12/19....
I woke up earlier than the boys, which seems to always be the case...lol I tried not to wake up DS, who was sleeping on the sofa sleeper, so I turned on the Christmas tree lights, which proved to be plenty. I made a pot of coffee, ate some breakfast and set to writing out those postcards. Since we didn't have to be any place until noon, I finally roused the boys at 9:30. DH got up with out complaint and joined me for some coffee. DS, argh! the teenager, did not want to wake up so I just opened the curtains and let the sunshine in...what little there was that morning.
We headed over to Epcot via the bus after stopping in at Carriage House...needed to check on our CP tickets and report our leaky toliet.
It was such a minor leak that I don't think we'd have notice except for one of us, who shall remain nameless, spent a bit of time in Mickey's Throne Room...flushing several times. I guess he or she shall not indulge in the seafood at Cape May for a while...lol What happened was with each flush clear water shot out from where the tank and comode meet, just like an artery that had been punctured. While we were getting ready to leave, maintanence knocked on the door to tell us it was our turn for routine work...told him about the leak...he suggested we report it to ensure a work order was written. On a good note, upon our return that night, everything was ship shape. 
We arrived 15 mins. late for our ADR at Le Cellier but it wasn't a problem at all...we were seated right away. We've decided that we really like this place for both lunch and dinner and will come back. After eating our fill and then some, we headed off to see what the world had to offer that day. First stop was to listen to OffKilter...the first chance we've had and loved them...DH brough home one of the CDs. And honestly, what can ever be bad about a man in a kilt?
When they finished we shoved off toward France, where we just missed the holiday storyteller...seemed this happened to us often unfortunately. 
We did get a chance to watch the "Serveur Amusant"...I know I spelled that wrong probably, but the street performers in France. Wow! What a climb for that one guy! Here's a photo of him right before he did his handstand...
We kept walking around the world, stopping at Italy to watch the WS players who had grabbed a couple of park guests and were doing one of the funniest versions of Romeo & Juliet. Next we stopped in the shops at Japan...DS saw a sword that he wanted...luckily just telling him we couldn't take it on the airplane was enough to get him to forget it. I saw some gorgeous pearls, but passed since I have the ones my dad bought for my mom while he was in Japan in the 60s...they mean more to me any 'ol day. Then we visited the American Pavillion so I could grab our CP tickets since concierge was so busy at SSR that morning. While I took care of business, DS had a funnel cake and DH started listening to the Kwanza story teller. As we approached Germany I remembered reading on the DIS about the gluwein, a hot spiced German wine that I had tried 20 years earlier and loved. So as the boys sat on a bench and watched people go by I went to the wine shop and grabbed a cup. It was nice as the wind coming off of the lake was getting a bit chilly. As we walked, I drank...and we decided to head into FW.
Our first stop was to check out the new and "improved"? Cool Station. We just weren't as impressed with it as we were 2 years ago. Now, it just seems like a big commercial for Coca-Cola...lost it's novelty without the igloo look, too. Next was a trip to Journey to the Imagination since we'd never done that...and now I remember why...it's cute and all, but DS thought it was too childish. However, he had a blast in the Imagination stations. He made this funny email card to send me.
He and DH who are both musicians and they had tons of fun conducting Figment's band...especially the tubas with their behinds...oh, a mother's shame...lol
I got them out before they caused too much embarassment and we stopped at Honey I Shrunk the Audience, which we'd not seen since 1999. I still get the creeps every time I see those blasted mice...
I sat with my feet in the air for the whole show. By the time that ended it was close enough time to walk back to France for our CP dinner at Chefs de France. We had a nice meal here and you can read the reviews from our entire trip on the Disney Restaurants board.
After our meal we slowly walked back toward the American Garden Theater. As we approached around 7pm we noticed the line had started to form for the priority seating and because I wanted the best seat we could get to see Marlee Matlin we lined up and talked to a very nice family behind us for the entire wait...unfortunately I don't remember any of their names or even where they were from. When we were allowed in, we managed to grab 3rd row seats on the left (looking at the stage). It was such a phenomenal performance!! The whole show...the choir, the orchestra and Marlee Matlin! See, I am a sign language interpreter so getting to see her was a big treat for me. But, the big plus was getting to watch the interpreter, Angela, who was interpreting the music....WOW!!! She is superb!! I sat with my chin in my hand and just stared at her and Marlee Matlin. DH knew that this was one of the best Christmas gifts I'd ever gotten. Now, DH and DS were loving the whole thing, too. DS was really impressed with the guest conductor that night who was from Purdue...he was so enthusiastic as he conducted...we even got the chance to speak with him afterward. I even spoke with a CM about how I could get a seat on the right side of the theater for Christmas eve when we'd be back. I so desperately wanted a better view of the interpreter.
When we finished it was about time for the Illuminations to begin and since we'd never stuck around to see them before, we did that night. Okay, I know I'll probably get some flames here, but we just weren't very impressed until the end when the Christmas add on started. We doubt will make the effort to see the production again. We hurried to the front gate to grab the us back to SSR.
So speaking of busses... what a hassle that night! SSR and OKW share a bus stop...not a real big deal until the bus for SSR arrives and most of the people in front of you are wanting OKW. Boy, do the looks get nasty on some faces. We were able to make our way to the front of the line...asking politely as we went if the person was waiting for SSR or OKW and were able to get on the first SSR bus. 
When we got back to SSR we headed straight for the room and hung out a bit before hitting the sheets.
Day 4 is MVMCP....
