A Daily Lesson Part II: The CampbellScot's take on Animal Kingdom Lodge*update 6/5*

[Christy LOVES Disney]

...
We had the good fortune of hitting the pretend monorail arrival just right and hopped on without a wait. *YAY*

I made the kids sit on the little platform in the back…which annoyed Sally…b/c it’s dirty and germy…and she IS nine years old and perfectly capable of holding on to a standing bar...and STOP being so bossy…

wow I kept thinking what is the pretend monorail and how come I didn't see it when I was there. Then boom it hit me. Holy cow I wanted to sit down on that thing because it is the pretend monorail in wharp speed. I thought I was going to fall the first time it took off. now that that's over I'm so glad you're back and I get to read your TR again. I've been to AKL and were going back next June (21 of us) so anyone's experience there I just have to read.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

okay maybe i should read everything in your post before i post. as i read on you talk about how fast it is.. sorry. Im going to shut up until the end of the post now

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

oh my how sally has grown. teddy too but he is harder to see because he is sitting in the cart. wow they're growing up.

 

[shannn]

Woo Hoo!! You're back! And worth every minute...um, day... of the wait I'd say!

 

[jham]

Yay! I missed you! I love the update and can't wait to hear about AKL! I love the photo of the kids big grins and Sally holding Stitch

 

[29apr00]

Yay You are back!!

What a great update! I love your writing, it's just like being with you!! And my how the kids have grown!! Teddy looks huge in that shopping cart!!

can't wait for more!!

 

[NMW]

So glad you are back!

 

[Stephres]

*NOTE* do NOT read the Disboards when looking for completely reliable and accurate information on hurricanes. Unless the Diser giving the information is Sam Champion...in that case believe everything he says!

Publix!

Keep it up!

 

[Dixielady908]

Yea Miss Cammie....glad your back and hoping that you dont keep us waiting so long for the rest

 

[Angelrose]

Great update. Those kids are just so cute. Can't wait for more!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Publix- where shopping is a pleasure!

I know that slogan well, I worked there about 37 years ago, LOL! But it still is, we still shop there. However, the stores near me do not cater to tourists by flaunting Disnye toys or crocs. Which is understanderbable.

Fay was a major annoyance with rain, but luckily nothing bad.

Happy to see you back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mousecrazy2006]

The trip has finally begun, and what a wonderful beginning . Hopefully only your "dignity" got bruised in the pretend mono-rail lightspeed takeoff Loved the pictures of Publix , as we have never stopped there. Pretty cool. Look forward to more Campbell - Scot adventures. As always best wishes and magic to you and yours.

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

I've not been on the Disboards in ages so it was lovely to come on and read an update!!!
More please!
xxx

 

[redsox721]

Just noticed that you have a short ticker. Is there a new PTR in the works? Or did I miss something.

 

[saralexander97]

Lovin the TR. Cant wait to hear about the AKL. Sally sounds just like me, I'm totally freaked out by germs to.

 

[katdunn]

Can't wait to hear more! I was so excited to see that you were back online and writing again! You are so gifted - you make us all just wish we were there again! Keep it comin!

 

[NYPDwife]

I'm happy that you didn't have any incidents on the plane!!

The kids have grown so much!

Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[teresajoy]

ALL RIGHT!!! The Camster is BACK!!! (like your new nickname??)

I must say that was so very nice of you to fall down on the fake monorail to cheer Sally up!! Such a devoted stepmother you are!

And Jay's pictures really did lack passion! I could tell right away when you took the camera back! Really!

It's good to have you back writing girl!! I can't wait to read more.

Now, SPEED IT UP!!! I leave in May, I want you finished BEFORE I finish mine!

 

[CampbellScot]

As the the car pulled up to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I felt Teddy literally vibrating with excitement. We had been talking for months about all the animals he would see, right outside his window. Teddy is insanely crazy about animals in general. He finds them endlessly fascinating. With his insane ability to memorize facts about every animal he sees, we all learned a lot about animals that might be found in Africa, India, South America, North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada...y'all get what i'm saying. The child went crazy with fact memorizing this summer!

(thanks in part to that poor excuse for a "camp" that the kids had briefly attended. As they were plunked in front of a DVD for most of the day...at least the camp director had chosen something semi-educational.)



I'm still annoyed about that whole thing. It created a lot of unnecessary drama for Sally...who SO does not need help with that particular area of her life. For the rest of the summer Sally held a big grudge against the camp experience. To make matters worse when we withdrew the kids from camp rather abruptly, this woman felt it necessary to tell all the other parents...most of whom ALSO pulled their kids not long after we did...that HER feelings were hurt...so when we inevitably bumped into one of the little girls from camp, she asked Sally "why don't you like us anymore?"

