Author's note: my 2-week hiatus was not intentional, life caught up to me for awhile. I'm sorry to drag this out so long...Day 8 is hardly worth the wait. More sincere apologies from yours truly.
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
Oh we had plans for today. Big plans, I tell ya! Dan was finally going to experience the one park hes been asking about since Day 2 Blizzard Beach. No surprises today, both of us knew exactly what we were doing before Mickeys wakeup call came. We put on the suits, slathered up the skin, gathered up the towels, and walked to the bus stop.
The bus stopped in front of us and we stepped inside. Blizzard Beach is closed today, the bus driver told us, eyeing our swimming attire.
Ah crap. I had forgotten that tiny detail. I looked at Dan. He was confused. Very confused. What do you mean, its closed? I swear he was close to tears. Arent we going to Blizzard Beach?
Not today, baby, I said, gently guiding him off the bus. I kinda forgot its sort of scheduled to be closed today and stuff.
You mean were NOT going to Blizzard Beach? I want to go to Blizzard Beach. Now he was pouting.
What could I say to the boy? Since were already ready for swimming, and since the Typhoon Lagoon bus just pulled up, why dont we head back there? This seemed to be an acceptable replacement. In fact, he cheered up a little. So on the Typhoon Lagoon bus we go.
Since its a been-there-done-that sort of a park, Dan and I grab the same lounge chairs and run into the wave pool. After an hour or so, I need to call it quits so I leave my wave-loving husband for the calmness and predictability of slides.
After unpredictably losing my suit top and inhaling chlorinated water on the Humunga Topgoesflunga, I headed to the River of Death for some much-needed relaxation. It took two trips around the park before I felt rested enough to look for Dan. Where have you been? Ive been looking everywhere for you. Dan half worried, half agitated, as if his six-year-old wondered off in a dangerous city. Uh, a man in a Speedo kidnapped me and forced me to float the River of Death a couple times Oh, I know why youre angry. Its time to eat.
Back to the cheese pizza. Mmm three cheese pizzas in eight lunches. Im so on a roll with vegetarian choices.
After ingesting refined bread, sauce, and cheese, it was back to the River of Death with Dan, this time as evil water sprayers. Dan and I spent a good hour or so hosing down the River Deathers before packing it up and heading back to the hotel. Not an especially memorable day, but an enjoyable and relaxing one nonetheless.
Showered and sunburned, we head to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Now, Im pretty excited about going to Jiko for two reasons: one of course, eating yummy veggie food, and two, seeing what this AKL is all about. I wasnt disappointed with either (cant say the same for Danny Boy). AKL is breathtaking as a resort, decent as a zoo. After absorbing the ambiance, I literally ran to each overlook to check out the scenery. Dan reluctantly followed behind me, not especially enthusiastic, but mildly interested. He did complain a lot about being hungry.
So we meander to Jiko. Our waitress is Sally, and Sally just LOVES her job. She almost cant stop talking about it. Fortunately for us, she eventually does, and our first course is set in front of us.
Poor Dan. This is the kind of food he would rather feed the dog than himself. It just isnt his taste. But again, the carnivore in him is easily satisfied throughout most dining engagements, so a little sacrifice for a three-time cheese pizza-eating vegetarian wont hurt him. I am loving every course, from the appetizer (olive flatbread) and flavored butter, to the cauliflower soup and mixed green salad with carrot dressing. Just unbelievable flavor. Too much flavor, as it turns out, for Dan (apparently that is possible). It is actually the main course, Grains, Peas, and Veggies that impresses me the least. It was good, but didnt have the yum factor that the other courses did. While Dan does enjoy his filet-on-Kraft-dinner, he certainly doesnt describe it as his favorite meal.
During dinner I received an unexpected surprise. I had suggested that after dinner we hit Pleasure Island, but Dan disagreed. He said, save it for next time. Next time? Does this mean that he loved it so much here he actually DOES want to return? This was definitely the objective, to get him to love it so much he wanted to come back. Jackpot.
But then Dan mutters, I miss work. Talk about weird. What freak is in the happiest place on earth and misses work? My husband, I guess. Although to be honest, this was Day 8, and by now the vacation pace was steadily creeping up to me. Work almost sounded like a well-needed rest at this point.
After dinner I skipped over to the AKL Guest Relations to speak to wonderfully helpful cast member, Robert. I explained that tomorrow would be our last full day and Dan and I made an improvisational decision to have one last character meal. Is 1900 Park Faire available? No? What do you recommend? Robert suggested OHanas and I told him to book it.
Dan and I headed to Downtown Disney. Mostly we needed to catch a bus back to the Contemporary, but as long as were here Dan how about a hot fudge sundae from Ghiradellis? Dan chooses a hot brownie sundae instead, complains that it was just a cold piece of fudge, but eats all of it anyway. He also has no problems helping me finish mine.
The evening isnt over when the bus drops us off at the Contemporary. The Electrical Water Pageant is about to begin and this will be our last opportunity to see it. Here I have the best of both worlds: Dan and synthesized music.
The evening isnt over when we fall asleep. Apparently, a traveling circus act moved in upstairs, and they were nocturnal. At 11:35, it was time to practice. For a half an hour I had to endure acrobat jumps off beds, cartwheel flips, and elephant-like charging and bugling. Joy.
