Episode 5- Once you go tower, you never go back!
Our first full day at Disney dawned, and the first thing I did was throw back the curtains to take in the view. Unfortunately it was a little foggy, but we could still see the TTC and the monorails and some of the MK. We also had a little friend on our balcony.
There was some condensation on the sliding doors, and there we could see some tiny little prints. I thought they were from a frog, but DS had other ideas
Dinosaur Prints!- DS exclaimed when he caught sight of them- and then he let me know in a very authoritative tone- Dose are Dinosaur prints, Mommy. I thought this was pretty funny because just a week or so prior to our Disney trip, I had taken DS to Dinosaur State Park here in CT, which has an amazing display of dinosaur footprints. He spent most of the time running around acting crazy with his buddies, but I guess it did make some sort of an impression (that is such an awesomely terrible pun).
I left my mom and DS to puzzle over the prehistoric mystery, and I decided to make myself useful and go get breakfast.
Now usually when my mom and I travel, we indulge in room service for breakfast, but this time around, it was such an easy trip from our room to the Contempo Café, I just took the elevator to the Grand Canyon Concourse and picked it up myself. I was so spoiled, not only was I in spitting distance to the MK, but I didnt have to leave my building to get food, drinks, souvenirs, the monorail, anything. Not only is the CR the greatest resort, but once you go tower, you never go back!
Walking out of our Tower room that morning was one of those blissful Disney moments. I just felt like I was home and that there was no where on earth I would rather be. Right outside of my door was this lovely view
And then right below us you could see Chef Mickey and the gang making their rounds, and see and hear the monorail rushing by. I really dont understand how people can say that the Contemporary is not themed, its theme is the essence of Disney. There is nothing more iconic than looking out the window to see the Magic Kingdom, to watch the monorails race overhead, and see the classic characters hanging out at their restaurant. I dont believe any other hotel does it better, the Contemporary captures all of Walt Disney World in such a tasteful, but still dramatic way.
Anyway, I made my way down to the contempo café, where I was immediately presented with a breakfast conundrum. My favorite Disney quick service breakfast is the egg, cheese, and bacon croissant. It used to be ubiquitous around the resort, you could practically trip over croissants at food courts all around WDW. Then an evil wind blew through the land and Disney dining decided that it needed to get creative, now my beloved egg, bacon and cheese croissant all but disappeared. In its place were all sorts of abominations, croissants with egg, cheese and HAM (doesnt Disney know that ham is bacons lesser cousin!), or even worse- egg, cheese and ham Panini- which is what I was presented with at the contempo café. Hmmm, not what I was wanting, but I figured Id have an open mind, grabbed one for me and my mom, and some French toast for Everett, filled up our mugs, and then headed back upstairs.
Well, let me spare you the suspense and tell you that the Panini was a bust. It just wasnt good, the ham wasnt appetizing, and I dont like Disney eggs in general (although I can overlook their shortcomings when surrounded by bacon and butter-croissant goodness). Breakfast one- strike out.
Well, time was a wastin and so while Everett watched his beloved Disney Jr, I got us both ready for a day at the Magic Kingdom. Before we left for the day however, there was still one thing I had to do, which was find the business center and pick up the diapers I had delivered from diapers.com.
I figured it would go faster without my little helper, so I left him back at the room with my mom and struck out on my own to find the conference center. It was really easy to find (once I asked directions from the barista behind the coffee counter) and I was at the fedex desk in no time.
see that stripey building- that's it!
They quickly located my package, and one $5 fee later, I was out the door. Now I understand why they charge for packages, because it is a convention resort, but I think they should make an exception for a box that is clearly labeled from diapers.com. I dont know many businessmen/women who use diapers for their big conference presentations. I paid in cash, but for anyone who might be interested, they could charge your KTTWC, if you show up empty handed.
Now it was time to really get going, I picked up Everett from the room, and we headed out to the MK. Since we were getting a little bit of a late start, I made the executive decision to walk instead of taking the monorail. This took a little negotiation with Everett, but the promise of being able to walk under the monorail tracks was appealing enough to avoid any meltdowns.
This mostly unintelligible photo is "under the monorail tracks" (with a monorail going by)
We made it there in no time, that walkway was awesomely convenient, and ended up at the gates of the MK around 10 am.
No, it wasnt rope drop, but I kept reminding myself that I was trying to take it easy this trip and not to sweat the small details (easier said than done for a lifelong commando!)
Once through bag check and the turnstyles, it was time to take some pictures
Here kid, sit next to this scenic trashcan while I take your picture with this fall decoration.
We also did a few photopass pictures.
