Steve Russo, Kidani Village, September 27 - October 2, 2014

Steve Russo – September/October 2014 – Kidani Village

Participants
• Steve – Your humble narrator.
• Barb – My faithful traveling companion.

Planning

This is probably the shortest and weirdest planning cycle I’ve ever had for a Disney World trip. I could begin with “to make a long story short…” but, by now, you know that’s not my style so sit back and relax while I bore you with the details of how this trip came together on very short notice.

Our last trip was in January 2014 and, a few months before that, I noticed a drop in airfare on Southwest. I rebooked us and saved $194 ($97 each). If you know anything about Southwest you realize those savings go into an Unused Funds bucket and must be used within one year of when the airfare was originally purchased. Moreover, by “used” I mean you must fly by that date, not simply purchase airfare. For us, that date was June 24.

With a pregnant daughter and daughter-in-law, both due in the Spring, we knew we’d be staying close to home. We did, however, book rooms at Disney World in October during Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. I couldn’t get our home resort, the Boardwalk, but I did score a studio at Old Key West. This would allow us to get that third trip on our Annual Passes so I contacted Southwest and asked about extending the date for those Unused Funds. I had heard several anecdotes regarding folks that have had these funds extended simply by asking so… I asked.

The Southwest agent told me that I needed to contact Customer Services but not to do so until the Funds had actually expired. “They won’t talk to you before that” I was told. OK. I marked my calendar for June 24 and waited.

Grandsons Jack and Sean were born in late-March and early-May, respectively. On June 24, I called Southwest’s Customer Relations and talked to an agent, and then a supervisor, and was told there was no way these funds could be extended. The supervisor indicated that, even if they were extended, there was a $100 charge per person, which would exceed the $97 that we each had. Basically, I was out of luck so I explained what I had been told by another agent and expressed my dissatisfaction with how this was handled. They sympathized but didn’t budge.

I then went back online and realized that, by waiting, the October airfare had risen from around $300 per person, round trip, to between $800-$900. I tried, for several days, to manipulate the dates but couldn’t find a week with DVC room availability and reasonable airfare. I should note here that DVC rooms in October-November were almost non-existent. Eventually, I gave up and canceled the reservation at Old Key West and we resigned ourselves to not having a Fall Disney trip.

We began thinking about a trip from my “Bucket List” that would include the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Disneyland and San Francisco/Napa Valley. We had envisioned this as a 10-14 day trip but I thought we might be able to make it work by eliminating one or two of the components. My good friends at RADP were very helpful with recommendations for the Disneyland/California side but it soon became apparent that, to do this right, would require more than a few weeks of lead-time. We shelved that idea until next year but I kept watching the DVC website, using the new (and very nice) Resort Availability Tool.

I just couldn’t put together a 5-7 day trip without changing hotels two or even three times. I could accept one change in a week but two or three just didn’t seem to be doable. Then, one day in late August, a 5-night window opened at Saratoga Springs. I quickly checked airfare and found I could do it, reasonably, with a Saturday to Thursday trip. Not great but not horrible either. Saratoga Springs isn’t my first, second or third choice but I took the “any port in a storm” approach and booked it. A day later, a studio at Kidani opened up so I rebooked. It was a standard view studio so I waitlisted a Savanna view as well as the Boardwalk although I didn’t really expect either to come through (and they didn’t).

As you know, the planning wasn’t done yet. I next laid out a loose schedule and booked Fastpass+ for the stay. It really wasn’t that difficult and only took about 20-30 minutes. The only snag I had was trying for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – the only time available was during the evening so we’re adjusting on that day.

This trip happens to fall within a Free Dining period so trying to secure Advance Dining reservations (ADRs) was near impossible. After about 30-minutes of coming up almost empty (I secured one “dinner” ADR for the Plaza Restaurant at 3:15 – yes… 3:15), I gave up. We’ll try our best to secure something as a walkup or live off counter service for the week. I know many disparage counter service at Walt Disney World but I think, if you’ve been there before, there are a few spots that range from “acceptable” to “pretty good”. I think we’ll be OK.

Day 1 – Saturday, September 27, 2014 – The Sloping Fuselage and a Ghirardelli Sundae
I awoke at 3:30 and found Barb already up with the coffee brewed. The car was in the garage and had been loaded the evening before so, at 5:15, we were off to the airport. I had toyed with saving a few dollars by parking outside. That’s usually not prudent in the winter months but the chances of coming home to a snowed-in car are much less in October. At the last minute, I gave in and parked in the indoor garage. Heck, you can’t take it with you.

Check in at Southwest was no problem and the woman who checked our bags asked us to “Say hi to Mickey”. She must have noticed the Disney’s Magical Express tags.

My Boarding Pass had the “Pre TSA” designation but, unfortunately, Barb’s didn’t. At Security, the agent checked and said that Barb could not go with me but that I could give up the “Pre TSA” and accompany her through the regular line. I love my wife – I really do. However, the chance to get through Security wearing my shoes and belt was just too much of a draw so I told Barb I’d see her on the other side. “So long, sucker!”

Normally, I need to remove my watch, belt and shoes while emptying my pockets, extracting the laptop from the backpack, and carrying my wallet in my hand. I’ve learned most of that the hard way. Today? Leave everything on and (surprise!) leave the laptop in the bag. I walked through the metal detector with the distinct feeling I’d gone back to 1985.

A woman in front of me was asked to remove several thin, silver bracelets. She placed them in a bowl and but the bowl on the X-ray conveyor belt. Naturally, on the other side, the bowl had tipped over and she only had three of the four bracelets. There was a space inside the scanner where two conveyors were separated by a small gap so the bet is her fourth bracelet found that. I did not envy her.

I found Barb as she was putting her shoes on. I really didn’t save any time but it was tons more convenient. We had a quick breakfast at McDonald’s with coffee and egg/sausage sandwiches then waited for boarding. It never ceases to amaze me that, even with a pre-assigned position in the boarding line, people will line up 15 minutes before asked to do so. I just can’t wrap my mind around that.

They get us boarded and I’m hopeful they’ll close the doors and take off early – it’s happened before. Not today, unfortunately. A couple of minutes before takeoff, a woman boarded. They closed the door behind her. I should cut her some slack because she could have been held up in traffic or something but… there is no traffic at 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning AND… she boarded with a bottle of water and a Starbucks coffee so, if she had time to stop for coffee… Of course, she then needed help from a fellow passenger to lift her refrigerator-sized carry-on bag into the overhead compartment.

Barb and I managed to snag the exit row but, this time, the one with three seats across. The guy at the window enjoyed a double vodka and orange juice at 8:00 AM. I guess he’s on vacation.

I debated whether or not to even broach this next subject and, in the interest of being informative, here it is. However, if you’re at all squeamish about rest room activities, please skip down a paragraph or two.

