My first trip to WDW and DH's first time being arrested (Dec 2009)

[Disney_Jill]

I thought Kalie River rapids were boring too. I was really disappointed, actually. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen but it never did. It was a short ride too. I guess if it was 100 degrees out the cool water would be nice.
So you aren't the only one that found it boring. Can't wait to hear if you venture back off property.

 

[ocean134]

I'm not really a fan of water rides, I don't like getting all wet and wearing wet cold clothes for the rest of the day.

The one time my sister and I were going to ride Splash Mountain, since we had rain ponchos to wear, the darn ride was closed for refurb. And, when I am there in Jan. '11, it's closed again! I may never ride that ride!

Never tried the River Rapids. I have seen people come off of it completely soaked. Interesting that you missed the crazy geysers, I would get hit by them...for sure! LOL

Great installment!!!!

 

[dmoore718]

Just got caught up again!! Great story, great writing, Love the pics in your sig. Keep it coming!!

 

[*Meagan*]

nice update!

I despise the blah river rapids! I could not agree more!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Thanks for another great update. I have never ridden Kali either....probably because our last few trips have been in Dec. I remember the crappy rainy weather that week last year....we didn't even go to AK at all, because of the rain.

 

[rndmr2]

I tried to post this last night but my computer went a little nutty and it never did show up so Here is my 2nd attempt.

I found this TR the other day and I have really been enjoying reading about your trip and your story. Sounds like you got yourself a keeper!

I rode TOT once (under duress!) and that was enough for me. I haven't been brave enough to try Rock N Roller Coaster, but I really want to go on Everest for some reason but DH wasn't about to go on that one. He can handle Big Thunder Mtn but HATES Space Mountain (said it felt like he was riding through He**) and thinks it will be more like SM that BTM. I guess I will have to wait until another trip when we have more people with us to get on that one.

Sorry you had such a rainy day at AK. You have to add Lion King to your list for next trip if you didn't get to do that one, it's a great show.

 

[nannette]

Ok it has taken me three days to get to this point! I'm not sure if all of this is real or not... and to be honest it doesn't really matter. I loved reading your story so far. I don't usually read TR's, but your title caught my attention. I gotta tell you I'm a hugh Disney fan but seeing it through your eyes has been fun! I've learned a few things I didn't know before. My next trip with my 25 y/o daughter is next November for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see Osborne Lights. We have been for Christmas several times and have never seen the lights, so that will be a must. We have also never eaten at Sci-Fi another must. We have done many tours and eaten at almost all the restaurants, but there are some we usually say we'll do it next time because we know there will be a next time as DVC owners. Anyway keep on writing there has to be an ending in there somewhere.

~Nannette

 

[RigLee]

As we got to the front of the park there was a place to get coffee.

“Oh Rig, hot coffee sounds good.”

Rig agreed, he never passes up coffee, so he went and got us each a nice hot coffee while I stayed huddled under a tree trying to escape the rain. Rig can drink his coffee black, that’s nasty, you might as well be drinking brown hot water. I like my coffee with a lot of cream (to the point of being white), and a decent amount of sugar. Rig knows how I like my coffee and brought me back a super sweet cup of perfection.

We sipped our coffees slowly as we made our way to the bus stop, the warm cup felt good on my frozen hands.

The bus stop was deserted, we were the only ones there, there weren’t any people waiting at other resort bus stops either. It felt kind of eerie.

“If I hadn’t gone to the hotel with my brother, Rig said, we could have gone to Animal Kingdom the next day and maybe had nicer weather.”

“It was still gray the next day.” I reminded him, “It wasn’t as rainy, but still a little chilly.”

Rig just shook his head and looked away. Now was not the time to start regretting anything, we were supposed to be past that.

“I’m still having a great time,” I said.

Rig smiled, “Me too, but I can’t help but keep thinking about my stupid mistake.”

I sat my empty cup of coffee down on the ground. It was an honest mistake, or a hopeful mistake, I said hugging him, but not stupid.”

“Babylee, I really don’t want to leave Disney property tonight, but if you have your heart set on it I suppose I can get with it.”

“No, my hearts not set on it, we can stay in all night if you want, at this point I am so cold I can’t even imagine going back out once I am warm and in my jammies.”

