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We parked and went in to look around. Mom loved all the beautiful woods and African artifacts. In the lounge area a young lady from Africa was
preparing to give a lecture about her homeland to a family who has stopped by. She asked us if we were staying but we told her we had supper plans.
We went and checked out the animals and then the gift shop. Then it was time to go downstairs to Boma. We checked in and no sooner did we get our
pager than it went off and we were seated. We had an older lady as our CM who was great at explaining all the food and beverage choices. She
recommended a wonderful merlot as I wanted to try a South African wine. After hearing Jane cough she insisted on bringing her Chamomile tea and
honey. Jane and I had been hoping that our favorite carrot ginger soup would be on the menu but were told that that was a "Friday soup". We found
a new favorite in the coconut chicken curry soup (as reccomended by the chef manning the soups). The food was as wonderful as I remembered and mom was
very impressed. She loved the zebra domes but we all decided we needed the recipe for the upside down pineapple cheesecake. Our CM gave us a recipe
request form and it was waiting on our e-mail when we got back! We had a wonderful meal. It was about $130.00 with three adult buffets, the wine and
beer, and tip but it was well worth it. As we were leaving mom remarked on the lovely cloth swatches that were hanging from the ceiling. I told her
that I didn't remember them from the year before and a passing CM, who sounded African, said that they were Kenta (?) clothes from Ghana and had
just been hung that morning much to all the CMs surprise. He sounded quite pleased about them and I agreed that they added a lot of color and warmth to
Boma, a very nice touch. I walked out to get the car as Jane and mom struck up a conversation with
the valets. By the time I drove around Mom had been crushed to learn that the roof she thought was thatch was actually PVC! LOL. We headed back to
camp and found the girls snuggled in bed watching Monsters Inc. on the laptop. Krys was folding her errant laundry. She said that they left the
sing a long when the movie started as the girls wanted to swim in the pool (after a day at BB - go figure). The boys arrived home soon there after and
we all turned in for the night. Oh yes, Jane had to sleep in the camper that night as she had left her tent window open and her bed had been soaked
by the rain. We were all so tired we didn't even hear her snore.
Highlights - watching the kids have fun at BB and the great dinner at Boma.
Thursday October 31 -
Halloween! Our plans were to go to Epcot today but my niece and I conspired to get up and sneak off off MK for EE. She really wanted to go on SM one
more time. I woke up first and got ready then woke her up. We managed to wake Gammy up and she agreed to give us a golf cart ride down to the bus
area. It was only a little after 7 when we got there and mom was craving a "real cup of coffee" so she parked the cart and I went up to Crockett's
Tavern. They weren't opened yet but a CM saw me standing there. He came out to check on what I wanted. I explained about the coffee and he said he
could hook me up. He went back inside and came back with a big steamy cup of coffee and a bag of creams and sugars. He asked if we were waiting for
Trail's End ti open and I told him our plans. He told me that it would be quicker to catch a ferry and that the first one came at 7:30. I thanked him
and took mom her coffee. She was very impressed by his helpfulness and the free coffee. I had her drive us over to the phones so I could call DH at
home. After that she drove to the dock and we worked out a meeting time and place at Epcot (big silver ball at 10:30).
Lexi and I wandered down to the dock where there were about 8 people waiting. We watched hot air balloons going up somewhere beyond the MK. I
don't know if they were WDW related but they were very pretty. At 7:30 the ferry arrived and it was a direct shot over to the MK. We had
to wait in line to get in. The line was about 15 people deep but it wasn't too crowded. I was glad to see so many people taking advantage of EE. We
waited about ten minutes and then the pixie dust flew and it was time to go. As we entered I noticed a sign in front of City Hall said that the night's
MNSSHP was sold out. Lexi was hungry so we went to the bakery. She wanted a bagel and I had an agonizing decision to make but decided to go with a
yummy looking Apple Charlotte. It was very good. We ate and then left to go to the Buzz Lightyear ride. We walked on and after that went to TTA.
Lexi was disappointed that SM wasn't part of EE but I told her we would have a jump on everyone else.
We then rode the teacups and stop to visit with Malificent. Lexi was mad that she forgot her autograph book but we took some photos with the scary
Malificent. She was one of the few characters I had never seen before besides seeing Goliath from the Gargoyles at MNSSHP on Sunday. I think they
had more villains out for Halloween. After that we did the SW ride, the carousel, and PPF.
