From Newsgroup: rec.arts.disney.parks

DAY 3 rCo Friday 1/13/23
Who: Sue (64), DVC Member
Holli (58), friend & co-worker
Vickie (58), HollirCOs best friend & college roommate
Plan: Nectar, Hilton Head Island South Tour, Wise Guys
Actual: I slept much better last night rCo was awake less than the night before. I didnrCOt get up until a little after 5. I made my cappuccino and took it back to bed to do my online stuff. I could tell it had rained last night, although none of us heard it at all. Eventually Vickie came down to make caffee and I told her IrCOm thinking itrCOs best if I donrCOt do the nature hike tomorrow. It wouldnrCOt be fair to everyone else in the group if I couldnrCOt keep up. She understood and agreed.
Pretty soon Holli came down and had her coffee while I worked on the puzzle, then she joined me at the puzzle table after sherCOd rCLwoken uprCY a bit. Vickie took her shower and we headed out around 9 for breakfast at Nectar. Vickie insisted on dropping me off at the door so Holli & I got out of the car and waited at the entrance for Vickie to park and join us. We were seated right away, at the table next to the table werCOd had last year.
They really did a nice job of theming and attention to detail here rCo itrCOs just a lovely space. Our server was great, and it wasnrCOt terribly busy. They started with coffee and I ordered a mimosa. Evidently on Friday mornings theyrCOre only $5 (per the server) so that was a nice surprise. Holli ordered a breakfast biscuit sandwich with hash browns. The biscuit was huge so she abandoned that and ate the sandwich filling and the hash browns. She raved about the hash browns. Vickie got their oatmeal and said it was wonderful rCo more than she could finish, but she loved it. It comes w/seasonal fruit compote. I ordered the tomato hand pie, which is flaky pastry filled with gouda cheese and diced tomatoes. It was also very good rCo just as I remembered.
After settling the check we returned to the resort and discovered none of us had brought our room key. Vickie is the most mobile and fastest, so she ran over to Live Oak Lodge and had her key replaced. Once inside I found my key card in the pocket of the jeans I wore yesterday. I quickly updated the report and spent a few minutes at the puzzle table until it was time to walk over for our 11am island tour.
At the recreation window we checked in and signed the waiver, then asked about canceling my participation on tomorrowrCOs Pinkney Island excursion. They processed a credit to the card that was used (HollirCOs) without any hesitation. Soon Mike the pool guy showed up and rounded up everyone on the tour. We recognized one of the couples from last year rCo they were on the north tour with us. They come every year at this time and always do both of MikerCOs tours.
We set out in the van, and IrCOd left the meeting spot a little early and ended up leading the way for the whole group, going at my pace. That gave us the best choice of seats and chose the row behind Mike (seats 3) that would be easiest to get in and out. We made a number of detours to things not on the tour that Mike just wanted to show us rCo all interesting and useful stuff. He brought us to many scenic points and gave lots of history on the island.
We continued into Sea Pines and spent quite a bit of time driving around in there. Besides multi-million dollar homes, golf courses, the lighthouse and shops we saw the stables, chickens, lots of alligators in the wild, and lots of people playing pickleball (the new craze)! Mike gave us the history of Sea Pines and how it came to be rCo very interesting stuff.
We were back at the resort at 1pm and he dropped us off at our building. Once inside Vickie announced she was hungry, so she & Holli decided to split a pimento cheese sandwich from Tide Me Over. I wasnrCOt hungry at all, so declined their offer to bring me something. WerCOre eating again at 4:30, so if I need something thererCOs plenty to pick from in the fridge (including my leftover pimento cheese spread from Poseidon).
They came back with a cuban sandwich and a salad, which they shared. They also brought me a big Mickey soft pretzel with cheese sauce. I love the pretzels but not the cheese rCo Vickie & I each nibbled on pieces of the pretzel but between us didnrCOt quite eat half of it.
I updated the report, then went out to work on the puzzle until General Hospital would come on at 2pm. Vickie went up for her nap around 2, leaving Holli & I to work on the puzzle. I kept an eye on General Hospital and move into the living room during the scene I was most interested in.
Around 3:30 I got the laptop and sat on the couch in the living with my leg up on the coffee table. It was looking very overcast and cloudy outside, which surprised us both. The internet dropped again and despite trying over and over again it wasnrCOt reconnecting. IrCOd reconnect to their wifi but it would say rCLno internetrCO. It figures rCo I had internet while I was doing stuff that didnrCOt need it, and now that I wanted to get online the damn thing doesnrCOt work. Duane mentioned it hasnrCOt dropped at all in his building, which is right next door.
Holli & I finished the puzzle. By now it was 4pm so she went upstairs to wake up Vickie. Last January when we went to Wise Guys at 4:30 and waited outside for 5 minutes or so to finish a conference call we went inside to find the bar full and finding a table difficult. We didnrCOt want a repeat of that, and IrCOm not sure if a Friday night will be busier (it was Sunday night last year). Just before we left and of course the internet was back up.
We arrived at Wise Guys at 4:26 and were able to walk right in. A few people were already seated at the bar and we decided to take one of the high-top 4-seat tables. We received a pile of menus (cocktails/wine, food, early dining, specials) but knew werCOd be picking from the rCLsmall platesrCY section. During happy hour these are $2 off. ThererCOs also a discount on cocktails and bottles of wine.
Vickie ordered red wine, I had a sauvignon blanc and Holli wanted something fizzy so she got prosecco with ginger ale and a skewer of fresh berries. For food Vickie got the French onion soup and Holli & I ordered the short rib sliders with house-made chips. The food here is excellent, and what we saw going to other tables also looked wonderful. The sliders are messy but delicious and Vickie loved the onion soup.
While Vickie was napping IrCOd asked Holli if she though Vickie would want to do this again next year and HollirCOs immediate response that it would give her something to look forward to. I brought it up to Vickie in the car and she said sherCOd love to do it again, as long as sherCOs able, and it will give her something to look forward to, lol! ItrCOs not like she doesnrCOt travel rCo she does! But she clearly enjoys these trips (we all do).
Back at the resort the internet was still up but by the time I got changed and settled down with the laptop I got through a single email before it went down again. This is really getting old, and will definitely be reflected in my satisfaction survey! Holli & Vickie changed into swimsuits, poured some wine into the rCLto gorCY coffee cups and went to enjoy the hot tub. TheyrCOre going to freeze when they get out! I poured my own glass of wine and settled down on the couch, updating the report before continuing to fight with the internet here.
They were back before 7 and said other people were there as well. They also said it wasnrCOt that cold walking back rCo I guess the hot tub warmed their bodies up. The internet went down again, and then it was a constant battle rCo it would be down longer than it would be up. Thoroughly disgusted, I decided to focus on getting todayrCOs report posted and then put the laptop away.
Overall today was another great day rCo itrCOs wonderful being here! MikerCOs tour was great, as were both of our meals. Tomorrow IrCOll relax in the villa while the others do the Pinkney Island excursion. After that werCOll do lunch at Frankie Bones, and later the Cocoa and SrCOmores activity at the resort. Should be a nice day, although the weather will be colder.
Sue/WDW1972
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