At long last and before my darling sister murders me electronically
.
Where were we so long ago? Seems like it is way hotter in CT right now than it was in Florida in April! Then again I am 20 pounds heavier and moving a bit more slowly now!
In my defense, there has been a week without a computer (it was in need of a new hard drive) and over a week with no cable service so that only leaves me about 6 weeks of procrastinating to make up for!!! I even went back and just reread all of my posts so far. And you know what? I want to go again! NOW. Well, not right now as I am 5 days past due with #3 (his name will be Lucas) and could never tour the parks like we did in April, but it isnt too soon to plan now, is it?
Now, all the way back to Thursday, April 27th if we can time travel that far! DH still has the stomach bug. It has become less of a disability and more of an annoyance at this point but I am sure glad that no one else has it!
Again with the early rising and the Stitch wake up call and the bus to the parks. We are getting so good at this and we have a great system down for going through security and the turnstiles. We are front row at the rope drop again!
DH splits from us as he is going to ride EE and we are going to go get Fps for the safari. It is a great opening at AK, I loved getting the first glimpse of the tree and it is a really lush and beautiful park. At the rope drop, DH takes off with the CMs guiding them to EE and we know that we can take our time getting our FPs. I had decided ahead of time that the Safari would be one of the rides that I would go on despite being pregnant and DH supported that decision. On the way from the FPs and over to Dinoland we stopped and the kids played drums with a CM outside one of the shops. DD was happy to show off her status as a big 4 year old!
And I showed off a little Disney knowledge as I overheard a family wondering what to do with their FPs to the safari. They had breakfast ressies at the character breakfast and were afraid that they would not be out in time to meet their FP window. I stopped and told them that as long as they werent early for the window they should be fine. I hope it worked out for them! DH laughed at my transition from newbie to veteran in just one week!
DH loved EE and it did start to get to me that I wasnt able to ride so many of the things that he was. He went on Primeval Whirl as well but he just wasnt impressed with that at all. I was surprised that DD made the height for ToT but not for the Primeval Whirl. Doesnt make much sense to me! We did ride the Triceratop Spin a couple of times. This was the one section of all of WDW that struck me as being just carnival like and not really that Disney so to speak. I think when we return with 2 little boys, one of which already has started with a dino-obsession then the area will hold a little more interest, but as far as we were concerned, we could have skipped it!
We made it over to Kali while it was still early and not too hot, but we had no problems wanting to get wet anyway! On the way over there we stopped and watched some monkeys, until it became clear that they were going to give the kids an in depth demo of the facts of life! DD is mature and knows all but the very last, crucial detail of how babues are made and I didnt want to be having that conversation at the AK! That would be on the (now closed ) have you ever had a shock thread before we were back!
Kali was the other ride that I thought I would go on despite the pregnancy. I did and it was just fine for me. Heck, if I could get to WDW today I would go on Splash if I thought it would get this little guy out of me! DD and I rode it first and then she rode with Daddy right after. It was a great ride, The whole deforestation thing was lost on her, but not on DH or I.
We stopped and got a pretzel on our way to the Safari. It is my understanding that the meal plan now includes so much more for snacks, but the week we were there, the week before they changed it, all we had for choices was a drink, a popcorn or a prepackaged ice cream. So, GASP, we paid OOP for the pretzel. I thought DH would have a coronary. But he was fine! Honestly, I am not a shopper (except when it comes to kids clothes) and we didnt spend very much money outside of the trip and food plan itself, so I am sure he would admit that he was pleasantly surprised at our lack of OOP expenditures! We ate the pretzel under an awning since it was raining. Not that we minded the rain, but wet pretzels are no fun.
The Safari was great! DD had her own camera to take photos, which made her feel like an explorer herself. We hardly saw lions and DD missed her favorite animal (giraffe) but we had good close views of the elephants and other animals so it was all good. After the Safari we did the Pagani Forest Trail. That was fun and pretty low key. All in all I think that describes the day well. DD and DH had fun with the bird guide and we took some great photos in general. DH really likes this one of DD and I.
The gorillas werent easy to see, but as luck would have it we made it back there again later in the day and that time they were really close to us!
Tusker house was our plan for lunch. The meal was good, we shared a table with a very nice father and son that were golfing and doing WDW for a few days. Then we headed to the Lion King to make sure we were there in plenty of time for the show. We were early (of course!) and had plenty of time to interact with the characters for a while before we got in line for the show. DS really took to the characters and had a great time with them, especially Goofy.