Sally was horrified as she hates to hurt anyone's feelings. That little encounter led to weeks of Sally worrying that the kids from camp thought she was mean.

Needless to say, Jay made a phone call.

I wanted to take her on a trip to Fist City.

JUST KIDDING...

sort of...



I'm sorry...where were we? OH YES...Trip report...

Teddy bounced out of the car, and before he could sprint off in search of animals, I attached his little hand to my bag strap. It gives him a little bit of reference as to where his body is and where it needs to stay. (I didn't actually attach him...I just told him to strap up...which means "do NOT leave my side". He knows this. Mostly b/c he tested the boundaries of this direction once. So I threatened him with an actual kid harness...went so far as to take him to Target with me to buy one. Teddy sees these kid harnesses as babyish. He got the point. We haven't had another problem with that particular issue. He knows the kid harness is in the house and he knows that I will most certainly follow through if he chooses to test me again. I'm mean that way!)

and let me just say that I am in no way against the kid harness. I think they are extremely useful for children that have an aversion to holding hands. They eliminate power struggles, give the kiddo some freedom, and keep mom and dad in ultimate control. Win-win!

anyhow...I keep digressing...I do apologize!

I went around the back of the car with Teddy in tow. I found Sally clinging to Jay with her face pressed into his belly. I didn't know if she was crying or just really getting into a hug. Then I got a whiff of the smoke smell and understood. Sally learned all about second hand smoke in detail in her third grade class. Got to see all sorts of graphic pictures of smokers lungs...and facial cancers. (WAY too graphic for third graders in my opinion...but anti smoking campaigns are trying to get them young...which I can appreciate.) ANYHOW...Sally took the information a little TOO MUCH to heart. Where she was merely annoyed with smokers before...she now felt that smokers were truly out to harm her little lungs...on purpose. It had been a theme this summer. I swear y'all...as she heads to ten, she's getting more and more moody...like PMS moody...I shudder to think.

Normally I don't have a lot of tolerance for this kind of thing from Sally. It's over dramatic and unnecessary and attention seeking in a negative way. She doesn't like cigarette smoke...we get it. But as this was the beginning of vacation neither Jay nor I wanted to start it off with a lecture.

So...I decided to tickle the back of her knee...which brought about the desired reaction of screeching and jumping around.

"MissCAMMIEEEEEEE...you tickled me!"

"I did indeed Sally...I couldn't help myself...my hand was possessed..."

*ahem*

I got a smile.

yay!

crisis averted!!

Jay took up the task of getting the bags organized. THIS year I had made sure to just use Jay's last name...my now married name...without the hyphen...Jay likes that. Caveman...KIDDING!

sort of.



either way, i didn't want the same bag fiasco that we had last summer. That's called "learning from my mistakes!".



Once we had all the baggage on the cart...along with the grocery bags...it was finally time to head into the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Teddy had an idea of how our grand entrance should go! He said:

"We all have to hold hands now, like a family, b/c it's a tradition! Right MissCammie? Because we like traditions in our family!"



love that Teddy.

We all linked up and headed in for our first glimpse of AKL!

I have to say...it was pretty cool. Not *quite* as cavernous and awe inspiring as Wilderness Lodge...but it was impressive in a different way! Teddy was thrilled to see that there was a FIRE PIT!!! And LOOKIT MISSCAMMIE!!! THERE'S ROCKING CHAIRS TOO!!! LIKE LAST YEAR!!!"

Sally was of course mortified that Teddy was shouting out his joy. She squeezed my hand very tightly to convey her annoyance and embarrassment. I squeezed back to say "breathe sweetpea...it's Teddy being Teddy".

I did remind him to use his indoor voice...

Then Jay's phone rang... and he said he HAD to answer this one...

okay...fine. But I reminded him that he was using up his one call a day awfully early.

I don't think he heard me...he was already heading towards the door...

*SIGH*

I looked at Sally, who was being very quiet and taking inventory.

"So Sally Rally...what do you think?"

"It's good. I like it. I like the windows...it's different from Wilderness Lodge, but that's okay...b/c we'll stay at Wilderness Lodge again...right MissCammie?"

I had to laugh and give Sally a squeeze.

I assured her that yes, we would most likely see our beloved Wilderness Lodge once more.

Before Sally had the chance to ruminate any further on the evil of change...I sent both kids off to the lobby television area...(which is really quite charming by the way!) while I checked us in. Sally didn't want to...she wanted to stay with me...so I bribed her with my camera and told her to please take some amazing pictures. Thanks.

she took the bait. She loves it when I entrust her with things that I am usually pretty bossy and controlling about. She put the strap around her neck and headed off the fulfill her mission. Good Girl!!

