jsmla
12-22-2001, 10:20 PM
If anyone out there is considering starting their trip report I advise against it. 3 days before Christmas is no time to be fiddling around with the computer. Not unless you're one of those maddening people who finish up with their shopping in July.
And again we are:
Me (41): Mother, daughter and hostess. Trip coordinator supreme
Sam (16): Dearest son and Smash Brothers champion
Liz (14): Dearest daughter recently and lucratively employed as paid companion
Mom (I'll never tell) My mom, the Julia Child of the microwave
and
Liya (15) Our Russian exchange student, now deeply suspicious of all things Disney.
6:00 am Once again I play the bad guy and get everyone up early. It's Animal Kingdom day and the forcast is for rain. We do the bathroom shuffle, have breakfast (BTW if you ever happen to stay at the HIFS the breakfast buffet is much less crowded between 6:30-7:30) and drive off in search of the Animal Kingdom. The hotel and the parking lot at AK indicate that the crowds are really starting to build.
7:00 am Once again we are early but the Animal Kingdom has thoughtfully provided a gift shop for our amusement. Oh, the things management has learned since the MK opened! Liya purchases a Goofy hat which I find quite amusing since Goofy is also Sam's favorite. We get in line behind the mom of a family even more commando-minded than I. She has a minute by minute itenerary printed out. The dad looks glum. I've seen that look; it's not his first day and they have 2 strollers. Reminds me of my younger days.
8:00 am Those poor CM's with the spiders and turtles and such! They've got to be kidding! 99% of the guests make for the Safaris while the CM's hopefully hold out their exhibits. (Of course we don't stop. We are totally shallow and anyway I hate bugs.) We walk swiftly toward the safari but without the mayhem that preceded the opening of Test Track. I love the early safari. Animals were straying across the path as they were released for the day. We saw just about every animal and at one point were looking across a "savanna" at a combination of elephants, zebra and assorted deer types that was amazing.
We followed up the safari with Dinosaur. After repeated assurance that we won't be plunging to earth Liya agrees to ride. There is no wait and Liya emerges relatively unscathed. Next is Festival of the Lion King which Liz, Sam, Liya and I enjoy. Mom, having never seen the movie, is a bit confused. We finally get to be elephants (I like doing the trunk thing) and Liya learns the hand jive. I highly recommend the top row. You can stand if, like with me, the tallest man in America sits in front of you. After the Lion King, Liya gets to meet Goofy who signs her hat. We catch the next showing of It's Tough to Be a Bug. This is my personal nemesis. I really really hate bugs. This time, however, I vow to keep my back and rear connected to the seat. I do it, I even look at the black widow spiders but it still creeps me out. Give me Alien Encounter any day.
At some time we had acquired fast passes for Kali River Rapids. While waiting to ride we wander through the Marahaja Jungle Trek. By this time most of the animals are napping. Due to an unfortunate youthful experience with a killer chicken my mom is afraid of birds. Her experiences as a virologist has also given her a distaste for bats. All of this makes for a quick walk through. We do stop to smell the little boxes though. Some of them remind me of one of my nearest and dearest who shall remain unnamed. Sam really should bathe more often. I display my great knowledge of all things outdoors by getting cinnamon correct.
In spite of our coaxing Liya and Mom decide to sit Kali out. Sam, Liz and I share our raft with a young family. Liz and I are festooned in ponchos and anoraks. Sam decides to rough it. So do the other riders. It was a long ride of the soul for Sam. At the first opportunity the very attractive young lady across from us gets doused head to toe. She looks like the winner of the wet T-shirt contest at Bubba's. A threatening glare and well-placed kick on my part keep Sam's eyes glued to his shoes. You will get wet on this ride! We exit and I heave a sigh of relief only to see another one. This time a lady, British by birth I think, has removed her skirt and is clad from the waste down only in her Victoria's Secret-type undies! Our eyes meet and she explains that the skirt is dry clean only. Okaaay. I stuff Sam's eyeballs back into their sockets and we exit. It is beginning to sprinkle so we decide to make for home. The sprinkles become a downpour so I relinquish my rain gear to the girls and we squish our way through the parking lot to the car and "home".