I was so cold and shivering so hard that my eye’s were shaking. A hot shower and jammies and just laying in bed with dry warm socks on sounded like heaven to me. I shared that with Rig, he thought it sounded good too and that was all we could talk about.

A few more people showed up for the pop bus, they were complaining about the rain and the cold. From what I gathered from their conversation it was their first day at Disney and felt like it started out bad, the lady called it an omen as to what was coming. She was sure the rest of their trip was ruined judging by that first day. I couldn’t disagree with her more. Disney during bad, rainy, cold weather is what you make of it, sure, it’s a little disappointing, nobody wants it to rain on their vacation, and like most people, myself included, you picture Florida to be warm and sunny all the time. But it doesn’t mean doom if it‘s not. And a lot of it also depends on who you are with, being in a place you have spent your whole life dreaming about and being their with the one person you love most just kind of makes the rainy days bearable, and for me, it just meant snuggling even closer to Rig to stay warm. I felt bad for the lady and the people with her, making the best of a bad situation was something she was not capable of doing, not at that point anyway.

The bus finally showed up and we boarded, the driver had the heat on and it felt so good. We settle into the seats in the back. I was so cuddled up to Rig I was practically on his lap. I had just started to feel almost warm when the bus pulled into Pop Century and the doors opened, I could feel the chilly air come in. I hated to have to move and more than anything else I hated the idea of walking back to the room, It seemed even more cold now. I am sure the temperature didn’t drop, but being in a warm place and then stepping back into the cold, plus my hair was wet and my clothes were wet, it was just a miserable feeling. And then to top it all off, as soon as we left the shelter of the over hang at the bus stops, it started pouring rain. I tried to run, my bones and muscles felt stiff and wouldn’t cooperate with me. Rig was dragging me, but I couldn’t keep up, I let go of his hand and told him to just go ahead without me, I would get their eventually.

“You sure?” He asked

I nodded and watched Rig take off running through the parking lot. “That crapper!” I thought, “He really left me.” I couldn’t be mad though, I told him to go on without me. He should have known better though, I was just being nice, I didn’t really want him to leave me. For the most part he has always been able to read my mind, that’s the joke at home with us.

I get to the stair case, and contemplated walking to the other end of the building just to get on the elevator, I didn’t want to do those stairs, but it would have been miserable either way, so I just took the stairs. I finally get to the room and have to bang on the door, Rig had my room key in his wallet. Rig answers the door.

“What took ya so long Lee?”

I was about to go off on him when he said, “I ran you a hot bath.”

Ok so he’s not a crapper after all.

“Omagosh Rig, you are the best husband in the whole world.”

“I try.” He smiled

I headed straight to the bathroom and peeled of my wet clothes, stepping into that tub was the best feeling, I’m pretty sure it was like dropping an ice cube into a boiling vat of water, I melted into it, just like the ice cube would melt. The only thing missing was bubbles, candles and soft music. I closed my eyes and imagined them to be there, it wasn’t long until I drifted off to sleep.

Rig woke me a little later, the water was starting to get cold, So I climbed out of the tub and put on my warm jammies and nice dry socks and then climbed into bed, I pulled the covers way up over my head and fell back asleep again.

I slept hard and didn’t wake up until the alarm had gone off. Rig must have set it, he was laying next to me, and he must have showered and changed while I was sleeping, I didn’t hear anything though, and now Rig was so out of it he didn’t hear the alarm going off, he woke up as I crawled over him to shut it off.

“Why did you set the alarm?” I asked rubbing my eyes

“I didn’t want us sleeping all night.”

I didn’t see that as a problem, I could have slept all night. But Rig said he had talked to Grant and Jenny and where as we weren’t going to leave Disney property anymore, we were going to go to downtown Disney with them. They had reservations for Planet Hollywood and was able to change it to a reservation for 4.

“I didn’t want to wake you when we were making these plans, Rig said, so if you don’t feel like going I need to let them know now.”

I had liked Planet Hollywood and thought it would be even better if I could experience it again under different circumstances, going with friends would be fun. So I told Rig I wanted to go and he said I had an hour before I even needed to get ready. So for the next hour I laid in bed, my head resting on Rigs chest twirling my fingers through his curly hair. (on his head, not chest, he has no hair on his chest, I‘d like to say he is bare chested because grass don‘t grow on a playground if you know what I mean, but he‘s just naturally bare chested) …Was that TMI?

