Crystal Palace.
This has got to be one of my favorite places to eat. Not so much for the food, although there are some tasty items on the buffet line. The wild mushroom/chicken pasta with the asiago cheese is a particular favorite of mine. I generally avoid cheese. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that it doesn't like me. Cheese is to me what Zurg is to Buzz, especially on vacation. But the mushroom and chicken pasta is REALLY good. So much so that I will suffer, just a bit, while I digest.
Or is that digress?
I love the building. I love the view. And anywhere you are encouraged to stop eating to march in a parade is good with me.
So we were able to stop and sit, and have a relaxing meal. It was good. All the little bites ate well (an issue with Bite 3 all too often) and I was beginning to feel a bit better. The Dole Whip from hours before was beginning to work it's magic.
After we ate we decided to go for a boat ride.
The Poly is a dream of mine. I'd love to be able to stay there, but it's just not in the ol' budget of today. Perhaps someday, but not today. So I fake it. Yup, you read it right. I am one of those people that will go to the Poly and sit in the lobby and let people think I am one of them. I am often tempted to offer some unsuspecting kid some disney dollars for their lei, but I can't bring myself to do it.
So we took the boat from MK to the Poly to do some looking. As it was, the boat was packed and the wait was long. We were at the front of the line, and the people behind us were trying to get there to get to the dinner show. Converstation was struck because she asked us if we thought she should bail and take the monorail, which also had a really long line. As we chatted, my boys chatted with her boys. They had a 12 yr old who shared similar interests at Bite 1, and an 8 yr old who had things in common with Bite 2. It was the kind of instant friendship that you wish could happen for your kids in the real world.
Bite 2 traded a pin with thr 8 yr old. It was his first swap, and the older kids thought it was funny that they both traded a "lame" pin for a different "lame" pin. Bite 2 walked away with a Baby Chip. Cute, but in the world of pins, LAMETASTIC! Bite 1 traded for equality, and while I don't remember what he got, I know he was happy. It was a good trial run, and I got to sit back and watch my bites make friends.
The boat finally came and we sat in the front. Bites sat with their new found buddies, and DH and I had a quiet ride watching our bites be kids in WDW. So often we are engrossed in the fun, the activity of the trip. To be able to sit and watch our children was incredible. We eavesdropped and heard things about drum sets and favorite rides. We heard laughter and giggles from kids we didn't know, but we knew they were sharing that laugh with our boys. It was a fantastic ride across the water. One that will provide the kind of memories I didn't expect to have. Memories I already cherish.
We wandered around the resort, took some pictures for the boys' rooms and checked out the gift shop. We always walk through there and leave with design plans for the house. Bamboo walls or banana plants all around. That kind of thing. If we can't move into the Poly, we will try to bring the Poly to us.
After a bit we went back to MK. The plan was to do Wishes, but by the time we got back, we were tired and I despite my Dole Whip, I still wasn't up to par, so we went back to POR for a good night's sleep. The next day was Epcot, and then a morning back in the MK before we were to get back in the car and head up I-95. It was all ending too soon.
Look at all these new people joining in! YEAH!!!! Mt. Mommy and nanlou, welcome! I'm on my next to last day of this TR, but I hope you'll join me in my soon to be started pre-trip for February...it should be a doosie
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