And again we are:
Me (41): Mother, daughter and hostess. Trip coordinator supreme
Sam (16): Dearest son and Smash Brothers champion
Liz (14): Dearest daughter recently and lucratively employed as paid companion
Mom (I'll never tell) My mom, the Julia Child of the microwave
and
Liya (15) Our Russian exchange student, now deeply suspicious of all things Disney.
6:00 am Once again I play the bad guy and get everyone up early. It's Animal Kingdom day and the forcast is for rain. We do the bathroom shuffle, have breakfast (BTW if you ever happen to stay at the HIFS the breakfast buffet is much less crowded between 6:30-7:30) and drive off in search of the Animal Kingdom. The hotel and the parking lot at AK indicate that the crowds are really starting to build.
7:00 am Once again we are early but the Animal Kingdom has thoughtfully provided a gift shop for our amusement. Oh, the things management has learned since the MK opened! Liya purchases a Goofy hat which I find quite amusing since Goofy is also Sam's favorite. We get in line behind the mom of a family even more commando-minded than I. She has a minute by minute itenerary printed out. The dad looks glum. I've seen that look; it's not his first day and they have 2 strollers. Reminds me of my younger days.
8:00 am Those poor CM's with the spiders and turtles and such! They've got to be kidding! 99% of the guests make for the Safaris while the CM's hopefully hold out their exhibits. (Of course we don't stop. We are totally shallow and anyway I hate bugs.) We walk swiftly toward the safari but without the mayhem that preceded the opening of Test Track. I love the early safari. Animals were straying across the path as they were released for the day. We saw just about every animal and at one point were looking across a "savanna" at a combination of elephants, zebra and assorted deer types that was amazing.
We followed up the safari with Dinosaur. After repeated assurance that we won't be plunging to earth Liya agrees to ride. There is no wait and Liya emerges relatively unscathed. Next is Festival of the Lion King which Liz, Sam, Liya and I enjoy. Mom, having never seen the movie, is a bit confused. We finally get to be elephants (I like doing the trunk thing) and Liya learns the hand jive. I highly recommend the top row. You can stand if, like with me, the tallest man in America sits in front of you. After the Lion King, Liya gets to meet Goofy who signs her hat. We catch the next showing of It's Tough to Be a Bug. This is my personal nemesis. I really really hate bugs. This time, however, I vow to keep my back and rear connected to the seat. I do it, I even look at the black widow spiders but it still creeps me out. Give me Alien Encounter any day.
At some time we had acquired fast passes for Kali River Rapids. While waiting to ride we wander through the Marahaja Jungle Trek. By this time most of the animals are napping. Due to an unfortunate youthful experience with a killer chicken my mom is afraid of birds. Her experiences as a virologist has also given her a distaste for bats. All of this makes for a quick walk through. We do stop to smell the little boxes though. Some of them remind me of one of my nearest and dearest who shall remain unnamed. Sam really should bathe more often. I display my great knowledge of all things outdoors by getting cinnamon correct.
In spite of our coaxing Liya and Mom decide to sit Kali out. Sam, Liz and I share our raft with a young family. Liz and I are festooned in ponchos and anoraks. Sam decides to rough it. So do the other riders. It was a long ride of the soul for Sam. At the first opportunity the very attractive young lady across from us gets doused head to toe. She looks like the winner of the wet T-shirt contest at Bubba's. A threatening glare and well-placed kick on my part keep Sam's eyes glued to his shoes. You will get wet on this ride! We exit and I heave a sigh of relief only to see another one. This time a lady, British by birth I think, has removed her skirt and is clad from the waste down only in her Victoria's Secret-type undies! Our eyes meet and she explains that the skirt is dry clean only. Okaaay. I stuff Sam's eyeballs back into their sockets and we exit. It is beginning to sprinkle so we decide to make for home. The sprinkles become a downpour so I relinquish my rain gear to the girls and we squish our way through the parking lot to the car and "home".