After my deep cleansing breaths, we found our way over to Guest Relations where we waited in a short, but very slow moving line to check in for our tour. When we were next in line, a very handsome older gentleman and a hunkalicious young man came out from behind the building and began asking people if they were there for the Aqua Seas Tour. We raised our hands and said, "We are!". The older gentleman introduced himself as Ed and then introduced Clint (hubba hubba they grow them well in New Zealand...eye candy
and an amazing accent!!
) and told us we would wait around a bit for the rest of the group. Apparently they were a group all together and we thought they were pretty late...while we waited, we made small talk with Ed (who was very nice and lovely with the girls) and Clint (who we learned played rugby because Chief had on a rugby shirt and Clint asked Chief if he plays and Chief sheepishly admitted that he didn't...Ed says that Clint does and then Chief admitted that he looked like he could, and well...don't worry my Prince...I can enjoy the scenery without comparing his yard to yours!)
Ed finally said that we would go get the tour started even though the others weren't there yet and when we went through the gate, viola! there they were...they had gone into the Living Seas, apparently to check in (didn't they read the fine print? hee hee). So, we are officially backstage for the first time ever and...well...Ed made his introduction fascinating because it he was telling us all about the pavillion and the size and the filters...but in all honesty, it looked so much like the back of any big building. That was okay, though, because we knew in a little bit we would be getting the inside look at the whole operation and getting to become a part of the display!
We went into the building and learned that 100% of the proceeds of the tour are used for conservation efforts (and that 100% of the tours at AK also go toward conservation efforts), so that made me feel really good about signing us up...it's like a win-win situation! We got a look-see at the daily operations and it was pretty neat...I would have loved to have been able to just roam around, but I know they can't let you do that. Boo's ears perked up when they told us about the intern program there for college students and recent college graduates. I couldn't help but think, "There ya go, honey...keep studying hard, loving the marine animals, and go learn all you can so you can come work here...and then I'll come visit you and be ever-so-proud." I can think of a million and one things my children can grow up and be at WDW...lol
We then went into the diver's lounge to watch a video and sign papers that said if we became shark food or the sea turtle's love puppets that we wouldn't sue Mickey. Then we headed down to the torture chamber...er...locker rooms to put on our wetsuits. Okay, I have worn a wet suit before when we went to Discovery Cove a few years ago and somehow I don't remember it being so darn hard to put on...but maybe I've blocked it from my memory like I did most of that pain of childbirth. Add to the struggle getting Boo and Lou into theirs and it was quite comical now that I think of it. Lou managed to get hers on backwards and went out to join the group while I was changing with Boo (I didn't know she had headed out and had come back in) and Ed sent her back to get herself straightened out. I called out to her from the stall to hold on when she comes back saying "I think I have it on backwards!" When I come out, it looked okay to me so I tell her she was fine...she kept saying that she thought it was backwards and I kept telling her it looked fine...not once did she tell me that Ed had told her it was, indeed, backwards...so when we went out of the locker room, Chief made a big deal about how she wasn't listening...and I fessed up and said I wouldn't let her change it because I didn't know any better...Ed didn't say anything, but led us up through the exhibit and onto the dive platform.
That walk was definitely a mixed emotion walk. I was thrilled to be getting the chance to swim in the tank. I was mortified at John Q. Public getting to see me squeezed into a wetsuit. I was a bit braggadocious as we got a lot of "wow...wonder what they're doing!" comments and jealous looks. I was nervous a bit about how well Boo and Lou would like the SCUBA apparatus. But, we made it through the exhibit and before we knew it, we were putting on our masks, fins, and regulators in the water.
We have all snorkeled before and this was a bit different...you have the whole breathing gear on, so you don't have to worry about keeping the snorkel free of water (which is very nice), but it took a little bit to get my brain to conciously breathe normally while submerged in water. But, I did get it figured out!
Chief swam off with Lou and I took Boo's hand to swim away. We were both a bit nervous at first, but we got ourselves together and as soon as we were comfortable with the whole breathing issue, we were loving it. We were squeezing hands, pointing to the animals, just a tranquil and exciting bonding moment. We would pop up occasionally so we could excitedly tell each other, "Did you see that turtle swim right by us?!" "Did you see the people waving and taking pictures?!" "Did you see that shark?!" About halfway through we bumped into Chief and Lou and the four of us swam around, hand-in-hand and I felt so connected to my family at that moment...all of us sharing this awesome experience in what is, in my opinion, the best place on the face of the planet. Believe me when I say that the tantrum I had and the hurt and anger I felt couldn't have been further from my thoughts then...Eeyore, who? Yes, Officer, who? Tumor, who?
