We had the opportunity to visit Epcot on the kind invitation of our next door neighbor who is a Disney Cast Member.

At present the Wine and Food Festival is going on and will be until 9th November. This is where you can sample foods from different parts of the as you walk around World Showplace. It is not free but on the other hand it is not at all expensive and you can purchase glasses of wine and beer to go with your food and these have been chosen to compliment the dishes by various Disney sommeliers. In addition you can watch cookery demonstrations go to wine tastings and book signings by some famous chefs.

Additionally they have a Show which is called Eat to the Beat at the America Gardens Theater and on this occasion the Atlanta Rhythm Section was playing. They were great and good value. The two guitarists were exceptionally good and the lead singer had a great voice. All in all a very enjoyable half hour show. Check out my photos titled Atlanta Rhythm Section.

We went to some areas of Epcot where we had not been before and had a look at the Innoventions section and then on to a boat ride through the agricultural lands of America to learn how crops are produced and at the new ways they are using to grow crops. Not your usual Disney ride but very interesting nevertheless and we learnt something in that we did not realize Disney were in to this sort of thing but with their partner Nestle they obviously are.

Then back to a more normal ride where we watched the Adventures of Nemo whilst riding in a clam shell through an underwater world. Here apart from Nemo and all the other characters we also saw sharks and dolphins.

It was now getting on in time and we had a short journey to make to The Wilderness Lodge where we had reservations for dinner. This is an up grade Disney hotel and we were interested to see it as we had heard so much about it. On walking in there my breath was taken away. It was like walking in to a Log Cabin except the dimensions were enormous. The ceiling was extremely high and the lights had scenes of buffalo and Indians. The seating area was vast and just like a log cabin. There was an enormous fire place with the fire going and rockers to sit in. At the far end from the entrance there is a bubbling water source through rocks and the water passes under the Lodge wall and forms a stream outside that meanders through the gardens and over a waterfall to the swimming pool at the bottom. The garden area is surrounded by the hotel itself and the rooms all have balconies overlooking it. All in all just like the real thing.

We ate in the Artists Point restaurant and the food was really good. I had Buffalo which was tender and cooked just right and the ladies both had Plank Salmon which they said was succulent and very tasty. The service was attentive and the food very nicely presented. The portions were not large but after a three course meal we found ourselves well satisfied.

This was a memorable afternoon and evening which I hope we shall be able to repeat again sometime in the future.

Bahama Bay Resort is only a short driving distance from Disney so it is the ideal center for your stay.

We visited Manny's Chophouse for dinner the other night. When we arrived the car park was full, the bar was full and there were people everywhere waiting for tables. We had booked ahead but it didn't seem to make much difference and we waited for at least half an hour. There were a number of visits to the podium to see where we were positioned and the answer was much the same each time. We will seat you when we can. The girl was using a speaker system calling names but with the noise in the restaurant it could hardly be heard.

Eventually we got to our table and it was cramped. It took a while for the order to be taken and then we waited again. My soup was slow coming and the others had their salad before it arrived. We were told fresh bread rolls were being baked and they did arrive in the end. There is an everlasting salad bowl with your meal but I did not like how this was served being mixed by the server and ladled on to side plates. My steak was perfectly cooked but it had been marinated and that really was all you could taste. My wife said her fish was great.

The noise in the restaurant was terrific and did not help conversation and in the end I for one was glad to get out. Overall not an experience I would like to go through again soon.

Manny's Chophouse is situated south on US27 just outside Haines City. As you travel down, about 20 minutes I would say from Bahama Bay, it is on your right hand side.

Last night my wife and I and a friend dined at The Yacht Club Steakhouse. This restaurant is situated in Disney's Yacht Club Hotel. As the name suggests the Hotel is decorated as you expect a Yacht Club to be with lots of beautiful wood panel ling and an overall nautical flavor.

This restaurant is definitely at the high end with average cost being in the $40 to $60 range per person but it is well worth it for that special evening out. Pre-booking is definitely recommended.

The emphasis is on steaks but there are also fish starters and a fish alternative as an entree. The steaks were cooked to perfection and none of us could fault the food, service or surroundings in this restaurant. More importantly the portions were just right not being too large but for the man sized appetite there is an enormous Porterhouse steak available weighing in at about 24 ounces. There was a good variety of deserts and these were not large portions either. My wife and friend shared the sampler and I had a plate of excellent cheese served with a variety of fruits.

If you get an opportunity visit this restaurant and enjoy.

Berry Town Center is just a five minute drive from Bahama Bay. Out of the Resort take a right and follow Florence Villa Grove Road to US 27 and then take a left and just a little further on there it is on your right.

Right out on the front is a new Applebees Restaurant which will provide a useful and close alternative dining experience.