Day 11 - Part 1 Rain Makes You Wet and Other Fascinating Discoveries!

[CJK]

The Cast:

Goofy Gal (me) - Obsessive Disney Planner
Goofy Guy (my husband) - Tolerant of the Obsessive Disney Planner
Dapper Dad (my dad) - A fellow Disney lover!
Fanlover (my mom) - Fan of Disney, not fan of the heat
ToT Sis (my sister ) - Likes Disney, but Tower of Terror? Not so much...
Cocoa Bil (my bro-in-law) Likes Disney, especially their hot chocolate
Splashboy (my nephew) age 6 Never been to Disney, excited and nervous to try the big rides
Boomer (my nephew) age 4 Never been to Disney, age 4 going on 14

Dining Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901786
Introductory Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=903652
Day 1 Peter Pan PLEASE teach me to fly!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904193
Day 2 - Part 1 Prison or Disney?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904890
Day 2 - Part 2 The broom kissed the balloon
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905052
Day 2 - Part 3 Conquering the Magic Kingdom
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905863
Day 2 - Part 4 Splash Mountain vs. The Boy
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=906053
Day 3 - Part 1 Tower of Terror: Enter With Caution
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=907362
Day 3 - Part 2 Sittin' on Stranger's laps
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=908266
Day 3 - Part 3 Thank goodness for Dinosaurs!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=908703
Day 4 - Part 1 Beware: Crush 'n' Gusher has a 48-inch height restriction
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=910433
Day 4 - Part 2 My Heroes: The Lifeguards
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=910561
Day 4 - Part 3 Move Over Tom Hanks - There's a New Man in Town!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=911269
Day 5 - Part 1 Newsflash: Disney Waterslides Reveal Hidden Talents
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=912197
Day 5 - Part 2 Ghiradelli Sundaes and 4yr old Boys
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=913168
Day 5 - Part 3 Who Says Disney Isn't For Adults?!?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=913984
Day 6 - Part 1 Becoming Famous in the Magic Kingdom!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=914878
Day 6 - Part 2 Ballet Dancing Never Looked So Good!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=915472
Day 7 - Part 1 Gorillas & Giraffes & Rhinos - Oh My!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=916191
Day 7 - Part 2 Flyin' to Mars, Soarin' Over California - All in a Day's Work
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=917232
Day 7 - Part 3 & Day 8 - Part 1 Anything But the Dreaded Good-bye!!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=921037
Day 8 - Part 2 Forget Alligators: Frogs Can be VERY Dangerous!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=921731
Day 9 - Part 1 Raspberries Are Best Eaten One Seed at a Time
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=922438
Day 9 - Part 2 Combining Wine & Space Mountain May Be Hazardous For Your Health http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=926314
Day 10 - Part 1 Relaxation & Disney - Isn't that an Oxymoron?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=927187
Day 10 – Part 2 The Luau and the Dangerous Bus
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=927588

Day 11 - Part 1 Rain Makes You Wet and Other Fascinating Discoveries!

Was this really our last day already? Surely someone was playing a cruel trick on us and at any moment when I opened the hotel room door, Boomer & Splashboy would come running in to tell us our trip was just beginning. I hope to win the lottery so we can all come back very soon.

Of course, I would need to starting playing the lottery…

We only had counter service meals left since we had enjoyed a dinner show and signature dinner, which used up our table service credits. Other than our one character breakfast earlier this trip, we had eaten every breakfast in our room which consisted of peanut butter and toast.

I’m really tired of peanut butter and toast.

Today, we had enough counter service credits left, that we could eat breakfast in the Movies food court. Goofy Guy had the traditional bacon & eggs breakfast while I had a fantastic bacon/egg croissant sandwich and fruit cup. Delicious! I may never eat peanut butter and toast again.

After breakfast, we went back to our room to pack up our bags. Sniff Just as we were packing, we noticed a baby raccoon outside our window. He had come up from the bushes to wish us a safe trip home. Being in Disney, I half expected him to start talking to me.

Goofy Guy said that I was returning to reality today in the knick of time.

