jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
Who: Me, Jennifer-45, all alone
Where: Disneyworld (Mostly the Animal Kingdom)
When: January 26, 2006
It takes a good deal of physical courage to ride a horse. This, however, I have. I get it at about forty cents a flask, and take it as required.
Stephen Leacock Reflections on Riding
I can't believe that I'm actually here. What an absolutely gorgeous day! And it's still early. I need to activate my annual pass and decide to do so at Downtown Disney since you get free parking there. Guest Services has moved since I last visited so I get to walk through DTD and it's just wonderful. Temps are in the mid-70's and the sky is so brilliant that it's almost a peacock blue. It's just busy enough to have that happy Disney feel without being so crowded that you're uncomfortable. At Guest Services I line up behind a young dad. Crisp button down shirt, shorts and loafers, a very up-and-coming young professional type dad, the golfing type. He needs a stroller. I think this must be his first Disney day because Dad's having a bit of trouble processing Disney's stroller rental policy. He's got the deposit and return part down. It's the $10 rental fee he can't seem to wrap his mind around. Dad doesn't want to buy the stroller, he only needs to use it for a couple of hours. I have to say that the Disney guy at the desk is very good. Never loses his cool, never lets his smile slip, never backs down. All the while Dad is having his very own special Disney moment. My DH had these a lot when we first began taking WDW vacations. It starts with the I'm sorry, I didn't get that right. How much did you say? stage and proceeds through the You've got to be kidding! and That's highway robbery! periods to finally arrive at the point of resigned acceptance. Dad holds out for about 10 minutes before he gives in and hands over the rental fee. What a wimp! In his prime DH was always good for at least 20. There is a point to all of this. Today I stood in line for 20 minutes and never once felt tense. You know, that hurry, hurry, hurry we're missing all the fun feeling? Didn't have it. I put that down to not having a group of assorted impatient family members waiting outside, tapping their feet and checking their watches. When my family hits Disney they like to go, go, go. I can stand in this line all afternoon if I feel like it. For some weird reason that thought puts me in a generous mood and I decide not to tell Dad about the $2.50 bottles of water and the $25 character breakfasts.
It doesn't take any time for me to get my pass. I love a brand new annual pass. A whole year of Disney fun is in front of me and this time my AP is going to get me on Expedition Everest. Animal Kingdom here I come!
Did I mention how wonderful the weather is today? I roll down my window and tune in to the Sucky 70's on the nifty satellite radio. I have exceptionally bad taste in music. ABBA's on, Fernando. Scott would never stand for Fernando, especially with the window down for all the world to hear.
At the Animal Kingdom I get to park right up front and decide to give Scott a call to let him know I've arrived. (Turned off the radio first). Poor thing's at work, slaving away to pay for my trip. He's really glad to hear from me. Glad and relieved, very relieved. He really didn't think that I was capable of driving to Orlando all by myself without something drastic happening. I consider getting all offended but decide against it. After all he's working back in Baton Rouge and I'm sitting here in the sunshine at the Animal Kingdom, Scott's favorite Disney park. Besides, I love him.
Okay, time for the vacation to begin. I begin the walk up to the gates and it hits: anxiety, acute anxiety and a horrible self-consciousness. Now I feel alone in a bad way. Lots of people are leaving the park. Families, groups of friends, couples. I just feel so darn conspicuous. I feel like everyone's thinking Look at that crazy lady at Animal Kingdom all by herself. Doesn't she have any friends? What's wrong with her? I know that's stupid. I know that no one is even noticing me much less wasting any brain cells on me. They're thinking about lunch or their evening or how they're going to slap Ryan into Tomorrowland if he doesn't stop touching his sister. I'm not even on the radar. Still. I can't help myself. I creep into the park with a big, flashing neon sign over my head. It reads BIG LOSER. This is no fun.
I'm not proud of this next part. I'd love to tell you that I strode confidently around the Animal Kingdom and had the time of my life but I didn't. What I did do is drink. I didn't set out to, really. I intended to ride Expedition Everest and passed timidly through the gate and walked over to Asia with very sober intentions. (If you're looking for tips here's one: Don't walk to Asia for EE. Walk toward Dinoland and turn left right before you enter.) The park wasn't crowded but EE had a line. I didn't want to stand ABM (All By Myself) with a bunch of happy people with friends so I got a Fast Pass. I'd ride EE in an hour, meanwhile what to do, what to do? Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park but I set out for a stroll. I'm still feeling terribly self-conscious and my nerves are shot by the time I hit Africa and the Darwa Bar. I know, you should never drink alone. Realistically though, what other option did I have? Besides, one beer never hurt anyone.
There's a line at the Darwa Bar. I won't stand ABM for Everest but for beer I didn't give it a second thought. The guys in front of me aren't getting beer. They're having something called a Rumrunner. Rumrunners have about three different kinds of alcohol in them with a splash of punch for flavor. Now, I don't usually drink anything but wine and beer but I was feeling real low and that Rumrunner looked good. I also don't usually make assumptions about people but the young men in front of me had the air of practiced girly drink consumers, the kind of people you could trust to pick out your cocktail. They moved off with their yummy looking beverages and the bartender looked at me. Before I knew what I was saying I heard myself order a Rumrunner.
