Day 8

September 23, 2023

Originally, when I planed this trip, I had a breakfast reservation at Trattoria Al Forno. To get from BLT to the Boardwalk where the restaurant is located means another trip to MK via the walkway, and take a bus to the Boardwalk. I am having doubts about doing this. I am thinking about the meal I had at Garden Grill, so I canceled the Trattoria Al Forno for Garden Grill. I did this yesterday.

Another song comes to mind….. This is the end…. By The Doors. Last park day. Park hopping on the schedule for today. First stop is Epcot of course.

Hi Mr Contemporary… for the last time.. how is the weather today?

Another great day. Except for one evening, great weather this trip. And the shirt of the day is.

I will be going to the studios after I am allowed to park hop, 2 pm, then back to epcot. So I am wearing a movie inspired t-shirt. I am also trying a new place to eat a early dinner at the new BBQ place inside Toy Story land inside the studios.

I scoot over to the Contemporary and will take the monorail over to the TTC

I almost miss the stop to get off for the TTC. Fatigue 😊 Transfer to the Epcot monorail

I check in Garden Grill

Again, just went for the food, no photos, no photos with characters. Since I am in the building, I go on Soarin for the last time this trip. No video. I then head to Mission Space.

With all the construction going on in the center of the park, almost have to go to Mission Space via World Showcase. I used my GoPro Max, took the video in 360, so you can adjust the view. Here is the video I took of Mission Space.

I then take a video of circling World Showcase Lagoon. I always wanted to do this.

As you can see… its very crowded today in Epcot. Another thing I never did before, use the Skyliner. So I decide to park hop to Disney Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner instead of the walking path from the Boardwalk to the Studios.

The new rules, you cant park hop before 2 pm. They give you a 15 minute grace period, so you can enter at 1:45 pm. I try to enter at 1:42 pm, they say.. come back in 3 minutes. So I find a shaded area to wait. They finally allow us in.

As soon as I enter, I make a DAS return time for Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway. I have time to wait before I can enter.

I have a dinner ADR for the new eatery in Toy Story Land, Roundup Rodeo BBQ. I also start having second thoughts. First, I didn’t feel like another all you can eat. Second, I want to have Onion Soup. Scanning the possibilities, the only place that has Onion Soup that has availablility is Yachtsman Steakhouse. So I make the ADR there for 1, cancel Roundup Rodeo.

I roam around the park, using up time before I can enter the runaway railway ride. There was a poster 20k leagues based that I wanted to take a photo of.

Problem, the ride is down. They give me a option to choose another ride, but something goes wrong, the only choice I have is hours away, when I will be eating at Yachtsman. I talk to a CM, nothing can be done. So I leave the studios, for the last time this trip.

Before I post the video of using the skyliner again to head back to Epcot, International Gateway. Dod you notice something around my neck in the reflection of the window? A fan. Did it help?? Not really. But I will continue to use it, maybe more mental then actual.

The way the Skyliner works, for those who need a scooter, like myself, they pull a couple of gondolas off the main rope to give you time to board. The place wheel chucks in the back wheels so you don’t move until they allow you to move. They have special boarding area for scooters. I don’t know how quick taking the path between Epcot and the Studios. I know I once power walked it in less then 22 minutes. Average time using the Skyliner is about 16 minutes. Better then the boats. Here is the video.

I get to Beach/Yacht Club early, find the quick service location, sit down and use my refillable mug, and relax for a bit. I look at the view of Stormalong Bay.

They also have a poster of trivia questions.

Having never eated at Yachtsman Steakhouse, I have a little problem finding it. I do, and I am too early to check in. So I sit and wait till the restaurant officially opens. They finally do.

The gentleman who seats me is also my waiter for the evening. He sees my shirt and we talk about Coney Island for a bit.

I order Onion Soup for a appetizer. Now I sort of remember why I haven’t eaten here before. This is a signature dining experience. I order a steak. He explains to me, that I should order a side, some sort of potato dish. He tells me that the steak does come with some items, but mostly to make the plate look pretty. I tell him, skip it.

The bread service is fancy too.

I forget exactly what type of bread it was. Next up.. the onion soup.

The soup was good. Next up, main entrée, steak. Interesitng thing happened, he cleaned the table to remove the crumbs from the bread with a brush. Seemed unusal??

The steak we good. Funny thing about the bread. He asked if I wanted more… thinking bring out more. I go no. He takes the bread that was on the table. 😊 Well.. I really never had a bad steak on property. Well… I do remember a steak and eggs meal I had at Art of Animation’s food court. 😉 No dessert. I enter Epcot and go to ride Spaceship Earth.

I use my Sony camcorder, the only camera that can take very low light images, very happy with it.

with really nothing else left to do, I end my trip like I have done others, Watching the evening fireworks show at Epcot, Epcot Forever. I head towards the same handicap viewing area like I always do, between the two trading post buildings by World Showcase Lagoon. I meet someone who used to live by me in Brooklyn. I remove and disassemble my scooters canopy so others behind me can watch the show. I also set up my Sony Camcorder to take video without me watching it through a view finder.

I wait after the show before I leave the viewing area. I head towards the monorail and head back to my resort.