Cast of Characters:
Myself - 35 year old single gal who is asking myself what was I thinking
Jane Smith - 62 year old who wants to stay in the hotel room all day
Today I woke up to a rainy and dreary day, but things were looking up for me as I was going to have a day to myself. Last night I had told Jane Smith that if she was tired I could go to the park alone. Her response was that she could not take another day like at the Magic Kingdom, so I was home free. I got up early hoping to avoid her, but just as I was ready to go get my free breakfast she woke up and decided to join me. Oh darn, and I thought I was free. I went and toasted my bagel and chose a seat by the window, this wouldn't do for Jane though, she wanted to sit by the TV, I didn't move though, as I like looking out the window. I ate that bagel as fast as I could so that I could leave. Before I left I reminded Jane that we had 8:00pm dinner reservations at Emeril's and that we would need to leave a bit early as it's a long walk. I left with telling her that I would call later in the day. I had a pleasant 20 minute drive down the I-4 and pulled into a very empty Animal Kingdom parking lot. I figured as much since it was cold and dreary and they were predicting rain. My plan of attack was to hit Kilamanjaro Safari first, in case I needed to get a fast pass, but it was not necessary as there was maybe a 10 minute wait. I don't know if it was the weather or what, but I saw so many animals that it blew away the first safari I did back in 2002. After the safari I walked around the Pangani Trail and took in all the animals. I then decided to go to Raftki's Planet Watch, which I had not done on the previous trip. I really enjoyed this area, met Raftki and then went to the petting zoo. I fell in love with a particular lamb and spent close to a half hour with him. Finally I had to say goodbye to my friend and headed back to the train, but not before I bought a Pooh shirt. It started to drizzle so I bought a rain poncho in case things got worse. I sat and relaxed a while outside the theater for Flights of Wonder. About 10 minutes before the show they brought an owl out and I was just in heaven. Owls are my mom's favorite so I was able to take a few nice pictures for her. I enjoyed Flights of Wonder very much and felt it was time well spent. I leisurely walked around Asia a bit and crossed the bridge over into Dinoland. I stopped to look at the work on Expedition Everest and was in awe. I cannot wait for that to open, what a cool looking ride that is already. I was able to hear some of Tarzan Rocks as I walked, but didn't stop to see it. I headed for Dinasour and got right on. I enjoyed it but still got scared at the big dinasour. I poked around DinoLand a bit and decided I was hungry so I headed for Flame Tree BBQ. I really liked the food, except that my sandwhich needed more BBQ sauce, but my hands were full so it was hard to get more. I started to head towards Festival of the Lion King when I realized I was right in front of Tough to Be A Bug, so I stopped and saw the show, great show, but if I was young I would have been terrified. After the show I decided that I needed something sweet so I got a frozen banana-YUM! I walked and ate my way to Festival of the Lion King. They were not seating yet, so I had to stand out in the rain for about 10 minutes, I felt like a wet noodle. The show was just amazing and I am so glad I went. After the show I saw they were doing character greetings with Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, so I had a picture taken with each. By this time it was about 3pm, it was raining, but not real hard. I asked a cast member about the parade and he said they would not cancel it. So I staked out a really nice bench and sat for an hour in the drizzling rain. Right at 4pm, a cast member came around and said that the parade had been cancelled, what a bummer, but at least I have something for next time. It was now time to call Jane and see how her day was panning out. Well boy was that a mistake, I got an earful that she called me at 1pm and I never called her back. I told her my phone never rang, she said she called but the voicemail said "Kathleen", well duh, that's my mom's cell phone (I did the message for her). I've only given Jane my number a dozen times (she spent the day at the Belz Outlet). Well at this point I was ticked, so I decided to do anything but go back to the hotel. Since I'm in the travel industry I decided to check out Animal Kingdom Lodge. Wow, I loved it and it's now on my list of places to stay. Finally I had no choice but to return to the hotel. I walked into a room that the temperature was on 85 degrees, I thought I was going to pass out from the heat, Jane was cold. Did I mention Jane is ALWAYS cold and to an extreme??? Well I hurried up and changed clothes and freshened my make up. I said that we needed to leave early, as I wanted to stop at the Hard Rock Hotel, as I collect Hard Rock pins. So off we went. I figured I would just run into HRH, but Jane wanted to follow, so I had to find parking