Boy, do I feel better! Better, better, better, better, better. I don't know if it was just that I'm not accustomed to drinking mixed drinks or the the fact that I had eaten nothing but a pack of peanut butter crackers but that drink hit me hard. Not anxious anymore, no siree. And what was I thinking when I said I didn't care much for the Animal Kingdom? It's a splendid park! And all these wonderful people! My friends, my dear, dear Disney friends. Yep, yep, yep. (At this point please feel free to think that Scott was justified in worrying about letting me out on my own.)
Oh, lookee! Time to ride Expedition Everest. Yippee!! I talk to everyone. The pass and ID checkers, the free commemorative gift lady, the people in line. Jabbering Jenny, that's me. So, if you were the lady in front of me in the FastPass line at Expedition Everest I apologize. It's really not like me in the least, really. I'm usually very quiet. Blame it on nerves and the demon rum.
We missed the cool EE queue area with the FastPass but the ride was GREAT! Great, great, great, great, great! The best ride I've ever been on!! What a GREAT ride! Gotta ride that again! In the end I rode Expedition Everest three times and sobered up quite a bit in the process. Maybe it's not the best thing I've ever ridden but it's certainly very good, definitely worth the trip.
By this time the Animal Kingdom is closing and it's time to find the Sheraton Safari. It's located just up the road from the Crossroads and was easy to get to. I didn't have any problems with this hotel. It was clean and convenient and the beds were extremely comfy. If you can get this one cheap I highly recommend it. The desk staff were very friendly and very helpful when I couldn't find my room. (It wasn't the Rumrunner. I could get lost in my own house.) The room was nice, if a little dark. I threw my stuff down and set out to find some grub.
If you're looking for a report full of poetic dining reviews this one's not for you. I'm not much of a foodie to begin with and have absolutely no desire to sit alone in a restaurant. I usually love eating out but it's the wine and the company and the conversation I enjoy. Left to my own devices I tend to subsist on junk and beer which is precisely what I did this night. Bass Ale and Cool Ranch Doritos from Winn Dixie were on the menu accompanied by the Orlando channel on the TV. A slightly teary phone call home and off to bed.
Good things:
The Weather!!!!!
Not worrying about time
The Sucky 70s station
Expedition Everest
Not so good things:
Feeling self-conscious
Relying on my own judgement in the Darwa Bar
Where: Disneyworld (Mostly the Animal Kingdom)
When: January 26, 2006
It takes a good deal of physical courage to ride a horse. This, however, I have. I get it at about forty cents a flask, and take it as required.
Stephen Leacock Reflections on Riding
I can't believe that I'm actually here. What an absolutely gorgeous day! And it's still early. I need to activate my annual pass and decide to do so at Downtown Disney since you get free parking there. Guest Services has moved since I last visited so I get to walk through DTD and it's just wonderful. Temps are in the mid-70's and the sky is so brilliant that it's almost a peacock blue. It's just busy enough to have that happy Disney feel without being so crowded that you're uncomfortable. At Guest Services I line up behind a young dad. Crisp button down shirt, shorts and loafers, a very up-and-coming young professional type dad, the golfing type. He needs a stroller. I think this must be his first Disney day because Dad's having a bit of trouble processing Disney's stroller rental policy. He's got the deposit and return part down. It's the $10 rental fee he can't seem to wrap his mind around. Dad doesn't want to buy the stroller, he only needs to use it for a couple of hours. I have to say that the Disney guy at the desk is very good. Never loses his cool, never lets his smile slip, never backs down. All the while Dad is having his very own special Disney moment. My DH had these a lot when we first began taking WDW vacations. It starts with the I'm sorry, I didn't get that right. How much did you say? stage and proceeds through the You've got to be kidding! and That's highway robbery! periods to finally arrive at the point of resigned acceptance. Dad holds out for about 10 minutes before he gives in and hands over the rental fee. What a wimp! In his prime DH was always good for at least 20. There is a point to all of this. Today I stood in line for 20 minutes and never once felt tense. You know, that hurry, hurry, hurry we're missing all the fun feeling? Didn't have it. I put that down to not having a group of assorted impatient family members waiting outside, tapping their feet and checking their watches. When my family hits Disney they like to go, go, go. I can stand in this line all afternoon if I feel like it. For some weird reason that thought puts me in a generous mood and I decide not to tell Dad about the $2.50 bottles of water and the $25 character breakfasts.
It doesn't take any time for me to get my pass. I love a brand new annual pass. A whole year of Disney fun is in front of me and this time my AP is going to get me on Expedition Everest. Animal Kingdom here I come!
Did I mention how wonderful the weather is today? I roll down my window and tune in to the Sucky 70's on the nifty satellite radio. I have exceptionally bad taste in music. ABBA's on, Fernando. Scott would never stand for Fernando, especially with the window down for all the world to hear.
