Day 5 - Thursday 26 June - our last full day
This morning we were naughty again and ignored the sign directing us to NY City Bar and headed off towards the restaurants. I was trying to work out how we could get breakfast in Manhattan to get a look at it when we were directed there by the CM taking the breakfast ticket. Somehow just wishing it made it so.
Unfortunately when we got to the restaurant I found there are several steps down to the main seating area and I said to the CM that sister wouldn't be able to do them easily - there didn't appear to be any handrails. No problem, she offered us a table in the small area just outside the main restaurant which was fine. There were several other people eating there. I got sister sat down and went and loaded plates and filled cups - again, the buffet choices were the same as previous breakfasts. When we were finished Pluto was at the meet and greet and there was no queue so we went to say hello and got a photo.
We had lunch booked in Inventions today so went to the main park and first stop was to get an appointment to see a princess. We got there about 11.15 and they were offering appointments from 5.15 onwards. I asked for the last slot of the day - my cunning plan involved seeing Dreams again that evening - and we got an 8.30 - 9pm ticket. We had our last go on Buzz and the ride stopped in the right place where I could keep scoring so I got another lvl 4 score.
We bought that photo even though it wasn't great - full marks for concentration - I still have no idea where this photo is taken on the ride.
Was coming up to mid day then and we had a 12.30 reservation for lunch so we wantered down to the DLH and went into the shop there for a browse. I bought sister a couple of pins and a silver Minnie Mouse ring which she spotted in a sale basket on the counter. We took a seat outside Cafe Fantasia and I decided it was time for my 2nd and last Glowtini of this visit. Totally unselfish of me - that way I could bring home a glow cube to each of my boys who both work in bars and had coveted the single one I took home last year.
They have added olives to the nibbles dish here so as good as the New York nibbles.
We took our drinks with us into Inventions when it opened. We were seated in the main section in front of the buffet at a nice table. Unfortunately at the table immediately beside us was a very loud and rude French man and his girlfriend. More on him later.
The buffet was lovely as ever. I filled sister's plate with a selection of food that I thought she would eat - I knew from experience she wouldn't let me get her any more afterwards.
At this stage I had a good luck at the labels on the buffet and everything was labelled and the labels seemed to be correct. next time I went up some of the labels had definitely been swapped round - I have no idea if this was guests or CMs but I am certain it happened.
I helped myself to a plate of starters and almost immediately the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland appeared. Another character who we've never met before so
Our neighbour, the loud French man, was on his feet, camera in hand all the while Rabbit was with sister - I almost thought at one stage he was going to take a photo of him with her. Rabbit went to another family with a child who were just across from us next and he started clicking his fingers and demanding attention - Rabbit waved as if to say "in a minute" and Mr Loud stood and tapped his foot until Rabbit came over to them. As he sat down after their pictures I could hear him tell his girlfriend in French that they were next and then he mentioned something I didn't catch about the child - who was really well behaved and patient all through lunch.
We got a similar performance from this man as every character arrived - I was really struggling to keep my temper as his impatient hovering spoiled our time with them for me. In between times he talked really loudly and kept bursting into laughter at himself - sister was so confused she kept thinking he was talking to us - just because of the sheer volume. At one stage she asked him "What are you laughing at? What is so funny?" - I think she thought that he was laughing at her, and I had to reassure her he wasn't. I did wonder whether the fact that his girlfriend was very young, in her 20s, and gorgeous, while he was middle aged and not exactly Robert Redford in looks had something to do with his dreadfully rude behaviour - was he trying to impress her?
Next up we had Pluto - again lol - I didn't even ask him to sign the autograph book - we were running out of space and had several of his already.
There was a bit of a gap which I made good use of sampling more of the lovely buffet and then Mickey appeared.
Mr Loud was up and in Mickey's face before we had even said goodbye and thank you, and I was a little miffed that Mickey just turned round to him and went along. When Minnie came along shortly after that I almost asked her to please see the important gentleman first so that perhaps we would get to spend time with her without him hovering and tapping his foot but I didn't want to involve her in anything awkward. I did however tell the man when he came and stood beside our table as Minnie was with sister to please wait his turn - in perfect French.