You’re still here? I knew you couldn’t resist. Somewhere in mid-flight, I noticed that the three coffees I had consumed this morning had successfully filled my bladder and required evacuation. I, apparently, have a short memory so I chose to use the closer rest room in the front of the plane, a 737 by the way. The rear bathroom is marginally larger but more importantly, doesn’t have the headroom restriction of the one in the front. The shape of the plane dictates that the ceiling in the front restroom begins at just over 6’ at the door, but then decreases by about 2”-3” for every inch closer to the actual toilet. I’m 6’2” and you can do the math. The choices are to stand about two feet from the toilet and see if my aim is all it used to be, or to dance the limbo as I bend backward while inching closer. I know there’s a third alternative but that’s not even up for consideration. I dance.

Needless to say, I vow to only use the rearward restrooms from this day forward. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Sorry for the delay.

The flight was good but a bit bumpy on approach. At one point, we apparently struck a pothole in the air.

We landed at 10:15 and made our way to the Disney’s Magical Express (DME) area. I had fished out our old MagicBands and Barb used hers at the DME entrance and, somehow, that indicated we were headed to Saratoga Springs. I did call and change our reservation after rebooking the room so I explained that. We tried again using my MagicBand and it came up correctly as Kidani Village. Weird.

We were the only ones in the Animal Kingdom Lodge line so, after an interminable wait of 2-3 minutes, a cast member came by and ushered us out of line and onto a waiting bus. She switched us over so we’d share with folks heading to Pop Century and Art of Animation. Soon those folks boarded and we were off. I normally get a bit antsy making multiple stops before my own but, today, I was OK with it. Maybe I’m mellowing.

We arrived at Kidani at 11:30 and were met outside by a cast member with an iPad. She correctly identified us as Mr. and Mrs. Russo, gave us a “Welcome home” and ushered us inside to a cast member at the Online Check In counter. It was a smooth and quick process and we found we were in room 7301 and the room was ready. I like hearing that almost as much as “Welcome home”. She noticed we were wearing our MagicBands and indicated we had new ones waiting for us or, if we’d like, we could keep ours and recycle the new ones. Yes, please. Considering we have three MagicBands each, we really didn’t need new ones.

There’s good and bad with the room location. When I did the Online Check-In I requested a room near the lobby. The last time we stayed here, we had a gorgeous dedicated 2-bedroom villa that was literally a quarter mile from the lobby. I enjoy walking but two or three roundtrips a day can be tiresome. I did also request a room to be ready early, which cancels out any other requests. In this case, I got both. Room 7301 was the first room off the elevator (but around the corner) and a few steps from a stairwell that brought us outside, on the bus stop side of the front entrance. You couldn’t get more convenient. But… our view from the balcony was of the front entrance. More specifically, it was a view of a thatched roof with glimpses of the entrance to either side. Not great and certainly not a savanna view, or really any view at all, but we could live with it.

A word here about the rooms at Kidani. Our previous stays here have been in 2-bedroom villas and those are extremely nice. We’ve stayed in studios at Boardwalk, Beach Club, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Jambo House (and Vero Beach if you count those outside Walt Disney World). This was the nicest. The layout of the bathroom, with a separate room for the commode, provided a lot more room than most other studios. One could argue that having the sink, counter and shower in the same room is not as efficient. It can be, provided, of course, that your significant other is sharing the space with you.

The bedroom/living area is also very nice. I particularly like the “coffee table” which consists of two heavy, wooden, square tables. Together they’re a coffee table but they can be separated to serve as end tables.

We stowed the carry-ons and freshened a bit then headed down to the bus stops. I took a quick walk down the corridor first and found one room where the guests had decorated for Halloween with an arm hung over the door – bloody where the door had apparently closed on the owner. Nice touch.

We head down the stairs where it’s a very short walk to the bus stops. I had heard, from a Boardwalk bus stop cast member on our last trip that they were testing monitors here at the bus stops. Sure enough, each of the three stops here had an alcove with a widescreen monitor displaying the ETA of all the buses (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, etc.). Over our stay, I found these to be very helpful and also very accurate – with a single exception.

Of course, as soon as we sat on a bench it began to rain. I heard if first, then it surrounded us. We quickly decided to head back to the room and retrieve our umbrellas. (We had brought a couple of small, portable umbrellas with us from home – the first time we’ve ever done that.) It was such a short walk, with only a single flight of stairs that we were back in about 3-4 minutes and greeted by a waiting bus to Magic Kingdom.

It rained during the bus trip. We sat toward the rear of the bus and, just after accelerating away from a stoplight, a couple of young girls across from us began shrieking and jumping around. There must have been a worn seal on the emergency hatch in the roof and it was leaking – directly on them. I offered my umbrella.

While on the bus, I brought up the My Disney Experience app and took a look at the wait times at the Magic Kingdom. I was pleasantly surprised to see very short waits at most of the major attractions. I knew September to be a light crowd month but I hadn’t expected 5 minutes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on a Saturday afternoon. Most others (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, etc.) were all in the 5-10 minute range.

When we reached the Magic Kingdom, the rain had subsided. It was hot (mid-80s) and very humid. It seemed that the rain had kicked the humidity up an additional notch or two. Our MagicBands allowed us in and we hoofed it back to try to grab lunch at the Columbia Harbour House. On the walk, it seemed very busy to me. That was confirmed when we reached the Harbour House and found a line out the door. Whoops.

We passed on that line and walked up into a very crowded Fantasyland and decided to try Pinocchio’s Village Haus. There was a line but at least it was inside. The place was crowded and, as I looked around while in line, I could see that probably 30% of the tables were occupied by one or two people and no food. Obviously, folks were sending one person for food while everyone else held a table. I launched into my rant “if people would only adhere to the get-your-food-then-find-a-table policy, there would be no problems”.

We ordered and received our food: a Meatball Sub for me, chicken fingers for Barb and two waters. We then began searching out a table. Nothing in the main area so I ventured off to the side. There, three young female cast members stood guard over three areas by each holding a rope with a “Reserved” sign. I wondered before how cast members could police the “holding tables” thing and I realized this was it. As I approached with my tray of food, she pulled back the rope and welcomed me.

The food was OK. Not the best meatball sub I’ve had but certainly not the worst either. It was nice to get out of the heat for a bit.

We walked over to Mickey’s Philharmagic but two cast members told us it had been down for refurbishment and would open tomorrow. Hmmmm. I’m usually good about keeping up with closings via newsletters but I must have missed this. I also mentioned the WDW Railroad was running and I thought it would be shutting down today for a lengthy refurbishment (it was actually tomorrow) but the two cast members had no idea. Strange.

We were then off to the Hall of Presidents for 22 minutes of oration and air conditioning – I appreciated both. By the way, My Disney Experience is way off on wait times. I’ve always found it to be reliable but not today. It shows Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as 5 minutes when it’s really 60; “it’s a small world” as five, when it’s really 35; etc. It’s crowded.

We wandered back to Frontierland and took in the Country Bears Jamboree. It’s quick, corny and oh so politically incorrect. Then we were off to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to use our FastPass+. Here’s where we saw a person turned away for having no FastPass – not the wrong time, no FastPass at all. As near as I could tell, he thought that simply having a MagicBand would get him in the FastPass+ queue. People, do just a little research before you get here. Please.

