PART THIRTY TWO:
We travel to the Magic Kingdom on the monorail, then exit to catch our boat to the Lodge. Our trip to the Poly was a success despite my Poop-De-Doo Syndrome. Either I didnt offend the Tiki gods by refusing to order Tonga Toast, or Gary from Lowell put in a good word for us, because my fruit and yogurt seems to be settling fine.
By the time we return to our room at the Lodge I feel more my normal self. A relaxing afternoon in the sun should complete my recovery. Lowell promises to join me in the pool since we have a few hours to swim and plenty of time to dry off in the sun.
Yesterday I had packed most of our clothes so all I have to do now is stuff our remaining belongings into my nylon tote bag. The Pool Hopper Electrocution Kit is buried at the bottom of our suitcase since we havent seen any sign of pool hoppers so far. The only pool gear I saved out for today is our swimsuits, Lodge mug, suntan lotion, and paperbacks.
Now for the ritual room inspection to make sure we havent forgotten anything. I swear our belongings have a way of camouflaging themselves to blend in with their surroundings. No matter how many times we look, we get home and find were missing an article of clothing, a bottle of hair conditioner, or a favorite book. I assign bathroom detail to Lowell since Ive already seen far, far more of that room than I care to. I hope he doesnt report that ceramic tiles are falling off the walls and the plastic shower curtain has melted. While hes checking the bathroom I look inside all the drawers, the closet, and even under the bed. Lowells dirty socks have a habit of seeking refuge under the bed, so it pays to look. Satisfied that were leaving with everything we came with, we finally carry our luggage to the door and pause for a last fond gaze. It wasnt the Presidential Otter Suite, and we didnt have a view of the castle or even the otterless Otter Pond, but it wasnt a bad room. I was even starting to enjoy the nightly entertainment at Wilderness Downs.
Lowell carries the suitcase and I take the tweed bag and the nylon tote. I must say goodbye to our favorite places before we leave, so we walk by the cozy desk area and head for the lounge that I dubbed the Redneck Concierge. The comfortable seating area with its gas fireplace is still vacant. It was fun having breakfast here by ourselves while watching all the activity below. We hang over the railing and look down at the lobby for a few minutes before reluctantly making our last trip to the elevator.
The resort isnt too busy on a Monday morning, and theres a short line at check-out. I dont see the cast member who checked us in. Maybe shes been transferred to her beloved Animal Kingdom Lodge. I hope so. When they build the AK Villas she can supervise the javelin throws at check-in or head up the Fun with Feces Program. Shell like that.
We entrust our luggage to bell services, then head to Roaring Fork with our $11.99 Investment. A different cashier is working today. She smiles and says good morning like she genuinely means it, and doesnt watch while we fill the mug. She must be new here.
The pool isnt crowded yet so we have our choice of lounge chairs. Lowell chooses chairs in our favorite spot near a tree. Well have shade later in the day. We set down our towels and the nylon bag, then go for a walk to take a last look at the beach and the landscaping around Trout Pass Bar and the pool.
We decide to soak in the spa before getting into the pool since no one is in the spa at the moment. If you think about it, stepping into the churning water looks a lot like climbing into a boiling pot. Today the water is doing a rolling boil and steam drifts lazily on the breeze. We cautiously climb into the water and sit down. Were about to become Lucky Fourteen Stew. I half expect a giant hand to toss in a few carrots and potatoes and clamp a lid over us. Fortunately nothing of the sort happens and we enjoy several minutes of uninterrupted relaxation in the bubbling water.
While its nice to be alone with Lowell, I dont mind company. Weve spent many an evening, and met some of the nicest people, in resort whirlpools. Since people are facing one another within the confines of the spa, it seems rude to ignore one another, so total strangers open up and exchange tales of home, family and travel. Worries and cares melt away with the heat, and strangers become old friends in minutes. World leaders ought to hold meetings in a whirlpool. Wed have far fewer wars.
The pool eventually lures us away, and we make the nerve jangling transition from hot water to cold. The pool is a pleasant temperature but naturally feels cold since we just came from 100 degree water. I start to adjust to the temperature change just as a rambunctious boy of about twelve cannonballs into the pool, engulfing me in a tidal wave. I gasp. Every muscle in my body stiffens. Cold water sheets over me. As the torrent subsides I expect to see icicles hanging from my rigid form. Lowell is far enough away to miss the deluge and laughs when he sees the look on my face. Laugh at me, will you? Ill fix you! I sweep my arm across the water and spray him before he can duck. Then I swim away, kicking up a wake behind me which is sure to shower him again. I know he will follow, but Im faster. After a minute I roll onto my back to see where he is. A human paddle wheeler churns toward me. I swim to the end of the pool, laughing. By the time he catches up were both panting and giggling like teenagers. We call a truce and hang out for a while by the ledge, enjoying the relaxing sensation of the current flowing past us. Im always surprised at how many adults sit in a chair and never swim at all. In some cases theyre keeping an eye on their children, but more times than not it seems they dont care about swimming, they just want to get a tan. I like the feeling of weightlessness and the sensation of gliding through the water. Im happy whether Im in a pool, a lake or the ocean. Maybe I enjoy it so much because I equate water and swimming with lazy summers as a child.
