Previously on Biscuit's Grand Adventure 2, my body wanted to die, we all went to fly, and a snack was consumed rather quickly.
Not long after our last trip, I took an inventory of all the various junk we had picked up in the parks. After surveying our pile of "memories", I decided that the next time we went to The World, I was going to do something different. Rather than throw down wads of dough for multiple little trinkets, I was going to get the girls one big item, and leave the rest of the souvenir purchases up to them and their piggy bank.
I knew pretty much right away what the one big souvenir was going to be, and for five years I have mentioned it from time to time to torture, I mean to help build anticipation for our trip.
I never told the girls exactly what they were getting, but instead gave them some cryptic "clues" as to what lie in store.
They consisted of this:
It goes from ugly to pretty.
It goes from dark to light.
It goes from wet to dry.
Hoshimoto Soda
Sponge Bob
It drove the girls nuts, and they kept guessing what it was whenever I brought it up. (They actually guessed it mostly correct once, but I kept my poker face on and they didn't realize it.)
Reaching our destination required a considerable hike, and after psyching myself up for it, we set out from The Land and began our sojourn around the World Showcase Lagoon. The construction walls continued to dominate the landscape, with the area between Innoventions West and the Canada Pavilion being wholly consumed by barriers.
Before the trip, I looked up the Friendship schedule, so I knew when we left Soarin that we had JUST missed the final Friendship launch. Reaching the Promenade, we turned right and began navigating the World Showcase as pedestrians. The sun was beginning to ease up a bit, which I was more than happy about, and the crowds around the lagoon were heavy but not oppressively so. I soon found that the deeper into World Showcase that we traveled, the better the crowd levels became.
Despite it still being warm out and us being on a time table, it was a still great evening for stroll through Epcot. (Really when is it NOT a great evening for a stroll around Epcot? Oh wait. I answered my own question a few days later. But that's getting ahead of myself.)
Off Kilter was playing their last set of the evening as we rounded Canada, and I am sad to know that this was my last time ever seeing them there. But hey, at least we now have a group of lumberjacks hosting a log sawing contest.
Progress.
By this point in time, the combined forces of my earlier excursions and the limitations of First Lady Biscuit's RA were taking their toll on our walking pace. Easing up the throttle a bit, we soon settled into a more leisurely pace. Man it sucks getting old. But as my grandfather used to say "It sure beats the alternative."
After a bit, we found ourselves crossing the bridge over the canal that links The World Showcase Lagoon with Crescent Lake and encountered an unforeseen resistance to my master plan. For reasons I have not yet determined, Tahlia has had a thing for France lately. (I am told that many junior high girls go through an "I LOVE PARIS!!!" stage so I guess it's our turn.) As we headed towards the France Pavilion, Tahlia was hankering to head that way and do some exploring. Suppressing the urge to chant "Resistance is Futile!" I promised her we would explore it at a later time. Encouraged by my response and a promise of finally solving the five year mystery, she was content to move along.
Squeezing through the narrow passage between Spice Road Table and an in-progress performance on the outside stage in Morocco, we closed ranks, subconsciously grabbed the girls' hands, and shuffled through the standing crowds.
Soon we arrived at our target destination and turning right, headed into Mitsukoshi. The girls were immediately oohing and aahing over all of the Hello Kitty and cartoon merchandise. I had never been inside this place before, but didn't have too much trouble figuring out where to go. (The massive crowd of people and hearty drumming was my first clue.)
In case you hadn't guessed by now, we were going to do Pick A Pearl.
Do you get the clues?
I have read about this multiple times on the boards and always thought it sounded like a cool idea. It appealed to me for multiple reasons: it is a souvenir the girls can actually use and enjoy outside of the parks; they won't outgrow it; it will last for a very long time; it isn't your typical park merchandise.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, the way it works is this. You go around to the register side of the counter and tell them how many oysters you want to open. You then pre-pay for each one. (I can't find the receipt, but I am 99% positive they were $17 each.) The receipt is numbered, and once you have the number, you wait for it to be called. After your number is called, you point out to the cast member which oyster you wish to take a gamble on. The cast member then fishes it out of the tank for you and performs a little ceremony to open it. Whatever pearl is in there, you keep and can either take home as-is or have made into jewelry on site.
Once the girls figured out what we were actually doing, they were insanely excited.
They look excited don't they?
There were about four people ahead of us, so we had some time to look around the shop and watch a couple of groups open their pearls.
While we were waiting, I shared a tip I found on the DIS: pick the ugliest, nastiest, most horrid looking thing in the tank, and you'll have a better chance for getting a great pearl. I wasn't sure how accurate this advice would be, but I was about to find out.
As their turn approached, the girls got down and dirty searching both sets of tanks.