I had heard that they still allow entry 5 minutes before your FastPass+ time so we entered at 2:40 with a FastPass+ for 2:45 and Mickey’s head glowed green. We got all the way to the point where the FastPass queue merges with Standby when the ride shut down. It had started to rain lightly but, apparently, there was lightning in the area. As we waited, the rain came harder and harder until it was absolutely pouring. I watched below as people donned ponchos and, after 15 minutes or so, it let up a bit. My weather app indicated there was still lightening nearby so we took advantage of the lightened rain and left the attraction.

We made our way back to Kidani after waiting 3-4 minutes for a bus. The rain had stopped but the skies were dark and threatening. A word about that… back home we live within mountain ranges. Mind you, these aren’t Colorado mountains but we sit in the Hudson Mohawk Valley bordered by the Adirondacks, Helderbergs and Berkshires. My point being that when I look to the horizon, my view is typically obstructed and I can’t see that far. Florida is flat. I can see many miles in any direction and that includes the weather. Much of this trip, I could glance around and see blue sky with white puffy clouds, grey sky with rain, and dark, threatening clouds – all at the same time. The trick was determining the movement of the storms – mostly eastward but we had the occasional stuff creeping north or south as well.

Back at the resort, we stopped at the store and purchased butter. I checked on beer (as you knew I would) and found they only carried Coors Light, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Bud or Heineken. They were all in the $5.25-$5.75 range with a discounted price of $18 for a 6-pack. They also had Tusker at $7.25 per bottle. I passed on it all.

To the room and our luggage had arrived so we unpacked and relaxed for a while. I learned that our toilet has a wonderful feature (Really, Steve? Toilets again?). We have one of the turbo flushers and it flushes with such power that the tank moves violently forward about inch. That’s just enough to throw the lid and/or seat down with a startling crash. I thought about calling maintenance but figured it was something we could adjust to, once I got over my castration complex.

We headed back out around 5:00 and caught an Epcot bus in 2 minutes. It’s early in the trip but the bus service has been stellar here so far.

As my fellow Crescent Lake Snobs have also said, it feels weird entering Epcot through the front of the park – we’re so used to coming in via the International Gateway. Spaceship Earth was a walk-on so we… walked on.

We walked up to the Tip Board and Soarin’ was 40 minutes so we declined. I wasn’t trusting the My Disney Experience wait times.

Back to World Showcase and it was very crowded. I know the prevailing advice is to avoid World Showcase on weekends during Food and Wine due to the influx of locals but we had been before and didn’t think it that bad. This was more crowded than I’d experienced previously. We stopped in Canada for the Filet (Wild Musroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce) and the Trout (Seared Rainbow Trout with Bacon, Frisee, L8 Harvest, Minus 8 Vinaigrette). I’m not sure what all the L8 and Minus 8 stuff was but both were excellent. We shared with me getting most of the beef and Barb, the true fish lover, getting most of the trout. We thought about something to wash this down and they offered a short pour of Moosehead but we had our hearts set on a beer in the Rose and Crown so we declined.

We took our food to an open bench behind the kiosk that was, thankfully, in the shade. It’s still very hot and humid but only becomes uncomfortable in the sun.

When we finished we walked up through Canada and caught one song (Amazing Grace) from Off Kilter. This would be their penultimate performance at Epcot. I always enjoyed them but I can’t say I’m among those lobbying for them to stay. They’ve been there for 17 years and by anyone’s estimation, that’s a good run. Maybe it’s time for a change.

We made our way into the Rose and Crown Pub and were greeted by a Security Guard. Yep, that’s the first thing we saw. We also noticed all the tables and chairs, both the low ones and the bar height, that lined the walls were missing. My guess is to make more room for those standing. The bar was three or four deep. I tried to get closer to see if I could order us a beer but there was no way. There was a large group of 20-somethings there, each holding a beer, while a guy at the bar was handing out shots. I would have hoped this element might be drinking out in the park or, better yet, somewhere off property. I now understood the presence of the Security Guard.

We left my favorite pub, and it’s air-conditioning, and opted for a beer outside. The choice here was limited and, unlike the pub, I couldn’t use the Tables in Wonderland card. We had a Bass and a Stella Artois and began sipping as we walked across the bridge to France.

France had some interesting food choices but the line was huge so we moved on. Mo’ Rockin’ was also playing their last night here at Epcot and were posing for photos in front of the stage in Morocco.

When we reached the American Gardens Theater, Christopher Cross was in mid-concert. We typically get to the Food and Wine Festival in the week immediately preceding and following the musical acts I’d like to see. This is one of the few times there’s someone playing that I like – although it’s his last night. Tomorrow starts three days of Hanson (no, thanks) followed by Air Supply (meh). We tucked in and caught his last four songs, which featured Sailing, Arthur’s Theme and Ride Like the Wind. The fourth was a new song that was a tribute to returning service men and women. Before he played it, he asked all the veterans to stand for applause – a nice gesture. Why is it that every concert I attend at this venue has to have several people, usually aging Boomers, standing and swaying with their arms upraised?

When the concert ended, we stopped at the Fife and Drum kiosk for… wait for it… a Ghirardelli Sundae! While in line, we chatted with a couple of locals. They said that last weekend, the first weekend, was not as crowded. We found an open table in front of America and thoroughly enjoyed our sundaes.

The old Odyssey restaurant was playing host to Craft Beers so we stopped in for a look. There were eight featured beers, available in two flights, and a few appetizers offered. The back had some bar-height tables set up and it looked very nice. Neither of us was hungry at this point, nor did we really want to wash down the sundae with a beer so we made the mental note to return and headed out. Future World was a lot less crowded than World Showcase.

For the second time today, the first being on the Disney’s Magical Express bus from Art of Animation to Kidani, we were the only two on the bus, plus the driver, of course.

Back at the hotel, we decided on a nightcap at Sanaa before turning in. Sanaa was very crowded but we had no trouble getting a seat at the small bar. I had hoped for a Sam Adams Oktoberfest but the keg had just kicked. Rather than wait for a new keg, I tried a Longboard Lager (from Kona Brewing). It was pretty good. Barb just had a Diet Coke. It had been a long day and we were both ready to turn in.

Back at the room, the first thing we noticed was a basket, wrapped in clear plastic that had been placed on our kitchenette counter. It turned out to be a very nice cooler/backpack that contained beer and water. The backpack was also embroidered with “Russo” and a classic 3-circle Mickey. It was a gift from our friends Sue and Wayne (and Sue’s mom, Betty) as, I presume, a thank you for my doing their tax returns. Thanks, guys. It was unnecessary but very nice and certainly appreciated.

Things I Think I Think – I think I should never use the forward bathroom on a 737 again. I think I’ve learned to enter vacation mode as soon as we land in Orlando. I think it’s hot here… and humid… and rainy. I think the weather won’t really bother us much. I think I’m glad we brought umbrellas with us – for the first time ever! I think I like the Kidani rooms a bit better than any other DVC villas in which I’ve stayed. I think the Food and Wine Festival is crowded. I think having a Ghirardelli Sundae (for only $5) at the Festival is a stroke of genius. I think Christopher Cross still has a nice sound. I think I’m tired.

