Dolphins, Rhinos, and Bed Bugs, Oh My!!! 5/19-6/2

[diswedwish]

Sorry about the brief delay. Andre took me to my first "normal" concert - meaning non-classical music - last night. It was interesting. The "gentleman" behind us urinated on our feet. Only me, yes, only me. We did end up getting him escorted out and if there was anyone else I could have chosen to share the whole experience with it would have been Andre. Yes, folks, that's true love right there I did inform him that at the Met. (oh, and Disney too) things like public urination aren't the norm

So where was I... Yes, our last full Disney day. Did it have to end? Couldn't we stay forever? Couldn't we book our next Disney trip now? No wait, we had to spend all of our $ to savor the moment and take it home with us

Anyway, we woke up early again to Stitch and Mickey. We headed for the front desk and asked politely if we could speak with the head of housekeeping (or housekeeping manager or whatever the title was). She arrived and we asked about the status of our previous room. She said she didn't know, but would inform us as soon as she knew. I asked if she could please call my cell phone as I would have that on me all the time.

We left for breakfast at the Mara. Blech, I was getting pretty sick of the Mara by this point. I was very surprised that my cell phone rang and it was a Disney number. I was very annoyed that as soon as I answered they hung up. And when we made a quick stop at the room, guess what? She'd left a message there. Guess she didn't want to talk to me. She said she couldn't reach my cell phone. Yep. She said that they were unable to find anything in the previous room. And if I had any further questions to feel free to contact her.

At this point my mother was not too happy. I was happy that it wasn't officially bed bugs. That way I knew we wouldn't be bringing critters home with us. Or would we? Would Disney lie? Again, having no internet access really was no fun at all. If we just *knew* what the darn bites looked like it would've helped so much. Henceforth my mother referred to AKL as an "expensive Motel 6". Ouch... The fact that the day before we had been given washcloths with holes in them didn't help. I think she'd expected much more plushness in a Deluxe resort than what we'd gotten. Oh well. I couldn't help that.

The important thing I guess was that since the room change I hadn't had the bites. I know someone had mentioned the blisters - I didn't get blisters. They were just bites, they didn't itch, didn't change, didn't hurt, just red bites that gradually faded. It took about a week then they were gone. Very similar to mosquito bites except they didn't get any bigger or itch at all. I never had anything like them before. Probably just some freak thing, that just coincided with those 2 nights we were in that room. Hopefully it will never happen again.

So after all of that, we headed for AK. I had seen the Disney Kiss poster there on Monday night and decided that I *had* to have that. And my mother *had* to come with me so that I could 1) use her AP to get a FP for EE and 2) lug my poster back to the room with her so I could run around AK with greater ease. Yes, I am definitely a spoiled My mother also had an objective. She wanted to go to Rafiki's Planet Watch and see if they could aid her search for pictures of bed bug bites. I thought I was stubborn She was on a quest...

I took off for EE and dumped, er, left her in the store that sold the poster. When I got back she told me that they didn't have it But the very nice CM had called around for her and a store in Epcot did have it and they had set it aside for her. So she intended to go to Rafiki's, then over to Epcot. She would meet me back in the room at 3. Eeek, could my mother be trusted to find all these places alone unassisted?! I guess I'd have to see if she really was all grown up .

So I wished her good luck and thanked her for going on my poster quest for me. And happily headed off to explore and enjoy AK (and the heat) on my own without stopping every 40 min. for a cigarette. It was fun. I wandered through Maharajah and watched the fruit bats and tigers and birds. I went on Dinosaur. This one was funny because I was behind a grandmother and her grandson and she was a tad leery of going on this and was planning out the rest of their day in AK. We had a good time talking in line. Then I wandered around a bit more before having lunch at Flame Tree. This was nice, I watched EE in the background and enjoyed a leisurely lunch without worrying about my mom passing out from heatstroke.

I could get another FP, so I grabbed one for the Safari, then headed for EE. Very sad, my last 2 rides on EE No, I want to go again!!!!!!!!!! Then I took my time on Pangani and watched the okapi for a long time and the gorillas for a while and sat in the aviary for a long time. AK is a good place to just soak in the atmosphere. Even if it is hot. I still had a long time until my FP, so I called my friend who had just been in Disney and talked to her for a good 45 min. That was funny since I was in the area where Baloo comes in and out of. The first 2 times he just waved. The 3rd time he made fun of me and mimed taking my phone away. But it was nice to talk with her and tell her about my trip and hear about her trip. And it was so nice and shady and out of the way where I was.

So I got a last ride in on the Safari and decided that it was waaaay too hot and crowded to be in AK anymore. Time to leave. Bye Tree of Life. Bye EE. Bye AK. Bye animals. I'll be back soon, I promise.