I got in line.

which was oddly long.

and not moving...

at all.

Here y'all can look at some of Sally's pictures while we wait!

Dramatic Windows!

Smile Teddy!!! (Sally "posed" Teddy for this one!)

Fire Pit!

seriously...still in the unmoving line.

quack.

Jay came back in and was surprised to find me in the exact place I had been when he left. There was something going on behind the counter. There was a lot scurrying about and five or six cm's crowded around one computer.

either way...I wasn't feeling the magic quite so much at the moment. I could feel those little stabs of migraine obnoxiousness starting up. I was very prepared this time and gulped a couple of heavy duty migraine stoppers. I was annoyed with my brain for being difficult at this very moment. I didn't need a blinding headache right NOW.

and that darn line would not BUDGE. So I told Jay to go and hang out with the kiddies...I had the line standing covered!

There was an elderly couple in front of me. The man was sitting in a little personal scooter thingie. His wife was getting very anxious about standing here all this time. I think she was also bored...b/c she started picking on her husband.

The conversation went like this:

wife: I STILL can't believe you ran over my toe this morning. That contraption is dangerous!

Husband: Your foot stepped right in front of the wheel!

Wife: You really need to be more careful!

Husband: You should watch where you are walking honey...

Wife: where else was I supposed to walk?!

Husband: Not in front of moving wheels!



On and on it went. It was funny mostly b/c they were speaking in such loving tones to each other. The husband kept patting her hand, and calling her honey. I suppose if you are going to fuss with your spouse, at least try and do it in a sweet way!

FINALLY the line got moving. It went pretty quickly after that. I was up at the desk and being welcomed home before I knew it!

I love being welcomed home. It gives me the ultimate beginning of vacation at Disney high! y'all know what I mean?

The CM, Marguerite, was from South Africa. She had the BLONDEST hair I have EVER seen...her eyes were extremely blue and her skin was very very pale. She looked like a porcelain doll. Woofty...people must stare at her wherever she goes. Beautiful! I had to wonder why they had her behind a desk at a resort when she could have been princessing it up at the parks!

any road, CM Marguerite was also extremely nice and very efficient!

I was quickly in possession of all of my necessary Disney World documents. It was rather early still...probably around noon-ish...but Marguerite told me that if we wanted to go to our room now, that it was ready!

WOOHOO!!! I couldn't wait to see what animals might be hanging out right under our balcony!!

I called the troops over and we headed to our room.

We were a happy bunch as we wound our way own the corridors to our room. This is one of my favorite moments on vacation...the anticipation of the room. We had gotten bunk beds again for the kids and I knew they'd be thrilled. Jay and I held hands and the kids ran ahead of us. They were excited too!

When we found the hallway where our room was located, I kept thinking that I was smelling cigar smoke...which is a fairly distinct smell...which could not be possible as smoking inside the resort was strictly forbidden.

must be in my head...I am HIGHLY sensitive to strong smells. Nose like a bloodhound let me tell y'all what!

no matter...wasn't possible...

(y'all know where this is leading right? uh-huh...)

Soon enough Sally announced that she had found the door!!! We all gathered around her and I handed her the room key card. I tried to ignore the fact that the cigar smell was even stronger...right here...in front of our door...I was hoping that Sally wouldn't notice.

fat chance.

Sure enough, just before Sally was about to put the card in the lock she started up the bunny nose thing and said,

"MissCammie, do you smell stinky smoke? Because I do."

think fast think fast...

"No sweetpea, we are hallucinating."

I didn't really say that...but I hoped it was true!

I told Sally not worry about it and to get that door open!

When the little light turned green, Sally opened the door.

And we were hit smack in the face with what can only be described as a hazy cloud of SMOG!

Sally stepped rather forcefully backwards, with her arms straight out to keep us from moving forward,

"DADDY DON'T BREATHE IT!! YOU'RE ALLERGIC!!!!! DON'T BREATHE!!!"

As she backed away the door shut...Sally kept backing up until she hit the wall. She put both hands over her face and held her breath.



slightly dramatic our Sally.

Although I can't say I blame her...what in the holy heck was going on in our room?! It smelled like a Cigar convention had set up camp in there!

Jay took the key card and keyed back into the room. Sally took a breathe long enough to say "Don't BREATHE IT DADDY!!" Hands went back over the mouth and nose and she sat down with a thump.

What was Teddy doing during this massive drama? He was singing Yellow Submarine and playing with some cars that had been in his backpack!