Day 2 – Sunday, September 28, 2014 – What’s a Muffuletta? Nothing. What’s a Muffaletta With You?
We have a message on our phone. Mickey and Minnie sing “Happy Anniversary” to us in a message recorded at 2:11 AM. Why were they up so late?

Last night, I sent Wayne a “thank you” for the bag along with a photo of it. He texted back that there’s a new bag coming. It was supposed to have a DVC logo on it, not the three-circle Mickey so we’ll now have two cooler/backpacks embroidered with “Russo”. I’m pretty sure our son, Stephen, can make use of it.

We’re out at 8:30 and down the stairs for the short walk to the bus stop. I realize I forgot my phone so it’s a quick trip back to the room. Senility is a terrible thing. Upon return, we catch a waiting bus for Epcot. The bus stop ETAs are accurate and the service, thus far, has been exemplary.

I really like the convenience of the MagicBands. Our new Modus Operandi is to charge everything back to the room using the MagicBand. We carry very little cash and, while I still have my Disney “wallet” (actually, a leather business card case), it carries our APs, my ID, Tables in Wonderland card and a single credit card, and it rarely leaves my pocket. My phone’s in my other pocket (when I remember to put it there) and… I’m done. Today, however, I’m carrying a backpack. It’s a small, compact single shoulder strap backpack, which is carrying ponchos and umbrellas. It’s a Disney backpack that I bought 10-15 years ago and have never carried into a park… until now. The single strap, over the shoulder and across the chest, leaves my arms free but I do now have to stop at park security for inspection. I guess there’s a downside to everything.

We have a FastPass+ for Soarin’ so we head to Test Track to ride Standby. The sign says 30 minutes but we’re on in 10-15. Never, ever trust Standby wait times at park opening.

After riding, we head off to the Festival Marketplace - the old Wonders of Life building for you old-timers. We shop for a bit and look around but mostly spend time in the Ghirardelli shop. First, they give out chocolate samples and coupons for $1.00 off at the store (Sundaes!!!). Someone also hands me a package with decals that turn any glasses into transition lenses. I actually forgot to try these until I just read my notes and typed that. I should mention that I’m not wearing my glasses today. I was having some difficulties with my vision and realized my prescription was old so I went for an exam. It turns out that, at the ripe old age of 64, my eyesight has improved significantly. So much so that I no longer require glasses for driving. I’ve been near-sighted since my twenties – go figure. However, I can no longer read fine print without glasses. Life can be cruel, huh?

We next rode Soarin’ with our FastPasses. The Standby wait time was 30 minutes and was up to 55 minutes when we came off the ride. I guess it’s still crowded. Hopefully, a lot of this will be ending by tonight.

By now, you all know I’m a die-hard, long suffering Jets fan. I know, I know but it’s in my DNA and I have to watch no matter how painful. We headed out through the International Gateway and caught a boat to the Boardwalk. I know we usually walk but A) it’s hot and B) we were killing some time.

I got in line at the ESPN Club at 11:10 – I was probably 10-12th in line and the doors open at 11:30. I was standing in a spot that was shaded but would be in the sun in a manner of minutes. I was really hoping the doors would open so the line could move forward and get me into the shade. I overheard the young fellas behind me talking about last night. Apparently, Mark had spent almost $1,000 on drinks. “Dude, he kept coming back with six beers and a Tequila Sunrise. That’s like $70 right there and he was buying all night.” I wondered if this was the group we saw at the Rose and Crown.

Appetizers, sandwiches, iced tea and water… Jets lose 24-17. ‘Nuff said.

After the game, we were ready to head back for a refresh and some rest. Our choices were to walk through Epcot or catch a boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The boat won. On the way, it sprinkled a bit but, when we got to the Studios, the parking lot was nothing but puddles. It apparently had rained very hard there.

It took just a minute or two for a bus then made a quick stop at Blizzard Beach before arriving at Kidani.

Rest, wash, brush… and we’re off to Epcot at 6:00. The bus ETA screen was still accurate and we only waited 2 minutes.

Mission: Space was listed at 10 minutes but was a complete walk on. So much so that we were the only two people in the pre-show room. Yes… 40 spots on the floor and 38 were empty. We were the only two in the ride cycle as well. I guess the crowds have left.

We caught sprinkles on the way to Soarin’ so the umbrellas were opened for the first time. The sign said 35 minutes and we were hoping it was overstated but it turned out to be accurate. Darn!

After the ride, the skies were clear. We headed back up to the Rose and Crown. The tables were back in and the Security guard was now outside the door but the bar was still too crowded to get near. Double Darn!

We wandered over to France and sampled Braised Short Ribs in Cabernet with Mashed Potatoes and Gratin de Crozets de Savoie (wheat pasta gratin with mushrooms and gruyere). Both were excellent with a special nod to the short ribs. We washed this down with Kronenburg Blanc (just so-so).

We walked by America and it was between shows for Hanson. I later learned the band have their own beer here somewhere – it’s called MmmHop (I’m not making that up).

Off to China for Pot Stickers and Egg Rolls – both very good and then into the Craft Beer spot at the Odyssey. We ordered both flights – each was four 3-ounce pours and a Muffuletta Pinwheel (with house pickle). I wish I could provide a better description of the Pinwheel but there was none. It was a rolled mass of meat and cheese – I think – on a skewer with a sweet pickle slice. The whole thing came to $24 and, while my expectations were high, I was disappointed. The beers were mostly common brands (Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, etc.) and none of the samples really stood out – I give it a “Just OK”. I should mention that, this time of year, I have an aversion to the ubiquitous pumpkin drinks around us. It seems everyone has a Punkin’ Spice Latte or Pumpkin Beer and I’m a firm believer that the only edible pumpkin should be pie. Here, the Dogfish Head was a “Punkin Ale”. I tried it and couldn’t really taste any pumpkin. I guess that was good but the beer was just so-so. Unfortunate because Dogfish Head makes an IPA that I really like. Ah, well. Next time I’ll stick with the Hops and Barley kiosk. I enjoyed their beers.

We head out and queue up, behind one couple, at Bus Stop # 5. A passing cast member asks where we’re headed and when he hears “Animal Kingdom Lodge” he tells us we’re now at Bus Stop # 6. Apparently, they change them at different times of the day. I never knew that.

We make it back to Kidani at 9:00. In our room is the new cooler/backpack with the DVC logo. All is right with the world.

Things I Think I Think – I think I like the convenience of the MagicBands. I think the Bus Stop displays are a great idea and should be at every resort bus stop property wide. I think they should reopen the Wonders of Life pavilion (http://www.mouseplanet.com/10782/Lets_Bring_em_Back). I think I’ve liked all the food I’ve tried thus far at the Food and Wine Festival. I think I was expecting more from the Craft Beer place. I think I need to check the bus directory at each park every time.

Day 3 – Monday, September 29, 2014 – If you’re in the pool and it’s raining, do you get wet?
Today, we’re off to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. One of the orders of business is to fulfill a tradition and purchase embroidered Mouse Ears for our two newest grandsons, Jack and Sean. We stop in the store, complain that the prices have gone up yet again, and purchase the two hats for pickup later. Senility creeps in again as I forget to ask for the AP discount. D’oh!

