Our dinner ADR wasn't until 7:45, but I wanted to pick up our
MNSSHP tickets at the MK will call window. I also had a very import photo I wanted to stop for before it got too dark. Again, we had headed down to the bus stop which really felt miles away. There is definitely a correlation between the level of Disney hotel you are staying at and how far away you will be walking to the buses. At All Star Sports last year the bus stop was right outside the side door. At POFQ it's a short walk from the main building. I've stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Boardwalk and the Beach Club and at all of them your definitely making a hike to get to the bus stops. There were a few people waiting for the bus when we got down there dressed for MNSSHP that night. A few of the kids already were complaining about their costumes.
We only had to wait a few minutes and a bus had arrived.
There was a bit of a line at the Will Call window at the MK, but it was moving along. I think people thought I was dressed as a sailor girl or something for the party, because I received a few compliments on my "costume".
We were just about next in line when a CM started chatting with us to see what we were waiting in line for. He was French, and absolutely adorable, and yes I felt very old for even thinking such things!
Still I was having fun chatting with him while we waited. He pulled us out of line, and went into the office to pick up our tickets. I chatted with him a few more minutes, and then I sadly let him go back to work wishing I could find one like him in an older model.
Still I had my photo to stop for over at the Poly. I had to stop for a picture with my Tiki. I want to make it a new tradition on my trips. He was there waiting for me, but I wish they'd trim the brush around him. It's not terribly dignified to be climbing into the bushes when your in a dress.
My first picture with my Tiki back in 1979 -
And the new, can it really be over 30 years later, version -
Once I happily had my picture taken we hopped back on the monorail and headed over to the Contemporary. There was a bit of a line to check into the the California Grill, and we had to wait for a bit once we had our pager. At least there was plenty of room to sit while you waited, but the seats weren't particularly comfy. They were all slick, pretty and modern looking, but they were awfully low. I have short legs and I thought they were low. They were a bit difficult to get up from once the pager when off.
I was hoping we'd get seats in the Wine room again, but we got just a plain old seat in the middle of the room fairly close to the sushi area. Not great, but it was fine.
We decided to share a the Chef's Garden flatbread for our appetizer, heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella, balsamic onions and basil. It was absolutely delicious. The tomatoes were some of the most flavorful tomatoes I've had in a long time.
For dinner I had the oak-fired filet, but I forgot to take any pictures.
Sorry! It was so good I had eaten most of it before I remembered to take a picture. Sadly this was the last thing I really enjoyed eating that night. Not because my desert was bad, but because my entire vacation nearly went up in flames right about this point.
I had finished my entrée and my friend and I were relaxing over the last of our wine, chatting when I went into my wallet to get my license out to show my friend. I can't remember now why I had to show it to her, because all I remember was that it wasn't there. My ID was gone. I searched through my tiny wrist bag, and through every pocket of my even tinier wallet trying to find it. Nothing. I was panic stricken. How in the world would I ever get home without my ID was the only thing going through my head. I'd never get be allowed on the plane. I didn't even know where my expired passport and birth certificate where at home if I had to have some Fedex it to me. It was a horrible feeling. I was envisioning my entire vacation ruined, because I was an airheaded twit who lost her license on her first day at Disney.
I was trying to think back to when I had it last. I knew I had it at the expo, because I had to show it to get my packet. That was the last time I remembered. My friend though was convinced that I had it just a short while before when we had picked up our MNSSHP tickets. I didn't remember that at all, convinced that I had only given the CM my online receipt. I didn't want to ruin the rest of my friend's dinner so I insisted that we finish our desserts and stay to see the fireworks. My mind though was a million miles away.
I had the bananas and caramel dessert.
It was good, but my enjoyment was tempered by the utter fear going on in my head. I loved the layers of phyllo pastry and the bananas. The brittle stuff on top was okay, but it was a bit too crunchy for me. I liked it, but I would have definitely preferred more frozen sunshine. Not terribly classy I know, but hey - the way to my heart is through icecream.
My friend had the Valrhona chocolate cake. She said it was pretty good.
We finished paying the bill just as the fireworks were starting, so we headed out to the back roof-top deck to watch the show. Both decks were really crowded for the show. Much more crowded than when I had been out there in March. I tried to enjoy the fireworks as much as possible. Normally I love the Halloween party fireworks, and it was killing me that I couldn't really enjoy them.
When they were over we headed back over to the will-call window at the Magic Kingdom. My friend was pretty insistent that I had given my ID to the cute french guy to pick up my tickets so it was worth a shot. There was no one at the window when we got there and asked yet another incredibly goodlooking CM if anyone had found my ID. (Seriously why are they hiding them at a will-call window?
) He went off to check, and moments later my french cutie came up to the window with my ID.
He was so apologetic and sweet that he had forgotten to give it back to me. I told him I was just happy and relieved that he had it. Obviously I was spending too much time flirting with the CM, and not enough time paying attention. I guess there's a lesson to be learned there somewhere, because I have no memory of handing that man my ID.
With my ID safely back in my wallet (where I guarded it like a hawk the rest of my vacation) we headed back to the Beach Club for a good nights rest before the big day.
Let us know if there is anything your DISfriends can do for you!! 
I am very glad that I have a window, even when the weather is grey outside! 
I would have been so worried too.