DD was in love with Minnie as well. And DH got into the act too! We had such a great experience with characters in general, and especially outside of the lines that we saw at MK. It was great to see them at EPCOT and AK and not stand in the Toon Town lines, hint, hint to anyone planning a trip!
At the line for the LK show we talked quite a bit with a great British family. The dad worked for a spina bifida charity and they had an adolescent son that was very polite and sweet. When they asked what we did for a living and found out we were dentists they were all embarrassed about their teeth! The Brits are well aware of just what we Americans think of their teeth! And they had great smiles a little need of orthodontics, but that is such a US thing! Not at all like Austin Powers or anything! We were in the second row for the show and DD remembered her lesson from Turtle Talk, so her hand was right up there to volunteer. She was picked to go up to the front and lead the zebras!
Not that the whole trip wasnt special for all of us, but honestly the kid got to talk to Crush, got called to the front for the Lion King, was blown a kiss by Prince Phillip does it get any better?
As we watched the show I was absently fiddling with my necklace. Wait no I wasnt I was not wearing my necklace. I WAS NOT WEARING MY NECKLACE! The one that I hadnt taken off since DH had bought it for me the year before. The diamond solitare. That he bought for me just being a great wife. And rarely does DH do something like that. Dont get me wrong he is very sweet, but grand sweeping romantic gestures arent his strong suit. So, Im sure I looked crazy to all the people who were across from us, and to the performers who wanted to know why the pregnant lady had her hands fully inside her bra, but I conducted a strip search of myself while I was fully clothed! Hands in shirt, bra, elastic maternity shorts. Nothing. We stayed after the show and the CMs looked with us while the light were on and they were sweeping. No luck. Now I am crying. Not that much, but a little anyway
Then DD poses for us on a bench and my perspective returns to me.
The kids are fine. DH is fine. Hes not mad and neither am I. Things happen. And if things happen to inanimate objects rather than us, so much the better. Not that I am going to stop looking for the necklace though!
We decide to retrace our steps and then think to look at our pictures on the camera to see when we could last see the necklace. Scroll back up to the photo that DH liked so much of DD and I. See the diamond? Yeah, me either. But I see a broken necklace. That was right in front of the gorillas. Back to the gorillas. Great view of them this time, but no necklace.
No diamond. We head to lost and found and are in line behind a man throwing an absolute fit about a pair of sunglasses! I understand the need for good sunglasses in Florida BUT it didnt sound like they were prescription and even if they were expensive ones, Im willing to be that what I had on was worth a little more monetarily and sentimentally. The CM who helped us was nice and surprised that we werent more upset. One, I didnt want this to be the focus of what the kids remembered about our trip and two, like I said before if this was a missing child, then you would see me worked up!
We decided to catch the parade and distract ourselves some more. Once again, front row! And the parade was great in that many of the characters were walking and gave the kids high fives and shook hands.
DH dozed on the ground while I took pictures. We went to get some good shots of the tree and then caught the Bugs Life show which I had left off of our list due to hearing that it was scary (didnt even tell the family about its existence) but DD saw the sign and DH wanted to go so we saw it. It wasnt a problem for the kids at all. Again I will say that it was no Philharmagic, but it was still cute.
We had ressies for Boma so we caught the bus to AKL. Id love to stay there if it didnt seem so far out of the way! Given what a hard time we had all trip with the boats and the monorail the buses from there would be fine for me. Maybe next time! Someday the Poly too
.
Boma was good. The kids ate a lot, DH loved trying some of everything! He is an adventurous eater so he loves places like this. DD tried falafel, which comes up in a kids song that we have so she loves to say that she has eaten it! I have to say zebra domes - so so to me
but otherwise it was all great!
We went back to WL and DH and DD took a late night dip in the pool. I watched from the balcony while DS slept.
I have to say this reliving this trip today has really made me so happy. I think very often about the type of life we want to live with our family and this is it. I have always wanted a big fancy house and wanted to save for one, but Id gladly take another trip to WDW with the kids no matter how far back it set our dream house savings. These memories are worth so much to me!
And for the record, I told DH NOT to replace the necklace. The sentiment is still there and I dont want to waste the $ on something that could get lost again. Rather go on a trip cant really lose that can I?
Had both of my babies there and had wonderful experiences. Yes, I'm biased.) Anyway, best of luck. Hope to be reading more about your trip....someday!!!
WOW !!!
BABY LUCAS!!!!!!!!!
Just wanted to let all of you Sara74 fans know that she has had her DS!!! 
Just wanted to let you all know.
