[ilvminnie]

Final day. It seemed like it took so long to get here & now it's over already. I'm really not ready to leave. Oh well, guess there's not another choice. I just keep reminding myself we'll be back in Oct.

We had breakfast planned at CP for 8:25. Since it wasn't an EE day I had gone down to the front desk the night before to find out the best way to get to MK for our breakfast. The CM assured me there was a "breakfast bus" that would be there at 7:15. Great. So we get up, finish packing & call the bell hop to pick up our luggage to put it in storage. We're at the bus stop at 7:05. A little early, but that's ok. So we waited, & waited, & waited. Finally about 7:30 2 CMs from the hotel come out. They're part of the transportation control group. We ask about the character breakfast bus. They call & say it will be there in 2 minutes. Well, the bus that came in 2 minutes was for the AK breakfast. Evidently the one for MK came at 7:00!!! I told the guy that I was told 7:15 & now what are we supposed to do? He apologized & said to follow him & he'd put us in a cab to get us there in time. Sure enough, they called a cab & the CM came out & handed the driver cash to take us to MK. (I really think the 2 areas that need the most work right now are Beach Club operations & transportation. I heard at least 2 other people complaining to manager types about different things at BC. I'm hoping they get things under control. Right now I'm not inclined to stay there again even though it is my home resort.)

Once at MK we walked up Main Street toward CP. There was a group of new CMs going through orientation & one of the trainers noticed DD's birthday pins & brought us over for the group to sing Happy Birthday! I'm sure it was a great training opportunity for them, but even more enjoyable for DD. She knew all the attention was just about over now. (BTW, I saw about 4 such groups during this trip. Makes me wonder about all these rumours of layoffs.....)

Got to CP & walked right in. The hostess checking us in as well as our waitress commented on the light crowd that morning. We didn't mind...shorter lines at the buffet are good when you're hungry. Tinkerbell & I had said we would mee there, so I kept looking around for someone who fit the bill. I was coming back from my 2nd trip to the buffet when I noticed this table with 6 people at it right next to ours. The man had a walker/cane, 2 of the girls were just about Tink's granddaughters ages, & the lady had a Mickey Mouse ears hat. I looked at her & she looked at me. I walked over & put my plate down & then turned back to her. She said "Pam" at the same time I said "Tinkerbell" & next thing you know we were hugging like we'd been friends for years. We had a very nice visit & just couldn't get over the fact that our tables were right next to each other. It just capped a great trip. About midway through the breakfast - yep again! - the birthday celebration started. DD paraded around with Pooh & they brought her a cupcake with a candle & a birthday card signed by Pooh & the gang. Of course I knew it was coming since I had mentioned the birthday when I made the PS. But DD was totally surprised & excited.

Time to say goodbye to Tink & family & try to get those last rides in in the hour we had left. There was nearly NO ONE there! In an hour we drove the cars, did Buzz, did Pooh & Peter Pan & took our last spin through the Emporium. Then back to BC to wait for the towncar. While we waited I had a nice little chat with Art (of Travel Channel fame, remember?) & made a last trip to the gift shop. (Ooooh, forgot to mention that we loved Pal Mickey so much that we went to the gift shop the next day & bought him. He's really a lot of fun.) The driver got there & we're off to the airport. The flight was delayed an hour due to lightning in the area that stopped our plane from landing so that those folks could get off & we could get on. But other than that a nice uneventful flight. (Those are the best kind!) I wish I was still there, but I just keep thinking about my Oct trip.