The next morning was, sadly, our last morning of the trip. As per usual, we were up and out the door early, this time with our luggage clattering down the cobblestone pathway of POFQ. (Sorry vacationing neighbors!)
Since our flight wasnt leaving until that evening, we left the bags with Bell Services (I think) and were on our way to jam-pack in as much Disney as possible before returning to the real world (where we werent even sure yet that we had power).
(Most commonly-had conversation throughout the trip:
CM: (cheerfully) So where are you guys from?
Us: New Jersey
CM: (cringing) Oooh. Oh. Okay. Hows everything there??)
Our recently-visited sites cycled between the news and the airline, trying to see if our flight was indeed set for home that night. Up until around a day prior, all flights bound to our area had been cancelled, but the airports were slowly starting to get back up and running, and all signs pointed to our flight being on-time.
(Yes, Ill admit, I wasnt ENTIRELY opposed to the idea of us being stuck in Disney for a few extra days, but thats a story for Lias TR!)
Anyways, our destination for this day??
Do I hear any guesses of Epcot?
Well, youre wrong!! (Come on, I cant be THAT predictable!)
To the Magic Kingdom we bussed!
A little backstory here: throughout the week, DF and I had been wearing our Happy Anniversary and Happily Ever After flair, and CMs everywhere were cheerfully congratulating us, and we would cheerfully thank them. At one point, DF mused if people were ever wearing these pins but were in a TERRIBLE mood or arguing, and then they would get congratulated by the CMs and be all WHAT? Leave me alone!
and of course
this now had to happen to us.
As we were on the bus to the MK, I had one of those loud gasp moments of horrified realization that we never actually checked out of POFQ. We never received any sort of bill or check-out letter under the door the night before. We were practically at the MK, breakfast was at a too-close time for us to turn around at that point, and check-out was at 10am. As my mind spun in circles, the only conclusion that I had come to was that this had ruined our MK day, and we were going to have to race back to POFQ.
DF sighed.
Call Disney, he suggested, and see if we actually need to go back or if it was an automatic check-out process.
By this point, we were off the bus and walking towards the MK. Going through my phone, I chose the first Disney area code number I saw, and pushed dial.
And as soon as I didnt hear that magical Tinker Bell sound (you all know what Im talking about), I knew I had accidentally called the woman that had done my engagement photo hair and makeup. At 7:30 in the morning. For absolutely no reason at all.
I hung up, hoping desperately that the call hadnt gone through, and called Disney (by this point we were in the early ADR line), and found out that we were checked out, didnt have to return, and made sure nobody else would get our information under their door. Situation resolved.
But, while all of this was happening, we had gone through bag check, where one of the lovely cheerful CMs saw our pins, and of course, congratulated us. Flustered, I think I said something along the lines of what? Okay, thanks.
(Sorry, nice CM!
)
When we were first planning the trip, I knew that a Crystal Palace breakfast ADR was a must-have (DF LOVES it there not for the characters, for the Puffed French Toast and Breakfast Lasagna). Originally, I had had it booked for one morning, but then our wedding-planning schedule had to shuffle around slightly, which impacted our original CP ADR. When making this ADR, I like to ideally have it be on non-EMH mornings so we can do the pre-park-opening ADR. Unfortunately, there was absolutely no availability on the morning I was trying for (the one prior), no matter how many times I checked the site, and this day was the only one with ADRs available (BUT, there were EMHs that morning).
Boo.
But, in the name of the Puffed French Toast, the ADR was made, and to Crystal Palace we headed! But first, castle pictures are a necessity!
(No, DF didnt point out to me that I completely forgot to fix my hair that morning when I was distracted and packing up our stuff, so it looks all messed up in our photos!)
We were seated in the restaurant quickly, and went straight up to the buffet. I'll give you one guess as to whose bowl this was:
Wingnut, needless to say, was in breakfast bliss. But there was plenty more that we ate! (I know, you're shocked!)
My plate:
Western egg pizza was a bit meh, the egg casserole was very good with veggies and cheese. The bacon was nice and crispy. The Puffed French Toast was a bit denser than last time, but still great. The potato casserole was really good and creamy. And you gotta love those Disney strawberries!
DF's:
"The Puffed French Toast was disappointing this year, usually it is dusted in sugar and cinnamon, I got a few bare ones this time. I liked the breakfast pizza, it was on a whole wheat crust. It was like a southwestern omelette. The corned beef hash was not from a can, and it was good. The biscuits and gravy were good, not as sinful as I'd like them to be, but probably better for me that way."
Me, round 2:
The biscuit was alright, but the gravy was very thin. To me, the pear and asiago scone tasted like feet
.
DF's second plate:
"The egg casserole with sausage was good. The breakfast lasagna was super sweet, I liked the raspberry jam and custard and diced up pastry. The eggs were good, and the potato casserole was good. The croissant was nice and buttery. The pear asiago scone was good, sweet from the pear and sugar, but had a sharp unexpected cheese flavor."
The view from our table:
While we ate, a few friends came by and visited.
As usual, we had a great breakfast at Crystal Palace, and can't wait to return on our honeymoon!
I applaud those who can push out a TR in a few months and still keep up with everyone else's. 
Personally, I think day 3 will be the BEST! 
especially for your Disney wedding/moon... that seems so wrong...
but fortunately I spoke to a human...
I don't like the new dining website either, it's annoying, in fact, the whole Disney website is kind of obnoxious! But at least you ended up getting most of the things you wanted! When is Cali Grill opening back up? 
I still can't believe I got stuck there.