I woke up earlier than the boys, which seems to always be the case...lol I tried not to wake up DS, who was sleeping on the sofa sleeper, so I turned on the Christmas tree lights, which proved to be plenty. I made a pot of coffee, ate some breakfast and set to writing out those postcards. Since we didn't have to be any place until noon, I finally roused the boys at 9:30. DH got up with out complaint and joined me for some coffee. DS, argh! the teenager, did not want to wake up so I just opened the curtains and let the sunshine in...what little there was that morning.
We headed over to Epcot via the bus after stopping in at Carriage House...needed to check on our CP tickets and report our leaky toliet.
It was such a minor leak that I don't think we'd have notice except for one of us, who shall remain nameless, spent a bit of time in Mickey's Throne Room...flushing several times. I guess he or she shall not indulge in the seafood at Cape May for a while...lol What happened was with each flush clear water shot out from where the tank and comode meet, just like an artery that had been punctured. While we were getting ready to leave, maintanence knocked on the door to tell us it was our turn for routine work...told him about the leak...he suggested we report it to ensure a work order was written. On a good note, upon our return that night, everything was ship shape. We arrived 15 mins. late for our ADR at Le Cellier but it wasn't a problem at all...we were seated right away. We've decided that we really like this place for both lunch and dinner and will come back. After eating our fill and then some, we headed off to see what the world had to offer that day. First stop was to listen to OffKilter...the first chance we've had and loved them...DH brough home one of the CDs. And honestly, what can ever be bad about a man in a kilt?
When they finished we shoved off toward France, where we just missed the holiday storyteller...seemed this happened to us often unfortunately. We did get a chance to watch the "Serveur Amusant"...I know I spelled that wrong probably, but the street performers in France. Wow! What a climb for that one guy! Here's a photo of him right before he did his handstand...
We kept walking around the world, stopping at Italy to watch the WS players who had grabbed a couple of park guests and were doing one of the funniest versions of Romeo & Juliet. Next we stopped in the shops at Japan...DS saw a sword that he wanted...luckily just telling him we couldn't take it on the airplane was enough to get him to forget it. I saw some gorgeous pearls, but passed since I have the ones my dad bought for my mom while he was in Japan in the 60s...they mean more to me any 'ol day. Then we visited the American Pavillion so I could grab our CP tickets since concierge was so busy at SSR that morning. While I took care of business, DS had a funnel cake and DH started listening to the Kwanza story teller. As we approached Germany I remembered reading on the DIS about the gluwein, a hot spiced German wine that I had tried 20 years earlier and loved. So as the boys sat on a bench and watched people go by I went to the wine shop and grabbed a cup. It was nice as the wind coming off of the lake was getting a bit chilly. As we walked, I drank...and we decided to head into FW.
Our first stop was to check out the new and "improved"? Cool Station. We just weren't as impressed with it as we were 2 years ago. Now, it just seems like a big commercial for Coca-Cola...lost it's novelty without the igloo look, too. Next was a trip to Journey to the Imagination since we'd never done that...and now I remember why...it's cute and all, but DS thought it was too childish. However, he had a blast in the Imagination stations. He made this funny email card to send me.
He and DH who are both musicians and they had tons of fun conducting Figment's band...especially the tubas with their behinds...oh, a mother's shame...lol
I got them out before they caused too much embarassment and we stopped at Honey I Shrunk the Audience, which we'd not seen since 1999. I still get the creeps every time I see those blasted mice...
I sat with my feet in the air for the whole show. By the time that ended it was close enough time to walk back to France for our CP dinner at Chefs de France. We had a nice meal here and you can read the reviews from our entire trip on the Disney Restaurants board. After our meal we slowly walked back toward the American Garden Theater. As we approached around 7pm we noticed the line had started to form for the priority seating and because I wanted the best seat we could get to see Marlee Matlin we lined up and talked to a very nice family behind us for the entire wait...unfortunately I don't remember any of their names or even where they were from. When we were allowed in, we managed to grab 3rd row seats on the left (looking at the stage). It was such a phenomenal performance!! The whole show...the choir, the orchestra and Marlee Matlin! See, I am a sign language interpreter so getting to see her was a big treat for me. But, the big plus was getting to watch the interpreter, Angela, who was interpreting the music....WOW!!!
She is superb!! I sat with my chin in my hand and just stared at her and Marlee Matlin. DH knew that this was one of the best Christmas gifts I'd ever gotten. Now, DH and DS were loving the whole thing, too. DS was really impressed with the guest conductor that night who was from Purdue...he was so enthusiastic as he conducted...we even got the chance to speak with him afterward. I even spoke with a CM about how I could get a seat on the right side of the theater for Christmas eve when we'd be back. I so desperately wanted a better view of the interpreter.When we finished it was about time for the Illuminations to begin and since we'd never stuck around to see them before, we did that night. Okay, I know I'll probably get some flames here, but we just weren't very impressed until the end when the Christmas add on started. We doubt will make the effort to see the production again. We hurried to the front gate to grab the us back to SSR.
So speaking of busses...
what a hassle that night! SSR and OKW share a bus stop...not a real big deal until the bus for SSR arrives and most of the people in front of you are wanting OKW. Boy, do the looks get nasty on some faces. We were able to make our way to the front of the line...asking politely as we went if the person was waiting for SSR or OKW and were able to get on the first SSR bus. When we got back to SSR we headed straight for the room and hung out a bit before hitting the sheets.
Day 4 is MVMCP....