Just a side thought here, I like winter because Rig grows his hair out and I love his curls, in the summer he keeps his hair cut short and I miss the curls then.


“Tomorrow is our last full day here.” I said

“Mmm hmm.” Rig mumbled, his eyes closed.

“We need to make the best of it, we need to be crazy and go out with a bang.”

“You’re too level headed to do anything crazy, Rig said, we could do something dingy though and go out with a laugh.”

“You’re not funny you know.” I said

“But I am right, you can’t do crazy, dingy however, that’s a talent of yours.”

“I just want our last day to be as fun and memorable as our first day.”

“Alright, how about we ride the carousel sitting backwards.”

“No.”

“We could get matching mouse ears, funky ones.”

“No.”

“We could talk like pirates all day.”

“Rig, no, it‘s not exciting enough”

“Ok, but I am not dressing in drag, or anything like that.”

“I have an idea of what I want to do, I just need to think it through first and make sure that I can actually do it.”

Rig smiled his crooked grin. “Will I be surprised?”

“I’m not saying anything more.”

I had been contemplating this idea, (can’t tell ya what it is right now) since we left Animal Kingdom, it was just an idea, but I didn’t want to say anything for sure and get Rigs hopes up, so I needed the night to fully think it through. I would know by morning if it was going to happen or not.

Our original plan was to sleep in, then go to Magic Kingdom so I could get one last look at the castle and have a farewell ride on the carousel, and of course Rig wanted to hit some dark rides. Then we had reservations at Whispering Canyon Café for dinner, those seemed like perfectly grand plans, and on the safe side.

If I decided to go through with my new plan I would need to wake up early, (can’t tell ya why right now either) I guess a lot of it would depend on how late we stayed out with Jenny and Grant.

So after mulling things over a bit, I finally got up and started getting ready for our night out with Jenny and Grant.

“Why did Grant change his mind about going off property?” I asked

“Cause we plan to have a few beers.” Rig answered honestly, “We don’t have to worry about who’s driving.”

I shrugged and finished getting ready.

Rig had gone and washed and dried our clothes from the day while I had been sleeping.

“You did laundry all by yourself?” I asked fully surprised

“Almost all by myself, I needed a little help from a lady that was in there, I didn’t ask for help, she just saw me looking confused and volunteered her laundry expertise, I would have figured it out on my own soon enough.”

“This doesn’t count as one of your laundry days you know, the deal was you do laundry at home.” I reminded him

Rig laughed, “I know it doesn’t, I just wanted to let you sleep and didn’t know what else to do, and I used the time to call home and see how everything is going.”

I got to thinking about home, a whole other world, one so opposite of where I was at then. I had barely called any of my friends even though I swore I would miss them to no end and call them every day. I think I had called Shannon maybe once and Ally a few times. I had texted Ally every day, but I couldn’t wait to have my girl talks with her again.

We had used to work at the diner together but then she went and got all educated and left to work at the Dr’s office. Our friendship stayed in tact though and we started our once a month Disney movie night.

(although this past month we chose a scary movie since it was Halloween night, Have ya’ll seen when a stranger calls? It freaked us out so bad I ended up calling Rig in the middle of the night because every noise we heard we swore it was somebody in the place with us. Rig had to come over to Ally’s apartment and sleep on the couch)
I finished getting ready and then Rig and I headed down to meet Jenny and Grant at the down town Disney bus stop.

Rig was looking so nice that night, he looks nice every night, but that night he just seemed to have a little extra “oh yeah!” going on.

He wasn’t in his cowboy attire, the boots and hat were taking a break in the room, instead he was in tennis shoes and a ball cap. I think it made him look younger. The wranglers were traded for levis and his normal T-shirt and button down were replaced with a black polo.

We got to the bus stop around the same time as Jenny and Grant. For a second they looked at us then kept looking on as if they didn’t see us. I knew they would do a double take when they saw Rig out of cowboy uniform, most people when seeing it for the first time normally do.

“What’s up with this?” Grant said pointing at Rigs ball cap, “Do you have some non cowboy alter ego?”

Rig threw his head back and laughed. “No, I’m just letting the hat and boots dry out.”

