Day 5 - Part 1 Newsflash: Disney Waterslides Reveal Hidden Talents

[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

The original plan had been to go to Epcot today, but we figured we needed a bit of a down day. Funny how down days tend to be the busiest days of the trip.

One fun aspect of this trip was having periodic slide shows in our room. Cocoa bil and Goofy Guy hooked their digital cameras up to our TV and we all sat down to enjoy our trip thus far. Since last night’s acting unveiling for Cocoa bil, we decided to have a slide show this morning before setting off for the day. We were expecting Cocoa bil’s temper tantrum to have gotten the biggest laugh, but boy were we in for a surprise.

Apparently, Cocoa bil had been busy in Typhoon Lagoon yesterday taking pictures of people just as they were coming down the waterslides, but before they entered the water. He got some great shots of the boys, Dapper Dad, Fanlover, Goofy Guy and myself – and then we saw it. ToT sis’ tongue was hanging out for the entire world to see. ToT sis is a very determined woman and puts 100% effort into everything she does. Try to picture the scene. I guess waterslides require serious concentration because like her open mouth on Tower of Terror, her tongue was sticking out so far on the waterslide, we learned that she could give Gene Simmons a run for his money! She didn’t simply stick her tongue out mind you; she also curled her tongue to the side. Maybe she was trying to be like a snake and smell something. Or maybe it’s her regular concentration pose. With that level of concentration, you’d think she was trying to figure out how to disembark from the slide without getting wet.

Remember kids – we should always try to remember to reach out and lick, err, help someone.

Surely it must have been a fluke. She wouldn’t stick her tongue out like that for a second time right? Next slide please. Wrong! If it’s possible, I think her tongue stuck out even further the second time. Resuming the supportive husband role, Cocoa bil zoomed in on her tongue so that all we could see was her head and gigantic tongue. Do I see a new career path in ToT sis’ future? Eat your heart out Gene!

There’s nothing quite like beginning your day with some hysterical laughing. I highly recommend it.

We decided to check out Animal Kingdom Lodge this morning. Some of our family had never seen this hotel before. Goofy Guy and I stayed there a couple years ago and just fell in love with the place. We all enjoyed wandering around the hotel and looking for animals. We did see some giraffes and bongos, but they were pretty far away. Didn’t they know we were coming?

I had a lot of fun showing my family some fantastic Hidden Mickey’s too. If you are interested in Hidden Mickey’s, I highly recommend you visit Animal Kingdom Lodge. Ask for a clue sheet at the front desk and you’re all set. During our last visit, I had a fun, but difficult time locating a particular Hidden Mickey outside the hotel. It was in the back, up in the vines. I remember standing there, staring at the vines for 15 minutes. Finally, a nice CM took pity on me and came over to help. Short of climbing up the vines herself, she pointed out precisely where the Hidden Mickey was situated.

I still didn’t find it for another 10 minutes.

I’m going back to school.

After my experience, I was really looking forward to having some fun with my family and getting them to "enjoy" the agony I went through trying to find that darn Hidden Mickey. I couldn’t wait to impress Splashboy with my Hidden Mickey expertise. I took them outside and pointed to the vines. I even showed them some mercy and told them to look up.

They all found it in 10 seconds.

They all knew how difficult it had been for me to find that Hidden Mickey on our last trip. How did they find it in 10 seconds? I was so embarrassed. I had to do something to redeem myself somehow so I yelled, "ToT sis has a big tongue".

Everyone went inside.

When we got back into the lobby, we noticed that children were stenciling some of the animals/patterns from the floor onto pieces of paper. Perfect timing for our crew. The boys sprang into action and started some stenciling of their own. The rest of us sat down in the lobby and enjoyed the view. Did I mention I love this hotel?

It was now lunchtime. We decided to brave the rain that had just commenced and drove to Downtown Disney. This was going to be a big afternoon for the boys. They had heard about an amazing Lego store in Downtown Disney. They also knew that Goofy Guy and I had $60 Disney dollars for them to spend there. Excitement doesn’t even begin to describe it.

We wanted to have lunch before shopping, so we strategically parked our vans so that we’d be nowhere near the Lego store. Excited boys would not very easily sit down to eat a sandwich when Lego land was within eyesight. We had heard good things about Earl of Sandwich so we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed. I had a wonderful jerk sandwich. Goofy guy thought it was a fitting choice for me – but I don’t know what he’s talking about. My only complaint with this restaurant pertains to the dining plan. Depending on which CM you talked to, different beverages and desserts were or were not included on the dining plan. Make up your mind man! See my dining review above for more details.

