The Best (Re)Laid Plans December TR About This Page:

[cindybelle]

On our way to Spaceship Earth, we stopped because the Disney photographers insisted on getting of our fabulous selves (of course).





Poor Sheri -- she is so painfully shy. I don't quite know how to draw her out of her shell.

Then we rode Spaceship Earth, which failed to take a picture of anyone but Nora (apparently the rest of us are vampires or something ). Once we'd returned to the present, Nora left for a nap at the Beach Club.

Darlene, Sheri, Sandy and I went into the Art of Disney Store (they tried to hold me back, but my will was too strong ). I am happy to report I didn’t find anything in there I couldn’t live without. But I took some pics of some wonderful artwork anyway -- you know, the stuff I can't afford and/or don't have room for.

[cindybelle]

Then Darlene & Sheri left for their dinner ressie at Flying Fish (near the Boardwalk, dahlings). Sandy and I rode Soarin’ a fourth time (!) and a cast member remembered us from the morning. “You too really like this ride!” he exclaimed. Well, who wouldn’t???





Sandy & I took the boat over to Morocco and then walked to Mexico for our dinner ressies at San Angel Inn.









The place was packed, so we waited a bit.

Now they bring a cool cart of FAB ingredients to your table to discuss the beverage of choice.



I ordered my usual Jalapeno Margarita while Sandy ordered a Classico, which came in its own small ice bucket for pouring. We began enjoying the tostada chips with the spicy salsa – and suddenly Sandy put her hand up and said “My mouth is bleeding.”

For those of you who are squeamish, please look away and I’ll tell you when to start reading again. I wouldn’t have reported this to you, but Sandy insists. OK, if you’re still with me, read on. . . . put your tongue behind your upper front teeth. Feel that ridge that goes back toward your throat. Well, where that ridge begins behind your front teeth, the roof of your mouth is pretty sensitive. Freak accident – a tostada chip hit that spot of Sandy’s mouth and clipped that ridge. She insists it didn’t hurt – but it bled like crazy. She tried holding a napkin to it, but to no avail. Fifteen minutes later, it was still bleeding.

She was mostly embarrassed – I mean, what a way to get injured, right? She didn’t want to gross me out, so she left for the restroom, thinking she could hide in a stall and apply pressure. She returned to the table – the restroom had been full, and she didn’t want to hold up a stall just for her problem. So we called our server over & explained that Sandy had a medical emergency, and would he please cancel her dinner order? She insisted to me that she didn’t need assistance to get to a first aid station, and that she hoped to see me at the dessert party.

As soon as she’d left, two managers and our server returned to our table, concerned & wanting all the details. The manager had a form he had to fill out – I assured him I understood, since I work in HR and know that all accidents have to be reported to OSHA. He said he also had to make out a report in case there was ever a legal claim. I assured him that Sandy would not be suing Disney World and explained the whole thing. He was – such an accident had never occurred in their restaurant before. I told him Sandy was extremely embarrassed about it and didn’t want a fuss.

Then they brought me Sandy's entrée instead of mine, so I had to flag down our server again. “We’re really messing you up tonight, aren’t we?” I said. My own dinner arrived within seconds, and I enjoyed it along with the rest of my Jalapeno Margarita. And then I poured the rest of Sandy’s Classico over my ice cubes and enjoyed that as well. But of course I was worried about Sandy, too.

They brought the check – they had removed Sandy’s margarita as well as her entrée from the bill. I left a $20 tip for our worried server.

As I exited San Angel Inn, Sandy was waiting for me. The first aid station had given her gauze to hold to her mouth, and that had stopped the bleeding.

TIP for those who bring first aid kits to WDW: bring GAUZE. You never know when a freak accident will happen to your mouth or some other body part where a band-aid simply won’t work!

So THANK YOU, SANDY, for asking me to include this bizarre story in my Trip Report as a Public Service Announcement. You have probably saved some future guest from a real in the mouth.

EVERYBODY, come on back to the story now -- the icky part is over.

I hadn't ridden the Maelstrom in years, so Sandy & I enjoyed that. I saw this adorable Goofy shirt in the gift shop which I didn't purchase -- but of course I recorded its image for your pleasure:

[OhToodles!]

What a great meal at Tutto Italia.
And that is crazy about Sandy and the chip! I can see how that happened though. Glad she's ok!

And I'm glad it wasn't Matt! He should definitely know better!

[mcc0313]

Lunch at Tutto Italia looked like a great time, with wonderful people. Sorry about Sandy's accident at San Angel Inn - so glad she was ok, but I do know that spot (yes I cut it once myself with a corn chip years ago- see that should make Sandy feel better, she is not the first to injury themselves with a chip), and it is so hard to stop bleeding in the mouth. Glad that she was waiting for you when you got out so you could enjoy the rest of the evening.

