The afternoons rest really did my toe good, but still, Id been on it an awful lot over the last 5 days and it was still a little sensitive and kind of making me grumpy. I did my best to swallow that, though, and have a good time walking around the BW/BC area. Once we were all dressed and ready to go, something occurred to us:
There is no bus from OKW to the Boardwalk.
Now you might think at this point Id
but DH had been paying attention the last few days to where the busses were going and how they actually got there. That, and BW is right across from MGM and as we were leaving that afternoon, he was able to make some sense of what needed to be done to make it back there later. So, really, this was one of the first times he drove at WDW that didnt turn out to be a big drama. We got our parking permit, pulled into the lot, and headed over to Disneys Boardwalk. From first sight, we all really liked the look of this area. Unfortunately, just about 2 minutes after we got out of the car, it started to rain and we had to dash from tree to tree to various covered areas to avoid it since I didnt bring any ponchos on this excursion.
I think by this time wed all gotten to the point where wed just had too much family togetherness. If you will remember, yesterday DS and I were noting the similarities between DH and his parents. Well, at this point, DH was doing stuff to get on our nerves, sometimes purposely and sometimes just because thats his nature. We, in turn, were doing things to get on his nerves, and so DS and I sort of naturally closed ranks against him. This happens frequently in our family, but who is taking whose side really depends on the situation. DH and DD, or DH and DS team up against me sometimes. DD and I, or DS and I team up against DH sometimes. Less often do DD and DS join forces
they dont have many common goals that would cause them to do that, and of course its never exciting when DH and I show a display of solidarity against the kids because that is, after all, our job. Not that we werent still having a good time and a fun vacation, but wed had five days now with no escape from each other and were just really kind of sick of putting up with each others
uh
stuff.
A bit more family history is in order here. My in-laws, whom I really do love dearly, have ways, as we all do, in which they are set in their behaviors and naturally DH takes after them in some respects (heaven help me). My FIL, Chuck, is a big sweetie, but he exaggerates just about everything and kind of makes things up when he wants to get you to do something. My MIL, Ruby, is the most generous soul you will ever know, but she has a pretty Spartan attitude toward whats necessary in life and is the one from which DH gets his Oh, we dont need to see (do, buy) that
let's go attitude. Right about now, DS and I had had just about enough of both these inherited traits, and when DS pointed out that some of the things DH was doing were just like grandpa or just like grandma he jokingly melded their names and called DH Chuby. I thought this was hilarious and offered my own version, which was Ruck. DH was far less amused than we. Haha. DS and I pretty much stopped saying this to DH after about 10 minutes, but continued to mutter it under our breath to each other the rest of the evening.
The first thing that struck all of us as we dashed out of the rain and into BWV/BWI was just how gorgeous this resort is. Very classy and, personally, I liked it even better than BC (which, at this point, we hadnt seen up close yet, but Ill get to that). We wandered around a bit, and DH said he could definitely imagine himself staying in a villa there next trip, and then once the rain mostly subsided, we headed out to the Boardwalk itself.
it! It was still only about 4:30 when we got there, so the crowds were still light.
We decided to go through the International Gateway real quick try to ride TT once before we had dinner, but once wed gotten all the all the way over there, it was closed because the track was wet from the rain. It sounded as if they were sending empty cars around the track (to help dry it, as DH suggested?), but the line was horrendous and the wait was stated as 120 minutes, so we said no way and headed back the way we came. Theres a little gift shop just before you go through the turnstiles at IG and, still looking for postcards, we wandered in there for a few minutes. I did find a couple of good postcards and as I was getting DH to pay for them (hes the guy with the discount, remember), my DS held up a pin: Hey, mom! Look, heres your green mickey head pin. I told him to grab it because I knew someone who could use it. DH looked at me like Id sprouted three heads until I told him I was going to pass it on to Teresa like DISUNC had done for me. We grabbed our bag and noticed that the Friendship ferry was pulling up, so we instantly decided a boat ride would be preferable to walking back to the BW while it was still so hot and my toe was in need of some rest.
We were pretty hungry by now, and since DS had been talking for months about wanting to have dinner at ESPN Club, thats where we went. There was short line outside and we told the hostess we wanted a table for four and we started to wait. However, while we were waiting and discussing the menu and ambience of ESPN, DD and I suddenly decided wed had enough testosterone for one day and DH kindly suggested we split up so that he and DS could have dinner at ESPN and DD and I could find something a little more to our tastes. Wed meet up afterwards and walk all the way around BW/BC lagoon before going back to the villa.
DD and I had no idea where we were going to eat, so we just looked at different menus as we walked along the Boardwalk. The Flying Fish and Spoodles looked like Id spend more money than a quick meal was worth and DD also mostly decided that there was nothing on those menus that appealed to her. Besides, the wait for both was like 45 minutes and we werent going to do that. We were running out of Boardwalk and I was really beginning to worry that wed have to have hot dogs or something from one of the stands (which DD also did not want to do), when we came upon the Big River Brewing Co. (Yes, I kept the coaster! Heh!)
The hostess took us right in with no wait, which was excellent (especially considering as we came out the hostess was telling people it was going to be a 35-40 min wait). It wasnt exactly relaxing in there kind of a bustling atmosphere but it was ok, because DD and I were together and doing our girl thing and the menu looked fine to us. The waitress brought us drinks DD ordered a Shirley Temple, which made her feel like we were having an extra special meal, and I ordered a Melon Mojito cocktail, which made ME feel like we were having a special meal.
As far as dinner was concerned, DD was happy to order Mac and Cheese and I got the Blackened Mahi Mahi Sandwich. Unfortunately, an eternity went by and no food materialized. The waitress came by to apologize that it had taken so long. The cooks (or someone) had lost our order slip. Sigh. Ok, so in a little bit someone who was not our waitress brought the food and unsmilingly dropped it off at our table. Eh, the food was just ok, but I ordered another melon mojito and felt better about the whole situation. I guess the food really was unmemorable since the only picture I took of the entire event was of the drinks.
Once we finished up, we paid and walked out, and just as I was getting out the cell phone to touch base with the guys, there they were walking up to Big River. Perfect timing. We briefly lamented that our separate dinners had cost about $40 apiece with tax and tip, so it was no great bargain, but we agreed it had been relaxing for both parties and so we sucked it up. Now it was time to make our way around the lagoon because I wanted to see YC and BC up close.
The walk around the lagoon was pleasant, even if my toe didnt really agree, and we enjoyed the atmosphere as the sun began to set and the lights came up on the Boardwalk. I liked the way they looked on the sign.
On the other side of the path was the Dolphin (the Swan, too, way over there).
The Yacht Club was very nice (at least from the outside - which I say because I never got to see the inside) and I liked the fact that all the outside rooms had patios or balconies.
We loved the walk along the Beach Club boardwalk. The atmosphere was great and we all said more than once that wed enjoy staying either here or at BWV for perhaps the first part of the next trip.
Stormalong Bay also looked every bit as good as its reputation here suggested:
I had hoped to see the Boardwalk when it was completely dark, as I have enjoyed pictures of that, but by the time we made it all the way around, it was still only dusk. Still, the scenery was lovely from any vantage point and walking over the bridge from BC to the BW side, we were struck anew at how lovely the Epcot area resorts truly are.
DD and I had wanted to get ice cream from Beaches and Cream, but Chuby rushed us past the BC without letting us go in and check it out. Actually, wed mentioned this just after dinner, but got preoccupied and forgot about it, particularly with all the rushing, but DD was unhappy about the outcome regardless. On the bridge back to the BW side, I briefly considered suggesting we go back, but my toe was starting to throb and we still had to finish the walk back to BWV and out to the parking lot before I could get any relief, so we let it go and promised DD she could get something sweet from the OKW pool snack bar.
Once back at the villa, I was DONE. Toetoe was in complete control of all the rest of the decisions I would make for the rest of the night. But DH and the kids had a hankering to hang out at the OKW game room after DD got her something sweet so they left me at the villa again (sigh of sweet, sweet relief!). Unfortunately, they were having so much fun I had to call them about 10:00 to ask where the heck they were. Those kids needed to get into bed! Tomorrow was going to be another early day if we wanted to be at Animal Kingdom at park opening!
Next up:
A really good visit to AK, where I finally meet another DISer!
You should have seen this guys face. It was like WOW! A DCL pin!!!! I have been waiting ALL my LIFE for one of those! Woo hoo! Or, something along those lines.
Amusingly, since he was not allowed to refuse her trade, she dumped the DCL pin on him and came away beaming from her new acquisition of Mulan.
NEVER NEVER NEVER IS! Always a loooooooooong line in Japan...with ONLY 1 CM!!!!
But.. he took the time to 'notice' what I admired, and went back on his own to purchase such things... and I loved him, so therefore I must love IT. But I didn't love IT. IT made me miserable every morning. I hated IT. It got to the point where I'd sneer as I passed a KFC. I hated ALL chickens now. Why did the chicken cross the road? Cause I was driving my car through it's coop to run their bleeping feathers over!!!!
