Day 7 - Where the Dreams and Wild Things Are
At some point in every trip, the accumulated miles of running happily around take some kind of toll on my feet. I remember long ago trips where my feet never hurt (and it never rained and all the rides were walk-ons...) but in recent years I’ve been plagued by blisters and bunion pain.
I have an elaborate ritual with moleskin and Body Glide, and only wear well fitted athletic shoes. (So not cute! But necessary.) I added icing my feet at night when the pain started to really get in my way. The icing helped enough that this morning I got up and felt like I could take on the AK. Last night at bedtime I was prepared to call a rest morning if my feet still hurt too much when I woke up.
I actually bounced up pretty well and showered, dressed, foot ritualed and and had breakfast and Stacey time. Then it was time to hit the road for animal adventures.
The reward of my early rising was a beautiful walk down the beach. I generally took this way every morning even though there was a more direct way to the monorail and parking lot. You can see why!
One of the big ferries was way over by the Grand Floridian and was circling all around the lagoon - I’d never seen it do anything but go back and forth from the TTC to the MK.
It was quiet and peaceful. There wasn’t another person to be seen, and the light was clear and soft. I love the Polynesian for having a total idyllic beach resort feeling while being in view of Cinderalla Castle, Space Mountain and the majestic surrounding hotels. The deliberate welcoming quality of the architecture in the morning light was especially warm and inviting.
I cruised down the road with Hawaiian guitars flowing from the car stereo. I was not early enough to have to wait at the gate, but early enough to walk in from the parking lot. I took up my post at a turnstile and waited with the come and explore me approachable jungle ambient music warbling in the background. I watched the CMs pick the opening family and then was joined by the family I waited with yesterday at HS - the ones with the cool retractable mini-maps attached to their stroller. They were working on getting a little snack into the kids. The little boy had something in his eye and was fussing and uncomfortable. I always carry rewetting drops for my contact lenses and I offered them the bottle to try to wash his eye of whatever was bugging him. His dad explained what he was going to happen with the little bottle of drops and suddenly keeping whatever was in his eye was a lot more appealing than having drops added to the situation. He suddenly felt better - placebo drops! Even better than a placebo - just the idea worked perfectly.
We chatted until the happy opening family waggled their instruments and made their announcement and then we were off.
It was a smallish crowd so it was a nice walk through the Oasis to get to the rope overlooking the Tree. I had been there a few minutes admiring the animal carvings when a 12-ish boy came rushing up to the rope. He touched it and then called back to his family, “I’m touching it!” in a sweet super excited I am bursting with enthusiasm way. A CM stepped right up to him and started asking questions like, “Do you have a reservation at the Tusker House? Are you going to the safari ride?” When his family came, she lead them all away. I wonder if they wound up in the parade, or what other kind of magic his evident enthusiasm brough them. He totally deserved it! I went back to hunting for animals on the tree through my telephoto lens.
I enjoyed the opening show. I’m a total sucker for big cartoony props.
I usually ride EE first in the morning, and then ride the Safari and take a million pictures next. Because of the heat, I figured the animals would be less active and less available for photographs earlier than in the cooler months, so decided to head to the Safari first when the opening show finished. When I got through the queue I asked if I could be seated on an edge in the front for better picture taking opportunities and they were super nice about it. Code had tipped me off during our Jiko dinner that the rows in the back featured a much bumpier ride than the front. I am amazed that any of my pictures come out at all given the bouncy jouncy nature of the safari truck. The funny thing is that the road is relatively level and smooth (with hand added detailing like ruts and such) but the engineering on the vehicle makes it feel like the roads are much rougher than they actually are. I wish there were bouncing and non-bouncing, like the two levels of Mission Space. Someday I’d like to stay Concierge at the Animal Kingdom (probably just one or two glorious nights) and take the sunrise safari for the opportunity to stop and take pictures.
Bonjour rhinocerous!
Half giraffe
More giraffe
Entire tiny giraffe
Warthogs - imagine the hours with the stylist before heading out to the plains!
I grabbed a Fastpass on the way back to take a relaxed walk through the queue during which I paused to admire the props and sets.
I wish this cute thermometer was available for purchase in the gift shop.
I asked again for a front edge seat, and the CM actually jumped me ahead of the line to put me in the truck that was almost ready to go. I could see another guest reacting as I went by, like “why does she get to go ahead of me?” I just smiled and nodded and kept going.
I was in the front seat all by myself which was perfect.
The elephants had started to make their way out to the savannah.
King and Queen of the Morning
When we pulled into the unload area I almost jumped out of my seat because I could see the Dream Squad through the trees handing out Dream Fastpasses at the exit. I scooted off the safari truck (it was also super handy here that I was the only one in my row) and cleared the exit before anybody else. When I got to the Dream Squad they pulled me aside and stopped the next 4 or 5 people coming out and brought them over to me. They then made their happy “right place, right time” announcement and gave us our Dream Fastpasses. I did a little dance of joy and waltzed out of the ride and over to the market for a celebratory snack. I got a warm salty pretzel and ate it while exploring the area around the market. Then it was time to go back on safari to see if the baby elephants had come out onto the savannah.
Coming up - Animals! Animals! Animals! and Dream #2
for me that you are enjoying mine! 