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
Oh we had plans for today. Big plans, I tell ya! Dan was finally going to experience the one park hes been asking about since Day 2 Blizzard Beach. No surprises today, both of us knew exactly what we were doing before Mickeys wakeup call came. We put on the suits, slathered up the skin, gathered up the towels, and walked to the bus stop.
The bus stopped in front of us and we stepped inside. Blizzard Beach is closed today, the bus driver told us, eyeing our swimming attire.
Ah crap. I had forgotten that tiny detail. I looked at Dan. He was confused. Very confused. What do you mean, its closed? I swear he was close to tears. Arent we going to Blizzard Beach?
Not today, baby, I said, gently guiding him off the bus. I kinda forgot its sort of scheduled to be closed today and stuff.
You mean were NOT going to Blizzard Beach? I want to go to Blizzard Beach. Now he was pouting.
What could I say to the boy? Since were already ready for swimming, and since the Typhoon Lagoon bus just pulled up, why dont we head back there? This seemed to be an acceptable replacement. In fact, he cheered up a little. So on the Typhoon Lagoon bus we go.
Since its a been-there-done-that sort of a park, Dan and I grab the same lounge chairs and run into the wave pool. After an hour or so, I need to call it quits so I leave my wave-loving husband for the calmness and predictability of slides.
After unpredictably losing my suit top and inhaling chlorinated water on the Humunga Topgoesflunga, I headed to the River of Death for some much-needed relaxation. It took two trips around the park before I felt rested enough to look for Dan. Where have you been? Ive been looking everywhere for you. Dan half worried, half agitated, as if his six-year-old wondered off in a dangerous city. Uh, a man in a Speedo kidnapped me and forced me to float the River of Death a couple times Oh, I know why youre angry. Its time to eat.
Back to the cheese pizza. Mmm three cheese pizzas in eight lunches. Im so on a roll with vegetarian choices.
After ingesting refined bread, sauce, and cheese, it was back to the River of Death with Dan, this time as evil water sprayers. Dan and I spent a good hour or so hosing down the River Deathers before packing it up and heading back to the hotel. Not an especially memorable day, but an enjoyable and relaxing one nonetheless.
Showered and sunburned, we head to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Now, Im pretty excited about going to Jiko for two reasons: one of course, eating yummy veggie food, and two, seeing what this AKL is all about. I wasnt disappointed with either (cant say the same for Danny Boy). AKL is breathtaking as a resort, decent as a zoo. After absorbing the ambiance, I literally ran to each overlook to check out the scenery. Dan reluctantly followed behind me, not especially enthusiastic, but mildly interested. He did complain a lot about being hungry.
So we meander to Jiko. Our waitress is Sally, and Sally just LOVES her job. She almost cant stop talking about it. Fortunately for us, she eventually does, and our first course is set in front of us.
Poor Dan. This is the kind of food he would rather feed the dog than himself. It just isnt his taste. But again, the carnivore in him is easily satisfied throughout most dining engagements, so a little sacrifice for a three-time cheese pizza-eating vegetarian wont hurt him. I am loving every course, from the appetizer (olive flatbread) and flavored butter, to the cauliflower soup and mixed green salad with carrot dressing. Just unbelievable flavor. Too much flavor, as it turns out, for Dan (apparently that is possible). It is actually the main course, Grains, Peas, and Veggies that impresses me the least. It was good, but didnt have the yum factor that the other courses did. While Dan does enjoy his filet-on-Kraft-dinner, he certainly doesnt describe it as his favorite meal.
During dinner I received an unexpected surprise. I had suggested that after dinner we hit Pleasure Island, but Dan disagreed. He said, save it for next time. Next time? Does this mean that he loved it so much here he actually DOES want to return? This was definitely the objective, to get him to love it so much he wanted to come back. Jackpot.
But then Dan mutters, I miss work. Talk about weird. What freak is in the happiest place on earth and misses work? My husband, I guess. Although to be honest, this was Day 8, and by now the vacation pace was steadily creeping up to me. Work almost sounded like a well-needed rest at this point.
After dinner I skipped over to the AKL Guest Relations to speak to wonderfully helpful cast member, Robert. I explained that tomorrow would be our last full day and Dan and I made an improvisational decision to have one last character meal. Is 1900 Park Faire available? No? What do you recommend? Robert suggested OHanas and I told him to book it.
Dan and I headed to Downtown Disney. Mostly we needed to catch a bus back to the Contemporary, but as long as were here Dan how about a hot fudge sundae from Ghiradellis? Dan chooses a hot brownie sundae instead, complains that it was just a cold piece of fudge, but eats all of it anyway. He also has no problems helping me finish mine.
The evening isnt over when the bus drops us off at the Contemporary. The Electrical Water Pageant is about to begin and this will be our last opportunity to see it. Here I have the best of both worlds: Dan and synthesized music.
The evening isnt over when we fall asleep. Apparently, a traveling circus act moved in upstairs, and they were nocturnal. At 11:35, it was time to practice. For a half an hour I had to endure acrobat jumps off beds, cartwheel flips, and elephant-like charging and bugling. Joy.
