Monday, December 31, 2007

Our kind of place


Bob chats up Arlene the character attendant after Chip leaves. She tells us she’s stationed at the entrance to the restaurant to prevent interlopers from running in to visit with the characters. She says it often happens that people see the characters from the pavilion and want time with them, naturally, but she makes sure that character time is reserved for the ones dining here, who have paid for the experience.

That makes sense, and as one of those guests I’m glad they do that, but I’m guessing that can cause some hurt feelings in a small kid who can see Mickey but can’t understand why he can’t get to Mickey.

Dessert time! Samantha tells us that she will be bringing out skillets of apple crisp with caramel butter – wow, that sounds good – but that’s for the adults. She has a surprise for the kids.

“They get to work in the kitchen?” I ask.

Samantha jumps right in on the joke. “Yes! We have lots of dishes waiting to be washed back there!”

The kids aren’t fooled. They’re experienced enough Disney travelers to know that a surprise here is almost always a good one.

Samantha returns with the skillets of apple crisp, and with do-it-yourself cupcake plates for Brandon and Benjamin! They each have a plain vanilla cupcake, whipped frosting, some M&M’s, Mickey-shaped sprinkles, a gummy worm and a cherry.

The apple crisp is every bit as delicious as I imagined, and frankly, I’m worried that the kids will smell it and we’ll have to share with them. But they're content with the cupcakes, both for decorating and for eating.

We are fully satisfied. What a great meal, and a great experience, too – wonderful, friendly service, Disney friends, and interesting, always-changing views. Bob says, “I liked this better than Chefs de France.”

No one disagrees. Becky chimes in, “I know that it (Les Chefs de France) was upscale and nice…”

I complete the thought: “…but we’re not upscale, nice people?”

We’re done at 1:25 – perfect for our Soarin’ fastpasses!!!

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