We got up later than yesterday. Maybe 8:30. My dad had been yelling at me to allow my mother to sleep in a little. We had breakfast at the Mara. I'd found something that I liked - their breakfast wrap. Although by this point of the trip we were both quite sick of bacon. We both picked it out of everything we got. There is only so much bacon one person can eat after all, and we had reached our limit.
Next came my second irritating encounter with AKL concierge (front desk) CMs. I wanted to make ADRs for the Plaza restaurant for dinner. I knew we probably didn't need them, but I figured better safe than sorry. And when I tried to call from the room with the dining key it said to go to the front desk. The CM told me I couldn't make ADRs for the Plaza. I told him that I was certain you could. "No, you can't." "Yes, I'm pretty sure you can." "No, you can't." "Are you positive?". At least he finally looked... And found that yes - you can!!
I'd wanted to get one last ride in on ToT and RnR. It never gets easier to leave, does it? No matter how long you stay at WDW whenever you leave it's always "one last time" for this and that. I also hoped to find something for Andre. I did get to ride my rides. I didn't find anything for Andre.
Our bus ride to MGM was funny. I had on my Flower shirt. It said "Love Stinks". On the way onto the bus the driver said "Love stinks, huh? That's a pretty funny shirt." I laughed and got onto the bus. We sat in the back. 2 min. later the driver sat down next to me in the back and said "So why does love stink?" I said, "trust me, you don't really want to know." And he said "sure I do.". After a quick glance at my mother followed by her brief nod I said "well my mom and I are here to celebrate my impending divorce, my soon to be ex-husband met a 13 year old girl among other details which I will omit." He said "Okay, I guess that definitely gives you the right to wear that shirt."
He chit-chatted with the other woman on the other side of us, then returned to the front of the bus. When he got to the front the woman next to us (who was alone) started talking to us about how friendly he was and how she wouldn't want to drive the buses. We agreed that they must take happy pills. Now, remember, the driver is driving the bus at this point. He respons "Nope, no happy pills ma'am, we just enjoy doing our job." Eeek! You mean they have some kind of monitoring system in those buses!!!!!
Anyway, he kept up a running commentary with those of us in the back of the bus all the way to the TTC. So that was highly entertaining and made the bus ride go by very quickly.
Once we reached MK I finally round something for Andre
Granted it wasn't anything big or flashy. It was in the Confectionary shop on Main Street - it was a huge rice krispie treat, fudge, and peanut brittle in a plastic Mickey head (like the kiddie meal type only bigger). Perfect, cute, not too $$$, slight hint of Mickey, and best of all, if we decide after I return that we hate each other it will be gone soon so no lasting reminders of me. You know, a practical gift
So all was right with the world. I'd worry about the perfect birthday gift later...
We headed to Tomorrowland (yet again) and I rode Space Mtn. (yet again). I think we did Stitch twice, Buzz (did I lose? you guess
), and TTA. During this time it started to pour, so we spent some time under awnings waiting for it to stop. Oh, and remember that phone call I got last week about a piano lesson? I got another call. It was the mother of the student whose nanny called last week. Did I lose you yet? She wanted to know if she could change her lesson (I teach both mother and daughter). I returned her call and said I was in Tommorrowland. She actually put me on hold. Can you believe that?! I was rather stunned. I didn't know what to do. Do you hang up on someone for that? Fortunately it wasn't for very long, but still.
And then she didn't show up for her make-up lesson anyway...
We wandered some more shops, visited some more smoking areas, and
decided to go to Guest Relations for a quick question. We didn't know what to do about the bed bug situation. We wanted to know if they found anything and how to proceed. Maybe Guest Relations had pictures of bed bug bites? Sure it was a long shot, but hey, we were desparate and knew that if anything they would be nice.
The guy who took care of us was very nice. Although it was kind of scary because once I gave my name he pulled up my info. He had my previous address which wasn't surprising. What was scary was that I had written a few complementary letters in 2/03 and they were on file - not that they were nice letters, just that I had written letters. I did hasten to assure him that they were not complaint letters. Then we explained the situation, explained that we didn't know what to do. He disappeared in the back for several minutes. When he came back he explained that he had called over to AKL and they were very aware of the situation and that it was being looked into. He couldn't do anything since the parks and resorts were separate (well, that I figured), but what we should do was ask to speak to the housekeeping manager and they would let us know what was happening. We were thankful that he took so much time to help us.