Goofy guy and I dashed into the Christmas store to buy an ornament for our beloved travel agent. Since she is the one who got us onto this free dining plan, we bought her 4.

Next stop was Once Upon a Toy. The boys did enjoy exploring the amazing toys here, but you could tell that they had one-track minds. No Mickey Mouse plush toy could distract them from their mission of finding their precious Lego.

So we took them to the World of Disney store.

I did feel a little bad prolonging their agony, but a wonderful CM made it easier on them. She told them that they had a special phone call each from Goofy himself. Since it was the boys’ first trip to Disney, Goofy wanted to officially welcome them and say hello. In honour of the occasion, both boys received certificates. ToT sis’ upcoming scrapbook was going to be full indeed. I recommended that she put these certificates right next to her tongue. We each bought a few souvenirs for family and friends back home and it was finally time for the big moment.

We couldn’t have contained the boys any longer if we tried. The boys ran to the Lego store and marveled at all the Lego “statues”. I noticed that they added some new ones since our last visit. The sleeping man on the bench was no longer there. I was pleased to see that since he needed to get some much-needed exercise anyway.

Splashboy is very methodical in his thinking. He didn’t want to pick out his Lego until he had a chance to examine all that was available in the store – and I do mean EVERYTHING in the store. Boomer selected his Lego box quite quickly. We took him to the cash and got him to give the CM his Disney dollars. He was so excited!! I must admit that I was pretty excited myself. Seeing the pure joy on his face was all the thanks I needed. The gigantic hug we got didn’t hurt either.

Meanwhile, Splashboy continued his tour of the store. In fact, I think he was doing laps. He had selected a box, but just as we were about to pay for it, he reconsidered and asked if he could keep looking. Since this was the part of the trip he had been most looking forward to (I know, I thought it was strange too), we said yes. I admit I didn’t mind prolonging the moment of being the best aunt in the world.

He finally made his decision. He counted the correct amount of Disney dollars and gave his money to the CM. He felt so grown-up. Both boys wanted to go back to the hotel to play with their Lego, but instead, we bribed them with ice cream from Ghiradelli’s. Our 2 for 1 coupons were burning holes in our pockets. Before I sign off for now, here’s a riddle for you: What do you get when you cross a 4yr old boy and a hot fudge sundae? Stay tuned….

 

[agotta]

I love reading your reports! When's the next one?

 

[dazzled]

I have so enjoyed reading your trip report. Waiting for the next installment is like waiting for the next book from my favorite author to come out! Can't wait to read about the hot fudge sundaes!

 

[AshClan]

I'm loving your report! Thanks so much for giving us such a detailed and fun account of your great family trip. It's bringing back fond memories.....three of the highlights of our trip last April were Typhoon Lagoon, Hoop Dee Doo, and the Earl of Sandwich!!

Keep those installments coming!!

 

[princesslulu]

I love your reports! They make me even more excited for the upcoming trip we have planned for October!!!!

 

[jennymouse]

OMG! You're too funny! I just cackled like a dying chicken here at work!

 

[marj70]

I adore your reports, I'll be sad when they end.

 

[girliemomx3]

You reports are WONDERFUL!! I will be so sad when you finally go home!! LOL

 

[jodistar]

Another good one! You bring my day to such an enjoyable end......lately, the days have been filled with stress but I look forward to coming home and reading your reports.......Oh no, what am I going to do with your trip?

You better start planning for another trip now

 

[Deluzy]

These are terrific reports! You are such a great writer and it is so much fun re-living your vacation with your family!!

 

[DisneeDazed]

OK....I'm trying to picture ToT Sis coming down the slide and I get a vision of Michael Jordan when he goes up for a dunk. Am I close?
Great reports so much detail I can see it all happening. Thanks

 

[JennInTN]

OK....I'm trying to picture ToT Sis coming down the slide and I get a vision of Michael Jordan when he goes up for a dunk. Am I close?

This was exactly what I saw.

Can't wait for the next one.

 

[Servants of Evan]

OK....I'm trying to picture ToT Sis coming down the slide and I get a vision of Michael Jordan when he goes up for a dunk. Am I close?

Okay, both I and my DS do this. Sheesh, I hope you're not around TL with a camera next August!



Servants of Evan

 

[CJK]

Yes!! I didn't even think about Michael Jordon! You've got it!!

Thanks to everyone for your very kind comments. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself when I'm finished writing the report. Maybe I'll take up knitting.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for another great post. We will be staying at AKL for the first time in a couple of weeks.

 

[Deluzy]

I can't wait for your next installment!!!

 

[nextidiot]

Pictures please! We have to see these pictures. Sounds like your pics alone could take up the entire "wall of fame". Bravo... Fantastic trip report!

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.