They got in line and got caught up in their man talk, Jenny and I followed and made our plans for shopping after dinner while as grant said, “He and Rig get their beer drinkin on.”

The bus was full but we all got to sit down. Jenny kept yawning, she said she was hoping to get in a short nap before dinner but it never happened.
I felt great. I didn’t want to sound like I was bragging, so I didn’t say anything about my nice relaxing bath or super long nap.
The bus ride went fast, it always does when we are all caught up in conversation.

We got to Down town Disney and exited the bus at the second stop. Our last time here was the night we met Rig's brother and “wife”. the feeling was a little surreal as we walked the same path that we had walked with Truck and Tonya. Rig seemed to be fine until we got to Planet Hollywood, he was still fine after that but I did notice him take a deep breath to shake off whatever he was feeling, and then he came back with his huge grin, put his arm around me and said to all of us. “I am ready for a great night.”



A Diser who is going to Disney in a few weeks has offered to take me and Rig with her in her park bag, We are going to be flat travelers on a stick, how cool is that?

 

[fairyprincess1]

Another great chapter Lee... Still loving this TR!!!

 

[*Meagan*]

Lovin the update!

now whats going on with your signature... a flat lee and rig? like flat stanley!? Im confused!

 

[MAJ RN]

Another great update! Can't wait to hear about your suprize for the last day!!



Melissa

 

[ocean134]

A flat Rig and Lee....that's hilarious!!!!!

Loved the installment!

 

[sue_88]

I'm enjoying every word.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I just read your whole TR You are a terrific writer, I must say it's the best one I've ever read

 

[RigLee]

Hey ya'll, seems like the closer we get to the holidays the less time I have. I will try and get an update out here by mid week. And I will answer all your posts.
I hope everybody is doing well.

 

[sue_88]

Thanks Lee. I hope you have a good week too.

 

[ocean134]

Hey ya'll, seems like the closer we get to the holidays the less time I have. I will try and get an update out here by mid week. And I will answer all your posts.
I hope everybody is doing well.

We all can understand that!!! Take your time, we'll be waiting patiently.

 

[rtmpmm]

I can't believe your trip is coming to an end. Can't wait to read about your last day!!

 

[mla1977]

Lee, am I reading this right or did I miss something? You went to Nemo twice, but didn't go to Festival of the Lion King? OMG you DO NOT know what you're missing. Lion King is my favorite show in all of WDW. I even made a special trip to just see it while I was staying at a friend's house nearby.

 

[RigLee]

We were all ready for a great night. I was so happy to be able to eat at Planet Hollywood again and not feel awkward with the company we were dining with. I knew it would be relaxed from start to finish.

We checked in at the podium and before too long we were taken to our table. We were on the ground floor this time, It seemed to be more bustling on the ground floor than when we dined on the upper floor. Still lots of fun though, and different things to look at considering last time I hadn't seen anything of the ground floor.

Our host took our drink order and then our waiter brought them out to us. Grant and Rig started with beer, Jenny and I just got pop but she later ordered a fruity liquor drink. I had a small taste, it was yum! You couldn't taste the alchol in it. Seeing as I was only 19 at the time I couldn't order one for myself, but that's just something else to look forward to in life. I'm not saying I have never had a drink, I've just never been able to order one in a restaurtant.

The music was loud, there was a DJ and he was taking requests. We didn't request anything but just enjoyed what others wanted to hear. I felt so alive and so at ease, It's nice not having to search for something to say, and when it got silent between the 4 of us, it was never awkward and never for too long, somebody always had something to say, or a joke to make. Jenny and Grant said they had been to Disney a few times together before they got married and they would talk to people in line or on the bus but they had never become "friends" with any of them, at the most they would just wave or nod to somebody that they had met, but never toured a park or dined with them, this was a first for them, it was a friendship meant to be as Jenny had said. I agreed with her, and by this time it felt like we had known eachother so much longer.

Rig and I had each ordered the steak, I honestly can't remember what Grant and Jenny got, but I'm sure it was good, Planet Hollywood has good food, I can say that because I have eaten their twice.

