After returning to the room we both napped for a couple of hours and then made a "game plan" for the night. We knew the first thing we had to do was find the business center to print up all our cruise documents. As overly planned as I was, I somehow left all our cruise paperwork sitting on the coffee table when we left
The business center was very easy to find and also very expensive to use
As if it wasn't bad enough, as I pulled up the cruise documents I hit the wrong button and printed out the entire contract instead of only the pages we had to sign and turn in .... not the smartest idea when you are paying per page for printing
We left the business center with our wallet feeling robbed and headed back to our room. When I made the last minute change to our hotel, I forgot that I also needed to change where the cruise bus would be picking us up. I figured it would be one quick phone call to get it switched over and then we could head out for dinner. You see where this is going right? Well, first I got a super friendly CM who I somehow got disconnected from. So, I called back and got a less than pleasant CM who informed me that this was going to take a while and did I want to hold or keep things they way they were .... ummmm, of course I will hold, I don't want to transport my luggage over to the Beach Club and grab the bus from there
So, I held and held and held while she called in the change. She came back on the line and informed me that there wasn't any way to change the reservation, but let me know that she went out of her way to do it, just this once.
Ok, time for dinner right? Yeah, not so fast! We then had to go down to bell services to get luggage tags and make sure they were still going to pick up our luggage for the cruise. Bell services was extremely helpful and said not to worry, they would get it all taken care of and our luggage tags would be under our door when we returned from dinner. They also let us know that all our bags had to be ready for pick-up no later than 8:00 a.m. and where to meet the bus in the morning
Finally, time for some dinner! We had decided earlier that we would do one of two things .... the first would be to cancel our (second) original reservation (we had already switched our reservation from Fulton's in an effort to save money) and eat at the Pepper Market if anything looked good on their menu. Well, a lot of stuff looked good, but it was also incredibly busy and we decided it wasn't where we wanted to eat. The second option was to head to the bus stop and play a game of "chance." We had a reservation for the clam bake buffet at Cape May over at the beach club. This way Candi could still enjoy crab legs but with a smaller price tag than Fultons
However, we were also interested in having a meal at Wilderness Lodge since this is our "home away from home" and we wanted a chance to visit the Lodge this trip. So, this is how it all worked. We would walk to the bus stop and if a Hollywood Studios bus pulled up we would go there and take the boat to the Beach Club. If a Magic Kingdom bus pulled up we would go there and transfer to the boat over to Wilderness Lodge. If any other bus pulled up it would be a "flip of the coin" where to transfer to. So, the first bus pulls around the corner and it's a Hollywood Studios bus. We both look at each other and know that our hearts really want to go to the Wilderness Lodge. So, Candi makes a quick phone call cancels the reservation for the Clam Bake and looks to see if we can get squeezed into Whispering Canyon Cafe instead. Jackpot, they can seat us in an hour! Double jackpot the next bus that pulled up was to Magic Kingdom! Now we would have time to walk around the grounds AND eat somewhere new at our favorite resort!
We make it to the Magic Kingdom in no time at all and run over to the boat dock just as a boat to Wilderness Lodge is pulling up. We couldn't believe our luck! Then the boat Captain gets out and lets us know they are taking the boat away for routine check-ups and at this time of night it is the only boat running to the resort. He ensures us that it will only be 10 minutes or so and to just hang tight. Candi and I discuss going over to the bus stop instead, but decide to put our faith in the promised wait time. Well, 10 minutes come and go and we once again discuss going to the bus stop, but wait! here comes the boat YAY! It pulls up and the captain and guy who brought it exchange a few words and then they load everyone up. But, for some reason we just sit there and wait and wait and wait. Our reservation is now in less than 30 minutes and I am getting slightly anxious. Well, we finally take off to head towards with Lodge when our boat stops in the water to wait and lets us know we have to wait for the big TTC ferry to pass by. No big deal, except we don't even see the ferry coming, oh wait, 5 minutes later and we do see the ferry coming. We finally get to the Lodge with about 10 minutes to spare before our reservation and know that roaming the grounds is not in the plans for before dinner. Ok, Ok, we will just roam around after ... no big deal!
So, we are seated as soon as we check-in and they place us in a side room over by the fireplace. It's away from the main room and all the "quirks" of the restaurant. I am slightly bummed and slightly glad all at the same time. I did want a somewhat relaxing meal, but also wanted to experience what this restaurant is known for. We are introduced to our "cousin" who will be taking care of us that night. She was really friendly and we knew what we wanted to order right away ... the skillet of course! If you are not familiar with the skillet it is "all you can eat" but brought right to your table and includes ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, corn on the cob, mashed taters and beans. You are also started with a salad and endless cornbread. Candi also decided to get the bottomless milkshake. Well, our super sweet "cousin" brings us our drinks/milkshake quickly and the food follows not too long after. And then we don't see her, I finally ask another passing server if they could find her. She comes back and we ask for seconds on the food we like and Candi orders a refill on his milkshake. It took about 15 minutes, which were enjoyed by watching all the antics going on around us (I won't ruin it for anybody who's never been!). Then a different server brings the refill on the skillet, but no milkshake. We kindly remind them that we had ordered a refill and he says that our "cousin" is coming with it. Well, we finish off the second round of the skillet and there's still no milkshake in sight. For that matter, there isn't a server in sight either. Our server finally comes with the bill, but no milkshake. I ask her about it and she says she already brought us a refill but would he like another since their bottomless. Well, no we never got a refill but at this point Candi is tired and agitated and no longer wants a milkshake. She apologizes and says she will bring one in a "to go" cup for us both after she runs the payment through. Ok, we can deal with that. Except a different server brings us our card back and, of course, there are no "to go" cups and there are no milkshakes
Tonight it was Candi who says to just let it go and we should just forget about it and enjoy what's left of our night.
At this point I'm irritated with our waitress, I'm frustrated at the cost of the bottomless milkshake that ended up being only one milkshake and I'm tired. We make our way out of the Lodge and slowly take the path over to the boats to transfer back to MK and then transfer back to CSR. We both try to talk about what we love about Wilderness Lodge to lighten the mood, but both our spirits are just dampened. It wasn't the night we had hoped for and we were both disappointed. We get to the bus stop having just missed the boat and then realize there isn't another boat coming until after the fireworks have finished. We could definitely hear them but could only see a few of them through the trees. Then Candi turns around and sees that the geyser is going off, of all our times visiting WL we have never seen the geyser. For some reason this makes me cry and Candi holds me while we stand on the dock ... surrounded by people who are just as tired and cranky as us ... getting bit by a million mosquitoes .... praying that this night is somehow salvaged.
A few minutes after we hear the last firework go off the boat pulls up and we ride in silence and then walk with the masses to the bus stop. We are on a packed bus, standing room only by the time we board and the ride back to CSR seems so much longer than the ride to MK earlier that night.
Once we arrive at CSR we make the walk up to our room and I immediately go inside to change into my PJs and wash my face. However, as I walk inside I step on something. Oh! Our luggage tags! Only they are marked for Disney Magic and we are going on the Wonder. I make a call to bell services who tells me to just cross out the Magic with a pen and write Wonder on it. This makes me nervous but I am too tired to argue and just do as he says.
I had just finished washing my face when Candi leans in and hollers at me to come outside with him and when I do he points out the view we had been upgraded to
No, it wasn't of Epcot or the castle or a lake, but that night it was beautiful to us and for whatever reason standing outside the door to our room looking at the courtyard the stress melted away.
After a few minutes outside we went in, settled into bed and shared our treats from Goofys Candy Co while flipping through channels on TV ....
Money Spent on Full Day at Disney (no parks):
Earl of Sandwich (2 sandwiches, 2 sides, 2 drinks) - $20.07
Leather Bracelet for Goddaughter - $11.72
World of Disney (Mom's gift including shipping) - $48.30
World of Disney (2 Pirate t-shirts) - $19.63
Team Mickey (1 adult t-shirt, 1 baby t-shirt) - $42.50
Goofys Candy Co (2 make your own treats and 1 Icee) - $19.80
Whispering Canyon Cafe (skillet for 2, 1 soft drink, 1 bottomless milkshake) - $77.16
** As a side, since I made such a big deal about it, I wanted to point out that the bottomless milkshake was $7.49 **
It was very nice to take a different approach to Disney this time!
I would have freaked out!
Babies are such precious gifts. I can tell just by reading you report that you guys are going to be great parents... kids at heart all while being loving and supportive of each other... what more could a child ask for?!?! Also, babies also give you great reasons to visit WDW... We took our son to for his first birthday and our upcoming trip is actually to celebrate our little girl's first birthday... a cruise, birthday dinner at CRT, and a first haircut a the Main Street Barber Shop... so excited to celebrate with my princess 
, reminding him we had to meet in the lobby at 11 and I wanted to grab a little breakfast first. He gets up and goes to get his clothes to take his shower but can't find them anywhere. I laugh thinking he's just not looking in the right spot and ask him what they look like. Then I realize that the outfit he is describing I might have mistaken for needing to be transferred to the cruise suitcase 
After everything that had happened I didn't know what else to do but laugh hysterically. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe, got the hiccups and may have accidentally let a few small snorts out 