At the Animal Kingdom I get to park right up front and decide to give Scott a call to let him know I've arrived. (Turned off the radio first). Poor thing's at work, slaving away to pay for my trip. He's really glad to hear from me. Glad and relieved, very relieved. He really didn't think that I was capable of driving to Orlando all by myself without something drastic happening. I consider getting all offended but decide against it. After all he's working back in Baton Rouge and I'm sitting here in the sunshine at the Animal Kingdom, Scott's favorite Disney park. Besides, I love him.
Okay, time for the vacation to begin. I begin the walk up to the gates and it hits: anxiety, acute anxiety and a horrible self-consciousness. Now I feel alone in a bad way. Lots of people are leaving the park. Families, groups of friends, couples. I just feel so darn conspicuous. I feel like everyone's thinking Look at that crazy lady at Animal Kingdom all by herself. Doesn't she have any friends? What's wrong with her? I know that's stupid. I know that no one is even noticing me much less wasting any brain cells on me. They're thinking about lunch or their evening or how they're going to slap Ryan into Tomorrowland if he doesn't stop touching his sister. I'm not even on the radar. Still. I can't help myself. I creep into the park with a big, flashing neon sign over my head. It reads BIG LOSER. This is no fun.
I'm not proud of this next part. I'd love to tell you that I strode confidently around the Animal Kingdom and had the time of my life but I didn't. What I did do is drink. I didn't set out to, really. I intended to ride Expedition Everest and passed timidly through the gate and walked over to Asia with very sober intentions. (If you're looking for tips here's one: Don't walk to Asia for EE. Walk toward Dinoland and turn left right before you enter.) The park wasn't crowded but EE had a line. I didn't want to stand ABM (All By Myself) with a bunch of happy people with friends so I got a Fast Pass. I'd ride EE in an hour, meanwhile what to do, what to do? Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park but I set out for a stroll. I'm still feeling terribly self-conscious and my nerves are shot by the time I hit Africa and the Darwa Bar. I know, you should never drink alone. Realistically though, what other option did I have? Besides, one beer never hurt anyone.
There's a line at the Darwa Bar. I won't stand ABM for Everest but for beer I didn't give it a second thought. The guys in front of me aren't getting beer. They're having something called a Rumrunner. Rumrunners have about three different kinds of alcohol in them with a splash of punch for flavor. Now, I don't usually drink anything but wine and beer but I was feeling real low and that Rumrunner looked good. I also don't usually make assumptions about people but the young men in front of me had the air of practiced girly drink consumers, the kind of people you could trust to pick out your cocktail. They moved off with their yummy looking beverages and the bartender looked at me. Before I knew what I was saying I heard myself order a Rumrunner.
Boy, do I feel better! Better, better, better, better, better. I don't know if it was just that I'm not accustomed to drinking mixed drinks or the the fact that I had eaten nothing but a pack of peanut butter crackers but that drink hit me hard. Not anxious anymore, no siree. And what was I thinking when I said I didn't care much for the Animal Kingdom? It's a splendid park! And all these wonderful people! My friends, my dear, dear Disney friends. Yep, yep, yep. (At this point please feel free to think that Scott was justified in worrying about letting me out on my own.)
Oh, lookee! Time to ride Expedition Everest. Yippee!! I talk to everyone. The pass and ID checkers, the free commemorative gift lady, the people in line. Jabbering Jenny, that's me. So, if you were the lady in front of me in the FastPass line at Expedition Everest I apologize. It's really not like me in the least, really. I'm usually very quiet. Blame it on nerves and the demon rum.
We missed the cool EE queue area with the FastPass but the ride was GREAT! Great, great, great, great, great! The best ride I've ever been on!! What a GREAT ride! Gotta ride that again! In the end I rode Expedition Everest three times and sobered up quite a bit in the process. Maybe it's not the best thing I've ever ridden but it's certainly very good, definitely worth the trip.
By this time the Animal Kingdom is closing and it's time to find the Sheraton Safari. It's located just up the road from the Crossroads and was easy to get to. I didn't have any problems with this hotel. It was clean and convenient and the beds were extremely comfy. If you can get this one cheap I highly recommend it. The desk staff were very friendly and very helpful when I couldn't find my room. (It wasn't the Rumrunner. I could get lost in my own house.) The room was nice, if a little dark. I threw my stuff down and set out to find some grub.
If you're looking for a report full of poetic dining reviews this one's not for you. I'm not much of a foodie to begin with and have absolutely no desire to sit alone in a restaurant. I usually love eating out but it's the wine and the company and the conversation I enjoy. Left to my own devices I tend to subsist on junk and beer which is precisely what I did this night. Bass Ale and Cool Ranch Doritos from Winn Dixie were on the menu accompanied by the Orlando channel on the TV. A slightly teary phone call home and off to bed.
Good things:
The Weather!!!!!
Not worrying about time
The Sucky 70s station
Expedition Everest
Not so good things:
Feeling self-conscious
Relying on my own judgement in the Darwa Bar
Maybe it's because you remind me of me. Plus my husband's name is Scott too. Good job! 