With a final inspection of the room for all of our belongings, we left the room. We felt pretty confident that we weren’t leaving anything behind. True to form, I wouldn’t be me without leaving something behind. I didn’t know it at the time, but I neglected to check the hook on the back of the bathroom door. My shorts were hanging there. You know, the ones I wore in 140F that hadn’t had the chance to wash yet. I considered phoning Disney upon our return home to asking them to send us the shorts, but I was too embarrassed to claim those shorts as mine. Women are supposed to glow, not perspire.

My apologies to the CM who had to dispose of my shorts. Eww.

We checked our bags with luggage assistance and took the bus to Animal Kingdom. I needed one more Festival of the Lion King fix before returning home. We picked up a show schedule when we arrived at the gate and noticed that the next show was beginning in 5 minutes. It’s a bit of a hike to the show so I thought we would have to wait for the next one. Goofy Guy had different ideas.

He had no intention of staying long in Animal Kingdom today, so he suddenly took on the role of a Drill Sergeant and said “Move move move, we can make it, we can make it”. I was a bit stunned by his sudden burst of authority but I complied. He actually reminded me of the Sergeant in Cranium Command in Epcot. Lucky for him I liked that Sergeant.

We made it to the show just as the four singers entered the stage. Talk about perfect timing! I didn’t even mind that we were in the giraffe section. I was crossing my fingers and toes that my favourite singers from earlier this week would be there again today. The male singer was the same, but the female was not. Still, I had high hopes.

The show went on as beautifully as ever and I happily sobbed like a baby. A little boy in a wheelchair was invited to participate in the little parade. I pretended not to notice the frightened child sitting next to me. How could I ever have children of my own when I scare children by simply sitting quietly in a theatre? Talk about needing therapy!

I was looking forward to the finale with the Circle of Life song. This female singer was terrific. However, she took so many liberties with the song, that you could barely recognize the melody anymore. Please don’t mess with the melody!!

With all my musical critiques in this report, I should start my own business. I’ll call it, “Sing it My Way or Buy an Accordion”

The sunshine had been replaced with rain during the show. Don’t worry everyone - I had my trusty poncho with me and I was convinced that by putting it on, the rain would stop. It’s sad really how powerful I think I am sometimes.

The rain continued for another 2 hours and everyone got soaked.

I learned my lesson.

Goofy Guy still refuses to wear ponchos. He says that they make him too hot and once the rain stops, he dries quickly anyway. I think he’s nuts, but then, I guess it takes one to know one. He did get rather wet today though and I was sensing he wished he had a poncho too. He’d never admit it though.

Men!

I wanted to ride Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur before returning to the Magic Kingdom. It looked like Primeval Whirl was a no-go due to the rain I couldn’t stop, so I decided to try Dinosaur. Goofy Guy decided to sit this one out too. No need to make yourself motion sick on our last day of vacation. I’d never get him to come back.

On Dinosaur, I sat beside a blind boy and his parents. He was having the time of his life. It warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.

I was now even running out of toilet paper.

Today we discovered that Animal Kingdom isn’t the best park to explore in the rain. It put a bit of a damper on our spirits. The best remedy for the blues is the Magic Kingdom I always say. That is precisely why I must relocate to Orlando. After I unconsciously (or consciously…) splashed Goofy Guy with some puddles on the way out of Animal Kingdom, we boarded the bus. It was standing room only as usual. I guess other people wanted to ride the rain out in the Magic Kingdom too.

We had a quick restroom break before touring the park. We were both amused by this young family who were just leaving the restroom. They had just arrived at WDW for their first time. The oldest daughter was about 12 and the youngest son was about 4. Together, the 5 of them were singing the “M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E” song, while linking arms. Now there’s the Disney magic at its finest! I hope they had a magical trip.

It was lunchtime when we arrived, so we hopped on the train and returned to Pecos Bill. We had loved our chicken wraps from earlier this trip and wanted to have them again. It’s amazing how in a span of 10 days, you can have a great experience and a bad experience at the same place. We didn’t like our wraps this time at all. The dressing was all concentrated at one end of the wrap so that the other end was pasty and dry. Only my beloved chocolate mousse brownie dessert salvaged our meal. It was heavenly.

