Cast:
Lisa, Me, trip planner, 6th trip, currently in therapy for panic attacks
Mark, DH, type A, numerous trips, in desperate need of a vacation
Ben, DS, 9, 3rd trip, fearless child who loves all wild rides
Andy, DS, 7, 3rd trip, my gentle child who likes his feet on the ground
Mom, Mine, 2nd trip, celebrating 1 year cancer free
Dad, Mine, 2nd trip, celebrating his recent retirement
This is our last day
and we really tried to make the most of it.
As you all know by now my Dad developed a transportation obsession this trip and he topped it off by calling the Richard Petty Driving Experience to see if they had any openings. He was able to get in this last morning so he headed over there while Mom, Mark, the boys and I headed over for one last shot at AK. (see Day 4) Again, we arrived at the gates before opening and encountered a huge crowd of people already there! As soon as the gates opened we headed straight back to the Safari. This time we all hurried along and got right on. This morning was a little foggy and we were not able to see as many animals but we had a very enjoyable ride listening to the family sitting behind us. Obviously they had never been on the Safari and had no idea about the story line. Our adventure began with the son saying out loud "I wonder if we will see any lions". His dad responded "I'm sure we won't because even disney would have to put the lions in a cage". We all smiled to ourselves and I couldn't wait to see the reaction when we actually saw the lions on the rocks. Next when our guide talked about the 1000 year old tree the son got very excited and pointed it out to his dad who said "no, son, that tree is not real." "But dad, he said, the man said it is 1000 years old" "no, dad said, it's all make believe" My favorite though was when Dad kept trying to find big red to reassure his son that the elephants were just fine. I don't think he understood the whole thing until the end of the ride
It was hilarious, but maybe you had to be there
After the Safari we headed over to Dinosaur. After our many failed attempts at this ride Andy and I decided we would try it too. Well, I have to admit I took the chicken exit at the last minute but Andy went on with Mom, Mark and Ben. I waited in the gift shop and looked for their picture on the monitors at the exit. When it came up Andy was totally hidden in Mark's armpit!! He didn't like the ride at all and will not be repeating this experience
Next, we went back to Kali and rode again. We had so much fun that we stayed on for a second turn. Before we left the park I wanted Mom to experience ITTBAB inside the Tree of Life. Andy and Mark opted out of this one and Mom, Ben and I went in for the show. Now Ben is 9 years old and loves all the wild rides but he was literally on my lap during this show. It can be quite intense as it is dark and foggy in there and if I could have found my way out I would have left with him. Mom, however, loved the show and laughed so hard she was bent over and missed the bee at the end!
It was time to leave AK and head back to the hotel for one last time at the pool. We had requested late check out for this morning and got it for one room so we moved all the suitcases into our room and headed to the pool for 1 1/2 hours (until 1:00). We knew this was the last we would see of the sun until April as we are from N. Indiana. Dad came back and found us by the pool. He had a great time at Richard Petty and said next trip he will do the all day thing so that he can drive his own car.
Finally, it was time to change and head to the main building to check-out, return the 2 way radios and grab lunch in the food court. This was only the second time we ate at the food court, our first time being the night we arrived. So we ended our trip the way we began and sadly left for the airport
Our flight from Orlando to Cincinnati was overbooked and they were asking for people to give up there seats for $400.00 vouchers. My parents immediatley volunteered to take a later flight but since the kids had school the next day I declined. They stayed and we boarded the plane and waited, and waited as the plane was STILL overbooked and they needed more volunteers. Finally we took off late. This meant that we landed in Cin. at the same time our connecting flight was loading. We literally ran as fast as we could and managed to board the flight! Once on board this very small plane we met alot of people who had flown in from Miami. They had been on a cruise and had a horrible travel day due to the fog in FL. When the plane took off from Cin. for South Bend, the whole plane literally clapped and when we landed in SB we all cheered and thanked the pilot! It was a great, fun flight home and really capped off our vacation!