Teddy gets points for being self sufficient!

Jay came back out a second later. He looked less than pleased.

"There are cigar butts out on the balcony."

WHAT?!

I ran in to look for myself.

Sure enough, there were three burned down bits of cigar. They looked like dirty roaches to me! ick.

I was really and truly astonished.

How did Mousekeeping miss this? Not only in regards to today...but during the time the cigar smokers were here?! Why had it been allowed?

I was baffled.

I joined everyone in the hallway. By this time Sally was crying. This was just too much. I felt bad for her...she had been trying to get her Disney groove on, and she'd been rewarded with her arch enemy...SMOKE!

(remember how I said that Sally had been emotional this summer...I wasn't kidding. )

Jay was furious. He was upset that his daughter was crying, not to mention that he is, in fact, allergic to cigar and cigarette smoke. Like anaphylactic allergic...and like me, he is also asthmatic. (we have so much in common! )This was not a good way to start off.

Before I could say a word, Jay was off. He was walking in that hard, take charge, someone is fixin to get an earful way. It's fairly intimidating!

We scurried along behind him. As we scurried...which I really hate doing as I am NOT a mouse...but I didn't think now would be a good time to tell Jay to slow down...I had a talk with Sally who was FUMING as she walked. I let her fume for a little bit before I stopped her.

"There is NO SMOKING AT DISNEY MissCammie! That paper said so! There is no smoking! People are not supposed to smoke inside! It's gross and it stinks and makes people get cancer and starts forest fires AND now I stink like smoke! That's NOT FAIR THAT SOMEBODY BROKE A RULE! AND I'm REALLY REALLY MAD!"

indeed.

Now it was my turn.

I put on my best social worker voice and repeated a version of a dialogue I've had several times with Mistress Mary Quite Contrary (sally!) this summer.

"Sally I can hear that you are very angry right now. It's frustrating when people don't follow the rules. I'm really glad you are using your words. But now you need to dry up the tears and let the mad go. We are NOT going to spend the next ten days letting this ruin our vacation. We're not even going to let the next ten minutes get ruined by this. It's upsetting that it happened. You are totally right to be angry and disappointed. But Daddy is dealing with it. We will get a different room. Then we'll do what?"

silence.

"Sally...what will we do?"

silence.

I eye brow arched her pretty good.

*sigh*

"We'll let it go and move on.”

"Say it like you mean it!"

Teddy's little voice joined Sally's...he was being helpful...which was less than appreciated by his sister...



"One more time just for fun...LET IT GO AND MOVE ON!"

She said it with slightly more oomph than the first go. She was still plenty ticked off, but she got the point...and she knew I'd make her say it until I was satisfied with her dedication to letting the issue go. Because I'm mean.



I then pretended to take the scowl off of her face and hand it to her. She pretended to crumple it up. I held out a pretend garbage can. And Sally pretended through her scowl in the garbage. Then she pretended to take a smile out of her pocket and put it on her face!



sometimes this works with Sally and sometimes it doesn't.

it dang well better work now...b/c I wasn't even close to kidding. I wasn't even trying to hear fussing and or put up with any attention seeking nonsense of any kind while we were at Disney.

at all.

Because I’m wicked and the boss of everyone.

My favorite thing.

*ahem*

When we joined Jay, he was at the desk using the "voice of authority.” There were several CM's gathered and someone in a suit. I sent the kids off back to the TV. Distraction is AWESOME!!!

In the interest of attempting not to ramble…ha ha…I’ll give the short(er) version of what happened: Jay made the front desk and the hotel manager aware of what we encountered in our room. The manager was appropriately horrified. As were the front desk staff. They apologized profusely and told us they would investigate the situation immediately. The unfortunate part about it all was that the Savannah view rooms were totally booked for the next five days. The entire hotel was in a bit of a crunch b/c of the conversion of some of the club level rooms to DVC rooms. (as I understood it. I could be wrong…it happens!) There were rooms available for three days…then different rooms would open up. It sounded like a game of musical chairs. Even though the manager was offering club level rooms…which was very nice…we would have had to move a total of three times before we could stay put. That is not relaxing to my OCD husband, or to OCD germ phobic me…it would be unsettling for the kids AND who wanted to waste even one second of our vacation schlepping our stuff around the resort? Not the CampbellScots! End result…Jay told them he appreciated their attention to the matter and the offer for an upgrade, but it would really be better for us to be put in a room that was available for ten days. Our only request was that the room had bunk beds. And that is what they gave us. (although THAT room would not be available until 3pm) grr. Oh well.

Was that really a short version?