While in the store, I see three very nice white face towels with Olaf, Elsa and Anna embroidered on them. I ask and they’re $25.51 each – or $76.53 for the set. I think I’ll pass.

First up was the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which was a walk on. The wait time said 10 minutes – wasn’t it always 13 if it was 13 or less? Anyway… a terrific ride as always and I noticed you can see Everest from the top.

We next rode Star Tours twice in succession. The second time we were queued at Gate B but just as the ride should have boarded, it shut down and they moved us to Gate C. The downside was we had to listen to the entire pre-show story again.

We caught a complete pre-show in Muppetvision and I noticed that Constantine (the evil-Kermit look-alike from “Muppets Most Wanted”) was in the pre-show. I’m not sure that was a good thing. Other than that, the pre-show was the same one – which *is* a good thing. By the way, we watched Most Wanted recently and it was dreadful. How could something with the Muppets, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell be awful? Somehow, they pulled it off.

After the Muppets, I checked at SciFi to see about a table as a walk-up and we were seated in 5 minutes. We were hitchhikers in the rear seat of a 6-seater with four young girls in front of us. We both had a shake (chocolate for me and a vanilla for Barb). I had the Build Your Own Angus Burger and I’m ranking this in the top three burgers on property – with Big River Grill and Beaches & Cream. Barb had a turkey sandwich and had half of it wrapped to go home with us.

We were ready to head out but we stopped to pick up the ears on the way. I did ask for the AP discount and they were happy to oblige but it took several minutes, mostly waiting for Jose to come back and do it.

There was a waiting bus but we could find no break in the chain in the queue. Whoever configured it must have screwed up somehow so we walked around the whole thing and boarded – finding, once again, that we were the only people on this bus. I believe this is the third time that’s happened this trip.

It’s sunny and warm so we pack up our new cooler/backpack, don our swimsuits and head to the pool. We drop our stuff on a couple of lounge chairs and Barb heads in while I grab some towels. I’m wading into the pool, it has a zero entry area, and see Barb talking to a couple of women. I notice it’s begun to sprinkle. The three of them look at me and ask if I brought the rain.

We spend a few minutes chatting with one of the women. She’s a grandmother, there with her daughter and grandchildren – her daughter is a DVC member. I learn she’s from Northern Ontario. I ask how far north and she replies, “Eight hours north of Toronto.” My initial reaction is EIGHT HOURS? By car? By dog sled? I ask, “Isn’t that the North Pole?” and she just laughs. We chat about the resorts she seen (Kidani and Beach Club) and she asks about the Boardwalk. Her husband doesn’t come because he’s “been there, done that”. About this time, the sprinkle has turned to rain and now it’s pouring. There’s something surreal about standing chest-deep in a pool while it’s raining hard on you. Anyway, we say our goodbyes (she’s flying out in two hours) and move our stuff to an umbrella-covered table near the bar. We have a beer (from our cooler) while we wait out the rain. True to form, in 15 minutes, the sun is shining and the humidity has increased another 15%. I figure it’s about 135% by now.

The hot tub was nearby and one woman was in it. I noticed the jets weren’t running so I asked if she minded if I turned them on. She said, “Please. I couldn’t figure it out.” I located the timer switch, turned it and… nothing. I reported it to a nearby cast member and over the next 30 minutes, it was closed intermittently. Eventually, they repaired the problem so it was hot tub, swim, sun, lounge chair, rinse and repeat for the next 90 minutes.

Up to the room where we hung the suits in the shower to dry. I thought about the balcony but felt the humidity was so high they’d never dry out there. We did spend a few minutes on the balcony before more heavy rain drove us indoors. Then it was nap, shower and more rain and thunder the rest of the afternoon.

By 5:30, the skies were dark and it was still raining heavily so we decided to scrap our plans for the Magic Kingdom tonight. It would be a bit of a problem as tonight was the only time I could get a FastPass+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We’ll have to work that in as Standby riders tomorrow. For tonight, we decided to hang back at the resort.

The first order of business was dinner. A check online showed no availability at Jiko, Boma or Sanaa until 8:45. We decided to take our chances as a walk up at Sanaa.

We freshened up and headed downstairs at 6:00. At the desk, a cast member told us she had no tables until after 8:00 but we could sit in the bar area. There’s a small area with chairs and something similar to coffee tables. That would not have been ideal for dinner, the tables were too low, but that area was filled anyway. The other choices were the bar or a communal table, a curved table in the center of the room that would seat 12. We chose the bar.

Now I really don’t like to eat dinner at a bar. Let me elaborate. When we head out to dinner, I have no problem being told it will be 30-45 minutes for a table as long as we can have a drink at the bar. I actually enjoy that. The problem comes when you make your way to the bar and find no room because people are eating there. Some folks actually ask for or prefer to dine at the bar. Not me but… tonight? We chose the bar.

The bartender, Gustavo, presented us with menus and served up a couple of drinks. We’ve been here twice before and, both times, had the bread service as an appetizer and it was excellent so… the bread service it is. You have your choice of three breads from Naan, Garlic Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kulcha and Papadum. We chose Naan, Garlic Ginger Naan and Onion Kulcha. You then get to choose three dipping sauces from: Red Chile Sambal, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Coconut Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Spicy Jalapeno-lime pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus and Tamarind Chutney. After a minute or two, we realized it was hopeless and ordered all nine. The price difference is only $2.00 and it was worth that not to have to think about making the choices. When its delivered, the sauces are arranged from least spicy (cucumber) to most spicy (jalapeno).

For entrees, I had the Tandoori Chicken and Barb ordered the Lamb sliders (of which I got one, thank you). Barb eats like a bird so, when I’m hungry (which is most of the time) I can count on getting at least part of her meal. The sliders were an appetizer but quite large and certainly filling enough for an entre. Barb stuck with water but I felt like a glass of wine so I ordered a Goats Do Roam because I loved the name – a play on Cotes du Rhone which, coincidentally, we had shared a bottle of last week. All was good, bordering on excellent.

We finished, paid our bill after using Tables in Wonderland, and walked outside to the fire pit area. It was a bit too warm to get too close to the fire and the chairs were all wet from the on and off rain which was, once again, on. So, after a few minutes of watching some cattle and giraffe, we went inside. I bought us two coffees from the lobby stand and we took those to the fireplace in the very comfortable sitting/viewing room off the lobby. It has several chairs and small sofas arranged in little nooks and the chairs in front of the fireplace were open so… It was very comfortable sitting, sipping and viewing the animals.

It was here when I received an email from Disney letting me know that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was down (presumably due to the rain) and my FastPass would be honored at several other listed attractions. I probably should have been a good citizen and canceled tonight’s FastPasses but, honestly, I didn’t think of it until now.

We finished our coffee, said goodnight to the animals and called it a night.

Things I Think I Think – I think I shall never tire of the Tower of Terror. I think the burger at Sci-Fi has made it to the Top Three of Walt Disney World. I think being in the hotel pool with your flight two hours away is pushing it. I’m betting she meant her Disney’s Magical Express ride was two hours away. I think I need to look at a map to see what, besides the occasional moose, is 8 hours north of Toronto. I think it’s weird standing in a swimming pool while it’s raining. I think I don’t at all mind being cooped up in the resort at night when it’s a Disney resort, especially an Animal Kingdom Lodge resort. I think I like Sanaa… a lot.

