We finished up with Breakfast with Stitch. Headed downstairs and got leid.
Red ones. Five of them. From a CM. And then a picture of all of us standing together. Looking real nice. Except for Mellyman. He looked silly.
I smiled at him, tho. And said how "artistic" he looked.
He whipped his lei off. And gave it to Beth.
Tommy said that before we left he wanted to do his dance in his lei. He'd been practicing for a couple of weeks. For this. He calls it "My HOO-WHY-AN Dance"! He rotates his hips while waving his arms first to the left and then the right. He does it again. Until one of the happyhaunts yells out, "BIG FINISH! BIG FINISH!". And then he raises both arms in the air and brings them up and down a couple times like he's flying. Then he puts both hands together and bows. And says, "Domo Arigato!".
So Zen, Brah.
We headed out to our Stallion and jumped in. We had plenty to do. First, we had to get ourselves to the Wilderness Lodge. And check in. I wanted to do it before we headed to
Walmart for supplies. To make sure we had a good chance at scoring a better room. Earlier in the day. And also to make sure we had a room with a fridge to come back to. With our dairy. Stuff.
We pulled up to the security gate and were "Welcome Home"'d!!!!!
Except our name was NOT on the list.
Oops.
Checked our itinerary and found the CORRECT name. On our reservation. And Mellyman was asked to present his I.D.
For security purposes. And, potentially, to amuse the CM at the gate. You just KNOW that's a long day. Right there. All alone. Watching cars drive in and out all day. Might as well check out a few terrifically bad driver's license photos while you're at it.
Mellyman's is bad. Too. He looks like Dracula.
Mine is worse. I look like Nick Nolte's mug shot. Only a festive lei could'a improved the photo.
Both of ours. tFi.
We pulled up to the front door of the Wilderness Lodge and I jumped out with Beth. We headed in to join the check-in line.
We were both pretty excited.
I've been wanting to stay at the VWL for awhile now. I think it's the MOST LOVELY Disney property. It's a magnificent building. The lobby is stunning. And I love the music. That they play when you walk in. Plus I've heard and read very good reviews of the place. And I wanted to swim in the pool there with the "magical" ducks. That don't poop. In the pool. I hoped. Beth was equally excited. She remembered it from a couple of years ago. When we came here on our last day to have lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Before driving back to Canada.
In fact, she made me laugh because while we were standing in line she asked me if I remembered what I had said that day at lunch.
No. I didn't.
She said that I told everyone it was All-You-Care-To-Eat. And that they'd better bulk up. B/c we weren't making any pit stops on the drive home.
To Canada.
She also said that she half-believed me... 'cause that's how we roll it when we head North to our camp. No stops. For anyone. Unless it's a #4. Numbers 1 through 3 we try to just ignore. Or wish away.
We waited for a couple other families to register and then it was our turn to present our confirmation letter. With the reservation number handily printed on top.
We were in luck! Our room was ready for us!
I asked where it was? If it was a good room? And what floor it was on?
It was on the first floor. Ground floor.
Right there I was bummed. I wanted a VIEW! And, so, I asked if the CM could switch our room to another. With a great view. The Castle would be super. I suggested. I'd like to face towards the MK so that we could watch the fireworks from our balcony. If that was at all possible.
The CM didn't say anything. But she looked at her computer for awhile.
Then she said she'd switch the room but had to get her manager's approval. She'd be right back!
OK!!!!
Beth and I did the dance we call "Getting-The-Room-UPGRADE-Boogie-With-A-Strong-High-Five-FINISH-Domo-Arigato-Dance".
We got our "magical" key cards. With charging privileges for Mellyman and myself. Our WELCOME HOME folder. And a... "Have a Magical Day!". Which we demand.
We headed back to The Butterscotch Stallion and were off to Walmart. Like LIGHTENING!
We stopped the car just before the gates. Turned around and returned to the Valet Podium to get us some directions for Walmart.
Then we were OFF!
Again.
I had made us a grocery list before we left home. So we wouldn't over-buy items like Twinkies, Nutter Butters, Kraft Easy Cheese and Combos. And all the other premium exotic grocery items we can't get in Canada.
We were only supposed to get TWO Easy Cheeses. American flavour. (But... written the Can-A-dian way on my grocery list) Until we were struck with giddiness that it ALSO came in CREAM CHEESE FLAVOUR!!!!! Whooo HOOOO!!!! A cream cheese product which does NOT require refrigeration!!!
Huh?
Mellyman and I looked at each other. Each of us holding two cans of the stuff:
EWWWWWWWW!
Still...
We were in! We are the fearless happyhaunts. We'd even tackle Easy Meat. If it were available! And, actually, pate would be perfect as a squeeze-tube food. But... it's French.