As we made our way up Main Street, I spotted an individual that I had always wanted to meet, but never run into before this trip- Scoop Sanderson, of pin trading fame! Scoop is a legend among pin traders, he used to run pin trading meets (before things got out of hand and too cut throat), but now he mostly just trades on Main Street and also acts as streetmosphere as publisher of the Main Street Gazette. I never was able to attend one of his pin trading meets, but I know that he always has a lanyard stocked with excellent pins, so I was excited to have my chance to meet him and trade with a pin legend.
random castle shot
I approached him and said Excuse me sir, may I please see your pin lanyard- and he looked at me frankly kinda shocked. I was immediately concerned that I had committed some faux pas, maybe he wasnt trading pins anymore! But he just said, thats the nicest way anyone has asked to trade pins all day. I would like to be really surprised at this, but Ive seen my fellow pin traders in action, and they can range from brusque to rude to downright awful. Ive seen grown adults practically rip pins off CM lanyards while I was waiting to trade. There are plenty of nice, polite pin traders, but I guess they are becoming the exception rather than the rule.
Well Scoop held out his lanyard and took a look at my pins, and I was about to say good-bye when he told me to hold on for a second, and pulled out a very special Scoop exclusive pin. He signed the back, and gave it to me for continuing the tradition of pin trading. I was really blown away, and this pin will certainly have a special place in my collection.
I also asked Scoop if I could get his picture, I tried to get Everett in on it too, but he was not in a photogenic mood at the moment.
After that magical encounter and splash of Pixie dust, we continued to head up Main Street.
We saw the trolley (Everett wasnt impressed)
And then we went to take a few more photopass pictures. While we were waiting for the photographer, I got Everett out of stroller in an effort to have everything run as quickly and smoothly as possible. Everett was not interested in photographs, so the faster the better. When I had gotten him out, Everett found a small corner of sidewalk that had been chipped, and picked up what Im sure is the only Main Street pebble ever.
The Photopass photographer saw him, and tried to get him to give it to her (I think she was afraid he might eat it), but if you have ever tried to separate a toddler from a pebble, you know how that went.
I assured her that he would come to no harm, and we sat down to take a few pictures.
If you look carefully, you can see the pebble in his grubby little fingers
When we were getting ready to leave, Everett decided to throw the pebble into the planter we were sitting on.
Ugg, usually throwing rocks (or mulch or toys or sticks or everything else) would earn him a time out, but he didnt throw it at anyone, and now the poor Photopass girl didnt have to worry anymore, and I wouldnt have to pry it out of his hands at a later time, so I let it slide. The joys of traveling with little boys.
Everett had been such a good sport up until this point, waiting on pin trades, taking pictures, that I knew it was time to get him on a ride, so we high tailed it into Fantasyland with my sights set on Pan.
Little did I know that on our way there, we would encounter something even better than a ride-
A fountain!
And a water fountain!
TOGETHER!
Its a match made in toddler heaven
If I thought I was going to be able to walk by the Cinderella fountain without stopping, I was sorely mistaken.
I used the opportunity to attempt to fill our water bottles, which was challenging, since I was simultaneously trying to keep Everett from falling into the fountain, and not get too splashed drinking out of the water fountain. I was moderately successful, and once Everett drank enough water to float a small armada, we were once again on track to Peter Pan.
The line was insane by the time we arrived, so I grabbed us some FPs, and we headed right across the walkway to the happiest cruise that ever sailed. Everett is a huge fan because it has repetitive music and a clock, and Im always a sucker for the classics.
Everett really enjoyed the ride, from waving to the ride operator, all the way through to the end where the clock was chiming the ½ hour. It was so sweet to see him with this big grin on his face, and I would have taken a picture, if I wasnt afraid hed jump overboard the minute I took my hands off him.
Next up- Living in the toddler's paradise
Its a point of contention in this house, that is for sure! 
He is going to be such a great big brother!
Get your DISing now while you can! Keep us posted. I can definitely see the advantage of a scheduled C-section. I had a scheduled induction for my second "just because" and it was wonderful to know when I was going in.
The poor baby ended up with a cracked skull and had to wear a helmet. The big brother didn't mean to do it, it was totally an accident, but I can see something like that happening around here. I can tell you one thing, this baby will always be strapped in and secured, 24-7! 
but it wasn't a battle I fought intensely and today she is a lovely, smart and incredibly well adjusted young woman... It will work itself out on its own... he won't be taking it to high school... it'll be fine...
I don't understand either how people say that resort isn't themed. I very much share your opinion. Man, I really want to stay there! I really hope some major pixie dust blows our way and somehow, someway we're able to get into BLT for our October trip next year.