On the plane trip home we dicussed our next visit in 2003. What do you think? Can we wait that long? Tune into the next installment to see
Next up: Final thoughts, the good, the bad, the ugly and the plans for next time
Lisa, Me, trip planner, 6th trip, currently in therapy for panic attacks
Mark, DH, type A, numerous trips, in desperate need of a vacation
Ben, DS, 9, 3rd trip, fearless child who loves all wild rides
Andy, DS, 7, 3rd trip, my gentle child who likes his feet on the ground
Mom, Mine, 2nd trip, celebrating 1 year cancer free
Dad, Mine, 2nd trip, celebrating his recent retirement
This is our last day
and we really tried to make the most of it.As you all know by now my Dad developed a transportation obsession this trip and he topped it off by calling the Richard Petty Driving Experience to see if they had any openings. He was able to get in this last morning so he headed over there while Mom, Mark, the boys and I headed over for one last shot at AK. (see Day 4) Again, we arrived at the gates before opening and encountered a huge crowd of people already there! As soon as the gates opened we headed straight back to the Safari. This time we all hurried along and got right on. This morning was a little foggy and we were not able to see as many animals but we had a very enjoyable ride listening to the family sitting behind us. Obviously they had never been on the Safari and had no idea about the story line. Our adventure began with the son saying out loud "I wonder if we will see any lions". His dad responded "I'm sure we won't because even disney would have to put the lions in a cage". We all smiled to ourselves and I couldn't wait to see the reaction when we actually saw the lions on the rocks. Next when our guide talked about the 1000 year old tree the son got very excited and pointed it out to his dad who said "no, son, that tree is not real." "But dad, he said, the man said it is 1000 years old" "no, dad said, it's all make believe" My favorite though was when Dad kept trying to find big red to reassure his son that the elephants were just fine. I don't think he understood the whole thing until the end of the ride
It was hilarious, but maybe you had to be there After the Safari we headed over to Dinosaur. After our many failed attempts at this ride Andy and I decided we would try it too. Well, I have to admit I took the chicken exit at the last minute but Andy went on with Mom, Mark and Ben. I waited in the gift shop and looked for their picture on the monitors at the exit. When it came up Andy was totally hidden in Mark's armpit!!
He didn't like the ride at all and will not be repeating this experience Next, we went back to Kali and rode again. We had so much fun that we stayed on for a second turn. Before we left the park I wanted Mom to experience ITTBAB inside the Tree of Life. Andy and Mark opted out of this one and Mom, Ben and I went in for the show. Now Ben is 9 years old and loves all the wild rides but he was literally on my lap during this show. It can be quite intense as it is dark and foggy in there and if I could have found my way out I would have left with him. Mom, however, loved the show and laughed so hard she was bent over and missed the bee at the end!
It was time to leave AK and head back to the hotel for one last time at the pool. We had requested late check out for this morning and got it for one room so we moved all the suitcases into our room and headed to the pool for 1 1/2 hours (until 1:00). We knew this was the last we would see of the sun until April as we are from N. Indiana. Dad came back and found us by the pool. He had a great time at Richard Petty and said next trip he will do the all day thing so that he can drive his own car.
Finally, it was time to change and head to the main building to check-out, return the 2 way radios and grab lunch in the food court. This was only the second time we ate at the food court, our first time being the night we arrived. So we ended our trip the way we began and sadly left for the airport
Our flight from Orlando to Cincinnati was overbooked and they were asking for people to give up there seats for $400.00 vouchers. My parents immediatley volunteered to take a later flight but since the kids had school the next day I declined. They stayed and we boarded the plane and waited, and waited as the plane was STILL overbooked and they needed more volunteers. Finally we took off late. This meant that we landed in Cin. at the same time our connecting flight was loading. We literally ran as fast as we could and managed to board the flight!
Once on board this very small plane we met alot of people who had flown in from Miami. They had been on a cruise and had a horrible travel day due to the fog in FL. When the plane took off from Cin. for South Bend, the whole plane literally clapped and when we landed in SB we all cheered and thanked the pilot! It was a great, fun flight home and really capped off our vacation! On the plane trip home we dicussed our next visit in 2003. What do you think? Can we wait that long? Tune into the next installment to see
Next up: Final thoughts, the good, the bad, the ugly and the plans for next time