There was a small crowd waiting for the rope to drop near Columbia Harbor House. It was manned by two dour looking CMs from the HM. Lexi and I
ducked into the pretty bathroom that is right there (we like the fairy tale tiles). When we came out the rope was being coiled up and the CMs looked
like they had just avoided being trampled. They were walking behind us complaining because the other CMs had let people into the LS area before it
was time which made their job of holding the masses back even harder! When we got near the entrance to HM they actually began to fuss with two CMs
dressed in colonial garb about it. The colonial CMs didn't seem to upset by the criticism which made the HM Cms even madder. Lexi didn't find this
conversation as interesting as I did and pulled me into the entrance for HM. It was a walk on and I was glad we went. I mean what's better than the HM
on Halloween. I did notice that some of the CMs had white ghoulish faces for the day. After that we went to SM but it wasn't running yet and there was no water
rushing down the mountain. We went next door to ride BTMR and ended up doing this twice as there was virtually no wait. On one ride Lexi talked a
young girl into not being so scared promising her that she would love it. Funny considering she could hardly be coaxed into going on it the year
before. I found out she only went last year because she was afraid the rest of us would die on the ride leaving her alone in WDW. She went and ended up
loving it. After we got off it was time for SM. Lexi wanted to get a picture of herself on the ride to show her mom. We knew it was running now
because we could hear the screaming. We ended up riding it twice two although both times something happened and her face wasn't visible in the
photos. I wasn't about to pay 15 bucks for a picture of a terrified me and her arms. For a person who vowed to never ride SM again I was sure on it a
lot. Lexi lobbied hard for one more HM ride but it was already after ten and I told her we had to go meet everyone else.
We headed back to the entrance which wasn't easy between the Trolley Singers, a photo shot in front of Casey's with models etc., and seemingly
half the world walking up Main Street. We finally got out and went to catch the monorail to the TTC. When we got there and transferred to the Epcot
side a train was just leaving so I knew it would be a wait and that we would be late for our meeting. As we sat there I heard someone chanting "Mom and
Lexi are losers." and turned to see Mom and gang coming up the ramp! Seems DS was a bit peeved that we had left him behind. I was so glad that they
were late too and that we had meet up there rather than wandering around Epcot. Mom said they had voted on whether or not to do the ferry/monorail
route or the direct bus and that ferry had won by one vote! We all got on the next monorail and headed to Epcot. On the way there Jane
realized she had forgotten her pass so she had to get off the monorail and go to the bus to go back for her pass. We told her we would meet her in
front of the fountain at 12:30. We got into Epcot around 11:00 and walked on to SE. My 4 yo loves this ride although I'm not sure why. After the
ride we played for awhile in the innovations area. When we went back out to get our stroller we noticed a table set up in front of Guest relations.
They gave us some candy and gave the little girls a balloon. We went and rode more rides and the girls played in the fountain area while the boys
went to TT. They found by doing the single rider line that they could get through very fast. We did Ice Station Cool and I told Krys to try the
wonderful Beverly. She took a big gulp and about gagged. Mom actually liked it as she said it tasted like a Gin and Tonic. Somewhere in all this
we saw the Jammitors which the kids were in awe of and the Kristos (sp?) which were thought were strange and half the group went to the Living Seas.
We went then to meet Jane and go to HISTA. I wanted to go to JItI but no one else did! They wanted to go to the WS. I thought we would be back on
Saturday so I didn't push it. We entered through Canada and my son had a beavertail craving. We caught the last few minutes of Off Kilter which was
neat. As we entered England we could hear the singing from the gardens but the kids were all distracted by the fish and chip shop. We all sat down for
a rest in the eating area next to it while they munched on their fish and chips. The WS Players were scheduled to perform soon so we waited for that
show and were very amused by it. Then we crossed the bridge in to France. I love France. I lived in Paris when I was 19 for a year (I was a nanny)
and I married a Frenchman. Except for my french MIL I have a great affection for all things French. Our first stop was at the French booth to
buy some very good chocolate truffles. We usually stop first at the bakery as I love the croissants here. They are as close to the ones I ate in Paris
as any I've tried. My husband made us promise to get him some palmier (Elephant ears to us Yanks) but that would have to wait for Saturday. I
wanted to catch the movie which I always love and find very relaxing. The statue was performing so we watched her. My mom was amazed by her and said
she wanted to catch her next performance as well. I checked out the street cart for a shirt for DH but they didn't have anything I thought he would
like. I tried out my rusty french with the CM on the cart but confused her so much I gave it up. Lol.
