7: Our open day
First, want to post about the Cast Members. Going to Disney means you're going to be interacting with
dozens of Cast Members everyday. Unfortunately, in keeping with adages such as "the squeaky wheel get the grease," unpleasant interactions (and conversely, extraordinary interactions) always seem to stick more than "normal" everyday ones. I have posted here about CMs I felt were rude and inconsiderate, but I also tried to post about CMs who really stood out as exemplifying the Disney spirit, such as Marc and Genny, and the CM at Brown Derby.
Brevity is not my forte, as you may have gathered, but space simply doesn't allow to post all the interactions I had with perfectly pleasant, "normal" CMs on our trip. Most interactions are short, ie in ride lines, but for the most part, we were treated to at least a cheery "Good Day" by those we met. Our trip was not at all ruined by the few "bad apples" we encountered on this trip.
I read after getting home that at the time we were visiting, CMs were pamphleting at "local airports," and deep into contract negotiations with Disney. We actually got a sense of this tension on Sunday, the next day in my trip report, but I'll wait and mention it there. We actually chatted a bit with a CM about working for Disney...doesn't sound like right now relations are so hunky-dory, nor are all employees treated with great regard. In my mind, this doesn't excuse bad behaviour (they may not be happy with their jobs, but we paid a small fortune to visit!), but can help to explain some of disgruntlement we encountered.
Phew, told you brevity isn't my suit...onward to our free day!
11/6/04, Saturday
Guess what time we woke up at?
About 8-8:30. I had pencilled in my Passporter that the Spectromagic Parade was at 9PM. It was really the only "plan" I had for the day. Turns out this weekend was so busy they added a second parade. It does seem busier than the last time we visited, but I must've picked good days to visit the parks because we've only had a few lines.
I ask my mom what she wants to do for a meal today, and she wants to go to Boma for dinner. She really liked Boma, and after our Jiko dinner we toured the Boma dinner buffet and it looked really good. We went up to breakfast and asked the concierge if she could book it for us. At first she said, "I don't even have to look, 9:15PM is the first opening." Then, without prompting, she asked how many, we said two, started looking, and got us a PS at 8 or 8:15 PM. Immediately, I knew no Spectromagic
On the list for next time!
We had some breakfast, our new favorite beverage is orange and pineapple juice mixed together. We decided to head back over to Epcot to hit the nations we missed the other day.
We caught a bus to Epcot mid-morning. We passed Spaceship Earth (swamped) and walked toward Canada. The characters are out just past the bridge from Future World. Lines are short again, so I queued up for Donald. Donald was a hoot! He mocked disdain for my Pal Mickey and pantomimed that he felt there should be a Pal Donald.
I know it wasn't special for me, but I got a kick out of the fact that signed "Donald Duck, #1." Next was my personal favorite, Pluto. I gave Pluto a great big hug and love that the "o" in signature is a dog paw. This isn't Disney trip related, but wanted to post a picture of my dog's puppies at 4 weeks old. My early Christmas present is a puppy from this litter, my dog's last natural breeding. He just turned 6 years old last week!
Then I waited in line for Minnie Mouse, really sweet autograph. We decided to again head up the Canada side, because we wanted to boat over to the Epcot resorts and check them out. We went down and got on a boat and exited at the Boardwalk. We went through the Boardwalk lobby, then the Swan's, and then the Yacht and Beach Club lobbies. They're all nice, but in our opinion, the AKL lobby is the best!! Of these, we decide that maybe the Swan or the Yacht Club might be good for a future trip.
We walked back to the International Gateway and proceeded around. I asked my mom if she wanted to boat to Italy, our finishing point last visit, but she preferred to walk. We again missed Florida Fresh and Canada (two booths with rave reviews) because we weren't hungry yet.
When we got to Italy, an actor was out doing a monologue, which was pretty funny. Definitely funnier than others we'd seen. My mom really wanted to backtrack in a bit to see the "Voices of Liberty" again, they were awesome, but the scheduling didn't work out. If you haven't seen them, do!
There were some characters out in Italy, and I got Geppetto's autograph, then spied the Kidcot fun station so got my Italy stamp, too. Adults, they will stamp you, just ask!
At Australia, we noticed a small line for a wine tasting. We were unsure whether you had to pay or not, but you didn't have to pay, it was free! We were floored that something was
free in Disney, LOL. Turns out if you fit in, you got in. We were two of the last people to get seated for the tasting. We got a tour of Australian red wines, very interesting! We shared our table with two from Florida. This isn't the first couple we've met from Florida, apparently F&W fest is just as popular with the locals as with tourists.