Day 4 – Tuesday, September 30, 2014 – The Full Montagu
I’m awake at 7:33! I rarely sleep past 6:00 so this is wonderful. I also get the good news that the Patriots got smoked last night, losing to Kansas City 41-14. I apologize to any true Pats fans out there but my difficulties with Patriots fans at public venues like the ESPN Club is documented so I can take some delight in their struggles.

Sleeping late was good but now we’re rushing. We’re heading to the Magic Kingdom but we have no FastPasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – that was last night. I know our only chance of riding without a lengthy wait is to ride first thing at park opening. I only get 2/3 cup of a cup of coffee and no breakfast but we’re both showered, dressed and out the door at 8:25.

A Magic Kingdom bus is there in only 3 minutes but it makes a lengthy stop at Jambo house. First to load two scooters and then, as we pull away, a family comes running out waving to the driver. He motions them away and then signals to wait as he backs up slightly to the loading zone. I noticed they’re very particular here about loading passengers ONLY at the appropriate spots.

We arrive at the Magic Kingdom at 9:00 (actually about 9:03), walk through the “No Bags” area of Security and make a beeline straight through the Castle to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train . The sign for Standby is already 60 minutes. More troubling is a cast member standing at the back of the line holding the same sign – 60 minutes. Barb is reluctant but I insist. It’s our only chance to ride and, at park opening, I don’t believe for a minute that the wait is actually 60 minutes (we were on the ride in 30).

While in line, I spy a guest wondering through Fantasyland. It’s a guy wearing a white bathrobe (over shorts and shirt) and a black derby. He’s also wearing a backpack outside of the bathrobe. I should have taken a picture. He was a big guy and his walk was more of a saunter and his smile and demeanor indicated not a care in the world. I couldn’t begin to explain that…

While in the queue, we had a guy in a red shirt, toting a little boy, walk past us. I cut him slack and the benefit of the doubt that the child needed a restroom… or something. And he did stop about 6 or 8 groups in front of us with a woman and another child. In the queue, there’s an area where the guests, presumably children, can play some games with jewels and treasure. Some folks stop, some don’t. He stopped. When his kids had finished playing, however, he didn’t simply start moving with the line, he removed a chain from the stanchion and stepped through with his family, bypassing a good 6 or 8 groups. His obvious statement was he shouldn’t lose his place in line because his kids stopped to play. I don’t agree with that.

As many others have said, it’s a good ride, but short. I particularly liked the climb out of the cave when the dwarf’s shadows follow you up. At any rate we both enjoyed it but were glad we hadn’t waited an hour.

Next up was Mickey’s Philharmagic with no wait, followed by “it’s a small world”, also with no wait.

I then received an email notifying me that Pirates of the Caribbean was down so our FastPass+ could be used at a list of other attractions. I somehow thought Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was on that list so off we went. I put my MagicBand against Mickey’s head and it glowed blue, not green. The cast member glanced at the screen and said, “Your FastPass isn’t for 90 minutes.” I began to argue, whipped out my phone and the email and realized Big Thunder was not one of the attractions listed so… with my tail between my legs, I apologized and slunk off into the Standby queue, which stated “20 minutes”. Hah!

Something must have gone wrong because we were stopped for 10 minutes right at the point where you enter the building – meaning we stood for 10 minutes in the blazing sun. I could feel beads of sweat dripping everywhere. Barb weakened and suggested we leave but I was resolute (and stupid) and, in 10 minutes we were inside. It took almost 30 minutes before we boarded but it was a good ride – as it always is.

Next we rode Haunted Mansion, enjoying its wonderful A/C, using the Pirates of the Caribbean FastPass.

When the Hitchhiking Ghosts finished inflating my head until it burst (something Barb says is not all that big a stretch), we walked across to the Columbia Harbour House and, this time, walked right inside into a short queue. I had the Anchors Aweigh (I always get that) while Barb had the Battered Fish Platter We also ordered two waters and two coffees. That 2/3 cup this morning had not provided the necessary caffeine.

We then shopped our way out of the Magic Kingdom, buying nothing. Later, I thought I should have crossed the street for fudge but it’s just another lapse I attribute to advancing senility. We reach the last shop and step outside by the Emporium and it’s pouring rain. Our umbrellas are small and easy to carry so, luckily, we have them at the ready. They protect us from the rain as far as the restrooms by City Hall. When we exit, minutes later, the rain has stopped so we slosh through puddles to the monorail.

Our destination is the Polynesian Village Resort (new name) so we can get a firsthand look at the new DVC Villas under construction. It takes a few minutes inside, and a stop to ask a cast member (who asks a second cast member) for directions, but we make our way outside, around a bunch of construction walls, one wrong turn, a backtrack and Voila! (or is it Eureka!?) Anyway, we found the villas. Construction workers wave from a building of three (?) floors where there’s inside work going on – I see lots of wallboard. Out on the Lagoon are 14 or 15 (I tried to get a good count but it was difficult) Villas built on stilts over the water. They look to be single units but could be doubles(?). I’m betting singles, similar to the Treehouses now at Saratoga Springs. They look very nice and should offer an awesome view of the Magic Kingdom across the lagoon.

On the other hand, I think they may obstruct the previously great view one had from the Polynesian’s beach. Again, I could be wrong. I’d have spent more time trying to get these numbers and views sorted out but, as soon as we reached the villas, it began to rain. The rain turned to pouring which turned to teeming, which turned to Monsoon-like. Umbrellas up, we tried to retrace our steps, made a wrong turn or two but finally found the safety of the Great Ceremonial House. Thankfully, they had baskets of clean face towels by the door so we could dry off a bit.

From the Poly, we waited a few minutes for a bus to Animal Kingdom and switched to a waiting Animal Kingdom Lodge bus. Back to the room where I retrieved our Disney Gift Cards. I mentioned our new MO of charging everything to the room via the MagicBands. We also purchase gift cards at Target, using the Target Red Card for 5% off, and then pay our bill with those – which is what I did. This method, combined with Tables in Wonderland, is like getting 25% off every table service meal.

We also ask for and receive a driving map of the property for Barb. Not that she’s about to drive anywhere but she’s been asking questions about where parks and resorts are relative to one another. I know it’s difficult to get your bearings from riding buses so I thought the map would explain it better. It did.

To the room where we napped and rested while heavy rain fell from 2:30-4:00. Once it subsided, we were off to Downtown Disney. Again, the bus was there in 2 minutes. The bus service, thus far, has been the best ever.

We visited the new CoOp store that replaced Team Mickey. It was fine but I was underwhelmed and we bought nothing. We walked down to the West End and back again. Both of us had commented that, unlike a Boardwalk stay, it felt like we weren’t getting much walking in. We both walk for exercise and typically start to feel it after 2-3 days of a Disney trip. Not so here. Maybe because we bus everywhere. At the Boardwalk, we walk to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It could also be because our room is so close to the stairs where, at the Boardwalk, it’s usually a 200-300 yard walk. I’m not sure but we’re both aware of it so it must be real.

