Day 6: Thursday, June 25 *continued*
We left off leaving AKL and heading to AK around 2:55 p.m. (Yes, I wrote down the time haha). The plan was to head back to Rafikkis Planet Watch when we got there. We checked out the map and figured out the best way to get there since this was our first time doing it! Of all the times weve been to AK, weve never done it! But, after reading MeMoms TR, I had to check it out
and thanks to her, I knew to look out for the poop displays! Haha.
Heading to Rafikkis:
When we got in line at Rafikkis, we only had to wait about 5 minutes for the train. We got in the very last car, which ended up also being where the CM is! She talked to us pretty much the whole way there. It was a fun little ride. Does anyone know whats on the other side behind us while on the train since we cant look that way?
We got off and followed Rafikkis signs to the building:
As we walked in, I right away found a Hidden Mickey!
Then, B/F and I started looking around at the displays while Mom, Dad, and Sis goofed off taking pictures:
Then, they got in line to meet Jiminy Cricket. While in line, the two ladies in front of them kept asking each other, What movie is he from? and Is he Jiminy Grasshopper? Wow. So the rest of the trip he was called Jiminy Grasshopper by us. Haha. Eventually it was there turn to go up. Can you spot B/F in the background?! HAHA:
B/F and I found the window where you can watch the CMs performing surgeries on the animals. I was hoping there would be a surgery going on while we were there, but no such luck!
Mom, Dad, and Sis found us and while we were looking at the famous poop displays, we saw the celebrity. Okay, Im sorry if I lead you guys on in that last update. Hes not a real celebrity, but he was a celebrity to us! It was one of the guys who competed in the American Idol Finale that we went to the night before! We told him he did a great job and we were proud of him for having the guts to get up there and sing in the first place!
We continued walking around and found a display about Walt Disney and his personal love for animals:
On our way towards the exit, I found another Hidden Mickey!
Sis and I stopped to use the bathroom in the building before we headed back to the train. It was crazy in there! Instead of playing music over the speakers, it sounded like we were in the jungle or something! I thought I was going to be attacked by some monkeys jumping out of a stall or something. Haha.
When we got back to the train station, there was already a train loading so we walked right on! When we made it back to the main park area, I looked at the time and realized that we would be running into the parade crowds! Ugh! We wanted to head towards EE, so we turned left and headed there. The crowds from the parade were a bit much, so we waited a few minutes for the last floats of the parade to go by, then we made our move.
The wait time was only 35 minutes, so of course we got in line! It was maybe 20-25 minutes from the time we got in line to the time we got on the ride! Whoo! Okay, heres our ride photo..B/F and Sis did NOT plan their poses but it worked perfectly!:
We met back up with Dad and decided to grab a few waters before leaving the park. We stopped at one stand in Dinoland, but for some reason they were out of water so we headed to the stand kind-of by the Flame Tree Barbeque. Then, we headed to the bus stop. It was weird because we were getting in line for WL, which was our old home for several years at the VWL. A bus came around 5:15, which gave us enough time to walk around there before heading to the Contemporary for our dinner ADR. It was also weird hearing the WL music on the bus
brought back some good memories of past trips. Isnt it weird how things like that do that?
While on the bus, I also texted xoktnox to tell her that I was going some place that I knew she was going to love and that I would be sending her a pic from there when I got there. I think it made her anxious to see where it would be! Haha.
When we got off the bus, we had to first head to our DVC sign and take our usual pic:
Then, we went inside to hang out. While the others went in the gift shop, I headed to the bathroom by WCC to change my shirt for the night. I had to walk by the front doors and think to myself, This is where Jon and Kate and the kids came in when they stayed here! On my way back across the lobby, I got a text message from xoktnox, which told us about Michael Jackson and Farrah Faucett passing away. I knew Farrah had been sick, but we were shocked about Michael!
Then, I had to take a picture of the totem pole with my phone to send to xoktnox since she had sent me a pic of there from her phone when she was there. Then, we had to pose for our usual pic there:
Please ignore the time on the pic..it is set on our time back home so it was always an hour behind!
We decided to make our way to the boat dock to head to the Contemporary. This is when it started making me sad
I missed walking there to go to our home. Im real emotional, can you tell?! Haha. B/F loves standing out on the boat dock and finding the big fish in the water. Here we are in line for the boat:
About two seconds later, the geyser started going off!:
Then, we heard one of my favorite WDW sounds..the boat horn. Again, I know Im weird..but I just have those things that are WDW to me and thats one of them.
Our first view of the Contemporary and BLT from the boat:
In case you were wondering how to put on your life vest if needed, Haha:
Having the time of our lives:
Ahhh, the MK!:
WL in the distance:
Pulling up to the Contemporary dock and our first upclose view of BLT:
We got off the boat headed up towards the main building...
~Up next: Our night at the Contemporary and a storm!
But it sounds like you had a great rest of the morning/afternoon! I'm excited that you liked the Mara. It's supposed to be our first stop when we get to Disney!!! 
better luck next year??
ray always films that ride! he's never dropped the camera....i hope he never does.
That's why Sis took the pic of it.
