.
I tried to forget my stress and we headed to Gaston's because mom wanted a Lefou's Brew. She also ordered a cinnamon roll as big as her head, and then proceeded to try to lure other guests into taking half (they all politely declined). I think she hoped I would cave and eat half, but I did not. For the record, I love Gaston's, but that day, there was nothing keto I could eat. They used to carry Babybel cheese. In fact, I'd heard it was ubiquitous at Disney, but I never saw any. Oh well.
Anyway, while she ordered I played with a fun feature of Genie +, which is the Photo filters. During this time, new filters were becoming available each day as holiday filters were rolled out. Some filters are available everywhere, while some are just available in certain locations.. One thing I wish, though, was that these weren't all filters for people. I'd like atmospheric filters or frames too if I want to say, take a magical picture of the castle... just a thought.
Rapunzel's Tower near the Tangled restrooms
I had grabbed a Lightning Lane at 7 AM for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, so the time came to ride that. After scanning in to that, I grabbed one for Splash Mountain, but I was a little worried about the time I got. We were headed to Disney Springs for lunch and wanted to go the scenic route via boat, so we knew we needed to allow at a minimum 1.5 hours, if not 2, and the Splash Lightning Lane cut into that a bit. After doing some research, I saw a source that indicated the posted 45 minute line was in reality a 25 minute line, so we decided to go standby. Then, because we had an ECV, there came a point where you switch to an accessible path rather than go up the stairs in the queue. This switch came rather early in the line, and overall, our wait was just 15 minutes! Win!
After riding, we began our long route to Disney Springs via Port Orleans Riverside. We had to first take a bus to Riverside and then the boat to Disney Springs. We love this ride down the river, and because Port Orleans French Quarter is just a bit further down the river, we would have settled for that bus too. Thankfully, both stations were right across from each other at the Magic Kingdom, so we waited for the first one and got on it. Glad it was Riverside since for us, that's more like home and we like having a look at the lobby.
Port Orleans Riverside from the departing boat to Disney Springs
Arrived at Riverside and the boat was already there and loading and boy did we luck out with our pilot. All our Cast Members were great, but this was the first one I left kudos for in the app. He was pure entertainment. He did Trivia, Name that Tune, everything and the folks on our boat got really into it. I've been on this boat where the pilot doesn't talk at all. And I've been on this boat where the pilot runs perpetually late at each stop. Michael, by contrast, hit it out of the park.
We had allowed 2 hours, and we made it to Disney Springs in 1.5 hours from the time we left the Magic Kingdom, so we had a little time before our reservation at Chef Art's Homecomin'. We went into World of Disney briefly to check for 50th designs we had not yet seen in case there were any (there were not). I think Creations is now a better store, honestly.
I was lucky to have gotten an ADR at Chef Art's Homecomin'. It was the first ADR I booked on booking day because this place is so popular. I had church lady deviled eggs and the harvest salad. I should've pushed the hushpuppies that come on the salad aside, but I couldn't resist. I love a good hushpuppy. And when I explained I was on keto but was tired of wine and wanted to see if they could make me something, they made me their cucumber twist without the syrup. It was strong, but a nice departure from previous drinks. Mom had the passionfruit daiquiri which was amazing (I had a sip), and got chicken and donuts after being informed by multiple sources that this was the best dish. She was unimpressed with the donuts, likening them to Kwik Trip glazers. Not that Kwik Trip glazers are bad, but I think for her, it was too normal. She gave the whole experience a 3.5/5, which is about the same as I give it. Great atmosphere, though, and had I been able to really indulge in my Southern Favorites (fried chicken, hushpuppies, moonshine), I'm sure my rating would improve.
Church Lady deviled eggs at Chef Art's. Sooooo good. Love the yolk to white ratio!
After lunch, we did a little shopping at Ghirardelli and Basin which were right around the corner. Then headed to a bus back to Riviera. Since we'd not been in the park all that much that morning (just a couple hours), we had energy for a little swim in the "quiet" pool. Riviera has two large pools. The main pool has music and games going on for the kids, and a bar. The "quiet" pool is just a pool with some nice lounge chairs around it. It was very nice.
We headed back to EPCOT at around 5:00ish via the skyliner. EPCOT was very busy because of Food & Wine, and this would be the case all afternoons and evenings, unfortunately. Our goal on this evening was to try some Food & Wine stuff and catch some Beacons of Light and Harmonious. We started by heading to Canada where we tried the Le Cellier filet mignon. 5/5 - really good, and a good deal too.
Le Cellier Filet at EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival - It might just have been enough to convince me I need to eat the restaurant proper. It was DELISH.
Got a Lightning Lane for the Land, so we headed into World Nature and did that. Upon scanning into the Land, I got one for Soarin'. And then upon scanning into Soarin', I got one for Spaceship Earth so that all worked out very well as we made our way to the front of the park for a Beacon.
Unfortunately, because there are so many construction walls at EPCOT, we had trouble catching a good beacon showing. You really do have to be right at the very front of the park, and this area was complete madness on a Friday evening. So, we saw the lights, but we never really did get the whole show with the music.
We made our way back to the very crowded World Showcase to try some food, and that's about all we could do because it was too crowded to even really enjoy exploring the pavilions. Thankfully, the lines for the Food & Wine stands moved quickly, which could have been a real concern. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Walt Disney World knows crowd control in a way Disneyland does not. A similar stand at Disneyland would've taken forever and did take forever the previous year, in our experience.
We tired the lettuce wrapped pork shoulder and the sticky spare ribs from the Swanky Saucy Swine. 5/5 on all of that. I think this was the best stand there. After that, we tried the Piri Piri shrimp and the coffee roasted beef tenderloin at the Kenya stand.. We would give that a 4/5.
The skyliner floating over the France pavilion at EPCOT at sunset
Then, the stands toward the back of World Showcase all seemed pretty crowded and we were full, so we sought out a place to watch Harmonious and settled on the bridge between France and the UK so we could make a quick exit to the skyliner. It's a shame that this show probably needs to be watched from the "front of the house" to get the full effect, unlike Illuminations which could be enjoyed from anywhere around the lagoon. It was a good show, better than I expected, but it wasn't Illuminations.
My Magic Band Plus reacting to HarmonioUS at EPCOT
Exiting a park after fireworks is always an ordeal and it's only worse with an ECV, so it got a little hairy for a bit as we made our short way to the skyliner. The line at the skyliner was long, but we still boarded in about 20 minutes which is a million times better than the bus situation after park closing. I wrote a whole series on exit strategies for each park, so check it out.
Next time, it's a Saturday at Disney and it's BUSY. We go to Disney Hollywood Studios for some Toy Story and Star Wars action, ride more boats, see the Magic Kingdom Parade on a whim, and have a lovely dinner at Topolino's. And we find out whether my kiddo has COVID. If you like this trip report, follow our Facebook page where you can see when new posts are made each week. Until next time...
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