Episode 20: The update in which we take the road less traveled
The morning of the 15th was a bittersweet one for us, because it was the day that our friends and my DMom had to say goodbye and join back up with the real world. We had so much fun with everyone, and I wished they all could stay with us for the rest of the week, but even knowing that there will be meet-ups and trips again in our future did not make it any easier.
We had said our good-byes to Bryan and Amy the night before, since they planned on sleeping in, and then taking advantage of being in the Orlando area to visit Ikea and pick up some stuff for the babys room.
Shane and my DMom would be joining us in Animal Kingdom for part of the day, and then they were both going to have to leave to catch their flights. Shane would only be able to join us for an hour or two before he had to return to POR for his ME bus, but my mom had a later flight, so she would be with us for most of the day.
We all met outside of our rooms pretty early that morning, with the anticipation of making rope drop. I helped my mom finish up her last minute packing, and we were soon on our way. The plan was for my DMom to leave directly from the park and take the rental car back to the airport. When I was loading everything in the car I realized that there was one tiny snag in the plan- Everetts carseat.
We couldnt let my mom take the carseat back with her to the airport, but we also couldnt carry the carseat around AK will us all day (although I do think I caught my DH considering it, if only we had some bungee cords
).
Really the only practical solution was for my DMom to go back to POR on her way out, and leave the carseat in our room. She would have to leave a little earlier, but it wouldnt be too bad. I gave her Everetts room key, that way she could get into the room, and just leave the key on the table when she was done.
After all that mental exercise, we were on our way, and everything was going swimmingly, until we appeared to hit a giant traffic jam. I looked at the clock on the dash, and confirmed that it was only 8:30 in the morning, what on earth was going on? We inched up slowly, to find that the light was out and there was a cop directing traffic, except he was directing us in the opposite direction of where we needed to go. The road ahead of us was all blocked off and lined with orange cones. It was then that I remember that this morning was the iron man triathlon. Uggg, I understand that these races are very lucrative for Disney, but it always ends up being a complete disaster for traffic.
Disney had apparently set up a very complex detour, one that took us on a tour of the less traveled parts of Disney property. I swear it felt like we were in a triathlon of our own, racing by the roadblocks trying to beat the clock to make it to rope drop. At one point I was so frustrated that I suggested that we flag down some of the competitors and have them run us to the gates of the Animal Kingdom. Come on, these guys are supposed to be Iron Men, they could carry us and the stroller on their backs and get us there much faster than this crazy convoluted detour.
At one point I swear we were on a dirt road crossing a swamp and I began to despair ever making it to Animal Kingdom, I wasnt even sure we were on property anymore, I think we had been routed through the Everglades!
Right when I was about to get out the emergency flares, I saw the majestic peaks of Everest rising out of the early morning haze and clouds of humidity. We had made it, finally, and only 45 MINUTES AFTER WE LEFT POR! Iron Men, you are on notice- for making me miss rope drop. I know that you are lean, mean fit machines, but nobody stands between a Disney commando and rope drop. You have been warned!
Well, after all the drama, we stopped to take some quick photopass pics to prove we actually made it out of that detour morass and into the park.
I like the guy with the hat in the background!
magic shot!
Shane is so silly- I like how he posed like he was crashing our photo!
Then it was time to get down to business. We headed over to Africa to get Safari fastpasses and then hurried on to Asia to conquer the forbidden mountain.
My mom doesnt ride Everest (although I think she might have once), so she volunteered to wait with Everett. Shane also doesnt ride Everest, because he thinks its too scary, however, he decided to go and ride THE MOST SCARY RIDE IN DISNEY- Dinosaur.
Does he not realize that those Dinosaurs are trying to EAT YOU! The only time I ever rode Dinosaur I curled up in a fetal position so tight that they had to get a crowbar to wedge me out of the ride vehicle. NEVER AGAIN! Ill take a few negative Gs and a frozen yeti (another bad pun
) over being dino mincemeat any day.
They had just opened up the single rider line, so DH and I were able to walk right on, not once but twice! When we got out the second time, my mom or Shane were no where in sight, so we decided to grab a quick snack before we went to look for them. Both of us had forgotten to eat breakfast in our room that morning, so our tummies were hungry. I had Mark wait at Everest just in case someone showed back up, and I headed down to Drinkwalla to score us some yummies.
They didnt have a huge breakfast selection, but they did have Marks favorite (cheese Danish) and a delectable looking donut curler, so I was pretty happy. Throw in an iced chai and I was practically in a sugar coma of happiness.
When I headed back with my goodies, I ran into my mom and Shane arrived (thankfully in one piece) shortly after. With everyone reunited we headed back over to the Safari to use our fastpasses. On the way over to Africa, Shane got a text from his traveling partner, Chantal who told him that there had been a change to his flight, and that he had to come back to POR to get on the ME. We were all pretty bummed he had to leave earlier, but we said our goodbyes and he headed back to the real world.
Shanes story did not end here, and it didnt end well, as it turns out they changed his flight yet again(!) and he didnt end up leaving Orlando until almost 9 pm that night. He was (rightfully) very angry with Spirit Airlines, since they changed both his arriving and departing flights multiple times and caused him to miss precious vacation time.
Well, we pressed on to the Safari without Shane, now we were down four members of our entourage! We did have a really great safari though, Everett enjoyed the animals, and Im sorry for no pictures, but I was too busy hanging on to Everett for dear life to risk taking out the camera. DS really saw no reason why he couldnt climb down off the truck and visit face to face with the rhinos and cheetahs, and thought I was being just a terrible mother for holding on to him and not letting him go.
I always get especially worried when we go over the Nile crocodile pit, its just a little too close for my taste. Im sure that it would be the exact moment when we are crossing over when Everett breaks free and bounces over the edge. Those
crocs look like they are just laying there, waiting for a tasty toddler morsel to venture their way.
Everett especially liked the end when we were chasing the poachers, bumpy rides, spraying geysers and simulated gunfire are right up his alley, he is all boy!
When we had successfully saved Little Red from the poachers (they dont call him that any more, do they?) and had exited from the safari, I saw a Photopass CM. I usually don't see Photopass people at the safari exit, so I asked if he was taking pictures. He told me that he was, and that they were overstaffed that day, so he got put in this location. He did tell us he had some great ideas for shots and he delivered!
first he had us pose near the sign, looking confused
then he took us over to the waterfall to get some family shots
This is such a great shot of my mom and Everett! We got it framed in a Disney frame and gave it to her as a thank you for all that she did for us during the week.
After our photos, I got a text from Brian, who was meeting us for lunch (not Bryan and Amy, but Brian who we had made plans with at World Showcase the night before, I know it gets a little confusing!).
We met up at the exit for the safari, but then we had to decide what to do. It was around noon, and our ADR at Tusker House wasnt until 1 pm. Really, the smart thing to do would have been to go to Tusker house and ask them if they would set us early, but I wasnt thinking. I knew that Everett was starting his downhill slide, and I figured we should do something to entertain him so he would make it to lunch. We were near camp Minnie Mickey, so I thought some characters would be entertaining.
As we walked over I crossed my fingers that the lines would be short- would they be?
The fact that it is a designer purse is actually a huge step forward in for me being fashion conscious at all! 
But, thankfully your mom was there with her 500 lb purse to save the day! 
