So every trip has a down day, and today might have been that day. We headed to Animal Kingdom, and I expected the freedom we had yesterday at Magic Kingdom to follow over. It didn’t.
Today turned out to be cold and windy. Wait, I’ll correct that, chilly, but cold when the wind blew, which was like, oh, all day. I had on a fleece pullover and jeans, and as you saw from the earlier pics, Cuddlebug was in jeans and hoodie. It was still cold though. I had packed for a cool day, but not cold. Oh well we made due. We sat at the Grandstand bus stop, bright and early, freezing our tushies off. Ahhh, it was relief to get on the bus. Then we rode to Animal Kingdom. AT Animal Kingdom we went though bag check and lined up at the gates. The crowed was not so bad…I have a pic. So the gates opened and around the island we went, until we hit the ropes. I groaned, we had made rope drop. Okay, yes, it was exciting and fun, but it wasn’t fun being crowded and more crowded into this huddled mass (great for wind protection I guess). I am only 4’10” so when I can’t see around me, I am uncomfortable.
So the rope drops and we take off. We head for the safari. It was funny to see the CMs lined up waiting for us. I imagine from their perspective, they were groaning at the mass coming towards them. We, of course, moved through the safari quickly, and got on board. My only complaint is that while our guide was informative, he moved through everything quite quickly. I have never been on a truck that has moved that fast. After that we headed to Asia, so the hubster could ride Expedition Everest.
We headed towards Asia, stopping for a few lush pics of the foliage and the “Tree of Life.” We got into Asia and I stop to use the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, OMG! Now I had the hurried mass running towards me. I asked the hubster “Where did this crowd come from?” We move over to Everest, where the hubster rode it twice. I would have, but after his first ride he told me it was really cold while riding. The wind was already hitting me, so he rode again and I moved into a corner of the gift shop. Cuddlebug, also found dirt to play in, and I really wasn’t too find of that. I don’t mind her getting dirty, it happens, but after you’ve brushed dirt off her pants for the 147th time, that’s when you say “No more.”
After Asia, we headed to Dinoland USA. No fast passes were being given for Primeval Whirl, so we child swapped. Now what is it about this ride, why does it break down so often? Just as I am about to get to the loading queue, the side I am on stops and we have to move over to the other side and end up in the back of the line. Ugh. So I wait and wait, and finally, I get on. Had a great time making a video of the ride on my digital camera (I recorded the whole ride). After that the husbter rode, and I took Cuddlebug on the dinosaur Dumbo-like ride (the name escapes me). We then took Cuddlebug to the Boneyeard to play and then headed back to Asia, to Yak & Yeti for lunch.
Lunch was great of course. We had a great server, who even whipped up a more “American” concoction cocktail-like sauce for his shrimp, for his steak and shrimp dish. I had the Beef & Broccoli. Now I should note that while we were in Dinoland, the crowds grew (my Dinoland pic only shows a small section), but it was very hard to move around. We decided to leave the park, but first the hubster braved going back over to the Everest gift shop to get Cuddlebug a small Yeti – she does a great impersonation.
We decided to take a bus from AK over to DHS. Big mistake! We arrived at DHS and it was packed. Tower of Terror had a 110 minute wait. Don’t know what the wait was for RNRC, but the hubster got in the single rider line and it took him an hour to return. We then went on and tried to do more stuff, but at this point people were already sitting for the parade, and by the time we made it over to The Great Movie Ride, the parade started. I couldn’t deal with the crowds, or a long wait in line with the potential for Cuddlebug to act up. I also could not see a thing or where I was going, no landmarks, no shops. Could not tell what was what. People would just walk right in front of me or cut me off, and before I lost it, I just told the hubster that I wanted to go back to the resort. So we decided to head back…only one problem, the parade was going, but somehow we made it straight out to the exit.
We arrived back the resort, and rested. We walked around SSR (I forgot to grab the camera), and went up to Community Hall. I should have had my camera, but Cuddlebug decided to go for the goth look and stick a black marker in her mouth while coloring. Black spit everywhere, and her mouth and tongue totally black. Got her washed off, and then went to look at the models for AKV and BLT. After that back to our room to get ready for dinner (I posted pics).
We had dinner at Raglan Road, which was good and entertaining. The live music was going and from time to time the Irish dancer would appear. I had the Chicken Jus and the hubster had Fish-n-Chips. The hubster also got a beer sampler, and Cuddlebug had Mac-n-cheese. For dessert the hubster had the Crème Brulee tart and I had the Bread and Butter Pudding. I couldn’t finish it, I only ate like ¼ of it, I was so stuffed. I am most thankful that Cuddlebug was so good at dinner. We had dinner at Fultons the other night, and well, she was being a 21 month old. We eat out once a week, so she’s been exposed to eating out since birth, but at Fulton’s you would have thought that we never let her out.
After dinner we shopped. Picked up some ceramic coasters at World of Disney, a stuffed Minnie for Cuddlebug. At Basin, some gifts for family. At Goofy’s Candy company, a dipped and covered rice krispy treat and some candy. We got back on the bus, arrived back “home”, and Cuddlebug is out cold.
We may have to revise our plans and go back to MK in the morning as planned. After our lunch at Kona, come back to SSR and head back to MK at night when the crowd dies down. A guy on the bus tonight said that Epcot was just as bad. Sorin’ showed a 2 hour wait, but he estimated 2.5-3 in reality.
Off to bed, again.
We took our son to 
I think next year you should stay at AKV, oh how wonderful would that be with your little one.
