What next?

The six of us have sat spellbound throughout the Candlelight Processional and thus haven’t said much to each other, but in talking now, waiting for some of the crowd to depart, it’s clear we’ve all had the same reaction – we all think it was absolutely wonderful. And Bob, like me, was mesmerized by the sign language interpreter.

As luck would have it, we spot the man just a short distance away. Both Bob and I go over to him and let him know how much we enjoyed watching him perform.

Okay, with the end of the Processional, all of our scheduled activities for the day are done. We need to call back to the Polynesian and find out our room numbers – and eventually go to them. First, though, Brandon’s spotted a Candlelight Processional pin he’d like to buy, so we head up to the merchandise carts in front of the American Adventure pavilion.

On our way through the mob exiting the theater – and past additional mobs waiting to enter the theater for the next performance – Brandon and I pause to allow a family with one person in an electric scooter to pass. By the time we can move again, we’ve lost sight of the rest of our family in the dark. Hmm. Well, we all knew where we were headed. Hopefully we’ll see each other again soon.

Brandon starts to browse the pins on display, and I step aside to call the Polynesian. I’m given room number 1803 for Bob & Linda and 1802 for the rest of us. That sounds like first floor, but no idea if those will be monorail side or resort side. Either way, though, we’ll at least have a patio. (In Rarotonga, the first-floor rooms have a patio, third-floor rooms have a balcony, and second-floor rooms have neither.)

While I’m on the phone, sitting down (just like so many actual cast members you meet!), I have my second Cast Member Moment. Two college-age girls approach and ask where the “Kwanzaa” presentation is held. Um, this one I don’t know, and I’m on the phone, so I shrug and tell them politely they might want to try asking an actual cast member.

Is it politically incorrect of me to notice that the two girls asking about the “Kwanzaa” presentation are both white?

As I’m finishing the phone call, I spot Bob & Linda, and soon all six of us are back together.

Brandon does not find the specific pin he’s looking for – apparently it’s sold out – but he does purchase an Epcot pin that he likes, a round pin with flags of various nations in Mickey shapes on a movable wheel around the center Epcot logo. A wonderful CM named Linda handles the transaction and trades pins with both Brandon and Benjamin.

CM Linda also tells us many of the parks have had to close their gates due to the crowds over the past several days, and gives us a tip to get into a park early tomorrow (which is New Year’s Eve) and get our hands stamped on the way out. That way, if the parks have to be closed even to resort guests, we’ll still be able to get in as re-admit guests. Nice of her to tell us that!

Well, we’re at the far south end of Epcot, ready to head north and take the monorail back to the Poly, so we have some walking to do. We didn’t make it to the east side of World Showcase on the last trip, so that’s the direction we head. We’re in no hurry at all. Maybe we’ll ride something along the way? I’m curious what the crowds are for Maelstrom or the boat ride in Mexico, whatever its name is now.