If there was an opening ceremony, I missed it. Maybe I was staring longingly at the Jungle Print Family
maybe it was when DH asked me if I picked up any Disney Dollars when I bought the autograph book which he did by the series of brow lifts, hand gestures and round-a-bout descriptors that we use for Mommy/Daddy code. Just like in the game of Taboo (which we are pretty fabulous at even though DH says he doesnt like it) you have the words you cant say so a request for a cookie becomes Hey do we have any more of those high caloric disks? The ones with the tropical bean extract in the high fat emulsion? Anyway, back to those things we were looking for the other day at Ye Olde Mall
nope, dont have any, didnt remember to ask at the Concourse Sundry Shop. Oh no, I failed yet again to provide the most perfect vacation experience.
Dont worry, babe, we can get some as soon as we get inside the park. DH said seeing my stricken look.
Oh no! We have to stick to The Plan. Which is we both hang on tight to DS and walk as fast as we can to Africa... No time to stop and enjoy anything. Now forward March! I said as we followed the masses into the park.
I have great peripheral vision and a very tall husband, so I was able to stick to The Plan while noticing the scenery all around me. My first impression was that I was in Jurassic Park
the plants were gorgeous, the buildings were nestled into the landscaping with such careful attention to detail
like the leaf impressions and footprints in the pavement. I really would not have been surprised if a small dino had peeped through the luscious tropical vegetation. However, we had to make it in record time to the Kilimanjaro Safari. I wanted to experience this in the early morning when the animals were, hopefully, more active. Our plan was to grab fast passes, ride stand-by, and then ride fast pass. So we obtained our fast passes- and look the return window starts in 30 minutes. We zipped through the queue area without glancing at all the accommodations for our supposed long wait and we quickly board.
As we waited for our guide to get ready to go, I was just
so excited. I have friends that have actually lived in Africa and been on safaris but I am pretty sure that the Disney version will be almost as good and since it is highly unlikely that I will ever be on a real African safari why shouldnt I enjoy it? Also the realism gives me a little shiver down my spine as I remember that scene from Jurassic Park where the objects in the mirror were much closer than they appeared. And we are off! DH is having a blast- taking all sorts of pictures of various flora and fauna. I had put DS in the middle with my arm around him because I am teensy bit scared (have
you read the book Jurassic Park???? I did, summer of 93, in a dorm building that was supposed to be completely empty
I was a day early for my summer job
. Suffice it to say the security guard and I had one of those moments where we are both screaming at each other
I hadnt noticed the sun setting while I was totally immersed in the book, He didnt know anyone was in the building either
anyway the book has a lot of great quotes about chaos theory and what happens when you mess with natural systems) but I quickly realize that I am being ridiculous so I scoot him over my lap so he can see out the window. I still keep my arm around him because I just cant disengage from the fantasy long enough not want him to fall out of the vehicle on the remote savanna when there are poachers on the loose. We however, are awesome so Lil' Red (is the elephant a rapper?) is saved and our ride is over.
We glance at the line and decide we can fit in another stand by ride before utilizing our fast passes. It is just as fun this time- only I dont clench onto DS as tightly and the lions are not as perfectly placed for photography purposes. As soon as we get off, we use our fast passes to bypass the long line that has now formed, we try really hard to keep the gloat off of our faces as we again dont have anytime to notice the details in the queue area. Another great ride, another great CM, another chance to get our lil' elephant back to his homies.
By now it is almost 10 am. We have been on safari three times and put a serious dent into the film supply. What should we do next?
It drives me crazy. DH's alarm has nature sounds. Bird's at 5am. No thank you!
I shepherd my DH to the shower and in an amazingly quick amount of time he squeaky clean and dressed. I throw a Ziploc bag at DS (the tip really does work well) and finish getting ready myself. The adults can eat and walk at the same time. 
maybe we can meet up on a future edition of Oprah... you know "the swim-suit-forgetting snooze-alarm-hitting men and the women who love them" episode.....
Am I going to need a 12 step program to recover? Perhaps our upcoming trip will aid in my curing my new addiction. Patiently waiting for the next installment.... Okay, well, maybe not patiently but w-a-i-t-i-n-g. 
And it takes very little fabric to make little girl swing dresses... 
Bet you could be that grown up person you saw at AK for under 10 yards of fabric... and you have more family members, so you win! And I volunteer to drive up there and check out the fabric for you if you need me to... 
. Or an alarm clock that only wakes who set it. 
However, when I'm in WDW, I'm up and showered on the first beep. Go figure 
That way, you get to ease into actually having to get up instead of having it thrust upon you. It all seems very logical to me. 
