On our third full day we finally made it to MK but not until after a late breakfast at Kona Café in the Polynesian Resort. Although we took the train around in the MK to hopefully see how the Fantasyland expansion was coming along due to the screening we could not see much other than the artists drawings on the canvas near the former Tunetown. I expected to encounter crowds this day and we had them! Formula known to all disboarders is: Early. EMH + MSEP = crowded day in MK.
Since we mostly people watched and viewed the shows and parades this did not adversely affect us. I discovered that, IMHO, Country Bear Jamboree is as tiring as I remembered it from years before but now seemed a bit more ragged and surprisingly I enjoyed the silly birds of the Tiki Hut. We confirmed that the Hall of Presidents is still a good place for a rest in the middle of a day. We ate an early dinner at the Plaza Restaurant but not as early as our ADR time. Ive previously read of people having a long wait beyond their ADR time at the Plaza but until this trip that had not happened to us. We were also disappointed in our Reuben sandwiches which we previously enjoyed. But the ice cream sundaes are still delicious and with the Ice Cream Parlor still closed for refurbishment Im glad we got to indulge here. As soon as folks began camping out in their curbside positions for the parades and fireworks we claimed our spots. Weve learned to select a place beside a trash can because then at least one side is protected from people trying to squeeze their way in. It was amazing how many people tried sitting on the few inches of curb between the trash can and the street; one pair of teenagers attempted this repeatedly. Of course sitting or standing there is not allowed so they kept being told to leave. We ended up with family members of someone performing in a high school marching band behind us so we let them in front of us for that parade and when my husband heard that their younger son who was with them viewing had never seen MSEP before he let the boy sit on the curb in his spot while he stood behind. The next day as we were having our lunch at Mara we learned that they were also staying at AKL and they thanked us again. Although this had been our only day with some threatening clouds and a slight sprinkle flying conditions were fine for Tinkerbelle and we saw her fly from the castle to a point beyond us (we werent far from the Plaza Restaurant.) What a nice surprise we had at the end of the fireworks when everyone in our area wishing to exit was directed through a backstage area to reach the park exits. Once again we made it onto the first bus back to AKL from a park after fireworks.
Since we were not leaving WDW until after dinner on Friday I had asked for a late check-out and my request was granted. We would not need to vacate our room until 1 pm. Shortly before 1 pm we checked our main luggage into the luggage room. When our rental car was delivered that afternoon it was simple for my DH to load up the luggage and park the car in the parking lot while he gave me the freedom to go on the culinary tour. Despite having 1 day remaining on our park tickets we declared a day of leisure and spent it at Jambo House eating both breakfast and lunch at Mara and dinner at Jiko. At the Mara counter we were able to order just eggs and bacon without being charged for one of the combinations that included the unwanted potatoes or biscuits. We also selected whole oranges as we had been doing the previous 3 days to go along with our yogurts. We had always gotten them the night before and had them ready in our room refrigerator. After breakfast I packed up, putting all that we would need for 1 overnight stop on our drive further south into 1 carry-on bag and the remainder of our things into our other luggage. Following lunch (I enjoyed the Mara house salad with chicken) I considered abandoning my DH (still walking with pain from the blister) to walk over to Kidani Village. But I decided not go so that discovery still awaits a future trip. The majority of my photos of the animals on Arusha Savanna were taken that afternoon including all of the following:
Our final Disney meal of this trip was dinner at Jiko. Although there were several salads that tempted me on the menu I inquired about the possibility of a side of vegetables and learned from our waiter that we could order their house vegetable which consists of sugar snap peas, edamame, spinach, cherry tomatoes, carrots and probably something else I forget. They were very colorful and cooked just right. DH and I both ordered the filet but I have to say that Le Cellier served a better filet this week. Our anniversary surprise came at dessert time. Jiko presented an Anniversary card signed by our waiter and others. And then the tasty ending was brought to the table, a complimentary parsnip crème brulee and 2 tiny Tanzanian chocolates (cookie texture, not candy.) Now I know that a dessert that begins with the word parsnip sounds rather scary but it was fabulous! Id describe it as a rather sweet, pleasantly spiced very creamy warm pumpkin pie filling.
After dinner we bid adieu to AKL and WDW and headed south towards Sanibel Island where we would spend the following week. God blessed us with warm Florida sunshine or scattered clouds (plus a couple of minor sprinkles) for our entire 12 days. The last few years when weve spent that same February week on Sanibel Ive had to wear either a fleece jacket or sweatshirt for morning walks on the beach and found it necessary to wear jeans. This time I only needed the fleece (along with an outer shell) for our travel from and back to Michigan.
we just got back from our birthday trip, and the CMs really pay attention to the buttons. Makes the trip that much more magical.