We ate our dinner slow, their was so much conversation going on and at times we might have gotten a little loud with laughter, our waiter would come check on us, bring the guys another beer and always have a comment, "Sounds like a party over here." was one of the comments.
Our conversation at times was ridiculous. Grant thought that Planet Hollywood should be a character meal, and celebrity look alikes should walk around posing for pictures and signing autographs, then they started doing impersonations along with famous one liners, twisted a little to work better in a restaurant scenario.

By the time dessert came my sides hurt so bad from laughing and my jaw ached from smiling. It was a great night so far.

We settled up the bill, and headed out front. The guys wanted to go find a bar and have a few more beers, and Jenny and I wanted to hit up the shops. Rig got out his wallet and asked me how much money I needed as he pulled some cash out, I didn't know what I woud need, I didn't know what I was going to buy, so I shrugged. He handed me the debit card instead of cash,
"Don't go too crazy." He said

"I won't, I assured him, and don't you drink too much."

He kissed me and assured me he would be good.

So armed with plastic, Jenny and I started the long walk to the shops. We talked about what we needed to get as far as souvenirs, I had promised Josh, the boy I babysit now and then a T-shirt, and I promised Ally a souvenir too.

We stopped and looked in the lego shop, I even played around with the legos while Jenny purchased a few things. Then we went into the world of Disney. I found a shirt for Josh in there, it had all the characters on it and said DisneyWorld, perfect, I had to text his Mom and get his shirt size, I have no idea how to buy toddler clothes. For Ally I decided on a pair of mouse ears, I thought she would get a kick out of that, I also got her a travel coffee mug, and then I got one for myself and Rig. I found a pink shirt that I loved so I got it for myself, then I saw a green Tinker bell hoodie with a fur collar, I fell in love with it, so I put back the pink shirt. I got Charlie a shot glass, and a pen for Bossman, chocolate truffles in a Disney Tin for Bossmans wife, and I got some ink pens to hand out to my coworkers, there, the damage was done. No more spending Leela, I said that to myself, I said it firmly too. I would have pointed at myself as I said it, but that would have been taking it a little too far. So I put the debit card away and left it in my pocket until we went into the store that sold soaps and body butters and bath fizzies. The card was still warm from my last purchase. I did a little more damage in that store, nothing huge, but enough.
There Leela, that's it, you're done!!!!!

Then we went into the Christmas store, and I had to get Rig and I Disney Christmas stockings. We had stockings already, but they weren't Disney. It was a frivolous purchase, but I had said before, I didn't want to go home with any regrets, I really would have regretted not getting those stockings.
I serioulsy was done shopping by then, well not done shopping, just done spending, it only took a few paragraphs to talk about this shopping, but in all reality, the venture spanned a few hours.

Jenny and I settled down at a table and she treated us to the best hot chocolate I had ever tasted, and they put whipped cream on top and drizzeld it with caramel and chocolate sprinkles. ( my butt got bigger now just talking about it)

She texted Grant and asked if they were soon ready to leave. His text back didn't make any sense, that answered Jenny question, even if the guys weren't ready to leave we knew we needed to get them out of there. We were hoping that they didn't over do it drinking. She texted Grant and told them to meet us infront of Planet Hollywood. Grant texted her back, wheres that?

So she texted him and asked him where he was, he didn't know. I then called Rig, he sounded very happy on the phone.

"Rig where are you guys?"

"In a bar, or something."

"What's the name of it?"

"I don't know, here talk to this guy."

Some strange guy got on the phone then, "W'sup?"

"Can you tell me the name of the bar you're at?"

"ummmmmmm.......ummmmmmmm.......ummmmmmmm."

"Ok thanks, can you put my husband back on the phone?"

I could hear voices, a conversation between men, but couldn't make out what was being said, I ended up just hanging up the phone.

Jenny was talking to Grant on her phone by then, she kept rolling her eyes.
She hung up and shrugged her shoulders, "Grant said they would go outfront of the bar and maybe we will pass them on the way."

It was the only plan we had, I thought the whole thing was a little funny, I could tell Jenny was annoyed. we walked and scanned the crowd, buildings doorways, benches, looking for the guys, we never saw them. So we walked back the way we came, searching some more. then Grant called and said they found hollywood and they were waiting for us by the big planet.
So we turned around again and hoofed it back to planet hollywood where we found both guys sitting on a bench.