On the way back, we decided to invoke the Russo Rule stating that during any WDW vacation, ice cream may be substituted for a meal.

We hit Ghirardelli’s for two Hot Fudge Sundaes (Vanilla and Chocolate). Two changes here and both, unfortunately, were negative. The menu is smaller. Gone is the Very Berry Sundae I loved and the menu just seemed smaller and more limited. Additionally, the sundaes used to be served in glass, now it’s plastic. Not a big deal because the sundae itself is still very good but they’re noticeable cutbacks. We used our $1 coupons here – that was better than the 10% DVC discount.

We needed to walk off the ice cream so we walked back down to the West End. As you reach Paradiso 37, what was once the bottom of the hill on Pleasure Island, you now walk behind the buildings on a boardwalk on the water side. It’s getting difficult to remember Pleasure Island as it was. There are lots of construction walls.

Back to the Marketplace and the realization hit that the sundae, as good as it was, wasn’t going to replace dinner. We were still a bit puckish. I guess this becomes a variation on the rule – ice cream now “delays” a meal. Barb had her sandwich, from SciFi back in the room so… I stopped at Earl of Sandwich for a Full Montagu (Roast beef and turkey with sharp cheddar cheese and aged Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, roma tomato and Earl's mustard sauce) to go. I also purchased a very good yogurt parfait for breakfast tomorrow.

To the bus stop where there are now chain and stanchion queues by each stop. That’s new. A bus was along in a few minutes and we rode back with a fellow who was at a conference at the Dolphin but was bringing his family down soon and wanted to scout out and get information on the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The Full Montagu was outstanding and a bargain at $6.49 (less 10% AP discount).

Things I Think I Think – I think the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a good ride but is getting this level of attention because it’s new. I wonder how long it will last. I think we’ve done a fair job at dodging raindrops but today was a real test. I think Ghirardelli’s is cutting back a bit but it’s still very, very good. I think Earl of Sandwich makes a great sandwich at a very reasonable price.

Day 5 – Wednesday, October 1, 2014 – Bathroom fans, meatballs and taffy
Here’s a bit of an oddity. The bathroom fans only run for about 3 minutes without movement that’s picked up by a sensor in the ceiling. This is likely TMI but, if you’re sitting on the throne, you’ll need to throw your arm in the air (or leg if you’re fairly nimble) every 3 minutes to keep the fan running. I prefer the leg and enjoy yelling, “Ay, carumba!” each time). In the room with the shower and vanity, the fan/sensor is located 6’-8’ from the shower and to the right of the vanity. This means, if your shower is longer than 3 minutes, the fan will stop running. Odd. When I finished a shower, I’d try to snap the bath towel out a few feet under the sensor to get the fan started again.

The yogurt parfait made a terrific breakfast. We’re out the door at 8:35 and this is the first time the Bus Stop monitors let me down. There are ETAs listed for all destinations except AK. We sit and wait and an ETA pops up but as I move closer to read it, it disappears again. At any rate, a bus is there in 10 minutes (our longest wait of the trip) so we get to the park 5 minutes after opening.

We were planning a meet-up with Sandi Femino (RADP) today but she texted and explained she was a bit under the weather and wouldn’t make it. It was hot, humid and raining steadily so I can’t say I blame her. Not a real good park day. Unfortunately, we had planned to meet up to visit the Festival of the Lion King and Expedition Everest – a ride she and Barb love but I’m not crazy about. I just don’t like the backward part. Without Sandi, I either send Barb through the Single Rider line (which she’s OK with) or I cowboy up and ride with her. We’ll see.

We begin by heading back to Kilimanjaro Safari and ride with a 10-minute wait – mostly just a walk-through the queue. I’ve ridden here early, late, when it’s hot and cold, sunny and cloudy, etc. and I’ve not picked up a discernible pattern that might indicate the animals are out/lively/docile… It just seems random.

Well, today was hot, humid and drizzling the whole time and we had great views of elephants, rhinos and (especially) the lions. There were two lionesses – both awake. One on the upper rock and one on the lower. The male was not only awake but up and moving. We watched him make a short jump between rocks and peer over the edge at us. He looked hungry. And… am I the only one that thinks a rhino is really just a unicorn with a bad diet?

I got some real nice photos here but, unfortunately, many were of the arm of the guy in front of me. For some reason, whenever we sighted an animal, before he started shooting photos, he felt obligated to stick his arm out the side of the truck and point to it.

After the Safari, the rain had stopped and we had some time to kill before our 10:30 FastPass for Festival of the Lion King so we walked the Pangani trail. Most of it was closed and under construction – just the gorilla area was open but we did spend a few minutes there.

I really like the new theater for the Festival of the Lion King. It’s almost an entire “village” back there and the queue, at least the FastPass+ queue, was under cover – good because it had once again begun to rain. The show itself was the same – but that’s not a bad thing.

Next up was Flights of Wonder and Guano Joe was back. We missed him in January but it must have been a temporary thing – sick day or the like. I always enjoy this show. I’m not much of a bird watcher or anything but, it’s always interesting and entertaining. Yes, the environmental message may be a bit over the top but I’m OK with that. The rain had stopped and it was sunny until the end of the show.

Of course, as we exited it began to sprinkle so out came the umbrellas again. I think I mentioned this is the first time we’ve even brought umbrellas to WDW and they were sure getting their use.

To Expedition Everest and I decide to ride (thanks, Sandi). The walk through the FastPass+ queue was so quick I really didn’t have time to change my mind. Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s a good ride. I’ve always said that. I just have a problem with the backwards part, especially when you make that climb at the end. I always have the sensation of falling forward and it’s not pleasant. This time, it wasn’t bad. We were in the next to last row and my theory is the end of the train may level off over the crest while the rest is positioned for the downhill run after the track switch. Anyway, it was OK and I managed to keep my eyes open for a good view of the yeti, illuminate by a strobe. S/he really is an impressive animatronic – if only they could get it moving again.

Next up was lunch at Pizzafari for Caesar Salad and Pizza using the Tables in Wonderland card. I love how Animal Kingdom still takes this card at counter service spots. When in line to order, the family in front of us took forever. I mouthed the words “Dining Plan” to Barb and was proven right.

We decided to pass on our FastPass for Kali River Rapids and headed out. We had a 25 minute wait for a bus. I guess that makes up for the stellar bus service we’ve had thus far.

Back at the room, any thoughts of the pool were killed when it poured from 2:30 to 4:00. At 4:30, we headed out to Epcot and caught a bus in 2-3 minutes. Back to stellar service again.

We walked up to the Tip Board (still not trusting the App) and found Soarin’ had a 55 minute wait and Test Track was down, likely due to the rain. I wanted to get one last ride on Maelstrom – it would be closing this weekend for good but the wait time was 40 minutes and there were no FastPasses available.

World Showcase was again very crowded. Not quite as bad as last Saturday night but noticeably crowded. I had tried for a table at Via Napoli but the online reservation system had nothing available. As I’ve done here twice before, I decided to try as a walk-up.