The swim was over just as Boo and Lou were getting pretty tuckered out, so the timing was perfect. Everyone in the group was sharing their experiences with each other and it almost felt like we had joined in some club together. We got out of our equipment, climbed out of the water, and were met by Ed with nice, dry towels. He leads us back down to the locker room where we pealed off the wetsuits (I thought it was hard getting the darn thing on...I thought I might have to have the thing surgically removed from my body!) and took a nice, hot shower (they even provided soap, shampoo, and conditioner that smelled delightful). We got dressed and fixed our hair and found the men in the group waiting outside for us (why do they have things so easy?!). Ed took us back to the diver's lounge where we had t-shirts and pictures waiting for us. Ed had taken a picture right before we swam away and they were nicely presented in a photo holder.
Here's our SCUBA-lovin' crew:
Ed then took us out a back door that led us right to the exit of the Living Seas inside EPCOT and we all just are smilin' away. Chief then tells me that while we were showering, the other crew had called and that they had gotten themselves over to the Coral Reef, had had their lunch, and were waiting for us in the breezeway by Innovations. I really didn't care at that point...I just wanted something to eat and I knew that I wouldn't have the fun of hearing about their experience because the fun for me about that had been spoiled. I was done with trying to make sure everyone got their share of pixie dust and had decided that enjoying the magic of my own family was the true reason I was there.
We met up with the others and they showed us their menus (which despite my determination to pout, I couldn't help but marvel at a bit...I had sent Debbie, the manager, pictures of them all and some of our previous trips with Eeyore and they were so nicely laid out with their lunch selections) and they told us about the diver coming down with their message. I had tried to be funny by having the sign say "Nemo says choose the beef, Eeyore, Yes, Officer, Tumor, Prince, and Princess!" Debbie liked it when I asked her to use that as the sign, so I'm glad someone got to enjoy it!
We decided to make our way over to the WS to walk around before our dinner ADR at San Angel Inn and as we were walking, I spied Ice Station Cool...hee, hee...I figured out a way I could exact some revenge...revenge by Beverly! I cooly told the group that I wanted to stop in here because there was free soda inside. That got Yes, Officer's attention who's the "If it's free, it's for me!" type. We got right in front of the drink dispensers, I poured a cup of Beverly, and I told them all that
this one was the
most talked about on the DIS...I should've grabbed my camera first, but I was worried they would think something was up...let me just say that I got my sick satisfaction of seeing all their faces screw up in disgust!
We then tried the other sodas, pried our shoes from the floor and walked all the way around the WS (starting in Canada) to Mexico.
We arrived a little early for our ADR, so we go on in the pyramid to explore and were hoping to ride the new Rio del Tiempo ride...nope, wasn't open yet. The kids were happy to take their passports out for the first time and have them stamped and to make a mask. I urged Lou to practice her Spanish with the CMs there (she's in her second year of a Dual Language program at school and every other day all of her classwork and conversations are in Spanish only), but she was nervous once the CM spoke English to her. Chief paid her $3 to get to it, and the money worked. I sat there, beaming with pride, as she had a lengthy conversation with one of the CMs about school, the weather, their hometowns, and more. I grinned at the original surprise the CM showed at having this wisp-of-a-nonHispanic-girl speaking fluent Spanish.
Soon it was time to check in for dinner and I was in need of a margarita after my rollercoaster of a day. Frozen strawberry margaritas....check! Tacos Carbon ordered from the lunch menu because I didn't see anything on the dinner menu I wanted....check! Sitting next to my honey-love and my precious Boo and Lou....check! Eeyore's frown...check! Messy, loud toddlers....check! Buzz to make me not care about the last two...check!
After dinner we stopped to try on some sombreros...you can tell from my eyes, I think, that I was feeling very little pain...and the hat is sitting funny on my head thanks to my hairclip...so this pic makes me laugh:
Chief in his sombrero (he looks pretty happy that he's just imbibed, too, don't ya think?):
Boo's turn:
Lou's turn:
Thank God for Disney Transportation! We went back to the hotel, tired from our long, exciting, emotionally draining day and borrowed a movie from the CL desk. The girls picked Signs (for some reason it is Lou's favorite...she's absolutely fascinated...maybe she's a reincarnated alien?) and I think we were all asleep before the movie was 1/4 of the way over, dreaming about our upcoming day with plans to eat with Pooh and his friends.
and hoping that she and her family have a wonderful time and great weather!!
. I have spent way too much time on DIS today. You are a good writer and your trip sound like you had lot s of fun, excpet for the last part. I would be annoyed too. Our family is going with extended family next trip in October but luckily we are staying at different resorts and only speding a couple days together. My brother and I would probably strangle each other if we spent too much time together. How did you like Beach Club compared to WL? I do like WL alot but I love Poly the most so far. Can't wait until your next installment.
) I'm not sure where we'd end up.
Must have been quite a sight that weekend! I would have gotten a picture of Clint, but I couldn't get up the nerve to ask him to pose for one. I would have loved for you all to have seen him!
