Part 9, Day 4 (yes, still)
First, a refresher on The Cast :
Me, The Fixer (because I fix problems and situations, not things), Jam, Jamal, 42 year-old obsessive Disney planner, wife and mom
DH 44, Baloo! Told me early in our dating he wanted to honeymoon at Disney. Shrek (sorry, but he is
an ogre with a heart! Everyone calls him Shrek. Weve never been to Universal so dont flame me.), Mr. Incredible, too.
DS11, A, Calvin AND Hobbes, sweet, the imagineer, black belt, lives for Disney magic, Cal, has firm plans to work for Disney. Not a greedy spender like his brother
DS6, E, Schmev, made of steel but terrified of Splash Mountain, Happy, Golden Sunshine, Buff. Greedy little joker....
Our friends: They will be known as
The Gatelatch family. Explanations to come! CookMaster, GS12, GS9 (Gatelatch sons)
The CookMaster, became my friend through our sons friendship. Songbird and lover-of-life, has zesty hair, Scoutmaster, The Magician (youll see!!!)
Cledus B. Gatelatch: The RugDoctor, Aladdin, cant vacation more than 6 days.
Their DS12, or GS12, actor and awesome kid, Boy Scout, Captain Hook, terrific friend to my A!
Their DS9, or GS9, comic book writer extraordinaire, Beat, C, has written two hilarious comic books about The Fixer (me) and The CookMaster (his mom). More on that later!!!
We're still in AK. After the meet-and-greet with Simba's beautiful posse, we're back among the citizens of Harambe. Brother Bear is here, too:
Rode the Yeti again. Some of us rode it three times that day! One of us, age six, was only interested in the spelunking AK hat from the Dinosaur ride. That ride scares me to death! Three boys, not the six year old, did Kali. The CookMaster and I passed, still cringing from our meet-and-greet with Splash three days earlier. DH and Cledus took E back to the Poly for a nap. Theyll take any excuse to recline, channel surf, and get their $$s worth of that expensive Poly AC . Once we were all home (Im sticking with that term), the boys swam and fed me trip report notes. They went something like this:
Am I in there?
What did you say about me?
Tell the part about when Dad
Will we be famous if we are on the Internet?
Am I in there?
Am I in there more than my brother/mother/father?
A couple of hours of that nonsense and it was time to monorail over to California Grill! I love that place. Itll suck up some dollars and TS credits, but it is a fabulouso vacation treat. Heres some reminiscing for you history buffs: DH and I ate dinner there when it was a Broadway-style dinner and show on our 1988 honeymoon. We have great memories of a romantic front row dinner show. Last year, our Magical Gathering of fourteen had a terrific dinner and Wishes at California Grill. Its a highlight of the trip!
On this night, we had a glass of wine at the Poly before we left. When we reached the restaurant, Cledus offered to buy us an adult beverage. DH doesnt drink, but I quickly replied: lemon drop! Mmmmm. You Cosmopolitan fans surely know a lemon drop is a smooth lemonade tasting martini. This one was chilled, sugar-rimmed, and delicious-a! The CookMaster had one, too; we quickly had the sillies. Our excellent waiter, Billy, seated us by the window and told us all about the observation decks. We had, of course, perfectly timed our ADR for Wishes.
I have to take a minute away from the food to share a heartfelt confession: I am a Wishes addict. I know many many many guests are die-hard Illuminations fans. Thats wonderful as it is a superb show. For me, though, Wishes is everything I love about Disney in one 25 minute emotional grip. I never ever tire of it. I know it by heart, but it still makes my heart race from start to finish. Please, go ahead and call me a sap. Ill wait .....................
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I might as well go ahead and share with thousands of strangers that I could watch The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie all day, too. True.
So when we are at Disney, DH is happy for me to plan as many Wishes opportunities as possible because he knows how much it means to me. He and the boys absolutely love it, too. OK, since I have your attention Ill tell you one more sappy story. Last May, we were on Main Street for Wishes our final evening. We spent a few minutes in one of the stores so I could choose more Mickey earrings. When we made our way to the middle of Main Street as the show began, DH announced he had to go to the bathroom. I know, TMI, but you have to know I was shocked! Leaving Wishes? OK, hurry!! So the boys and I savored the show, watching for Dad, until he returned just before the end. We walked to the sidewalk so I could wipe my tears. I thanked him again for the trip. I thanked my family for being my family. DH looked at the boys and thanked me for planning such a wonderful trip. Then he gave me a box. It held a beautiful cloisonné Mickey bracelet. Its tough to surprise me, but he did that night. I cherish that bracelet and my memories of that evening. Now I love Wishes even more.
Back to the Lemon Drops. By the time we stepped out to the observation deck, mine was all soaked in. I was so excited to see Wishes with my friends! It was perfect. So perfect, in fact, the GS9, my dear friend and comic book author, choked up. OK, we bonded in emotion in the music and beauty of Wishes. Here we are consoling each other back inside with our yummy hot dinner on the way:
The CookMaster felt the love from her Lemon Drop too. By the end of the night, Cledus declared he had been overserved (one of his trademark lines). A took his picture where he mocked his feelings about being the warthog leader:
A and GS12 decided to become instant foodies and ordered the hooty-hoo cheese plate. They sampled like seasoned veterans:
The food was superb, the laughter and tears plentiful and the memories lasting. I know some women fantasize their man might whisk them somewhere exotic for an anniversary dinner. Give me California Grill with Wishes on tap and youve got me forever
Day Four totals
Meltdowns: Six
Fights: ½ --It was into a cell phone so we couldnt count the other party, but it was a doozy!
Coming on Day 5: MGM, spring training, hate and sin, and
another Meet-and-Greet?
Is it only the end of day four? I have six more days to share! Hang in there. Here. OK?
!!!
libby
. When you call to make your ADRs for a party over 13 (I think that's the #), you will be transferred to the Grand Gathering dept--at least that's what I did for last year's ADRs. PM me if you want to know more details. Have fun planning!
We're staying at the Poly in May....can't wait!!!
Whew! I was getting a little nervous there wasn't going to be more today!
but it might actually get you kind souls through day four of ten! The encouragement definitely helps motivate!
