We headed over to Japan so that Kayla could pick a pearl. Jack and Bob were deep into a Kim Possible adventure at the time.
I love the shop in Japan. I think it's kinda cute. One day I am gonna get a pair of shoes from there but first, I gotta learn to live with the thingy between my toes. I just can't deal with that!
We wondered around the store for a bit until it was time for Kayla's turn to pick a pearl. I'm just gonna show you a couple of pics so that Jenn can tell you the details of it in her TR.
Before I do that, I have to share this picture. I just love it.
Jack and Bob came in and and found a clue and this thingy started to talk or whatever it was it was doing.
By this time I was near a meltodown as it was a zillion and 50 degrees outside that day. My legs were actually doing something totally strange that day. My thighs were numb like. Hard to describe but I learned later that the same thing happened to my mom last year in the heat. She had gone to the doctor about it when we got home. Anywhoo, Joe and I decided to head back to the International Gateway. We were going to finish the WS and end in Mexico while Jenn went the other way to finish in Canada but once we got to the boat launch I said forget it, let's take the boat.
Every year I get myself a new Micky plush for my collection and I found the best place to get them is in the shop at the Gateway. This year I ended up with the 40th anniversary Mickey and Minnie. Sorry, no pictures.
After shoppng Joe and I sat on a bench to people watch while we waited for Jenn. We saw the most interesting thing. There were these two dudes that had the strangest thing on their heads. Hard to describe, but they were Mickey hands doing thumbs up and they had them perched on their heads some how. It also seems that they were big Duffy lovers. When I say big, I mean big. Dude number 1 had a turtle shell backpack and on the straps were mini-Duffy's...like 6 of them. The other dude was the cameraman. Anyway, they got in line to meet Duffy and OMG, I nearly fell off the bench. They whipped out a giant Duffy from the backpack and started to hug it. It was strange like I can't even describe. They had to be in their 30's or 40's and OMG it was weird. Ok, so that gets me to Duffy. WTH is with all the Duffy stuff that Disney shoved down our throats this year? Joe actually ended up asking someone about it and apparently Duffy was introduced at Hong Kong Disney a while back and took off like mad so they tried it in the US. The meet and greet runs ALL DAY LONG with like a 30 minute break. Really?
Joe got an iced coffee and we did more people watching for a bit. When Jenn came back, the kids got in line, well, there really wasn't one but you know what I mean, to meet Duffy.
The goal after that was to take a resort break before our dinner ressie at GFC so we headed to the exit.
Well, we got a bit side tracked at Mouse Gear again. We all did some shopping. I got a shadow box and a couple of frames along with some other stuff that apparently I could not live my life without.
By this time there really wasn't time to go back and freshen up so we went right over to the Grand Floridian. We were all going to meet Chuck and Mary for dinner at GFC.
We got over to the GF and made our way over to check in. The plan was to have dinner and then watch Wishes from the beach at the GF. Notice I said "the plan was...."
We saw this lady dressed up like I don't know what. She had a baby carrier type thing that was filled with pink teddy bears and pink tulle all over it. Honestly, she was scary. No clue what that was all about.
Bob was parking the car so the rest of us headed for a potty stop and to meet Mary and Chuck. Jenn checked us all in....and then the waiting began. We waited...and waited....and waited. Jenn saw another Diser there that we chatted with for a bit. It's always nice to meet a Diser.
We were finally seated.
It took for-evah for our waitress to come and get our drink orders. I honestly thought that I was going to faint. Stupid me didn't drink enough during the day and was lightheaded and really, really, in need of something to drink. I think it was around 20 minutes, no lie, before we got our drinks.
We placed our order and another, oh, maybe hour goes by, no kidding, before we got our food. I had the pasta, minus the sauce and it was pretty good.
Joe had the steak.
Jack was sitting next to me. He had chicken and rice.
Once again this year, I ordered a specialty cake. I ordered the smallest one that I could, that would feed all of us.
We again waited...and waited....and waited...and waited for the cake to come out. I think we asked about it around three times. Next thing I know, I hear Joe say "you are never allowed to order a cake again." The waitress was behind me so I couldn't see this monster.
I don't know who was in charge of the camera at this point but none of the pictures of Joe and I with the cake came out...which is fine as by that time I looked a hot mess.
The cake was an almond white cake with strawberries and custard filling. I had a buttercream frosting with the basket weave pattern and pale colored roses.
This dang thing was so huge that I was going from table to table offering anyone that would take it cake. I ended up with two tables that were game and I was happy to be able to share it.
By this time we were at GFC for about 2 hours. Yeah, 2 fricken hours. We asked for the check and get this, it was all screwed up....big surprise. We had to send the check back and because of the size of our party, we were all automatically charged the 18% gratuity, which given our service, I would not have left that much. To add insult to injury, we got charged gratuity on the dang cake bill too! The cake was $115 bucks! All she did was walk it out to us and bring me a couple of boxes after I asked 15 times for them. OMG, I was not a happy camper....not in the least. But hey, it was my wedding anniversary and we were at Disney so we made the best of it.
One thing that I have to mention is that I give Jack and Kayla huge props for not getting restless like most kids do stuck in a situation like that. Not a complaint out of either one of them. Props to you guys!!
I ended up bringing the rest of the cake that I could not give away back to the room. There was no way to get it into the fridge which kind of upset me since that meant that we were not going to get to finish the cake. It actually molded within the next couple of days. Booooooo
We said our good-byes for now to Chuck and Mary and the rest of us piled into Jenn's van for the ride back to the resort. We were in GFC so long that we missed Wishes, which was sad.
Once we got back to our room, we had the loveliest surprise from Chuck and Mary. I was soooo surprised! It was beautiful.
After admiring our arrangement for a bit, we settled in to try and sleep since were going to be up and out early the next morning.
to my TR. OMG, I've been reading your FB updates. You poor thing. I hope that everyone gets better soon. It doesn't sound like fun.
why do people act like that.
your first day was awesome! So glad to have been there to meet you!
That's the one thing that I want to do myself. Not that I like it but if I do it, my clothes fit me and not Barbie. 
Yes, the woman and her kids were a trip. OMG, talk about killing the magic. She was nasty. 
Now that I am thinking about it though I remember that you said that the banana desert didn't have any taste. 
This was the first time that we'd watched Wishes/Hallowishes from the beach. Loved it! 
) ) I saw my "boyfriend" as Joe calls him.
My God, those things are awesome!!!
I love it! I have super straight, super fine, super THIN hair (and by thin I mean...like I am balding 
I read that and saw the picture below and had to do a double take. "that is not Epcot" I thought to myself. 