instead. Spent maybe 10 minutes in there and then proceeded to City Walk. I used valet parking as I knew the walk from the parking lots would have been way too much for Jane. I cringed at having to pay $16 for valet, but knew my life would be easier. By this time it was pouring rain, so we stopped in a few stores. Jane was getting very cranky and was cold. Oh boy, what do I do now. I decided to get a drink at Pat O'Briens, as we had about 45 minutes until our reservation at Emeril's. Jane wanted to go to Emeril's now, but I knew there was no way they would take us that early. So we went to Pat O'Briens and I drank my worries away with a hurricaine and chips and salsa. Jane really liked the chips and salsa and I could just see what was coming, she would ruin her appetite for a second time, and yes she did. We made our way to Emeril's and they seated us immediately. Before I could even sit down Jane started yelling at the host and saying the table is not acceptable and we will not face a wall. Well I hate to tell her, half the tables face the wall. I tried to calm her down and took the seat facing the dreaded wall. I didn't mind at all, as I could see in the kitchen (I love to cook and have wanted to get into culinary, so this was a dream for me). Jane would not let up about the table though, I was again mortified. Our waiter came to take our order, I ordered a wedge salad with cayenne buttermilk dressing and a filet with blue cheese and red wine sauce. Jane ordered an appetizer of BBQ shrimp, nothing else. I couldn't belive it, here I made these reservations over 2 months ago and she gets an appetizer. Oh well, I ate and tried not to think about it. During the entire meal Jane criticized how the wait staff cleared the table and how the table was set, the little things that should be ignored! Even though I was stuffed I ordered dessert, banana cream pie. Jane ate 2 of her shrimp, but ordered creme brulee for dessert, which she ate most of. Definitely one of the best meals I have had, very pricy but well worth it. By the time we left it was pouring rain, so Jane put a plastic bag over her head (remember, can't get the pre-done hair wet!) and we headed for the car, with complaints about the walk the entire way. I went straight back to the hotel, took a pain pill and went to sleep immediately while Jane stayed up with the TV blaring.
Up next....the day at MGM and the violent show!
Myself - 35 year old single gal who is asking myself what was I thinking
Jane Smith - 62 year old who wants to stay in the hotel room all day
Today I woke up to a rainy and dreary day, but things were looking up for me as I was going to have a day to myself. Last night I had told Jane Smith that if she was tired I could go to the park alone. Her response was that she could not take another day like at the Magic Kingdom, so I was home free. I got up early hoping to avoid her, but just as I was ready to go get my free breakfast she woke up and decided to join me. Oh darn, and I thought I was free. I went and toasted my bagel and chose a seat by the window, this wouldn't do for Jane though, she wanted to sit by the TV, I didn't move though, as I like looking out the window. I ate that bagel as fast as I could so that I could leave. Before I left I reminded Jane that we had 8:00pm dinner reservations at Emeril's and that we would need to leave a bit early as it's a long walk. I left with telling her that I would call later in the day. I had a pleasant 20 minute drive down the I-4 and pulled into a very empty Animal Kingdom parking lot. I figured as much since it was cold and dreary and they were predicting rain. My plan of attack was to hit Kilamanjaro Safari first, in case I needed to get a fast pass, but it was not necessary as there was maybe a 10 minute wait. I don't know if it was the weather or what, but I saw so many animals that it blew away the first safari I did back in 2002. After the safari I walked around the Pangani Trail and took in all the animals. I then decided to go to Raftki's Planet Watch, which I had not done on the previous trip. I really enjoyed this area, met Raftki and then went to the petting zoo. I fell in love with a particular lamb and spent close to a half hour with him. Finally I had to say goodbye to my friend and headed back to the train, but not before I bought a Pooh shirt. It started to drizzle so I bought a rain poncho in case things got worse. I sat and relaxed a while outside the theater for Flights of Wonder. About 10 minutes before the show they brought an owl out and I was just in heaven. Owls are my mom's favorite so I was able to take a few nice pictures for her. I enjoyed Flights of Wonder very much and felt it was time well spent. I leisurely walked around Asia a bit and crossed the bridge over into Dinoland. I stopped to look at the work on Expedition Everest and was in awe. I cannot wait for that to open, what a cool looking ride that is already. I was able to hear some of Tarzan Rocks as I walked, but didn't stop to see it. I headed for Dinasour and got right on. I enjoyed it but still got