After a quick shower and change of clothes, Danielle and I headed to Typhoon Lagoon, to be joined later by Ray and Katie when they got done with the Animation Academy at HS. Last May we had been to Blizzard Beach and had a great time, so I was really looking forward to checking out TL and decide which we like better.
We certainly didnt get there at opening, but it was probably around 10:45 or so, so I was happy to see that there were vacant lounge chairs everywhere we looked. So, we shoved our stuff in a locker, dropped our towels on a chair and started playing. Unlike the theme parks, where I always have some kind of touring plan, I had no clue where to start here. Happily, we found ourselves at Crush n Gusher, and the line was only about 10 minutes, so we headed on in.
It was a BLAST! Unlike most of the rides at BB, you have to carry your tube up, but it wasnt too bad. When we got done, we immediately had to jump right back in line and go again. Interestingly, when we went in line for the second time, we opted for the left-hand line, instead of the right side we choose the first time. All the rumors I had heard about the left line being shorter than the right proved very true for us that time we actually walked onto the slide, while people were waiting for quite some time in the right-hand side.
Anyway, after Crush n Gusher, we did Storm Slides a couple of times, spending a great bit of time and effort trying to determine which one was best. (As best as I can recall, it was a 3 way tie.) We decided it was time to hit the wave pool, but decided to get there via Castaway Creek.
We started getting hungry, so we split a pizza and then waited for Ray and Jodi to join us. While Danielle and I had been having so much fun, Ray and Jodi had been having a great time at HS. They did the Animation Academy twice, and Jodis picture of Mickey was so good that the instructor put it up on the overhead to show everyone, which pleased Jodi to no end.
(Aren't they cute?? I
LOVE this picture!
We had a great plan for Ray and Jodi getting to go to HS and then hook up with us at TL, except we forgot one thing there were no busses that went straight from one park to the other. Therefore, since I was the keeper of all cash this trip (Ray loved not even worrying about a wallet the whole time we were there), taking a cab wasnt an option. They wound up taking a bus to Pop, and then a second bus to TL. All in all, I think it took them about an hour to make the trip, and that took a pretty good bit out of Ray, but they finally made it. Once we were all reunited, we went straight to the wave pool.
After the wild time Danielle and I had had in the wave, I knew to war Jodi about how seriously strong the waves are. However, notwithstanding my admonitions, both girls wound up with some serious scrapes on their knees and feet. We wound up taking them to the first aid station, where they had lots of bandages and ointments and a very sweet nurse who fixed them right up. Even with the scrapes and medical attention, I know they both had so much fun in that wave pool that they would do it again in a flash.
We were running out of time before I felt like we needed to get back to the cabin, and were bad to do things that we like over and over, so Danielle and I took Ray and Jodi to Crush n Gusher, which they loved, of course. We then took the lazy river to the Shark Reef (a very neat attraction, but that water was
COLD!), hit the Storm Slides again, and then grabbed a bus back to FW.
Back at the cabins, we all cleaned up and, sadly, started putting our stuff together since we were leaving the next day.
But, before this trip was over, we got to have dinner at our favorite restaurant: California Grill!
The only issue was that FW shows a movie each night and that night was the only movie my girls were interested in: Hannah Montana: The Movie. So, after great discussion about what they were allowed to do and not allowed to do, bus routes, how to tip enough at Trails End, what they could charge to the room and what they couldnt, and finally a swearing by Jodi that she wouldnt lose Rays cell phone (since she still doesnt have her own, like Danielle), we decided to let them stay at FW while we went to CG. No flames, please our girls have travelled a pretty good bit and we were comfortable that they would do fine on their own for a couple of hours.
And, thats just what happened they did fine.
I got them checked in to dinner at TE, they took a bus to the Meadow Trading Post, shopped around for a little bit, and finally made their way to the campfire and movie, where their only excess charge was a smores kit (and who could blame them for that?).
Meanwhile, Ray and I went to catch the boat to the Contemporary. It was raining lightly, but not too bad. While we were waiting, I looked to the right and this is what I saw:
It was beautiful! Look closely at these next two pictures:
In the first, if you look closely enough, you can see that there are actually two rainbows. But even better, in the second, you can see where the rainbow actually ends! Ive never seen the end of a rainbow before its always behind the trees or something. But there it was ending right there on Bay Lake.
But thats not all! When we were on the boat heading to CR, I turned around to see this:
If thats not proof positive that FW is a very special place, I dont know what is!
We had a great dinner at CG, as we always do whenever were lucky enough to be there. When we got back to FW, we found the girls at the movie, thoroughly engaged. They had had a great time, and I think it was a nice confidence boost for both of them to see that they can take care of themselves like that.
Finally, after a great day, came the killer frog incident:
When we got back to the cabin, the frog was sitting on the same post as it always was each night when we returned. Given that it was in the same place as it was every night so far, you would think I wouldnt forget about that and casually put my hand on the post, but youd be wrong. When I touched it without knowing I was about to, I (understandably) freaked. Just a little scream and hand flick, and then everything was fine.
Or so I thought.
When we got up to the door of the cabin and I was looking for the key, I touched my hair. Yup, you guessed it. The flick of the frog had landed him in my hair.
If my first scream when I touched him on the post hadnt awakened our neighbors, the second surely did. It took another glass of wine plus a long shower to get over that.
I lived through the encounter, of course, and surely hope Kermit did too. I hope that upon his second flick of the night, he wound up somewhere safe and happy for him. I guess Ill never know
(Of course, if any of you wind up in loop 2200 and see our friend, youll have to tell him we said hey.)
We did a little more packing up, and then after enjoying some wonderful champagne that my sweet dad and step-mom sent to celebrate my finishing the triathlon, we hit the hay.
It was so sad to be faced with leaving again. This had definitely been one of best trips weve had to WDW, if not the very best trip, yet. Weve been with extended family so many times recently that it was a totally different experience just having the four of us. If only we could stay forever.
Up next: last trip to the MK and our final magical meal at the Wave.
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