Taking the Time to Smell the Flowers, A Trip Report- Breakfast in the Beach Club and The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

We were all awake and set out for breakfast by 8:30am Saturday morning. Now, Yacht Club is very different with it’s quick service options. The Marketplace at Ale and Compass has pre-made options inside a hot case- which do not include Mickey Waffles, but breakfast wraps and sandwiches. This isn’t what we were looking for to start our day, so we took the 5 minute walk (yes, I timed it) to the Beach Club Marketplace where we could find Mickey Waffles, the Breakfast Bounty Platter, and all of the usual Disney breakfast favorites we have become used to during our trips.

After breakfast, we headed back to our room to drop off our mugs and apply some sunscreen- temps were headed into the mid-90s, coming from 30 degrees cooler in NY we needed to protect ourselves.

The kids headed to Animal Kingdom for some Fast Passes and parent free fun as they were meeting more friends for the afternoon and would meet us, and their parents, later in the day at Epcot. Mike and I took the very quick walk into World Showcase from the International Gateway, around 11:30am.

Our first stop? Test Track where we met up with Sarah, Tricia, and Arnie.

Yup- who says kids are the only ones who can have fun in the Disney Parks!

By 12:30pm, we had picked up some Festival Passports and begun in Jardin de Fiestas.

A the first Outdoor Kitchen of the day- we ordered quite a bit:

From the left to the right-

  • Damiana Flower Margarita: Damiana Flower Liqueur, Blanco Tequila, Agave Nectar and Citrus Juices served on the rocks with a Black Ant Salt Rim — $10.50
  • Rosé Sangria: Withers Rosé Wine, Tequila Blanco, Elderflower and Ginger Liqueur, Pineapple, Cactus Pear and Ginger Juices — $11.75
  • Oaxacan Gin & Tonic: Smokey Gin, Black Currant Liqueur, Vermouth, Lime Juice and Tonic Water — $12.50
  • All three of these drinks were delicious, and quite strong!

  • Tlacoyo: Blue Corn Masa topped with Black Bean Spread, Ground Chorizo, Queso Fresco and Mexican Cream — $6.50, DDP snack credit eligible
  • Beef Torta: Braised Beef served on a Crispy Sourdough Roll with Queso Oaxaca, Avocado, Pickled Onions and Jalapeños in a Spicy Habanero Sauce — $6.50, DDP snack credit eligible- This was the HIT of this Outdoor Kitchen for our group
  • Tres Leches: Milk-soaked Sponge Cake topped with Cajeta Whipped Cream and Almond Powder — $4.50, DDP snack credit eligible

There wasn’t any special Outdoor Kitchen in Norway, but we did stop for a Photo Pass picture. Shortly after this picture was taken – Mike and Annie went off in another direction to explore and we kept on waddling through World Showcase.

Next up was the Lotus House.

  • Szechuan Spicy Red-braised Beef Shank over Rice — $8.00, DDP snack credit eligible- Arnie really enjoyed this!

Our Momma China Selfie 🙂

Next up was Bauermarkt in Germany. We really lucked out here and found a picnic table under a tree, right by the water.

Here we tried:

  • Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream- $4.75, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese- $5.25, DDP Snack Eligible
  • BOTH of these dishes were delicious!

We took some time to head into Karamell-Kuche for some caramel popcorn…

Next was Primavera Kitchen in Italy.

Tricia held down our table while Sarah and I retrieved what we wanted to try:

  • Tri-Colored Cheese Tortellini, Sage Butter and Chicken Veloute (KA) – $9.00, DDP Snack Eligible-  This is OUTSTANDING and is one of my very favorites of the festival!
  • Pomodori Verdi e Mozzarella: Fried Green Tomatoes, Mozzarella Cheese, Balsamic Reduction – $8.00, DDP Snack Eligible

Tricia and Sarah both enjoyed a Bellini (Sparkling Wine and Peach Purée – $10.00) while I LOVED my Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila  ($10.00)

This is easily one of my top Outdoor kitchens of the festival!

The guys met us back at The Smokehouse where we tried:

  • Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle – $7.50, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V) – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Frozen Simply™ Lemonade (non-alcoholic)  – $3.50
  • Frozen Simply™ Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine – $11.75

Next was Japan’s Hanami:

Tricia had tried the Frushi (Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice garnished with Whipped Cream, Berry Sauce Drizzle and Toasted Coconut – $5.95, DDP Snack Eligible) earlier in the week, and it was served room temperature- almost warm. We didn’t try it again today for that reason.

