Right now, we're in part two of Wednesday, September 30th.
I've got a few highlights from this day in Epcot that I'd like to share with you, the first probably being the most meaningful for me. We decided to hit up some rides before our lunch ressie, and one of the first ones we did was Finding Nemo.
Now let me say, one of the things that I love about going in September is that if you hit it right, there's absolutely no wait for rides. It's all about timing, and when you have good timing, it feels like such a success, doesn't it? I know you can all understand this, if you didn't, you wouldn't be on the DIS.
Heidi suggested to me during my pre trip report that I should pick three goals for each day. It would keep me from feeling overwhelmed and keep me from feeling like I had to plan everything, but would at least give us a direction to go in. Let me tell you, it was a great idea. Given that we've gone pretty much every year for the past several years, it can become routine. When you throw in all the family, it can become at best a juggling act. And my Libran personality wants to make everyone happy, and on this trip, I learned that it's really just impossible. You can't please all of the people all of the time. Whoever said that was right. But I digress.
This is about one of my three things, and the most important to me was to go on one ride just me and my Dad. So, when everyone started pairing up for Finding Nemo, I said I would go with Dad. And it's not that this is my favorite ride, or that it's particularly meaningful to me, unless you count the fact that my son watched it practically every day for a few years, mesmerized by all the colors. It's just that I got in one thing alone with my Dad. I've already explained how rare it is to get him to go to Disney World, so for me, this was a big deal. And it's really just one of those memories that I'll treasure...well, forever.
Making more memories was a key priority, since this was the last day I'd have all seven of us here (my dad was leaving the next day), and so off we headed to the Disney Visa Meet and Greet. We got some awesome photos there; our characters were Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. My DS was super shy (keep in mind he's normally sleeping when we hit this meet and greet, so this was a change), but there were enough family members to put him at ease.
- It's a TK and DS sandwich! Is there anything better than being loved on by your favorite Disney characters?
Another treasure trove of memories occurred at our lunch, which was in Chefs de France. It was one of the only restaurants available for our party size, and it was actually a place I had no desire to eat again after the debacle I'd experienced in December. It had nothing to do with the service or food, for those of you who haven't read that trip report, it was more the other guests, and my overall exhaustion at that point.
But karma wanted us at Chefs de France, and that's where karma put us. And am I ever so glad for that! I have the best photos of my family, laughing and having a good time. I don't know if I've ever mentioned that my FIL was born in Italy. My husband is the first generation in his family to be born here, his parents, his uncles and aunts, they were all born there. Well, as coincidence would have it, our waiter, who was obviously French, happened to hear my FIL and husband speaking Italian, and asked if they were from Italy. My FIL said that he was, and they talked a bit, only to discover our waiter's father was French and his mother was Italian. Was he tailor made for our table or what?
We had an excellent meal. I had escargot for my appetizer, and I think it's probably my favorite thing to eat in France. I love escargot! I have ever since I was little when my mom used to make it for me. I chose to get the macaroni and cheese for lunch, and it was made with a wonderful gruyere and had just a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg that pushed it over the edge to divine. My son did really well here, not only did he enjoy the food, but he had so many family members to keep him entertained.
And speaking of entertainment, we were in for quite a treat! I'd thought that our dear friend from Ratatouille was no longer making appearances, but indeed, he was! Now my son was just enrapt with this whole experience, and I had the pleasure of having Happy Birthday song to me be a delightful...well...rat.
Now it's a toss up as to whether or not I enjoyed that or my Happy Birthday serenade that came later with dessert. My family insisted I wear my birthday button at all times since we were celebrating my thirtieth, so restaurants would know as soon as you walked in, even if you didn't include it in your ressie that you had a birthday going on.
As we were waiting for dessert, we noticed a group of quite divine looking French waiters heading towards us, and my mother leaned over to me, and said, "that's what you want, all those gorgeous men to sing Happy Birthday to you..."
She had no idea she was right.
All the gorgeous men were for me. So she starts laughing, and I'm totally shocked, because I wasn't expecting it at all. Now, normally, I would just revel in it, but because she had just said that to me, I actually started blushing. So not like me. Woman who will plot to kidnap Jack Sparrow, but embarrassed by gorgeous French men singing Happy Birthday.
Well, it was quite heavenly. And a perfect way to end this chapter, I think.
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