Back in the room, we all showered and changed. I was feeling a bit tired, so I was moving in slow motion as was the rest of my group. The kids were tired but were being really good sports about getting ready, even though they would have much rather taken a nap.
We headed toward the buses already running about 20 minutes behind. The plan was to meet at the American Pavilion at 4:00 pm before heading to Germany for dinner. I didnt get on a bus until 4pm. The skies looked pretty bad, and sure enough, as soon as we got off the bus, the heavens opened and Fay hit us once again! It was a complete down pour, not even a poncho could save you.
I made some calls to V and LL and found out V was stuck at the Beach Club and LL was at the Yacht Club trying to make her way to the Beach Club to meet up with V. I also called CE to let her know where I was and that I would get to them as soon as this rain let up.
It was so bad, I seriously contemplated getting back on the bus as I didnt see how we would get to Germany without becoming completely drenched. But I had to get there. We waited under the bus shelters for a good 20 minutes, then we decided to just deal with it and get over to the Fockers.
We entered WS and I noticed the Friendships were still running, so we jumped on the one to Germany. As we pulled up, I spotted V & LL heading to Fockerfest and we literally walked over to Fockerfest together.
I noticed the sea of lime green and headed toward that direction. Its all such a blur, as I dont know who I hugged first or what. I remember seeing CE again and then I had to look for Janet, as I hadnt met her yet. Hugs all around, and then I came across a pretty face I didnt recognize. I guess I looked at her funny because she said Hi! Im Angela! I felt horrible as I didnt recognize her from her siggie pic. Shes stunningly pretty in person.
Pretty soon I noticed all these goody bags going around.
AHEM.
There was a rule that we wouldnt do presents this year.
AHEM.
Some people failed to follow the rules.
AHEM.
And there were goody bags, bracelets, toy rings, pins, etc. I felt so bad!
AHEM.
They were mostly little trinkets for the kids, although I did get a British Flag pin and a Lime Green Fockerfest 2008 rubber bracelet (which I love, love, love) and an I ate Weiner Salad pin from someone.
AHEM.
Thank you very much ladies, we all enjoyed your thoughtful gifts.
They took us all in for dinner and thats when I smelled it.
German food. It smelled like warm cat food. I tried really hard not to make a big deal of it, but as soon as we walked in, everyone looked at me like they knew I was grossing out. I psyched myself out and we moved on to seating arrangements, which were a fiasco, TFI.
Apparently the nice people at Catfoodgarten decided to seat us in tables of 10, rather than the normal 8 and really mucked up the seating chart V had prepared. Sorry V!
We did a little musical chairs and everyone was good. Andy and I took the kids over to the buffet and got them settled, then we went up. Oy Vey! Everything was
weinerfied. There was some sort of meaty weiner in just about everything, so I made my way over to the cold items. They did have a nice array of salads and such, with the exception of Weiner Salad. Ewwww!!!
It looked worse then I thought. I was quite happy with my choices and got plenty full from all the non-weiner items. Mo kept teasing me and checking my plate to see if I was eating any wiener items.
Flat friends unite!
Me & LL
Me and Mo and our little secret.
After the meal, we headed outside for some photos. We sure got a lot of attention from onlookers wonder if there was a celebrity amongst us or what. We said our good-byes. I knew I wouldnt see most of them, so I said my good-byes and we all kind of broke off into smaller groups.
Waldo and the Focker girls:
The DIS kids:
V, LL & I had all planned to send our kids away for the evening and enjoy an adults night out. Waldo and TE offered to take Maddie & Evan, but Maddie got wind that Michael and Leo were going to the Sandcastle kids club, so she cried and carried on about wanting to stay with them. I didnt have reservations for her, so we took a chance and sent Evan off with Waldo and TE to hit Spaceship Earth and head back to the room and took Maddie with us, hoping they had availability for her with the other boys at Sandcastle club.
We walked through the International Gateway and over toward the Beach Club to drop the kids off. We had never seen this side and Andy & I really enjoyed the walk along with our friends who gave a mini spiel on how staying at the Boardwalk or Beach Club villas was yet another benefit of DVC.
When we got to the Sandcastle Club, we lucked out as they had a spot for Maddie. We said our good-byes to our darling children and ran
errr.. walked to the nearest pub. Originally we had thought of returning to Epcot, but decided on hitting Marthas Vineyard instead. It was closer to the kids and would require minimal stumbling errr
walking.
V saying goodbye to Leo:
We found a table for 5 and ordered our first round. I have no idea what everyone else ordered, I just know I got a Pear Martini. I was NOT going to be drinking the devils juice tonight. NOChampagneMojito. I have to say this martini was yummy! The only strange thing was its accompaniment. It was a strange leaf-ish botanical thing. It was not a pear leaf. We had a heck of a time trying to figure it out. It almost became the game of the evening: Name Tracys drink plant.
Round 1:
What the heck is in my drink?
We spent the evening chatting about everything and anything. From family to work, to Disney to DVC. It was probably my favorite hours of my vacation. No kids, no parents, just great friends and great booze. Sometime after 9pm, Mel, NotBob, Z, Kat and Yani come walking in. It was so funny! They grabbed a table near us and ordered their drinks.
Our time was up at 10:30pm, as we had to pick up our kids and head back to our resort. LL & V were both leaving the next morning and LL still had to pack and get ready for their long drive home. We picked up the kids and walked V and Leo to the Beach Club entrance as V parked at the BC valet. Sadly we said our good-byes. There were tears and long faces but there were also promises to see each other again in Disney our own personal meeting spot. I was taken a back at how sad I was, and how seeing my friends once a year was not enough. Even the kids were sad to say good-bye to their Disney friends.
The rest of us, LL, Tony, Michael, Andy, Maddie and I, walked silently over to the Yacht Club to pick up LLs car. She had kindly offered to give us a ride back to SSR. We chatted on the ride and then received a text from V and we got all sappy again. What a bunch of girls!
We arrived at SSR and now it was our turn to say good-bye to LL, Tony and Michael. Again there was sadness, tears and then little Michael decided hed had enough and said, Thats it! Thats enough good-byes!! We laughed and promised to keep in touch and left with See you next year! pinkie promise.
They drove away and we headed up to our room. Evan had just fallen asleep with TE & Waldo, so I picked him up and put him in bed. Maddie saw Evan had gotten a Mickey light-up sword and she picked it up to show me. As soon as I laid Evan down, he popped up and told us about his SE ride and how Waldo bought him a Mickey sword and finished his sentence with And dont you touch it, Maddie! Without skipping a beat, Maddie told him Too late, I already did! They giggled themselves to sleep within a few minutes.
I showered and jumped in bed, sent a good-bye text to V & LL and drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow we had an 8:00 am breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom I sure hope we make it!
I had the best time that night, it was really like meeting up with old friends, never an awkward moment at all! Too bad I didn't get drunk enough and start talking in spanish!
and thanks for reading!
(Wish I coulda come!)
I thought that was our cue.