By now the rain had stopped. I realized that I had no powers over Mother Nature. Goofy Guy grabbed a fruit bar at one of the ice cream stands and we proceeded to walk through Fantasyland. We noticed that the new Winnie the Pooh playground area was no longer fenced off, but was only blocked only by temporary bushes. We actually got a pretty good view of the playground. I couldn’t help but think how Boomer and Splashboy would have loved to play there. The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground in MGM and the Boneyard in AK had been trip highlights for the boys so we agreed that this playground would be a hit too. Next time.

Excuse me while I buy that lottery ticket I mentioned before.

Next stop was Space Mountain. After my last experience of riding just after drinking an African red wine blend (*shudder*), I wanted to ride again while in tiptop shape. Does anyone know if Space Mountain gets darker on some days more than others? I can usually faintly see the tracks but today, I saw nothing. It was quite thrilling! I screamed all the way through.

At least I didn’t cry.

Since we had booked this trip through CAA/AAA, we received a voucher to visit the infamous AAA lounge in Tomorrowland. We were going to visit with our whole family, but we kept running out of time. Today was the day! We found the entrance rather easily and flashed our voucher. We both received a can of pop – coke for Goofy Guy and cherry coke for me.

Too bad they didn’t have Excedrin.

The lounge was very cheerful and inviting. The couches were very comfortable too. I sat down to read some of the travel brochures, while Goofy Guy went to sleep. I was really starting to feel guilty. The guy was simply exhausted. I kissed him goodnight and started to read all the brochures about cruises, Europe, All-inclusive Caribbean trips. I was like a kid in a candy store! It suddenly occurred to me how funny it was how I was planning our next vacation, while still actually being on vacation. I was glad Goofy Guy was sleeping because I don’t think he’d share my amusement.

After about 45 minutes, we decided to leave the lounge. Had we stayed longer, I was afraid I’d never get Goofy Guy out of there. There was a very small line for Buzz, so we went there next. Goofy Guy wanted to see if he could max out his score again. We always ride separately on this one for the sake of our marriage. It never failed that just as I was aiming for the perfect target, Goofy Guy would turn our car so that I would miss the target completely. He said it was always an accident, but I think he was worried that the only way he’d beat me is by cheating.

Today, we rode separately and due to our info from the DIS boards, we knew of some targets that are best to hit for higher points. The problem was that other people were following our lead and turning their cars to the same position, therefore blocking us from our desired targets! The nerve! Our scores were pitiful. Fanlover did much better than my score today when she went on the ride with me last week!

We needed to regroup and focus. I couldn’t return to Canada knowing that Fanlover, not to mention the rest of my family, had beaten us on their first attempt on Buzz while Goofy Guy and I are supposed to be the “experts”. We went on the TTA again in order to regroup and relax. After the TTA, we went back to Buzz. We were on a mission. If anyone got in our way, we’d turn our laser guns on him or her.

We did worse than before.

The ride must be rigged – plain and simple.

With our tails between our legs, we had to admit defeat. It was time to head back to the hotel. Sensing our defeatist attitude, the Dapper Dans came out to sing just as we walked down Main Street. Now, here’s a great singing group! With the addition of Dapper Dad, they’d be about perfect!

No bias here of course.

Today, a fantastic Saxophone group accompanied them. Dapper Dad also plays the tuba so they could have quite an ensemble together. We also noticed that one of the Dapper Dans today, was also a member of the Liberty Singers in Epcot. Interesting how the performers float around the different parks. Sitting in my office everyday doing the same work seems rather boring now. Maybe I should learn to juggle.

We did a little more browsing in the shops before hearing a delightful sound on Main Street. Mickey's Toontown Tuners were marching down Main Street playing a familiar Mickey Mouse song. I had never heard them before so I wanted to check them out (plus, I was eager to stall our leaving). I was careful to put down the merchandise I was holding before exiting the store. I had been lucky so far escaping the police this trip, but I didn’t want to push my luck.

We watched them for a few more minutes until the rain started to fall once more. It may seem like we had a fair bit of rain this trip, but truthfully, they were normally short bursts of rain here and there. I still came home with a tan (well, more freckles). We boarded the bus and made it back to the hotel. We only had a few more hours in Disney and we were going to make the most of it.

 

[LeslieM]

Can't wait for more!

Thanks for working so hard. (Now please get back to writing! )