I hesitantly approached the room... Would my mother be there? Would I need to send out the SWAT team to find her? Nope, she was there. She'd even found her way to Mara for lunch! Will wonders never cease! The CMs at Rafiki's hadn't helped her in her search to find bed bug bite pictures. The CM at Epcot had set aside my poster for her though And she didn't get lost either!

 

[diswedwish]

Next on our agenda was to go to the GF to get our Photopass CD created. I had gotten the numbers of my friend's Phtopasses and was ready to go. That didn't take very long at all - we hadn't gotten very many pictures taken. My friend didn't have many either, and all of her's were of her 2-year-old with characters, very very cute

Then we hopped on the monorail and headed for MK. I got one last ride in on Space Mountain, my mother had the pleasure of kicking my rear on Buzz one last time, we visited Stitch again, and took a ride on the TTA. We visited my mom's favorite smoking areas and passed some time browsing through the shops. Then we headed for our dinner at CRT.

This was another anxiety-producing dinner for me. I'd eaten several lunches and dinners in the castle and enjoyed them - before the changeover. I'd read several negative reviews. I was worried. But I also thought that it would be a wonderful way to end the trip to have dinner in the castle, if all went well. So I hoped for the best...

We arrived and entered the long line waiting for our picture with Cinderella. It took quite a while. They rang the chimes and announced our name before we got our picture taken. My mom was quite amused by the chimes. Then we got to Cinderella. My mom freaked. A face character?! You mean they talk to you?! Anyway, I was quite amused. Cinderella asked us to make "Princess hands" in the picture. My mom seemed to by "Princess hands challenged" and couldn't quite get it. The picture is priceless however.

I drug my mom past the elevator as if it didn't exist in order to drag my mom up the much cooler stairs We were given the table in the center right against the windows overlooking Fantasyland, it was just perfect My mom absolutely loved dinner here, it was worth every penny, and I was so happy I took the gamble to have dinner here on our last night . We both had the corn and crab soup and enjoyed it. I think I had the chicken and my mom had the lamb. Both of these were okay, nothing outstanding, but not bad. I had the chocolate mousse cake and my mom had the sorbet. I should have had the sorbet, that was very good. My mom kept asking when the Blue Fairy was coming out One too many nights of Wishes I suppose. Eventually Suzy, Perla, and the Fairy Godmother came out. My mom really enjoyed this and thought it was just great, she didn't realize it would last so long or be as involved as it was. It was the perfect ending meal to our trip. I was so relieved and happy

We exited the castle at the front and watched the end of Spectro. We decided (okay I) that it would be easier to just plop down in the forecourt of the Castle and watch Wishes lying/sitting down like so many people were doing. I talked to my prince while waiting for it to start and we were talking about how nice it would be to actually see each other again My mom was quietly trying not to puke in the background It was neat to watch Wishes from the angle. You miss a lot from there, but it is incredible to be able to see and feel things so close to the Castle like that. And then it was over. 14 days just like that. Poof.

But there's always time for one more cigarette So that's what my mom did. And then we followed the crowd down Main Street. We watched Mickey wave goodnight to everyone. And then, to completely savor our MK experience fully we had the honor of waiting an entire 45 min. at the AKL spot to watch an entire 2 buses pull up. And got to stand on the 2nd one the entire way back. So I guess that was a good thing because we were so tired by the time we got back that we were happy to just drag our feet back to the room and collapse after throwing a few last items into our suitcases. Good thing we'd packed last night!

 

[diswedwish]

We awoke the final time in our room to Mickey and Stitch, no bed bugs, a general feeling of sickness and tiredness. I couldn't wait to go home, hop in my normal shower and not get out for at least an hour. Total submersion. We're talking the full body scrub, face mask, manicure, pedicure, scrubbing my hair about 1000 times and using deep conditioner. The whole 9 yeards. Also several hours at the gym. Maybe starting Saturday. The whole time I was in WDW, no matter how long I showered I never felt truly clean. Okay, I felt clean *in* the shower, but as soon as you stepped out into the humidity and/or the parks, you felt gross and disgusting once again. And I was sick. That didn't help. I was ready to go home. My mom was too.

We wanted to see the cats. Benny and Joon. They hid from my dad for days. They thought he killed us I think. So they hid from him. Then they forgot about us and realized that he was now the food guy. So he was acceptable. And my piano, I missed that too. Yes, going home would be good.