I must say that I was really rather disappointed by the loss of our Savannah view. I knew how excited Teddy was about seeing animals outside his window. This wrinkle in my carefully mapped out plans was digging at the control freak in me. But I told her to hush, that the view is not why we come to Disney...and smile like you mean it!

The kids were sitting at the television area, waiting very patiently. Sally looked like she had recovered somewhat. Jay simply told them that we were going to get a new room. End of story. He didn't mention the change of view. Getting a new room was all that mattered to Sally. Teddy was oblivious to the concept of a room and where it was situated. He might not even notice the lack of wild animals out his window...

fingers crossed!

All in all, the adults were much more annoyed with the room change than the kids.

I realized right about that time, Sally's tears probably had a lot to do with the fact that she was hungry. I know I was. So we decided to find Mara and have our very first Disney meal!

If only it was that easy.

I think we circled around and went up and down stairs several times before we found the right door that would lead us to sustenance! As we had all been up since 4:30 that morning our directional abilities were not at their best. We did finally make it outside. Teddy and Sally both had been THRILLED at their first sighting of the pool. I swear if I hadn’t had a hold of Teddy's hand, he’d have jumped right in clothes and all!

I was VERY cheered that the rain had stopped while we were dealing with the room crisis!

wooHOO.

When we FINALLY found Mara, we made quite and entrance thanks to Teddy and his extreme exuberance at the “ LOOKIT!!! DISNEY CARTOONS PLAYING ON A TV AND ANIMAL PAINTINGS ON THE WALLS!!!”



Sally told him to PLEASE be quiet and stop SHOUTING so everyone can stare at us TEDDY…



Sally’s really good about interjecting “please” into sentences that aren’t meant to be polite in the least…but it covers her if her step mama is in ear shot.

Indeed.

We washed down the tables…okay, AND the chairs…what? GERMS! The kids were then seated and happily watching Disney magic on television. Jay and I went to get food.

I am so glad that the kids have finally gotten to the age that we can be a few feet from them, put Sally “in charge” which she loves, and be reasonably sure that everyone will be in one piece by the time we get back.

Besides… Jay and I could see them from where we were.

Win-win!

Overall, we really enjoyed Mara. The food was pretty good. The Zebra domes were HEAVEN…and there was a decent variety of food choices. Last year we had never set foot in Roaring Fork…which is like…a closet…compared to Mara. Jay and I found this to be very convenient and helpful during our stay at AKL. The set up is fairly open and we never felt it was too crowded. ( of course this is at the end of August…it may get squishy during other times of the year!)

We ended up getting the kids some rotisserie chicken and apple sauce and grapes and carrots (how’s THAT for healthy?!) and some water for Teddy and milk for Sally. Jay and I got a chicken something or other…at that point Jay was so starving he would have eaten pretty much anything. (I was surprised that he held his temper in check over the room thing considering that he was way past starving and well into homicidal at the time. Good job Jay!! )

We got everyone situated…purelled our hands, got napkins in laps, and reminded the kids (teddy) that manners rules still applied while at Disney. I’m sure they were thinking “LET US EAT ALREADY YOU OBSESSIVE WOMAN!!!” But they listened to my before eating spiel like little angels. Hey, I’ve already admitted to be bossy and obsessive. No surprise here!

*ahem*

Once we declared everyone ready to eat, the kiddies dived into their food with gusto! Sally’s spirits improved with every bite. She is so very much like her daddy in that respect. She gets flat out crabby when her blood sugar dips. Teddy gets a headache…and then passes out…never tells anybody he’s hungry…just turns into a rag doll out of the blue. Man, these kiddos keep us hopping I’ll tell y’all what! We have to be one step ahead to keep them upright and grouch free!

Funny how kids will do that to you!

notice all the napkins in front of Teddy!

Sally took this one. She LOVED the giraffe!

So…we ate and improved our dispositions. I love to people watch in these situations. It’s not hard to tell who has been there for a while and who is just arriving. I get a kick out of watching families interact. Jay laughs at me when I people watch. He says I eyebrow arch from time to time b/c I’m “mentally parenting”.

Moi? Never…



After we gorged, everyone felt tremendously better. Teddy was rarin to swim. Unfortunately we had nearly two hours to wait before our room would be ready. No matter. We had a lot to explore in that time!! We needed to get the lay of the land!

So we cleaned up our table…(Sally wiped both tables down AGAIN with one of her anti bacterial wipes…I don’t know WHERE the child gets that… ) and headed off in search of adventure!

up next: A hunting expedition, retail therapy and a whole new view!

 

[Normangirls]

Thanks for the fix before the weekend, MissCammie!