And the French would kill themselves before putting fois gras in a spray can.
Or tube.
But not the Germans who call it "liverwurst".
It's because they're much more easy-going.
I think.
Where the HECK?! Was I? Right before that?
Oh yeah, we also picked up juice boxes, pop, milk, cereal, granola bars, beer and wine. Yada blah.
And paid and were back on the road in no time. Flat.
On the way HOME, Calvin piped up from the backseat and asked if we could have a little discussion.
GAME ON!!!!
Calvin ~ "Mom? Can we chat about something for a sec?"
Me(l) ~ "Sure. Oh. WAIT. Hold on for a minute!"
Calvin ~ "Why?"
Me(l) ~ "Oh. My eyes were rolling back in their sockets. But I'm good now. Continue."
Calvin ~ "I was thinking that when you're old and Daddy is dead you can live with me. Because you'll probably be poor. And I will pay to take you to Disney a couple times a year."
Me(l) ~ "What makes you think I'll outlive your father?"
Calvin ~ "Cause he always says that you'll bury him."
Me(l) ~ " Oh. Okay, then. That would be very nice of you. I'd love that. But... Disney is pretty expensive. What are you going to do for a career?"
Calvin ~ "I thought I'd be a vet like Beth wants to. Or else a teacher like Beth wants to. Or else I was thinking I might rob banks."
Mellyman ~ "I see our work is done here."
We arrived back at VWL without getting lost. Not even once.
And valet parked the car. Got the bellhop to unload all our gear and headed into the lobby. And then out through the lobby towards the Villas.
We were on the third floor!!!!
Whoooo HOOOOO!
We got ourselves to the third floor. It was easy enough.
And checked our room number. And looked down the LONG corridor:
Wow.
Long corridor.
It appeared that our room was at the VERY END of the corridor.
The farthest room in the whole Villas. From the Main Lobby. Pool. And restaurants.
Goody gumdrops.
We headed down the long and deserted hall. Fighting the urge to whisper "REDRUM"! Into the silence.
Still... I was pretty jazzed!
Opened our door and caught a glimpse of the forest outside our patio doors.
It looked AB-FAB!!!!
I ran to the doors.
Swung them open. And stepped out onto the balcony to be the first one to VIEW our FABULOUS VIEW.
This is what I saw:
Mellyman called out, "How's the VIEW?!!!!"
Just. Craptabulous. Dear.
Ok.
Still... we were in Disney. Staring down at Disney garbage. And dirty laundry.
It was all good.
Then Calvin yelled out, "There's some kind of gross stain on the toilet seat!"
"What is it?" I yelled back.
"I think it's poop. Or vomit. Or paint."
"I HOPE IT'S VOMIT!!!!"!!!! I shouted back. Giddily.
Mellyman looked outside and said one word: Perfect.
We waited for our gear to come up to the room. We tipped magnificently. As the poor guy had to walk, literally, MILES. Dragging two racks of our stuff.
We unpacked. Got organized and put our bathing suits on.
Headed down to the main pool.
It started to rain. Not just a little rain. Mind you. But... big FAT RAIN.
To match the FAT GRASS.
And the rain came down. Harder and harder. We headed to the bar. To wait it out. And also b/c we felt we needed a drink.
It was holidays. After all. And we had already SCORED! Today. With the primo room upgrade. And wicked torrential downpour.
We sat in the Territory Lounge. And felt pretty comfortable there. It was nice. Not very busy. And we were dressed in bathing suits.
With coverups. Of COURSE!
Duh.
We bought them just in case we were in the pool and wanted to head over to Artist Point for dinner.
Heh heh.
The kids wanted fancy mocktails. I wanted a strawberry daiquiri. And Mellyman didn't know what he wanted. But... he wanted something festive. To start the vacation.
I told him to decide and order while I headed to the washroom.
I came back to find three expensive fancy kids drinks on the table. Melting quickly away into a puddle while the kids stood outside The Territory Lounge at the window and watched the amazingly heavy FAT RAIN. Mesmerized by the force of the storm. And... also...two strawberry daiquiris.
I looked at him and burst out into laughter!!!!
DED!
"Melly!" I laughed, "What's WITH YOU? At Disney! THAT'S RUM!!!! AGAIN!!!! You HATE RUM!!!! I'm so DED. Are you stoned?"
"No."
"Yeah. Mon."
Cheers, Mel.
I'm from Texas and no kinda East Coast snob...I'm a SOUTHERN snob thankyouverymuch! 
So, how did you like the room? You were in a 2 bedroom villa, right? We haven't stayed at VWL yet...