“Can I get a table for two?”

“How long are you willing to wait?”

“I don’t know. How about 15-20 minutes?”

“How about 5 minutes?”

We were seated in less than that.

I really like Via Napoli but I wish it wasn’t so noisy. The high ceilings, open kitchen and the acoustics of all the hard surfaces just make it very loud.

Barb stuck with water again and I had a Moretti. It was $10 which was outrageous but I justified it thinking it was only $8 after Tables in Wonderland. The fact is, even at $8, it’s terribly overpriced but… wait for it… a mug of Bud Light was $8. Yes, the same Bud Light that sells for $8.99 per 12-pack. These prices are really getting a bit silly.

Barb had the Insalate Pollo (chopped romaine, chicken, cucumber, peppers, toasted almonds, canteloupe, honey-citrus vinaigrette) and I had the Spaghetti e Polpettine – which is spaghetti and about 10 very tiny, but tasty, veal meatballs. An observation… this may be the only Italian restaurant I’ve frequented that doesn’t serve bread with your dinner.

After dinner, we walked down to the American Gardens Theater and caught the end of the Air Supply concert. Naturally, it was I’m All Out of Love, which is likely the only Air Supply song I know. They really dragged it out with audience sing-along and there was an appropriate number of aging Boomers swaying with their arms in the air.

We decided to head to the Boardwalk for a while, just to look around and hang out and took the waiting boat. It’s no wonder we’re not walking as much – we keep taking boats. The justification is that it’s still hot and humid and I’m trying to avoid working up a sweat.

Barb wanted to make her regular salt-water taffy purchase but all that was available was sour taffy at the Screen Door. A trip upstairs to Dundy’s Sundries and she found what she wanted. We then stopped in the Boardwalk Bakery for some breakfast items for tomorrow. I found another yogurt parfait. It was about half the price of the one from the Earl but it also was a bit smaller. Barb picked up a muffin and we were on our way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the trip back to Kidani.

We first got in line on the Disney’s Hollywood Studios side of the pier at the Boardwalk but, after 5 or 6 minutes, we saw nothing. I figured there were no boats at Epcot looking to make the return trip to the Studios so… I suggested we change plans and switch to the Epcot side as we’d likely see a boat soon coming *from* the Studios. I figured we’d walk through Epcot and grab a bus. Once on the Epcot side I said, “This will work unless we see a boat coming from Epcot right away.” We hadn’t seen one in a while so I figured we were safe. Of course, as soon as I said that, one came around the bend. We switched back to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios side, boarded there and rode it to the Studios (after stops at the Yacht Club and Swolphin).

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios we waited with another family, almost 15 minutes for a bus. The weather had turned, however, and it was a beautiful night. Today was undoubtedly our worst weather day of the trip but now, the sky was clear and it felt cooler and less humid than it had all week.

Back at Kidani, we sat in a couple of rockers outside on the viewing balcony for a while, just enjoying the night and watching the animals. Then it was back to the room to begin that awful task of packing for the return home.

Things I Think I Think – I think Sandi made the right call. She woke up with a scratchy throat and today’s weather wouldn’t have helped. I think I may give Expedition Everest a go on our next trip. I figure the more I ride, the easier it should get, right? I think there are available tables at some restaurants when the online system says there are not but I can’t discern a pattern. Maybe WDW is holding a number of tables for walkups? If that’s true, however, why are some restaurants (Sanaa as an example) saying they can’t seat you? I think the weather’s turning just as we leave. There’s a cold front coming through that promises to break the humidity and Sunday’s high will be 79 degrees. In addition, there’s no forecasted rain for the weekend. Drat!

Day 6 – Thursday, October 2, 2014 – I make the “No Fly” list
We rise, have some breakfast, shower, dress and pack up the last of our stuff. We bring our two suitcases down to Resort Airline Check-In in the lobby. I had booked our flights down on one reservation but the return flights are on two because I had enough miles for one free flight. They find my Boarding Pass fine but, for some reason can’t come up with Barb’s. After 5-10 minutes, I pull up the Southwest App on my phone and check her in, then show the screen to the cast member and that seems to satisfy it. From there, she’s able to print our Passes and take our bags. I’m really not sure what the problem is/was but she was on the phone with a supervisor when I checked barb in.

We’re now back in the room, chilling and drinking coffee until our pickup at 10:00. I receive a text from Southwest that our 1:00 flight is now delayed until 1:50. There’s a huge problem stemming from a fire (turned out to be arson) in the control tower at O’Hare and flights across the country are being impacted. Many connections in Chicago have been canceled so it’s mayhem.

Our Disney’s Magical Express bus shows exactly on time and we make one stop at Art of Animation and then are off to the airport.

On this flight, Barb has gotten TSA Pre but I have not. Proving she’s a more loyal spouse than I, she agrees to go with me to stay together. She’s not as altruistic as you might think, however. She’s not carrying a laptop, or wearing a belt, or… you get the idea.

Beginning yesterday, October 1, the TSA security function at Orlando International has been privatized so I’m not sure what to expect. The crew seems efficient and courteous but, when the girl scans my Boarding Pass, the lights glow red not green. She tries two or three times and says something about a problem with the “signature”. There’s nothing there that I’ve signed but now I’m asked to stand aside and wait for a supervisor. Other passengers glance at me wondering what type of terrorist I am. A very tall older fellow noticed I’m headed to Albany, as is he, and makes a terrorist joke. I cringe at that because the TSA typically has no sense of humor but no one seems to notice. After a few minutes, the supervisor shows, looks things over and makes an entry into the computer and says “it’s nothing”. The original agent says, “I’ve never seen that before” and I’m thinking, “You’ve only been doing this since yesterday.”

I’m finally allowed through where I have to remove my watch, belt, shoes, laptop, etc. like the rest of the commoners. We lunch at Au Bon Pain, and then hole up at the gate through one more delay. We finally leave at 2:05, which gets us into Albany just in time for rush hour traffic.

Final Thoughts: I’ve written so many of these that there’s not much I can say that’s new. We did all the same attractions and enjoyed them, visited a few restaurants we’ve been to before and enjoyed them as well. A few things were new, most notably the Seven Dwarfs (should it be “Dwarves”?) Mine Train. We liked it.

How about the weather? I’ve now visited WDW in every month except July, August and April (I’m not sure how we missed April). I think September will now fall into the category of July/August which equals summer which equals hot, humid and rainy. I think we’re OK with handling hot and humid but the rain was a real nuisance. With the exception of one or two downpours, it was mostly just 5-15 minute showers, after which the sun would come out and the humidity would spike. We used the umbrellas a lot but the ponchos stayed in their scabbards. The thought of wearing one, given the heat and humidity, didn’t seem like a good idea.

Our next trip will be in January and will be our longest yet. We’ll be driving from New York to Florida and will be joined by our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons for the first 6 days. We’re looking forward to that… a lot. We have trips planned for the next 18 months that will also include our other children, their spouses and the other three of our five grandsons. It’s getting tough to schedule a time when we can all be there together so, until that happens, Barb and I will have to suffer through multiple trips. It’s a heavy load bu…

As always, thanks for reading.