His jaw dropped and he said "I'm waiting, I'm waiting" back to me in French but took a couple of steps back. I kept Minnie a little longer than I would have just to make him wait.
We waited and waited and there were no more characters - I was really disappointed with only 4 characters in Inventions - thought it compared very badly with the 7 we had seen at Cafe Mickey on the Tuesday.
I got a pleasant surprise though when it came to paying. The waitress explained that they were only charging sister the child price. I couldn't work out whether this was because she ate so little or if it was to try to make up for Mr Loud but I wasn't complaining.
Bill came to 89.10 - 54.50 + 5.10 for my fizzy water + 29.50 for sister including her drink. When the 66 HB plus vouchers came off there was 23.10 to pay. I left 30 euro to leave our server a tip.
It was almost half 2 and I wanted to see the Descent of the Stairs so we went down to the lobby. Sister posed for a few photos and I then sat down beside her and wrote up my trip report in my notebook. Next time I looked up sister was fast asleep so I just let her nap and woke her at five to four.
I loved the Descent - it is such a shame they are stopping this. Zippedy Doo Dah played and Tigger appeared followed by Mr Penguin. Suzy and Perla were next and then Pluto and Goofy. Then for a finale, Mickey and Minnie.
I took this short video but managed to turn it off a bit too early. Gives an idea though.
I really wanted Tigger's autograph so we followed him and Penguin round until he stopped. It was very scrummy so we stayed well back and even then sister got quite upset at one point and I didn't realise until Mr Penguin came over and comforted her. When Tigger finally stopped for photos we joined his queue and once again we were taken forward by a CM. We got our photo and then left as it was way too hectic for us.
On the way back to the hotel for our nap I got a lovely photo of sister in front of DLH
We called in at the Studios where I knew we could get ice creams with our Pause Gourmande vouchers and we ate these and then walked slowly through the village. I had been really bad at using the PG vouchers - the 3pm to 7pm slot didn't really suit us as we napped every afternoon - so there were 4 left which we had to use that evening as our shuttle was picking us up at 2pm the following day. I needed to go where we could get drinks in bottles though so we went to New York Style Sandwiches and got 4 drinks and giant lemon muffins.
We had a long sleep back in the hotel - my alarm woke us at 7.30 and we got ready for our Princess appointment. The sky had clouded over in the couple of hours we'd been asleep and it was very hot and clammy.
Arrived at PP 5 minutes early but were allowed straight in and asked which princess we wanted to see between Belle and Rapunzel. As we'd met Belle in the Auberge I said Rapunzel and we were taken to wait outside one of the little princess rooms. When we got round the corner and saw Belle I couldn't help but look surprised and a little disappointed. I really hope she didn't notice as I recovered quickly and really enjoyed the meet - she was very sweet. I whispered to the CM while sister was hugging Belle that we had been told we were seeing Rapunzel and she said she would arrange for us to see her as well. Result!
Rapunzel was also lovely and had a great chat with sister.
We bought several photos as they were really lovely and then went on It's a Small World and Dumbo for the last time. Sister was in very good form so I chanced my arm and she agreed to go on POTC again. She mostly enjoyed it this time - it has really grown on her. Again we bought the photo.
After Pirates we went to the disabled viewing area for Dreams - it was already gone 10 and we got a place at the front beside a lovely family from Pennsylvania. Their 3 little girls, aged between 3 and about 12, were really lovely - chatted away and made the waiting time fly. I'd brought sister's flight pillow with me and was able to sit and then kneel on it beside the wheelchair. Really enjoyed Dreams - felt a bit teary as I knew I'd not see it again for a long time again. Sister slept through it again and all the way back to the hotel but I was able to tuck the neck cushion in to support her a bit and at least she didn't have to walk. I had been full of good intentions to pack when I got her to bed but hadn't the energy.
There were a few raindrops while we were waiting for Dreams but they didn't amount to much thank goodness.