scared at the big dinasour. I poked around DinoLand a bit and decided I was hungry so I headed for Flame Tree BBQ. I really liked the food, except that my sandwhich needed more BBQ sauce, but my hands were full so it was hard to get more. I started to head towards Festival of the Lion King when I realized I was right in front of Tough to Be A Bug, so I stopped and saw the show, great show, but if I was young I would have been terrified. After the show I decided that I needed something sweet so I got a frozen banana-YUM! I walked and ate my way to Festival of the Lion King. They were not seating yet, so I had to stand out in the rain for about 10 minutes, I felt like a wet noodle. The show was just amazing and I am so glad I went. After the show I saw they were doing character greetings with Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, so I had a picture taken with each. By this time it was about 3pm, it was raining, but not real hard. I asked a cast member about the parade and he said they would not cancel it. So I staked out a really nice bench and sat for an hour in the drizzling rain. Right at 4pm, a cast member came around and said that the parade had been cancelled, what a bummer, but at least I have something for next time. It was now time to call Jane and see how her day was panning out. Well boy was that a mistake, I got an earful that she called me at 1pm and I never called her back. I told her my phone never rang, she said she called but the voicemail said "Kathleen", well duh, that's my mom's cell phone (I did the message for her). I've only given Jane my number a dozen times (she spent the day at the Belz Outlet). Well at this point I was ticked, so I decided to do anything but go back to the hotel. Since I'm in the travel industry I decided to check out Animal Kingdom Lodge. Wow, I loved it and it's now on my list of places to stay. Finally I had no choice but to return to the hotel. I walked into a room that the temperature was on 85 degrees, I thought I was going to pass out from the heat, Jane was cold. Did I mention Jane is ALWAYS cold and to an extreme??? Well I hurried up and changed clothes and freshened my make up. I said that we needed to leave early, as I wanted to stop at the Hard Rock Hotel, as I collect Hard Rock pins. So off we went. I figured I would just run into HRH, but Jane wanted to follow, so I had to find parking instead. Spent maybe 10 minutes in there and then proceeded to City Walk. I used valet parking as I knew the walk from the parking lots would have been way too much for Jane. I cringed at having to pay $16 for valet, but knew my life would be easier. By this time it was pouring rain, so we stopped in a few stores. Jane was getting very cranky and was cold. Oh boy, what do I do now. I decided to get a drink at Pat O'Briens, as we had about 45 minutes until our reservation at Emeril's. Jane wanted to go to Emeril's now, but I knew there was no way they would take us that early. So we went to Pat O'Briens and I drank my worries away with a hurricaine and chips and salsa. Jane really liked the chips and salsa and I could just see what was coming, she would ruin her appetite for a second time, and yes she did. We made our way to Emeril's and they seated us immediately. Before I could even sit down Jane started yelling at the host and saying the table is not acceptable and we will not face a wall. Well I hate to tell her, half the tables face the wall. I tried to calm her down and took the seat facing the dreaded wall. I didn't mind at all, as I could see in the kitchen (I love to cook and have wanted to get into culinary, so this was a dream for me). Jane would not let up about the table though, I was again mortified. Our waiter came to take our order, I ordered a wedge salad with cayenne buttermilk dressing and a filet with blue cheese and red wine sauce. Jane ordered an appetizer of BBQ shrimp, nothing else. I couldn't belive it, here I made these reservations over 2 months ago and she gets an appetizer. Oh well, I ate and tried not to think about it. During the entire meal Jane criticized how the wait staff cleared the table and how the table was set, the little things that should be ignored! Even though I was stuffed I ordered dessert, banana cream pie. Jane ate 2 of her shrimp, but ordered creme brulee for dessert, which she ate most of. Definitely one of the best meals I have had, very pricy but well worth it. By the time we left it was pouring rain, so Jane put a plastic bag over her head (remember, can't get the pre-done hair wet!) and we headed for the car, with complaints about the walk the entire way. I went straight back to the hotel, took a pain pill and went to sleep immediately while Jane stayed up with the TV blaring.
Up next....the day at MGM and the violent show!
I am sorry your pain is my laughter. Jane the Pain is not the best choice for a traveling companion. I took my little sister one year when no one else could get off from work. I had to pay for her but it was one of the most fun trips I had. You can borrow her next time you want to go. 