[cindybelle]

Then Sandy and I walked through China -- I hadn't been in there in years, either. So beautiful.


Then Sandy had me stand in the center of the Temple and speak -- my voice returned to me as an echo, but no one else could hear it. -- I don't think I'd ever heard about that before. Thanks, Sandy!



Now it was pretty dark outside -- soon it would be time for Reunion's Illuminations Dessert Party! We ducked into the restrooms at the American Pavilion, and I took this quick pick of the ginger bread house:



And then we were led to the Venetian patio for yummy desserts & a great view of the Holiday Illuminations. Just before they started, Sheri called to say that Darlene and she would be waiting for us in Italy after our dessert party was over.

[cindybelle]

I always get a bit during Illuminations -- the excitement, the music, the sudden silence when it's all over. I just it.

[cindybelle]

Sandy was getting caught up with a friend she'd made at Reunion last December, and then the three of us went to see Sheri & Darlene. We talked for awhile, and then I said I was really tired (I had awakened at 3:30 that morning for some unknown reason and hadn't gone back to sleep), so everyone agreed they'd walk me around the world & to the exit. We picked up Nora along the way -- she'd been at a meet at DHS -- and I kept strolling slowly & taking photos, thinking the group was still with me. When I reached the big Christmas tree & waited and waited -- and waited, I finally called Sheri & asked where the heck they all were.

They had stopped at those infamous restrooms in Great Britain and were apparently so fascinated they hadn't gotten any further. Since I'd already hugged everybody, I told her to say for me and that I hoped to see all of them again on a return visit.

I went back to WL to finish packing. I would be solo at AK the next day until it would be time to get to the airport. I had thoroughly enjoyed my trip thus far and knew Santa Goofy would be waiting for me at AK for some photo opps.

So once again it was time for this little girl to

Saturday (Dec. 10): Solo Again

Checked out after breakfast, and then took the bus to AK. Perfect weather, although a tad humid. I wore my Mickey vest over a long-sleeved top and put on my Goofy Santa hat – just for photos, dahlings. I brought along a tee shirt and my ToT baseball cap for later -- because I knew I would be overheating shortly.

Well, Sandy doesn’t need to feel about hurting her mouth on a tostada chip, because while I’d been super-careful with Rick’s camera all week, I managed to leave the camera on the bus to AK! Didn’t realize it until I’d reached the AK Christmas tree and thought “Let’s take a picture.” Oh no!

I raced to Guest Relations, which had quite a line already. I was slightly past the verge of as I explained what I’d done. The CM said “Don’t cry – we will find it.” She disappeared for several minutes as I tried to calm down, taking deep breaths. I kept thinking “I can’t tell Rick I lost his camera – I can’t, I can’t." (Luckily he will never read the Passporters board, and I know YOU won't tell him )

Several minutes later, the CM came back carrying a familiar camera case. She said, “It took me awhile because I saw some photos on here that looked kind of like you – but you weren’t weary a Goofy Santa hat in any of them.”

So I dried my tears and went in search of photo opps. Whew!



I love all the details at the AK, don't you?






And was Santa Goofy glad to see me? Gawrsh!



And was I glad to see him? You bet!

[cindybelle]

The photographer asked if we'd both pose with our ears sticking out. Hu-yuck, you bet!


A little later, I ran into Goofy on one of the trails and he graciously agreed to pose one more time.



Of course, I also had to pay my respects to the Mouse.



Mickey was excited about the picture of his dog Pluto on my vest -- so we posed to show off that side. (Mickey jumped up and down and pointed at Pluto -- he was genuinely thrilled -- and I was just as )

[cindybelle]

Got a FP for the Safari ride and then headed to Asia. Heard a voice from about 2 feet below my face saying “Goofy!” I looked down at a little girl wearing a Goofy Santa hat, but as she pointed at my twinkling lights she said, “Mine doesn’t have lights!” I assured her that while Disney didn’t appear to be selling the light-up ones this year, hopefully in the future they would. I asked her mom to take our picture:



As they went toward Africa and I headed toward Asia, I yelled, “Goofy rules!’ and the girl pumped her fist in the air and yelled, “Yay, Goofy!” Always a pleasure to meet a fellow fan, ah-yuck!

Got a PhotoPass pic in front of Expedition Everest (EE), and then ducked into a restroom to change out of all my heavy clothing – it was pretty warm & humid at that point.


Expedition EE’s Single Rider Line (SRL): rode it twice, with two different teenaged girls. One of them asked me where I’m from and then lit up like a Christmas tree when I said St. Louis. “Do you ever go to the ZOO there?” she asked. Well yes, pretty often. “That is my favorite zoo in the ENTIRE COUNTRY!” she said. The second girl exclaimed that my ToT hat was “Way ” Both girls were right, of course!

I headed to Tusker House for my 12:05 solo lunch ressie, and whom did you think I saw? LADY DEVINE. Well, this day was getting better and better.