After that we moved on to Morocco. The girls were enchanted by the courtyards and fountain. Jasmine and Genie were in the back of the pavilion
signing autographs so we went to see them. I had read about the hidden stained glass in the door so I asked a CM where it was but he didn't know
and neither did anyone else. My notes were back in the camper so I decided to try again on Saturday. Mom, Jane, and I were hungry so we decided to get
a bite from the cafe. The food here was great but I ran into the first really rude CM of the day. I wanted an "adult" coffee which was in the
little bakery area. The CM behind the counter was on the phone and never once looked my way. Finally another girl came to help me and said something
to the CM on the phone in arabic which I gathered wasn't highly complimentary by the rude CM reaction. It was obvious from the rest of the
CMs attitude toward her that she was not too popular and I wondered if she was long for the World. I thanked the nice CM and took my four dollar
coffee. We wanted to sit outside but it had started to sprinkle. I had the chicken and it was soo good I ended up having to share and my DS actually
decided that he needed his own even though it hadn't been that long since fish and chips.
The TOD parade started so we cleaned up and went out to see it. A very nice CM made a space in front for the little girls but Rayna was scared by the
parade so I took her back to the fountain. I went to buy a bracelet to match the necklace I had bought there in November. I bought Mom a necklace
like mine. I always get so many compliments on it. It is silver with multicolored little balls and goes with everything. It's fun when people
asked me where I got it to say "Oh, I picked this up the last time I was in Morocco".
After that we went to Japan. We lived there as children (my brother was born there) and being there brought back lots of memories for Mom. She
loved shopping there. Unfortunately Rayna found the Hello Kitty store. We spent a lot of time there. I ran over to the American Pavilion to see about
buying Rayna a sweatshirt as she was getting cold and saw Sister Sledge performing on the stage. I never did find a shirt though.
It was getting late and we had a PS for the Rose and Crown in hopes of snagging a table for Illuminations. Jane and Will dashed over to check it
out. Will ran back and said to hurry as they couldn't hold the table for long which I thought was odd since we had a PS. When we got there Jane was
sitting in the area next to the R&C holding two table. She said the Cm had told her we couldn't have a table for just dessert and drinks???? and
pointed her to the other seating area. Since we had good seats and we were not at all hungry we decided to stay put and not make a big issue of it.
Illuminations started and we all enjoyed it. We hadn't gone in November so the girls saw it for the first time. After that we went to the
International Gateway as Jane had packages to pick up (do you sense a theme here). We got on the ferry to go to Boardwalk to catch a bus back "home".
I love the way Boardwalk looks at night when you come in on the ferry. we were surprised by the activity level here. When we were there in November
it was dead. When we got off there was a group of Jazz musicians playing for a small crowd and as tired as were were we sat to listen to them. We
saw other street performers up and down the boardwalk and talked about coming back one evening although we never got a chance. We saw a lot of
evidence of the evening's Halloween festivities. Jane and Will spotted a woman with these cool little lights clipped in her hair and on her clothes.
They asked her where she got them and the man with her said he sold them. He had a case with him and sold some to Will. I have a feeling this was
totally illegal as I can't imagine WDW letting someone sell stuff on property. Rayna was asleep by then and I was tired hauling her around so I
said I was going to wait in the Inn. I love going in there as it is so pretty. I waited there on a round sofa for everyone else to show up. When
they came in the teens went to see the Jack-O-Lantern contest which all resorts seem to have.
I briefly flirted with the idea of crashing there but decided one night there would easily cost as much as all seven nights in FW. I could only
imagine how wonderful it would be as we dragged our tired bodies to the bus stop. Busses came and went with none of them saying they were going our
way! It then occurred to me that they had revamped the whole system since we had last been there. When the next bus came that said MK I had DD ask
about a bus for FW. The driver said there was no bus but told us to hop on. He then announced to his passengers that they were on a "rescue mission".
I imagined all the riders were going to MNNSHP so I didn't imagine they were thrilled but no one booed us. The driver took us to WL and told us to wait
for an orange bus to FW. We thanked him and everyone else. We didn't wait long and the orange bus was there. The boys explained that this was how
they got to and from DQ nightly. The orange bus took us directly to our loop.
We got the golf cart and went to the bathroom to get ready for the night. We noticed that the loop was really beginning to fill up. So many people
had Halloween decorations up! One huge bunch had three adjoining campsites and had set up a theater with a big screen tv in the back of a SUV. The
kids were all sitting on blankets eating popcorn and watching a movie. We admired their ingenuity.
Soon enough it was lights out and I was so glad!
Highlights - Quality time with Lexi, tricking Krys with the wicked Beverly, and Yummy food all day long!
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four
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