When we finally get out of the pool and walk to our lounges, I notice that the chairs around us have filled up and I dont see many vacant seats. I drop into my lounge still reflecting on the joys of summers as a child, back in the days when I didnt have many cares or responsibilities. My sister and I grew up on a small dairy farm. There was no such thing as a vacation because we couldnt leave the cows. When I was nine my father died and my mother, sister and I moved from the farm. We survived on a meager income from social security. We didnt have much, but we never went without, either. We finally had the time and freedom for vacations, but no money to take one.
During summer vacations our school provided transportation twice a week to a regional state park that had a mammoth swimming pool and a separate diving pool. The bus picked us up, and as I recall, our only expense was lunch. I think hamburgers were fifty cents back then. These biweekly trips to the pool were the highlight of my summers. My mother wasnt in good health and didnt drive, so we didnt do much as a family and friends lived too far away for my sister and me to walk to their houses. Aside from playing with my sister, my main diversion was riding my bike. I never went on a vacation or flew in a plane until I was married. To this day I look at families who go to Disney and other vacation spots with a sort of bittersweet sadness. Im sad that as a child I never had such special trips, but Im delighted for the families who are enjoying the life I never had.
Right in front of me, in the next row of lounges, sits a mom with two children. The girl is about ten and the boy maybe seven. If Dad is here I havent seen him, but he may be around somewhere. Mom basks in the sun and talks on her cell phone. The kids get up after a few minutes and head for the shallow end of the pool. They run back periodically to get suntan lotion or pool toys or just to tell her something. Theyre having a great time and I wonder if they have any idea how lucky they are to be here. Not just at Disney, but at the Wilderness Lodge in particular. This is an expensive resort. I dont expect kids to care about that, but its a very beautiful and special place that not every family can afford, and I hope in some small way they appreciate being here. They look like a very nice family, and I briefly speculate about where they are from and what Mom and Dad do for a living. I find it hard to justify the cost of two nights here; theyre probably here for a week. Yes, theyre a fortunate family.
Im jolted from my introspective musings by Moms cell phone conversation when she stops discussing the weather and their day at the Magic Kingdom and says, Were over at the Wilderness Lodge. They have a very nice pool here. Not that its so much larger than the one where were staying, but it has a slide, and the kids like it better.
POOL HOPPERS! My eyes go wide. I almost fall out of my lounge. The last two trips to the pool I had looked for pool hoppers behind every rock and speculated about various people who didnt fit my stereotypical image of deluxe resort guests. Now, just as I am mentally congratulating this nice-looking family in front of me for being able to afford a week at the Lodge, they turn out to be pool hoppers! I dont know whether to laugh or shriek. I want to snatch the phone from her hand and say, Shell call you right back after Security drags her no-account pool-hopping carcass from this lounge chair and tosses her shameless butt on the street.
Lowell is sipping Sprite while reading and doesnt look up.
My nostalgic reverie is shattered. The woman didnt even lower her voice, so apparently she sees nothing wrong with invading someone elses pool and taking lounge chairs that are typically in short supply. Now I have first-hand proof that pool-hoppers exist, and they may be more prevalent than most people suppose. Im irritated. If Id come here to spend my final few hours by the pool and there were no lounges it would have spoiled my last day at the Lodge. Im not one to cause a scene, but I say to Lowell who is absorbed in his book and paying no attention to me, Its a good thing we got lounges early, before people who dont even belong here grabbed the last ones.
I imagine the woman heard me, as I made no more effort to lower my voice than she had to announce that she was a pool hopper. If the pool sign: Wilderness Lodge Resort Guests Only stood in front of the last vacant lounge, she would probably knock it over to get to the chair, so I doubt my comment fazed her, but it made me feel marginally better.
Harrumphing to myself I force myself to take several deep breaths. Lucky for her my Pool Hopper Electrocution Kit is in the bottom of my suitcase, buried under mounds of suitcases in the luggage room. I gaze at the back of her head with such intensity that its a wonder her hair doesnt ignite. She must be wearing asbestos hairspray. I sigh with frustration. I cant let her spoil my day at the pool so I try to read and keep my mind occupied. After twenty minutes or so, she and the kids finally pack up their gear and leave. Finally, I can fully relax and enjoy my novel. I glance over at Lowell intending to discuss the invasion of the pool hoppers and get the whole thing out of my system.
His book lays open, face down on his chest, and hes fast asleep.
The whole drama went right over his head.
I love the way your mind works Kay!!
I'm glad you were able to get out and at least have a bite. I haven't had the Tonga Toast in years but I think its time to try it again - maybe in December!
Liz: Yes, you’re way over due for Tonga Toast. Your health can suffer radically if you develop a Tonga Toast deficiency. 
I hope your son can go on the pirate cruise. I think it’s the sort of event that would be memorable, and you’ve got a great idea about enjoying some Tonga Toast while you wait for him. Isn’t it great that there are so many special things to do at Disney? 
When we go in January and we are at the pools at night we get the comment that we must be from Canada because the kids are in the water. I think you should have started with the pool and then went to the spa. Just a thought.
The nerve of these people! 
)
and I, too, will be sad to see it come to an end. 
I have to admit that after many trips to the world including about a half dozen on site, not once did it ever occur to me to pool hop to another resort. I didn't even know it was a problem until I joined the DIS. 
I would appreciate your knowledgable advice so that I, too, could help put an end to this wave of crime plaguing the World.
