Long Delayed TR — 2.0 We’re here! Hiya Gang! And 2 great surprises for Dznyknitter!
We get to Port Orleans Riverside (POR) (a little disappointment for Wall-E & Dznyknitter because we aren’t at Port Orleans French Quarter (POFQ), but put on a happy face). Wall-E & DA go outside while I go through the check-in process. They’re back before I’m done – but I’m bouncing around like the happy idiot that I am. DA thinks something MUST be wrong & sends Wall-E over to check — I tell him what’s up (I’ll tell you in a few lines) & he goes back to DA, keeping it all a secret, just assuring her that I have everything under control because I know what I’m doing (it’s great to be married to someone who thinks you’re the bees-knees).
Surprise #1 — Jen L at registration at POR is moving us to POFQ!!! And we get to keep the AP discount (I had been calling & calling but couldn’t make this happen before we got there)!! The rooms they had for us at POR weren’t close & we wanted connecting PLUS there were a lot of cheerleader or choir groups or something at POR. When Jen told me all of this, I crossed my fingers and wished for pixie dust & asked if we could be switched over to POFQ — the answer was YES with connecting rooms!! Hoorraayyyyy!! Took a while to get everything done in the computers & make sure that our deposit etc was transferred. By this point, I’m about to pop out of my skin.
We get back in the car & head over to POFQ. Wall-E & I are very, very happy & DA is just happy because we’re happy.
We head straight to Mardi Grogs, Wall-E takes a few photos of us around the pool area & then heads out to move the car. First, he goes inside & gets us some cold water, we’re going to wait for him at Mardi Grogs. It’s too early for Mardi Grogs to be open but DA has heard about our favorite bar & our favorite bartenders. And lo & behold,
Surprise #2 — Shelly the bartender is opening up!! Hugs all around. She & DA are tickled to meet each other. We just have a good time visiting & catching up. We were able to get our room assignment before lunch & get all moved in.
Head over to Downtown Disney for lunch at Fulton’s. We took the car. Great lunch at Fulton’s (food is always good here, but service can be a bit of a toss up). Started raining after we finished up. Activated our AP’s, did some shopping at World of Disney, had a sundae at Ghiradelli’s, … good afternoon even though it was wet. Got in the car, went back to POFQ & spent the afternoon sitting around Mardi Grogs & doing that southern thing called “telling stories & making up lies”.
Took a cab to dinner at California Grill & Wishes on the balcony. Still raining lightly – but not too bad. Highlights of dinner… Yoshi Sushi Deluxe for us, DA had the 4 cheese flatbread. Beet salad was shared by all. We split the fish (tuna?) & DA had the pumpkin ravioli. Fireworks then dessert = something wonderful & butterscotchy and the apple tart. Food was great. Service was great (we are about 50/50 on service at California Grill). We were seated in the wine room & at certain points it poured rain. Interesting aside — there was a big honcho from Disney holding court in the wine room at the table next to us — I wasn’t able to get any gossip, if I had I’d have shared it long ago — just interesting to see how the people at the table interacted w/ someone who was clearly very important.