Rig looked like he had quite a bit to drink, not a droopy eyed had too much to drink looking drunk, but a happy had just enough to drink looking drunk.

"Did ya have fun?" Rig asked me

"I did, did you have fun?" I asked him

"I'm pretty sure I did."

"Alright well let's get back to the hotel, can you walk?"

"Can I walk?" Rig chortled, "I can walk, I can run, I can skip, I can dance."

I laughed, "then let's get moving."

Rig stood up and we all started walking towards the bus stop, He was moving slower than usual, but at least he could walk a straight line, Grant was zig-zaging and Jenny had to keep grabbing onto his arm to keep him moving towards the bus stop.

We got to the bus stop and The guys plopped down on the bench, "There's nothing like slammin down beers with a good friend at Disney." Rig said

Grant raised his fist up,"cheers!"

I turned to Jenny, "Will they be allowed on the bus if they're drunk?" I asked

She didn't know, we thought about maybe calling for a cab but honestly we didn''t want to waste the money, we thought we would try and get the guys on the bus and if they refused to let them on then we would call a cab. We also decided to not board the first bus that came, we knew it was stupid, we knew they wouldn't sober up in the 15 minutes it took for the next bus to come, but we were hoping they would at least tire a bit and just quit talking.
Rig wanted to sing, and he wanted to dance, I had to keep shushing him, a whole group of people came and Rig would not stop singing. I apologized to the group of people, one guy said, "He aint hurting nobody, let em have fun."

"Thanks friend, Rig said, I am having fun."

"Cheers!" Grant yelled

Jenny and I just started giggling, the sight was too much, I suppose if they were annoying the other people we might not have thought it was so amusing, but since the others didn't seem too bothered by it, we just kind of let the guys have their loud drunk stupid almost incoherent conversation, that intermitantly would be interupted by Rig breaking out into song, sometimes it was accompanied by some kind of dance. I couldn't make heads or tales of the dancing, it was line dancing (which Rig doesn't like at all, he calls it cowboy aerobics) mixed in with two stepping and the robot. Grant was no better, I found myself hoping it was just his drunk dance and Grant really didn't try and bust out moves like that when he was sober. And worse yet, he air guitared, there wasn't any music and he was air guitaring.

We finally got the guys to just sit down and relax.

" I love my wife and my horse," Rig said out of the clear blue, "in that order, my wife, my horse, my job, heck, I love my whole life."

"I hate my job," Grant sounded glum.

"I hated my truck job, that's why I quit." Rig said matter of fact

"I should quit my job, but I don't know what I wannna do."

"You wanna be a cowboy?" Rig asked Grant

"I guess I could try that, Grant said serioulsy, All I need is boots and hat right?"

Rig nodded, "And a pickup truck with a gun rack."

Jenny laughed her hardest here, it was funny listening to the two of them, because they were so honest and serious in their conversation.

30 minutes and two busses had passed, we decided to board the 3rd bus. We used our best authoratative voices and told them we didn't want to get kicked off the bus, so behave.

We got on the bus, the guys sat behind Jenny and me. And for the most part they kept it down, halfway though the ride back to Pop Rig leaned forward and put his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder and he stayed like that until we got back to the resort.

Rig stumbled off the bus but composed himself and went and sat on the bench next to Grant while Jenny and I said our goodbyes, then I pulled Rig up from the bench and dragged him back to the room.

"I swear I'm not drunk Babylee, I'm just really tired."

"It's okay Rig."

"I never drink like this Leela, you know that."

"I do know that Rig."

"I wanted to forget some things for a night and just have fun."

We had gotten to our room, I had to prop Rig up against the wall and reach around to his back pocket to search for his wallet and our room key, I found it and let ourselves in, Rig flopped down face first on the bed then rolled over onto his back. I layed the bags of all my Disney goodies on the chair and went and got my jammies on. brushed my teeth then went and layed down next to Rig.

"Did you forget the things you wanted to forget?" I asked him

"No, but I still had fun."

"I'm glad, please don't make a habit of this though."

"I won't."

"Do you need help getting ready for bed?"

"No, I can't move right now."

"Can I lay on you?"

Rig patted his chest, and I moved over closer to him, he put his arm around me.

"Leela?"

"Yea?"

"I can feel the roatation of the earth."