Eeyore1954
<font color=purple>A smart man who realizes that p
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2002
- Messages
- 5,327
Subtitle: Disappointment turns into Magic
On Day 2 I was up before dawn -- incredibly excited because I was finally going to "do" Dolphins in Depth. I dragged my half-asleep DW downstairs to Cape May Buffet for breakfast. The buffet was still wonderful. I loved the selection of fresh fruit, which helps offset the obligatory Krispy Kreme doughnut.
Our server was Dottie -- she was a hoot! Her antics with Goofy were something to watch -- for awhile she and Goofy were chasing each other around our area!
I was impressed that the Chip and Dale characters knew some sign language. My sign language skills are basic at best, but we managed to "discuss" the yummy buffet items. At one point, I came back to find Dale in my seat -- I guess waiting to knosh on my grapefruit or watermelon. Didn't know chipmunks liked fruit
We headed off to Epcot. My DW headed on in while I waited at Guest Relations as advised. We had reconfirmed this "tour" several times (we originally booked it in June because we knew it filled up fast). I waited and waited and waited. I saw Stephanie Wight (CM) working several other tours; but by 9:50 a.m. no one had come out from Living Seas. By 10:15 a.m. I was really suspicious and apparently so was Stephanie, who asked me what I was waiting for. After telling her, she got on the phone to track down someone in the know.
Long story short -- the tour had been cancelled for this ONE day -- the cancellation was done almost 3 months ago. Apparently, everyone who was scheduled was contacted, except me. I was very disappointed, even more so to find out that I could not get into another tour while we were there -- everything that week was sold out.
I went into Epcot to search for DW -- who in the meantime had found out the tour was cancelled & was busy talking to the manager of animal programs at Living Seas. We met up and went back to talk to Jane Davies. She wasn't available, so we walked over to the Land to eat lunch. We did counter service downstairs -- we both had the linguine with marinara sauce. We both liked it, but I would have preferred a little more sauce.
Afetr lunch we headed back to Living Seas to meet Jane -- who had left for the day. However, to make up for their miscommunication, Jane arranged for a staff member to take us on a backstage tour of the Living Seas! We toured their kitchen, labs and we backstage to meet Bob and Ranier, the dolphins. We also went backstage to meet Pine and Forest, the two manatees. They didn't surface to "greet" us, so we watched them swim from the observation deck.
Then we went to the 3rd floor where the DID tour is held. Bob and Rainer followed us from their backstage area and immediately headed to the DID area -- I guess they were expecting the tour also! We got to walk about the entire aquarium from this level, watched another staffer feed some of the sharks in the tank and learned how they feed, care for, and clean up after their aquatic friends. Needless to say, it was a magical tour and more than we expected.
We left Living Seas and explored more of Future World. We had PS for Restaurant Marrakesh. Our server, Badre, suggested the Royal Feast (we were using Discovery Magic Wishes for dinner). It was incredible. As usual, it was way too much food, but it was wonderful nonetheless.
We returned to the Beach Club to relax. On the vanity in our room was a towel animal duck -- left by our Mousekeeper, Carmen. We were surprised and delighted by this since we heard towel animals were left in rooms with children. We also had a message from the Living Seas -- they are sending certificates to our home so that both my DW and I can "do" Dolphins in Depth on any future Disney vacation.
What started as a kind of disappointing day turned out to be quite magical after all.
On Day 2 I was up before dawn -- incredibly excited because I was finally going to "do" Dolphins in Depth. I dragged my half-asleep DW downstairs to Cape May Buffet for breakfast. The buffet was still wonderful. I loved the selection of fresh fruit, which helps offset the obligatory Krispy Kreme doughnut.
Our server was Dottie -- she was a hoot! Her antics with Goofy were something to watch -- for awhile she and Goofy were chasing each other around our area! I was impressed that the Chip and Dale characters knew some sign language. My sign language skills are basic at best, but we managed to "discuss" the yummy buffet items. At one point, I came back to find Dale in my seat -- I guess waiting to knosh on my grapefruit or watermelon. Didn't know chipmunks liked fruit
We headed off to Epcot. My DW headed on in while I waited at Guest Relations as advised. We had reconfirmed this "tour" several times (we originally booked it in June because we knew it filled up fast). I waited and waited and waited. I saw Stephanie Wight (CM) working several other tours; but by 9:50 a.m. no one had come out from Living Seas. By 10:15 a.m. I was really suspicious and apparently so was Stephanie, who asked me what I was waiting for. After telling her, she got on the phone to track down someone in the know.
Long story short -- the tour had been cancelled for this ONE day -- the cancellation was done almost 3 months ago. Apparently, everyone who was scheduled was contacted, except me. I was very disappointed, even more so to find out that I could not get into another tour while we were there -- everything that week was sold out.
I went into Epcot to search for DW -- who in the meantime had found out the tour was cancelled & was busy talking to the manager of animal programs at Living Seas. We met up and went back to talk to Jane Davies. She wasn't available, so we walked over to the Land to eat lunch. We did counter service downstairs -- we both had the linguine with marinara sauce. We both liked it, but I would have preferred a little more sauce.
Afetr lunch we headed back to Living Seas to meet Jane -- who had left for the day. However, to make up for their miscommunication, Jane arranged for a staff member to take us on a backstage tour of the Living Seas! We toured their kitchen, labs and we backstage to meet Bob and Ranier, the dolphins. We also went backstage to meet Pine and Forest, the two manatees. They didn't surface to "greet" us, so we watched them swim from the observation deck.
Then we went to the 3rd floor where the DID tour is held. Bob and Rainer followed us from their backstage area and immediately headed to the DID area -- I guess they were expecting the tour also! We got to walk about the entire aquarium from this level, watched another staffer feed some of the sharks in the tank and learned how they feed, care for, and clean up after their aquatic friends. Needless to say, it was a magical tour and more than we expected.
We left Living Seas and explored more of Future World. We had PS for Restaurant Marrakesh. Our server, Badre, suggested the Royal Feast (we were using Discovery Magic Wishes for dinner). It was incredible. As usual, it was way too much food, but it was wonderful nonetheless.
We returned to the Beach Club to relax. On the vanity in our room was a towel animal duck -- left by our Mousekeeper, Carmen. We were surprised and delighted by this since we heard towel animals were left in rooms with children. We also had a message from the Living Seas -- they are sending certificates to our home so that both my DW and I can "do" Dolphins in Depth on any future Disney vacation.
What started as a kind of disappointing day turned out to be quite magical after all.
