May Trip Report: Sick at Walt Disney World

In over 40 years of trips to Walt Disney World I never remember being sick until now.  Both my wife and I got sick on this trip.

Mom and I booked this trip to see the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

I felt bad before we drove down on Saturday to be at Old Key West to meet Amy and the Girls on Sunday.  Sunday I made it around EPCOT for dinner at The Garden Grill in The Land pavilion.  An all-you-care-to-eat meal and I was sick. The food was good, I just couldn't eat.  I mostly watched the girls eat and how excited they got when Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Chip and Dale came by the table to visit with them.  Our waiter was excellent and made over the girls appropriately and gifted both of the girls with some stickers and one of the small Toy Story alien dolls before we left.

Mickey and the Girls at The Garden Grill

If you have never been to the character dinner at The Garden Grill it is fun.  Your dining room rotates so you see many of the scenes from the Living With The Land boat trip.  The food is served "family style" with plenty of choices.  Dinner started with warm fresh rolls with a maple butter.  Then there was turkey and stuffing, "sustainable fish of the day" (ours was grilled tilapia),  and a char-grilled filet of beef.  (The Garden Grill Menu can be found here.)  Since I was not feeling well, the warm fresh rolls were fantastic.  I ate a few bites of the filet of beef and some of the sides, but an all-you-care-to-eat restaurant when you are sick would not be my first choice.  Of course reservations had been made weeks before and everyone else was ready for a good meal.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Monday was Mom's birthday.  Amy and I were going to take her to lunch at Le Cellier in the Canadian Pavilion at EPCOT.  Unfortunately, since I was not feeling well, Amy canceled our reservation Sunday night. I was feeling better Monday, but would not have enjoyed eating there.  (Ridge ate there on his trip the end of May.  I hope he writes a full report for Growing Up Disney.)  We still went to Epcot.  By the time lunch came around, Amy had Tink and were off alone and Mom and I had Minnie.  Minnie had fallen asleep in her stroller so we pushed her around to The Liberty Inn at the American Pavilion for lunch.  She slept while we ate.  Mom wanted a cheeseburger and I ordered her the 1/3 lb Angus Smokehouse Burger and I had the Chili-Cheese Hot Dog (as you can tell I was feeling much better).  The Smokehouse Burger has barbecue pulled pork, cheese and an onion ring on it.  It was much bigger than what Mom could eat, but she tried.  The Chili-Cheese dog is big and I did my best to finish it off but left most of the fries.  Mom was not feeling well so we went back to the room early.

Minnie at EPCOT

Tuesday was Mom's turn to be sick.  Amy and I took the girls over to The Magic Kingdom and I had a ball with the girls.  We started with breakfast at The Crystal Palace which is another character meal with Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Pooh. We then visited Princesses (see post here), Mickey Mouse, took the girls on The Jungle Cruise, and then Aloha Isle for a  Dole Whip.  Mom was feeling better that evening and joined us at for dinner at Olivia's at Disney's Old Key West Resort.

Girls just want to have fun!!!

Wednesday everyone was feeling fine.  Amy took Tink and went off to a park while Mom and I stayed at Old Key West and played with Minnie.  We got out and went off property to Chevy's at the Crossroads for lunch.  Minnie loves Mexican and the chips and salsa are first rate.  She ate well but enjoyed the ice cream at the end the best.

Thursday we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Lunch was at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano.  We shared the antipasto platter for an appetizer.  I had the Penne alla Vodka, Mom and Amy shared a grilled sea bass and a gnocchi dish that they both enjoyed.  Tink had the best dessert with a Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcake.  It has to be seen to believed.  Disney's web site describes it as "A Chocolate Cupcake with "Spaghetti" Frosting and a Chocolate "Meatball"' with a Strawberry "Marinara Sauce" and White Chocolate "Cheese"."  Amy had told me about this but it really has to be seen.  See end of post for a picture.

Amy and the Girls at The Crystal Palace with Tigger

Friday as we prepared to leave we had breakfast at Olivia's.  Tink and Minnie had mini-Mickey Waffles and I had a big Mickey Waffle.  I love waffles anyway and the Mickey ones just make it a little more special.

If you haven't noticed yet Mom and I have been so many times to Walt Disney World over a 40 year span, we plan our trips to the park around were we want to eat for the day.  Of course when you are sick and don't feel like eating it really doesn't matter where you are.  Feeling bad is still feeling bad.  Of course somehow feeling bad is better if you are at Disney World and having my Granddaughters along for the week didn't hurt either.

--DisneyDad

Tink and....errr....Tink at EPCOT

Amy said since I had said the Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcake had to be seen, I should show it.  This is a iPhone photo that is a little dark, but I think you can get the idea of the cupcake with no problem.   I'll post more on this Monday's Five Photos post.  -- DisneyDad

Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcake from Mama Melrose - Yum Yum!!!