March 20 Continued--We finally make it to a park!
After much debate as to what the heck we were going to do with ourselves, we decided to go to MGM. (Julie was right!) Id been a bit worried before we left because the Unofficial Guide folks kept jacking around the crowd calendar numbers. One week, a day would be listed as a 5. The next week, the same day would be listed as a 9. I finally had to cut myself off from looking at them because they were freaking me out. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrivedit was crowded but not Christmastime, you cant scratch your nose without elbowing someone crowded.
Caitlin had told me on the way over that on this trip, she wanted to do the smaller attractions that she always misses because shes so focused on the big rides. Since the wait for RnR was 60 minutes, we decided to just do some smaller stuff this afternoon.
Before we hit any rides, we realized that everyone was starving so we went to the ABC Commissary for lunch and got there just ahead of a HUGE line. I managed to irritate a woman by going to the left side of a register. Hey, Id tried to point out that she could go over there but she didnt believe me and she about had a coronary when the CM finished with the customer on the right side and then turned to me first. Im just starting out our trip by spreading that Disney magic, arent I? Maybe if I had an imposter CM badge, people would believe me when I try to tell them this stuff.
I got a double cheeseburger, Brittany got a chicken sandwich, and then, get this, Alex ordered an Asian salad. WTH?? This man wouldnt eat salad if restaurants were giving them away on a normal day. But get him on vacation and hes suddenly Veggie Man?? It was like some kind of bizarro world where Im eating burgers and Alex is eating salad. Caitlin wasnt hungry so she just got a drink.
When I saw the burger, I realized I should have gotten a kids meal instead. By that time, Caitlin was enviously eyeing my fries so I pulled the old Budget Board trick of cutting the burger in half and we shared the meal. Id like to make it clear right here that I did NOT go back and get an extra bun. I dont want to poke THAT hornets nest, thank you very much.
Caitlin, Brit, and Yoda at the ABC Commissary.
Yoda is quite the conversation starter by the way. Even more so than a MSU sweatshirt.
We then meandered over to Star Toursafter I had scouted for any miscellaneous Stormtroopers that might have been hanging around. We had the first row and enjoyed our trip.
Alex, Brit, and Cait on our quick detour to the streets of NYC.
I should point out that we were kind of freaking Brittany out. This morning, she told me shed been to WDW many times with her mother. They always stay off-site, go from rope drop to closing, and her mother has a very strict schedule to which they have to adhere. She was a little befuddled when I told her she could do whatever she wanted whenever she wantedno skin off my nose. I have no plan except to have fun. She called her mom to tell her that and I think her mother hyperventilated a little.
Since Cait had told me she wanted to do the smaller stuff, I put in a request for the Muppets. Cait rolled her eyes but Brittany was very excited. When we arrived, we were held at the turnstyles and the man who was waiting began to talk to me. A lot. Caitlin, Brittany, and Alex all abandoned me by sidling over to the other turnstile. I could see Caitlin snickering at me as this man began raving about the raspberry muffins at the Writers shop. Did you know they use fresh raspberries? I know now. Did you know that they make the muffins with whatever fruit is in season? I have this knowledge. Did you know that a couple of weeks ago, the muffins were strawberry? Yep, I do. Sigh. He come to Disney World every week so he had a lot of stored up muffin trivia to impart. He was nice enough but I was really grateful when they let us into the pre-show room and we moved far away from him under the guise of looking around.
After the Muppet/muffin ride, we went on the Great Movie Ride at Brittanys request. Before we went in, Caitlin spent some time measuring her feet against the stars. Bless her heart, in the foot department, shes more of a stepsister than a Cinderella. So, we were on a hunt to find stars with bigger feet than Caitie.
Feet ALMOST as big as C3PO's:
And hooray, Harrison Ford has bigger feet!
And Roger Rabbit has WAAYY bigger feet!
And then Michael Jackson--I'm not sure why because I'm betting his feet were smaller.
The line for the Great Movie Ride was pretty short so we were quickly on our way through Hollywood of old. Caitlin insisted on sitting in the middle because shes still freaked out by the alien. It was pretty cute, she put her head in my shoulder when we went through that section just like she did when she was a little girl. I told her if she actually looked at it, she probably wouldnt be afraid anymore but she couldnt bear it.