After the tasting, we stopped at the Australia booth for two lamb chops and some more wine. The lamb chops were well done, but very tasty!! we had a chat with some other visitors. They were also selling a "wine tour" for six bucks, my mom was interested, but I said "We can't do ALL our drinking in Australia!"
I think this is where we hit the model train garden. It may have been before Australia but I don't think so. We searched hard for the Hidden Mickey here (that Pal Mickey told us about) but I'm not sure we found it. We decided that three mini shrubs were meant to form a Hidden Mickey. Were we right or wrong?
Next, Germany. Browsed the Christmas shop but didn't buy anything. Stopped at Kidcot and got stamped. "Have fun in Germany...Viel Spas in Deutschland!"
The next food stop was Eastern Asia. The funniest thing about Eastern Asia is it was manned by two retirees from Minnesota! Got the shrimp lettuce wrap and two Chinese beers. The woman in line in front of us was a Cast Member on her day off. She was fun. She works for Cosmetology and we started talking about Hong Kong Disney. Turns our her manager is going over in April to help open, will be there at least six months. She was also offered an opportunity to go over, for a similar stint, but declined because she has kids. I said, "Kids have a grandma, don't they?"
She had a sheaf of food coupons she was using to eat her way around the World Showcase. She said for some reason only Cosmetology got them (the coupons). She had a LOT of coupons!
We skipped China entirely, though I enjoyed the movie last time, then mostly skipped Norway, except for the Stave church. Had a nice chat with the CM about these churches. Turns out she's seen two of the real ones...not many left. That would be cool to see one of the old Stave churches. They began as Catholic churches but changed during the Protestant reformation. She said there aren't any pews in them! Line huge for Maelstrom, still find it funny they Fast Pass it, decided to skip it. A fun little ride, but not THAT fun LOL.
Also mostly skipped Mexico, walked in the building, but didn't shop and didn't ride the boat ride. Next food booth was New Zealand. Across from it, a the Peru booth with a beer we wanted to try.
Lines were equal, so I got in the beer line, and my mom got in the NZ line for some more lamb chops. I reached the end of my own line, and was allowed to buy two beers, but was told I couldn't take two beers, only one. Turns out, my mom has to get her own beer. I gesture to where she's waiting in line and they say, "We'll leave it right here on the edge and she can pick it up when she's out of line." Catch up with my mom at a standing table, and she goes over to pick up her beer. No problem really, but first I've encountered the rule that you can't take two beers.
The NZ lamb chops are cooked correctly LOL ie,
rare. The sauce they're in, ostensibly a chutney, is more like a sweet and sour sauce and not very good. Definitely not as good as the Autralian preparation, even though the Aussies overcooked their lamb. The beer was good, Cristal beer. An aside about the beer, I found it hilarious that the "Specialty Beer Garden" had mostly Anheuser Busch products and Sam Adams. C'mon folks, there are a LOT of good specialty beers out there that are microbrewed, or even from small breweries, not
mass produced like Busch and Sam Adams. Here's the Seattle coming out I guess, we have SO SO many good microbrews out here.
As we headed back toward the bridge, the double decker bus with characters was driving by. We waved and waved and shouted hello. We're about the only adults to this. Maybe it's the beer, but I doubt it. We turn into little kids at Disney.
We detoured over to Test Track, wait time, 45 minutes. Skip it. Again, Spaceship Earth mobbed. When did this ride get so popular??
We headed back to the hotel at about 4-5PM. We went down and had a swim and a soak in the spa, then showered and went up to see Genny! Thank goodness her days off are over. When it was time, we went down for our PS at Boma.
We didn't wait very long, and got a seat by a window, though you couldn't see ouside, too dark. The windows are all on a walkway, anyhow, so not much too see. I wonder why they don't have at least one restaurant overlooking the Savannah.
Food was great. Had excellent (rare) prime rib and some African specialties including the Durban Spiced Roasted Chicken. Tried the carrot & ginger soup. Awesome! My mom had the seafood & couscous stew, which she liked very much. We both tried the FuFu, described as a sweet and regular potato mixed together with spices such as cinnamon. Absolutely delicious. I also tried the watermelon rind salad. For those of you familiar with the recipe for pickled watermelon rind (may be a northeastern thing), that's what it tasted like in salad form. To drink, the now famous (to us at least) AKL margaritas.
For dessert I tried the Zebra Dome. It was good, but not what I was expecting. A chocolate mousse really, with zebra striped icing. Tried a few other desserts, all VERY good!
Went back up to the lounge afterward, if I recall correctly, two Casas! Went back to the room, sat on the patio a bit, and then went to bed, because tomorrow is an early day.
Tomorrow: Keys to the Kingdom tour and our Exquisite Evening at Epcot dinner!
About This Page: 
Hope it didn't spoil your fun. Looking forward to reading more.
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Linear Mode