Finally, after much conferring and plotting they found the ugly oysters they were looking for.
Soon it was our turn and they pointed out their selection to Anna, the cast member from ***uoka Japan who was running the Pearl station.
EDIT - (Okay, apparently the DIS filter thinks her hometown is a dirty word.
Let's just say she is from northern Kyushu Island.)
Anna scooped out the girls' selections, and placed them on a dark bamboo tray to be opened.
I switched my camera mode from photo to video and took up position in the official Dad's video zone. (Well it was official to me anyway.) Below is a 3 min and 50 second video clip (just click on the picture right under here) showing the oysters being opened and the little ceremony they do.
YouTube Link
If you have trouble hearing it, want my thoughts as things were happening, or just aren't that interested in watching other people's vacation videos (I feel you, I really do), you can find the summary below.
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With their two ugly oysters sitting out and ready to open, Anna started by explaining the process a bit and then opened Tahlia's oyster first. As soon as she opened it up, her eyes lit up and she rolled out a mother of a pearl. She complemented Tahlia on picking out such a big pearl and told her she did a great job.
Two thoughts then crossed my mind at roughly at the same time. "Hey that's really cool man!" and & "Oh Lord, PLEASE let Hailee get a good one too." Because you parents know how it is with sibling rivalry. And let me tell you, I've seen wars erupt over the perceived injustice of the level of milk in two identical cups. I didn't want this really cool moment to be ruined by the green eyed monster.
Have you ever had those times when you think God is laughing at you? Not a like a mean "You're an idiot" laugh, more like an "If you only knew what I had in store!" laugh. I'm pretty sure that in those few moments, I had some divine chuckles thrown my way.
Anna picked up the second oyster, had the girls count in Japanese while she commenced to shucking, and then made a sad face at Hailee. In a very serious tone, she called Hailee "Princess" and told that her sister had been very lucky to get a pearl so big and rolled out a small pearl from Hailee's oyster. Then her eyes lit up and she showed Hailee the oyster shell. Tahlia saw it first and yelled, "Hailee, you got two!" Then Anna rolled a second pearl out of the oyster.
I smiled and kept filming, remaining the stoic, calm and collective DIS Dad. But I am compelled to admit what the dim lighting of the store had concealed. I was a bit misty eyed at that point. It all turned out far better than I could have imagined. That both girls had a special moment full on made my night.
They measured the pearls and Tahlia's was 8.5mm. She got a second kudos for having the biggest pearl of the day. Hailee's were then measured and we found they were a perfect set, both being exactly 6.25mm.
Anna then finished up the ceremony by banging on the drum, and (after the video stops) gave them some instructions on caring for their pearls.
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Once we had the bagged pearls in hand, it was time to move over the jewelry case. We knew if we brought home the pearls as they were, they would sit in a drawer for untold years and eventually wind up lost. Part of my souvenir master plan was to have them made into jewelry while at Mitsukoshi so that the girls could wear them during our trip. Finding the "perfect" settings was not what one would call an expeditious adventure, but we had plenty of time before Illuminations and the girls were having so much fun, that I was happy to step back and let them browse.
They eventually settled on a pair of earring settings for Hailee, and pendant setting & chain for Tahlia. Though they didn't coordinate their "picking out" efforts, the girls managed to come away with matching pieces. (There is a rumor floating around that First Lady Biscuit helped out, and thought a matching set would be great in case she needs to borrow them sometime. But that's JUST a rumor mind you, and I already clobbered the guy spreading it around.) Once we paid, the cast members took the bagged pearls and the settings and moved them over to the other side of the booth where the jewelry makers were working.
Mitsukoshi does not have resort delivery for the pearl settings and they close at nine so there was no coming in after Illuminations. We waited it out and passed the time by browsing around the store and watching the girls' jewelry being made.
Our official pickup time was 8:50, but Cast Member Yuki was fast and they were ready closer to 8:40.
As we were picking them up, the cast members switched stations and Anna moved over to the jewelry making area. She once again congratulated the girls and told them they were very lucky.
Not lucky really, just blessed.
I took a couple of photos there, but they did not turn out well, so here is one I took last night that shows what they look like.
We admired the new jewelry a few moments before First Lady Biscuit commandeered them for safe keeping.
For the curios among you, Tahlia's pendant was $29.00 and the chain she picked was $15.95. Add that to the cost of the pearl and hers was $61.95. Hailee's earing settings were $35.00 which when added to the cost of the pearl made them $52.00. While they weren't exactly cheap, when you compare it to the cost of 3-4 little gifts, it is actually not bad at all. And it made for an amazing memory.
Continued in next post.
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It grows on you. 
with the clues. I let it marinate a minute or two and then 
it almost hit me. 
They each have something individually unique yet can make a special set together. 