Then I was at Tusker House and Donald insisted on getting a pic with me:



I really the food at the Tusker House. Went back for seconds! I really like the hummus, tabloulleh, salmon, and chicken dishes there.

[Cam22]

What an awesome time with the ladies! So glad you got the camera back!

[lazanya]

Great updates! Great pictures!

[cindybelle]

I managed to have four -- yes, FOUR -- desserts, and they were all



And I saw Daisy and Mickey -- and then finally GOOFY came in wearing his safari clothes, and he led the children (and me) in a parade around the room. The extended family of 12 next to me seemed to find me for some reason -- but they quickly decided I was OK after I stopped the matriarch from taking a photo of the rest of the family. I said, "Wouldn't you like to be in it, too?" After that, they definitely me, even if they did think I was a bit .


Figured I had just enough time to use my Safari FP & then should start heading for WL and Disney’s Magical Express back to the airport. I went up to a young male & a young female CM at the FP entrance & started telling them about how much Rick admires rhinos and we’d done the Backstage Safari in 2005 and got to “pet” Spike, one of their larger, friendlier rhinos. Then the young woman reached out her hand for my FP and the young man (Michael) said " this is a special guest and needs a special experience.” He let me keep my FP and took me a back way that led directly to the jeeps! He spoke with the CM there (Ryan) & asked which jeep I should ride, since I was interested in rhinos. Here's a pic of my exuberant new friend Michael and his cohort Ryan:



Ryan put me in the second row, on the far left side. How COOL was that? Amanda was our guide for the trek – and she was one of the best guides I’ve ever heard. Really fun, enthusiastic, and informative.

Of course, there are no guarantees if or when you’ll see any particular animal, and I got a good butt-end view of a rhino on the left side:



Rick will definitely want that one in his collection of rhino photos, don't you think?

We went too fast past a couple rhinos on the right side of the jeep, so I was unable to get a good photo. But I was grateful for the attempt AND to get to skip to the head of the pack (which saved me considerable time).

I'm a total bird fan, so was happy to get this pic of some majestic feathered friends:

[cindybelle]

And then a giraffe came up to our jeep. That was so .



And even after we left him behind, he looked like he wanted to stay with us.


Then we got a really great view of a baby elephant at play:





Now, don't get , but we managed to save a baby elephant during our safari -- maybe it was the same one we'd seen earlier!

When the safari ended, I told Amanda how good she is, and then I looked for Michael but he wasn't around, so I told the young lady who was at the FP line to be sure to thank him because I'd had an amazing safari.

In fact, now I had time to stop at the gift shop & purchase those soft almost terry-cloth Donald and Goofy animals for the soon-to-be 2-year-old twin grandsons of our friends back home (Paul & Robbie). Little James and Anthony should be at Paul & Robbie's house right now, along with parents Michelle & Michael. Rick and I will be seeing them this weekend -- I can't wait to see if James and Anthony like their new Disney pals. (I bet they will!)

I also stopped to get myself a pair of sunglasses with an exotic bird on one of the eye pieces. It will always remind me of the AK and my wonderful visit there.

Then it was time for me to get outta there. As I raced past Guest Relations, I and yelled one more time, to no one in particular. I stopped just long enough to get a closeup of some of the cool animal ornaments on the AK Christmas tree:



And when I got to the bus stop, there was a bus ready to depart for WL. Perfect timing! Disney really does think of everything!

[cindybelle]

A nice Cast Member at WL handed me my carry-on stuff and kindly helped me incorporate that into my latest Disney purchases -- those stuffed animals aren't tiny! I gave her a nice tip and we talked about all things Disney. Then DME came to take me to the airport.

Just then I finally noticed the topiary on the other side of the driveway -- I hadn't before. So this is taken through the window, but still it's



I grabbed the second seat on the bus and watched others come aboard. All of a sudden I heard, "Hey, Cindybelle!" and it was Elliott's father & the rest of the family that I'd met at the DHS bus stop a couple days earlier! When Elliott saw me, his face lit up and he acted like our last conversation had never ended. "And you know what else?" he asked. And I said, "WHAT?"

There were many people heading to the airport. About 5 minutes into our drive, it started to . I turned around to the young couple behind me and said, "You know why it waited to rain? Because I've been carrying a Disney umbrella around for the past two days!" The young husband replied, "So did we, and for the same reason -- we figured it wouldn't rain if we carried an umbrella." I said, "Well, if it's going to rain, we might as well go home."

I had such a lovely time, and went home with so many great stories to tell Judy. Now that Annual Pass is burning a hole in my pocket -- who's up for a trip to WDW?

I'll leave you with some random exterior shots I'd taken throughout the week of the area behind Wilderness Lodge. So incredibly beautiful.

Wishing you the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year!

[cindybelle]

Oh wait -- one more shot from inside the WL: