The Twilight Zone Suburb of Terror
After Sukie got home from the library, we sat and looked at each other, trying to figure out what to do.
We decided to drive out to the northwest suburbs, to Schaumburg, to go to Woodfield Mall, which I hear tell is among the largest malls in the US. It also has the DVC,
Doorway to Dreams the only Disney DVC sales office located outside of Disney property.
I have to preface that we almost never go out that way. We are really more north shore people, preferring Evanston, etc. (Those of you who know Chicago, know that there is a HUGE difference between "the north shore" and the northwest suburbs."
SNOB!!!
So, we climb into Mrs. Fezziwig, turn on the GPS and head out.
We get there and immediately I become confused by the parking arrangements. The parking lot goes all around the perimeter and is larger than Lincoln Square.
I was really lucky and saw a family about to climb into their car and thus open up a space for us ... There they stand, frozen like statues ... no move to get into the car. We realize that they are staring at Mrs. Fezziwig.
Ain't She CUTE????
We finally get the space, which is right near Nordstroms, which in turn is right near the DVC Doorway to Dreams.
We mosey into the DVC store and ask for a tour of the model villas.
Let me say right off the bat, that the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas are beautiful. Probably the best that DVC has done. The models are set with a "balcony and there's a huge photographic mural of the savannah at AKL.
They weren't like... real size rooms were they???
The place is empty, so they ask us to sit down and make ourselves comfy in the living room, and get us some cans of diet coke.
There's the WDW resort station playing on the flat screen TV.
Sukie and are are wondering if it might be possible to lock the staff out and move in for the week, and pretend we're in WDW.
I rather think that the mall food would get tiring after a bit...
We then get dragged into an office for a chat, while they get us a bag of goodies.
There really isn't a sales pitch because it's DVC and they are always easy going. Sukie and I agree that for our week in WDW when we go on the September cruise we'll stay at AKV.
The bag of goodies they gave us was VERY nice. A hard-bound "Dream Book", Doorway to Dreams Mouse Ears, pins, buttons, luggage tags and a metal Christmas tree ornament.
Having our fix of Disney we proceed through the mall with our bag of goodies ... This is where this adventure takes a scary turn.
People keep
staring at Sukie. He doesn't look any different than he usually does, in fact, most of what he's wearing came from Target, but they are
staring.
Why does that keep surprising you??? He IS a celebrity you know...
Sukie is a little put off by all this staring. It is at these points in time, that I fear what will come out of his mouth.
He spots on another level a store called, "Total Weddings," or something like that.
He says, "Let's go
there."
I tell him, "They
don't mean our
wedding." Nevertheless, he goes running off (well he has his cane, so he actually goes hobbling off). I trot after him.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& HE'S OFF!!!!
We do not (thankfully) go into the store, but stand in the doorway mouths agape. It is filled with (OK, this is our opinion) the most hideous collection of of wedding dresses and brides maids gowns, in the most hideous colors imaginable.
It made me think that a derange milliner stuffed themselves with bolts, and bolts, and bolts of garrish taffeta and then threw-up.
I have worn a few of those dresses...
There was a wedding dress (complete with we think a hoop underneath) that was in black and silver.
I guess she really wasn't a virgin after all...
Keep in mind now that the mall is packed.
Sukie points at the black and silver monstrosity and in a loud voice says, "
That's a wedding dress!?
That looks more like something you would wear to Joan Collins funeral!"
she's still around???
Well, if people weren't staring before they certainly were now. We were doubled up laughing.
The rest of the adventure was somewhat tamer, though people did continue to stare.
On the bright side, I did find the socks I had in mind for our wedding ensembles.