Walt Disney World (Food and Wine Festival) and Disney Cruise Line (Dream)

Planning for our WDW/DCL vacation in October this year started late last year. For booking our 2nd Adventure by Disney last summer (Golden Path to Yosemite), we received a certificate for a free DCL 3-night cruise. At the time of booking, our choices were pretty narrow for the cruise, so we elected to combine our Wine and Dine Half Marathon at WDW with a DCL cruise. Seth and I will be arriving WDW on Thursday, September 29th to run the 1/2 marathon on Saturday, the 1st. The kids will arrive with Mimi and Papa on Monday, October 3rd. We board the Disney Dream on Thursday, October 6th, and return to Port Canaveral to fly home on Sunday, October 9th.

We'll be hitting WDW during the start of the annual Food and Wine festival. Seth and I have been at the festival a number of times but this will be a first time event for Mimi, Papa, and the kids. Rhys is now 12 years old and Amina 14 years old so they will be more than able to take care of themselves at the parks on their own - another first in our long-time Disney family vacation tradition.

While anticipating the release of the Food and Wine festival guide, I was a little tardy in making our dinner reservations at the parks/hotel. I did finally get around to calling and got us a few tentative reservations and it looks like I will only have to cancel one of our reservations in favor of a Food and Wine Festival scheduled event. So our schedule looks like this so far:

Thursday, September 29th
Arrive Orlando around 1700 via Continental. Still need to arrange transportation from the airport to the Boardwalk villas. We are waitlisted for a studio at the Beach Club Villas. I wanted to book a reservation at the Flying Fish cafe for their Chef's Tasting Wine Dinner but it looks like the restaurant is closed the last week in September. :-( So dinner this evening will be at 1945, Kouzzina by Cat Cora on the Boardwalk for Mediterranean food (confirmation #412251791322

). This is a new restaurant that we have not yet tried.

Friday, September 30th

1000-1200 - Kitchen Memories –This 3-course lunch evokes joyful kitchen memories. A celebrated chef demonstrates how to prepare an appetizer, main course and dessert, while a winery representative pairs each course with a selection of their wines.

Scott Hunnel & Erich Herbitschek from Victoria & Albert's, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Where: Festival Welcome Center $110

1000-1900 Packet pick up at WWS
Dinner - World Showcase?

Saturday, October 1st - Race Day

10:30 - 11:45 Cheese Seminars

Say cheese! Learn more about cheese from experienced fromagers. Featured cheese will be tasted and paired with selected wines and/or beers.

France, Eastern

Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

Where: Festival Welcome Center $75

1300-1430 - Mexico Tequila Lunch

Savor samples of tequila that complement a selected Mexican regional cuisine as you learn about tequila history and production.

Where: La Hacienda de San Angel, Mexico Pavilion $65

Dinner - Maybe just a cruise around the World Showcase to the ones we haven't tried from the night before.

2200 - Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon - shuttle pick up at 1900 from the Beach Club

2230-0300 - After party

Sunday, October 2nd

1000-1200 - Sweet Sundays

Hosted by MARTINI® - Begin your day with a breakfast buffet, sparkling wines and decadent desserts. A highly acclaimed pastry chef or baker demonstrates the preparation of the 3 desserts.

John Hui from The Lodge at Pebble Beach in Pebble Beach, CA

Where: Festival Welcome Center $90

Dinner - 2045 - Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian resort (confirmation DR # 411641027850)

Monday, October 3rd

Checkout of Boardwalk Villas and move to Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village where we have booked the Grand Villa for the next few nights.

1530-1700 - Food & Wine Pairings

Sample 3 regional wines paired with 3 tasting-size portions of cuisine from Japan and Morocco. Featured wines and menu selections change daily.

Tokyo Dining, Japan Pavilion $55

Mimi, Papa and the kids arrive Orlando around 1700.
Dinner - 1930 at Boma, Animal Kingdom Lodge (confirmation 411681246279)

Tuesday, October 4th

1530-1700 - Food & Wine Pairings

Sample 3 regional wines paired with 3 tasting-size portions of cuisine from Japan and Morocco. Featured wines and menu selections change daily.

Restaurant Marrakesh, Morocco Pavilion $55

Wednesday, October 5th

Magic Kingdom?

1825 - Jiko at AKL (confirmation 411681249316)

Thursday, October 6th - Port Canaveral

Check out of AKL and board the Disney Dream - cabin #2024
I still need to arrange for transportation from the resort to Port Canaveral and then back to the airport.

1830 - dinner at Palo restaurant $20

Friday, October 7th - Nassau, Bahamas
Noon - Bahamas Segway Tours

The FUN begins when you are taught how to ride your own personal X2 off-road Segway. After a quick orientation and a few moments to get used to the Segway, you will be amazed at how easy this battery operated bike is to ride for young and old. From here you will roll off with your tour guide. They will cruise you through hand cut trails that run along salt water lakes and canals, educate you about certain fauna, wildlife, and sea life that live in the area, and eventually bring you out onto a picturesque beach where you will be wowed at the view of the calm waters and small islands that reside here.

At this point, RELAXATION will set in. You'll have at least 30 minutes to sit down and relax in the sun and if that's not your style, then you may want to find the shady trees that adorn the beach. If the ocean is more your thing you can wade out into the shallow waters to get your feet wet or do some snorkeling. If you need to quench your thirst we have a free bottle of water for you.

From the beach, you are back on your Segway to finish out your tour. The only thing you will be wishing in the end, is that the tour wasn't over!

Tour Includes:

1. Helmet
2. Bottle of water
3. Transportation to and from location (Tour + Transportation = Approximately 3hrs)
4. Personal X2 off-road Segway
5. Beach Chairs
6. Secure location for your belongings(Please, no large bags)
   

The age limit was 9 so we booked! $65 pp

1850 - dinner at Remy $75 pp

Saturday, October 8th - Castaway Cay

Extreme Getaway Package

(C-18)

On this tour you will:

• Enjoy this 4 in one package, which includes:
• Snorkel Equipment Rental — Immerse yourself in an exciting snorkel adventure for the entire family – perfect for beginners and experts alike! Make your way to Gils' Fins and Boats or Flippers n Floats and receive your snorkel gear and instruction. Then, venture to a picturesque lagoon section of the island, located at Castaway's Family Beach.
• One-hour Bicycle Rental — Take off on a delightful 2-wheeled adventure amidst Disney's private island oasis. Traverse tropical terrain and winding offshore paths at your own leisure as you pedal your way around the island in a fun-filled exploration like no other. Ride along the airstrip, turn off-road at one of 2 bike paths, stop by the picture-perfect vantage point at Serenity Bay and discover much more of Castaway Cay!
• Float or Tube Rental — Move with the motion of the ocean as you bounce, bob and sway atop the gentle waves of the crystal-clear blue waters of the Caribbean in a cozy float or inner tube. Bask in the sun or bathe in the sea and enjoy the tropical view that surrounds you.
• Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure — Head for the Stingray Hut for the experience of a lifetime! After a 15-minute orientation including many educational fun facts, Guests will be divided into groups and enter the shallow waters of the Stingray Lagoon. Your friendly guide will be on hand as you get up-close and personal during a feeding session using specially designed feeding trays. Feel the rush as the stingray takes the food right from the palm of your hand and even pet these amazing fish as they go up and down the feeding ramp. Conclude this portion of your package with some snorkel time in the Stingray Lagoon.
  
  $54 pp