After all that bug talk we were hungry, so we went to LTT for lunch
I love lunch at LTT! My mom did too. Even if we had to endure the family from hades for the beginning part of lunch. The one with the screaming kids where the mom and grandma are too busy applying their lipstick and instead of telling the kids "no" or even talking to them just attach their toddler teathers (leashes) to the chairs/strollers. Oh well, not my problem.
They were just loud and a tad rude. I felt sorry for the kids. I guess as long as the mom/grandma had nice lipstick that's what counts right? (sorry, catiness in there...). So my mom had soup and liked it. I had the salmon and loved it. My mom had the apple pie and I had the shortcake. Heaven.
Then it was time to subject my mother to the wonders that are Toontown. She had never been there. We also wanted to ask about the Photopass CD. I had been in contact with my friend and she had said that she and her husband would be interested in splitting the cost of the CD if we added their pictures to our CDs. I didn't know if we could do this or if we could add borders or if we'd have too many pictures, etc, so I needed to ask. And knew that we could do this at Toontown. So I drug my mom through Mickey and Minnie's houses. It rained some more. I asked my Photopass questions and was told to wait until our last night, advised that we could add my friend's pictures as long as we had her numbers, and told we couldn't add borders on the CD.
Then we rode the train around the park and got off at Frontierland, I grabbed a FP for Splash and BTMRR. We went on HM. I was very happy to point out Master Gracey's rose which had been missing on our previous visits. The
can't be wrong after all... I lusted after the big pin of the castle that was very very expensive in one of the shops as we waited (again) for the rain to stop. Then I used my FPs. Then more shops.
Then dinner at Plaza. Now I can say that I've eaten at every sit down restaurant in the MK.
It was pretty good. We were seated next to 2 women who were there for a wedding. I didn't quite understand how long they were there for, but they weren't too happy. I guess they were staying at WL and were on the dining plan. They were used to DL and really weren't prepared for how large and spread out WDW was. They also expected that since they were on the dining plan to just arrive and be seated at whatever restaurant they chose. So they were quite unhappy. But we listened and nodded and they seemed to feel better after that
We both had sandwiches and split a sundae. It was a cute place - nothing spectacular, but a decent meal. My mom really liked the potato salad and has successfully recreated it here at home. After dinner it was time for Spectro. We saw it from inside Tony's but didn't hear the music, so we decided to watch it as best we could from outside the Plaza. We were several people back, but could see well enough. Between Spectro and Wishes (which we watched from outside of CP) I talked to Andre for a while, that was very nice.
Then we watched Wishes and headed back to AKL. The trip back from MK to AKL takes *forever*. Both waiting for a bus and then the actual ride itself. We both would have been standing but an older gentleman gave up his seat for my mom and then a 12 year old boy gave up his seat for me. I started to insist that I could stand, but his father told me that he was trying to teach him good manners. Works for me
So I spent the trip back talking to his mom and younger brother about their trip. They were leaving the next day. So the ride wasn't as bad as it could have been...
Once we got back I ran down to use the hot tub briefly. Again, this was one of those "now or never" type situations. Then I packed. Because if you pack the night before the night before you leave it's slightly less depressing and overwhelming. It's still pretty depressing. Although I have to say, I was pretty excited to be going home. I would get to see Andre again and that was very exciting
. Plus it was very very hot and was much more crowded than what I was used to, so I was ready for (*gasp*) a brief break from WDW. I needed to rest and recover fully for my next trip
And my mom was also looking forward to going home. I think she was a bit concerned about what project my dad was attempting next - I mean what else was there to wax? He'd done the cars, the washer, dryer, hot water heater, and toilets. And the whole nutrition thing - eating cold soup out of a can for 2 weeks straight can't be very healthy... Even if you do remember to take your vitamins.
But we still had one day left
Up next: AK solo, GF, MK, CRT dinner
I want to know about the black mold AKA bed bugs too! We are leaving in two days and I want to know what to look for when we get to our room! I am really enjoying your report! 
, but it didn't help the panicky "I'm not going to be able to find the perfect gift" feeling. Seriously, it was worse than Christmas... 
We really liked walking around the paths together, I just wish some of the pictures would have turned out! Then I ditched, hmm, left my mom in a smoking area. She did have some trouble finding her way out, but she did ask for directions and managed just fine without me.
