I am just going to jump right it.
After breakfast we headed back to Epicot.
We had not made it all the way around the World Showcase yet. We had Food and Wine Festival booths to explore.
While in the planning stages for this trip I happened upon the menus for the F&WF booths. Well happened upon might not be exactly it. I searched them out. I left no rock unturned, no post unread, no board unvisited.
Or at least I spent a good 15 minutes with the DIS search feature. Anyhow my point is, wait, did I have a point?
Oh yeah, the F&WF menus revealed that Italy had a cannoli (sp? Chappie). It was a goal of mine to seek out this cannoli (sp? Chappie), and sample it. Taste it. Eat it. Gobble it up. As it turns out, I never did get that cannoli (sp? Chappie).
Thats the real reason why we are going back this year.
We didnt spend a whole lot of time in Epcot.
We had dinner plans.
This was the dinner we were most looking forward to.
Jiko.
We stayed at the AKL for a few nights a year-and-a-half prior. We were not on any sort of dining plan, free or otherwise. We took one look at the prices and made a PS for Boma. They were PS back then, not ADRs. So this time we were going to splurge, live a little, use 2 of our free dining credits even.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge is my very favorite resort so far.
Of course we have never stayed at the Poly.
And I doubt we ever will.
Because I am cheap.
I can not sleep easy in a room I paid $300+ dollars for. That is over $12 an hour! Seven hours of sleep would cost us more than $80. I think not. We can sleep for seven hours at Pop Century for about $23, and with a little luck and a good code we can sleep for seven hours at the AKL for a mere $35.
We really do spend all day in the parks, so a Deluxe resort is just wasted on us. We also really like to go back to places we love. So. If we do decide to stay somewhere 'nice' next time the odds are pretty good we will pick AKL. Unless we decide to rent into DVC...
Anyhow.
So we wanted to get to the Lodge a little early because there are tons of neat things to do there. Animal viewing and talking to interesting CMs and such.
We met the coolest guy from South Africa when we stayed there. He used to work as a game warden in the huge South African parks. So he knew tons about the animals. Plus he had tons of funny stories. And he was nice too. My kids loved him. We must have spent 3 hours over three days talking to him.
Some people seem to think that there is something wrong with Disney being an educational experience, but for us life is an educational experience. There is always something to learn. From everyone. And we like to learn new things. We find it fun. And interesting. So a resort where people from other countries are around and part of their job is to tell you things about their home, and answer questions. Well that is our sort of place. We also like libraries. TFI.
Here is a link that has not much to do about anything.
Plus they have a nice gift store. It used to have a pin trading book in it. Those are gone now. Bummer for us. I have a feeling too many people abused the system.
Our PS time was a little late because I wanted to make sure we were good and hungry by the time we ate. As it turns out I really didnt need to worry about that.
TFI, My kids are quiet and fairly well mannered. They dont pitch fits or run around the tables or use their outside voices inside.
At least not very often.
They eat out with us a lot. Always, almost, because this cheap Momma figured out that kids meals are way cheaper than baby sitters. Plus I like my kids. I enjoy their company.
I checked us in and got one of those light up saucer things. Then we waited, and waited, and looked for hidden Mickeys, and waited, and found hidden Mickeys, and waited, and waited, and showed other people where the hidden Mickeys were, and waited some more.
Finally our saucer light up.
Right after Max handed it to Sophia to look at. He had been waiting for it to light up forever. Poor kid. His luck is sort of like that. But there will be other light up saucers for him to hold and watch light up.
TFI, I think we waited about a year, give or take a week.
When we went up to be seated, the hostess saw the kids. And she might have given us a look. I dont remember exactly, but I do remember that as we walked aaalllllllll the way across the restaurant I noticed a decided lack of short people.
Not many kids.
Almost none.
Except for mine.
They seated us against the back wall in the corner. I guess we looked rowdy again. Then we waited forever minus one day for anyone to notice we were sitting there. Our server seemed mildly annoyed that we were there. The food was good but not great. Not nearly as fantastic as we had hoped. That is the last time I listen to anyone on the DIS about anything ((big grin)). Well, maybe not.
The timing of the meal was horrible, our waiter/server person was AKA the guy we never saw. He was not stellar, TFI. We now refer to this dining experience as the trail of tears, the dinner from the black lagoon, or the place we are never going to again.
It is possible we were just burnt out on dining.
We had eaten a lot by this point. Enough to feed a small country for a week. We were sick of eating four course meals. Sick of waiting an eternity between our main course and dessert. Sick of having to beg to have our water refilled. Sick of talking to chefs about Maxs food allergies and having them suggest grilled chicken. We were done.
I did manage to finish my dessert, though.
It was the end of our last full day in the World and even though our much looked forward to meal was a disappointment, I was said that our trip was coming to a close. So I did what everyone does, I tried to squeeze in lots of last day magic. We had another much looked forward to meal on our horizon. Lunch with some girlie girls. In Norway, even.
So we went to bed for the last time in our little cubical that had been our home for eight nights. Disney sleep is good sleep.
Then you can finish up your trip where Mr. Silly visited places not on the plan. Remember that trippie 
I knew someone would know it. Actually I bet Mr. Silly remembers, I just didn't think to ask him until right now.
about the waffles. It must be really difficult to deal with the allergies -- I love that Disney is so accomodating to all kids of dietary needs.
to Grammyof2, Sheridac, Jami, Chappie, Glendamax, Kimmie, rosiejo!!!!!!!