The girls wanted to try RnRC in the standby line. Only problem was that it was a 60 minute wait, it was 3:00 and we had a reservation at WC for 5:00. While we were debating, I got a text saying that our room was ready-3025. We decided to head back and, of course, the boat was just leaving the dock. When the next one arrived at 3:30, I decided to disembark at the Dolphin and walk over. I was stressing about getting to the room, getting our luggage and our stuff from Garden Grocer, and still making it to Whispering Canyon for a 5:00 reservation.
It takes an HOUR to get from resort to resort. At LEAST an hour. And we should be on the bus about 10 minutes from now. Stress, stress, stress. I was getting antsy and when I said I was walking over from the Dolphin, Alex & Caitlin laughed and said they were taking the boat all the way over. Then Brittany piped up and said shed walk over with me. About 2 minutes later, Caitlin decided to come along. And as we pulled up at the dock, Alex gave in and walked with me, too.
Ive always thought people were exaggerating about the long walks to the Boardwalk rooms. As we walked and walked, I started to get my hopes up that wed been upgraded to a Boardwalk view. Just as we were nearing the end of the hallway, BAM, we had to veer to the left. Rats. We ended up with a canal viewon the other side of the wing from the Scary Clown Pool. Thank heavens, I dont think I could have stood seeing that thing with the light up eyes outside my window every night.
Our view:
I called Bell Services immediately upon entering the room. I didnt really take any pictures of the room this time even though it had been refurbished. Cait and Alex were thrilled with the flat screen tvs.
It took awhile for them to get there and we were really losing our window of opportunity to go to dinner. We took a vote and decided we didnt feel like rushing anywhere so wed just wait for our stuff to arrive and then find somewhere to eat around the Boardwalk. I got the groceries unloaded and we got the suitcases squared away. Id spilled something on a pair of jeans and wanted to wash them before it set so Caitie gave me some of her dirty clothes so Id have a full load and not waste energy. Shes so green, isnt she?
Caitlin wanted to go to the Fountain at the Dolphin but after a burger for lunch, I wanted something different. I wanted to try Kouzzina since we had a free night. Caitlin stuck her nose up at that so we decided to meet up after dinner.
Kouzzina wasnt too busy and we managed to get in just fine without a reservation. There did seem to be an inordinately large percentage of squalling children in there but the restaurant itself is pretty loud. We werent starving and I was way more interested in appetizers than in the entrees so we got some to share. We ordered the sampler for two and an order of saganaki. The saganaki was really good but I was disappointed that they dont OPA! at your table. Its just not a real Greek meal without the threat of imminent fire damage, know what I mean? Its a traditionat least here in Greek restaurants in Michigan.
The appetizer sampler was fairly good, too. We had chicken and lamb meatballs skewers. The chicken was kind of bland but I jazzed it up with tzatziki. I wasnt a fan of the meatballsthey seemed a bit tough. Alex liked the sugary cashews and I loved the kalamata olives. We continued our hummus at every dinner theme. The dolmades were in the Greek style and I was glad I hadnt tried to lure Caitlin there with promises of grape leaves. Its one of our holiday meal staples but we make them in a tomato base instead of the lemony Greek variety. I also had the Alfa beer which was very tasty.
After dinner, Alex & I just hung out in the room. I did laundry and unpacked. We had an early night and the girls got back around 10:00ish after a quick trip to the MK. I was surprised they were back that early but I think they were pretty tuckered out.
Next up--Well, what a surprise!
) were so beautiful but the mornings were so cool. It was irritating to try to figure out what to wear. We all usually wound up in shorts and a jacket. 
It helps that we went back to the room after lunch so we could change AND we had a washer/dryer so all those costume changes didn't cause a problem. But I could not believe how hard it rained on Sunday afternoon! It was like monsoon season. 
I want it so bad. And I'm not even a big Star Wars fan.
How am I just coming upon this now, pal???
I sent you and Mal a PM. Did you not get it? Now I'm wondering because I haven't seen her either.
I'm starting to feel as though I already know you...
But, I'm glad I'm seeing Alex now...I mean I'm glad I'm here now 
