We had just gotten out of the pool at Saratoga Springs and headed back to the Tree House to get changed for dinner. This was our first time using the Dining Plan and we had explained to the kids that to pay for our meals, all we had to do was give the server our room key and the meal would be paid for. Evan thought that was the coolest thing and asked if he could pay for dinner with his key. We said "sure", and he made sure to remind us about it every 30 minutes or so for the rest of the day.
We had some time to kill before Chef Mickey was expecting us, so we drove over to the Contemporary for a Monorail ride around the resorts loop.
From the monorail, looking at the giant Mickey shaped wreath hanging on the outside of the Contemporary.
Kaylene and Kayden's first Monorail ride!
It sure was an interesting ride. As much as we enjoy the "highway in the sky" and always make it a point to ride it each trip (even if we took a bus to MK and don't
need to), watching first timers ride it was a treat. Stopping at the Poly and Grand Floridian have become common place for us, but Kaylene - and Kayden especially - peering out the windows and doors to catch a glimpse of the lobbies, the decorations, the landscaping, etc really gives you a new perspective on how special the Disney World Resort is.
Waiting at the Magic Kingdom stop. And probably wondering why we aren't getting off.
After a few stops to "wait for traffic to clear", we were pulling back into the Contemporary and heading back down stairs to get checked in. Evan had forgotten his wallet in the car, so I ran outside to get it while everyone got in line to check in. As I came back up stairs and started toward the podium, my heart sank. The line to check in was humongous! I started making my way past all these people, expecting to see Bambi stuck somewhere in the middle. To my relief, she was just walking away from the podium, gathering everyone to get in the relatively short line for pictures with the big plate. Whew...
After the picture, we got our pager and headed over to the holding pen - sorry,
waiting area, to relax and take a load off.
I also took the opportunity to snap a few picture of Bambi's handy work with the Mickey themed beads that she but in Madison's hair before the trip. (I would like to point out that I helped. I picked the different colored beads out of the container and handed them to her.)
They had a TV on in the waiting area, but Hanna Montana was not keeping us entertained. Why can't it be showing classic Disney cartoons like just about every other TV on property? The kids have four or five DVDs of the classics that they can watch over and over and get just as manly laughs on the 100th viewing as one the 1st.
At least watching the monorails pass by kept us fairly entertained until we got seated. We were seated around the buffet to the right, directly underneath the Monorail tracks. Every few minutes, there would be a "whrrrr" and the area would shake just a bit. After the first few times, you didn't even notice it anymore.
It took a little convincing of the kids that we could got get our food and that we wouldn't miss any characters. Eventually we loaded our plates with "round one" and and the characters started coming.
Time to wave your napkins and dance! (Side note: I'm sure the cleaning crew just loves whatever guy in the entertainment division came up with little move. Let's have the kids twirl their used napkins in the air, throwing little bits of discarded food all over the carpet!)
It was time for the characters to take a break, so like any gentlemouse, Mickey escorted Minnie through the kitchen doors.
You'll have to excuse Evan's mouth. He was in the middle of his Oreo Mickey dessert when the head cheese came by. Evan' list of what is important:
- Food
- Everything Else
I've heard lots of people complaining about the food at Chef Mickey's. Maybe there's another "Chef Mickey's" on property that everyone else goes to, because I've never had a bad meal here. Everything that I tried - and that would be just about everything - was delicious. And if there is something that you don't care for, it's a buffet! Push it to the side of your plate and go get something else.
Soon enough it was time to settle up the bill, so Evan pulled out his wallet.
Checking out the damage:
Maybe if I open it slowly, it won't be so expensive...
HOLY PEANUT BUTTER YOU GUYS ARE EXPENSIVE TO FEED!
He needed a little help signing his name
Proof Positive that Evan paid for dinner.
Thanks Evan! Now, about chipping in for actually paying for the dining plan...
Coming Up Next...
A nighttime stroll around the Tree Houses
)
Well, I'd certainly throw 'em back.
I totally feel your pain.
, joining in from Tim's too because of that pic. It was hysterical! LOL, I love that your wife wants to use it to embarass him when he gets older. Definitely save it for the wedding - if you use it for graduation he'd probably just joke around with his friends, at the wedding it'll be more embarassing.
Wow you guys helped Kayden with a lot firsts for that trip, Disney, milk shakes, gotta see what else was brand new for him. 
Now I'm off to read your two previous TR's.