Next was the Taste of Marrakesh Outdoor Kitchen.

We ordered every food item because it all seemed so good and they really were:

From the top left:

  • Walnut Honey Baklava — $4.50, DDP snack credit eligible
  • Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili Ranch Sauce — $6.00, DDP snack credit eligible- I really enjoyed this, but it was super spicy!
  • Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad — $7.00, DDP snack credit eligible

We also tried :

  • Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur — $8.00
  • White Sangria — $6.00

Next up? Florida Fresh where we found more tables in the shade to relax for a bit.

Here we tried:

  • Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue – $4.50, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (non-alcoholic)  – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Both were super refreshing!

It was here where we met up with the kids who went off then exploring the countries they wanted to try as well. The all tried their own Watermelon Cucumber Slushies and really enjoyed them as well.

Again, Tricia held down our shaded tables with some of the kids while we headed to Fleur de Lys (France) to pick up:

  • Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop (GF)  – $5.25, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Tarte au Chévre: Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions on a flaky Pastry Crust (V) – $5.50, DDP Snack Eligible
  • La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice – $10.75

The United Kingdom did not have a separate Outdoor Kitchen, but they did have adorable topiaries:

In Canada, Tricia had already stopped earlier in the week at Northern Bloom and tried the:

  • Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables (KA) – $6.75, DDP Snack Eligible
  • Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato featuring Burton’s Maple Syrup (KA) – $4.50, DDP Snack Eligible

These all seemed super rich and in the heat and the end of the day, it didn’t appeal to anyone.

Now, in World Showcase Promenade- you will find a number of additional Outdoor Kitchens, here is where we found:

The Honey Bee-Stro, where we tried:

  • Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle and Coriander Flowers (GF) (V) – $4.50, DDP Snack Eligible

The Citrus Blossom, where we tried:

  • Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon (GF) – $8.00, DDP Snack Eligible- OUTSTANDING!
  • Crispy Citrus Chicken with Orange Aïoli and Baby Greens (GF) (KA) – $5.75, DDP Snack Eligible- EXCELLENT!
  • Orange Cream Slushy in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (non-alcoholic) (KA) – $14.00- Not going to lie- this was NOT great. It was a very thick orange milk and not refreshing at all.
  • Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy – $6.50, This was PERFECT!

Along with Primavera Kitchen (Italy), this is easily one of my top Outdoor kitchens of the festival!

By now we were sweltering and headed to Spaceship Earth to cool down inside for a bit.

Next we decided to try one last Outdoor Kitchen before dinner, Pineapple Promenade, for the kids absolute favorite the Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic) – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible:

We headed to Rose and Crown, inside the United Kingdom pavilion, for dinner- which in hindsight was silly after eating all day. None of us were overly impressed by the food, but the service was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. We  were seated inside, but we were we would be walked outside to their VIP viewing area at 8:55pm to watch Illuminations. Sad to say, we weren’t there long enough as we just had entrees and were ready to leave by 8pm.

We ordered:

Fish and Chips “Rose & Crown’s Signature Dish” Beer-battered and served with House-made Tartar Sauce ($23)

Welsh Pub Burger-Angus Beef Patty with Beer Cheese Sauce, Bacon and Beer-battered Leeks served with a side of Branston Mayonnaise ($21)

After dinner, we strolled a bit around Epcot. I wanted a pin from the Festival and had to head back to the Odyssey Center as they were the only ones with pins left! After securing my pin, I stopped at Trowel & Trellis. Tricia had gotten the Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread ($5.50, DDP Snack Eligible) earlier in the week:

I ended up with 2 Bloomin’ Blueberry Lemon and Ginger Tea featuring Twinings of London® with Tito’s Handmade Vodka served in a Mason Jars  ($15.00) for both Mike and I, which were very good at the end of the night.

We headed towards the exit and watched Illuminations from a bench until we were finished with our drinks.

Finally, we walked back to our room at the Yacht Club- it was a lovely ending to a pretty prefect day!

This entry was posted in A Family Trip Report, A Trip Report, Can Adults really have FUN on a Disney vacation?, Disney Dining, Disney's Yacht Club, Epcot, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, Taking the Time to Smell the Flowers, Walt Disney World. Bookmark the permalink.

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