Oh, yes, and seeing my dad and maybe Andre and my friends would be nice too. Note how they rate after everthing else

So we were early and ready to go waiting for Bob from Sun Ray to come get us. My mom couldn't wait to get out of the "Expensive Motel 6". We thanked Bob for coming early. We chatted on the way back to the airport. We had a sketchy breakfast at the airport. I took some of my mom's medicine (I know, I know, you're not supposed to take someone else's stuff). I didn't think I was going to make it on the plane. They don't make barf bags for that. My stomach hurt. Can you catch IBS? j/k

The flight home was smooth. At least I think it was. We both slept most of the way. My dad was waiting for us in Allentown. We stopped at a Burger Barf (Burger King) on the way home. My mom suggested we get a crown there for Andre since we were unable to find something suitably Prince like in WDW. I didn't think he would quite appreciate it. My dad didn't either . We arrived home to a spotless house. The cats were overjoyed to see us alive. I opened a very cute little bag and found 2 burned CDs and a Lady and the Tramp DVD that I had wanted (except something tells me Andre didn't expect me to make him watch it with me ) . My prince was quite thoughtful. Life was very good.

A few weeks have passed. The pictures are back. I have yet to start my scrapbook. But I have typed my trip report and it is complete My mother has now been shown the Disney side of the force and it runs strong with her Talks have begun about our next trip - most likely in early January '07.

Thank you for reading, hope you've enjoyed the reports as much as I've enjoyed typing them

 

[nutz2notz]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your report. I don't want it to end. .

It sure sounds like you and your mom had a wonderful collection of memories and magic from this trip.

Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[MelessaG]

I loved this! Thank you.

 

[Jaina]

Enjoyed your trip report thoroughly! Thanks for sharing! (Would love to see that pic of you, your mom, and Cinderella. What are "princess hands"??)

 

[PrincessGail]

I really really enjoyed reading your report. I checked morning and night for updates and waited eagerly for them daily. Thanks for sharing and I am so happy you and your mom are back home safely with your "prince's".

Your a great writer, btw

 

[Minnie]

I absolutely loved your report

My mom and I also make trip to WDW although it is always with my son. Our "princes" are definitely not Disney guys so we go and try to find something to bring back to them.

I'm an only child and that time with my mom is very important. We leave in 9 days for our next adventure (Beach Club this time) and I can't wait to experience it with two of my most favorite people you really "get it" once again

 

[diswedwish]

Jaina, if I figure out how to post pictures I will attempt to post a few. Princess hands are when you fold your hands under your chin. My mom got the hands under your chin part but her fingers were sticking straight up, not folded gracefully as a good 's should be

Thanks again for everyone's kind words and compliments

 

[dangler]

I really enjoyed your trip report, thanks for sharing!

 

[AshClan]

I thoroughly enjoyed your report, Jamie. Sounds like it was a fun trip, albeit with a few breakdowns and "incidents", but that's all part of life, isn't it?

Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Angelrose]

Thank you for a very entertaining trip report. I felt like I was travelling with you. Well, except for the bedbug part.

 

[Wickedmom75]

Great trip report , when the monorail guys made you cry I cried too ( and I am most definitely not a crier (cryer?). It was really great that you took your mom Can't wait for your next trip.

 

[KathyRN137]

I feel like I really got to know both you and your mom through your report; it was fun sharing WDW through you.

BTW...DIS--WED--WISH ...was your wishing well wish a wish for a Dis ney Wed ding??

(I'm never on the Community Boards)

Bye for now,

Kathy

 

[diswedwish]

Kathy,

Very good thinking You're right about my user name - I did have a Disney wedding. Although he turned out to be a toad not a prince. No, I have matured somewhat in my wishing well wishes, I wished for something much more realistic (especially since I haven't known Andre for *that* long after all) Thanks for reading

 

[lorrainesy]

Thank you for sharing your story. It made my think of all the wonderful trips to WDW I had with my mother.....and how lucky I am to have another one coming up!!!

 

[missmun52]

great report i really enjoyed reading it. I hope all continues to go well with you, thank you so much for sharing!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the teriific report. I just finished reading it and it was great. Sorry about your stay at AKL. We stayed there last year and really loved it. Did you ever find out what the bites were?

 

[diswedwish]

Ron,

No, I never figured out what the bites were. They're gone, so all is well now And the bites didn't itch so they didn't scab or scar or anything. Plus now I have researched how to inspect mattresses for critters and what bed bug bites look like so I am an informed consumer instead of a clueless one I'm sure that whatever the bites were they *weren't* bed bugs, but if I were in that situation again (turn down the bed and see black stuff), I would immediately (yet politely) request a room change, not just a sheet change. It would waste a few minutes but would save quite a bit in the way of worrying.

 

[meb]

We should start a disney nazi. That would be hillarious but instead of gas chambers we could make the people who dont like disney ride its a small world 100 times! That would be torture! And the symbol could be mickey instead of that funky looking one. Just kidding but I though that was funny in one of your first post.