No alarms. No wake up calls. We snoozed away in our room cocoon until after 3 PM. We awoke feeling refreshed. DH and I were not entirely rested. But we were ready for more fun. DS, capable as only a child can be, of bouncy back into high energy mode, wanted to go swimming!
We had a little time.
A little.
We had 6:00 PM ADRs at Jiko:The Cooking Place. The plan was to eat there before heading over to AK for PM EMH. According to the last park hours I had seen, EMH would be from 7 to 10 PM. I was eagar to make the most of these hours. My thought was to go early to Jiko, so we could get back to AK earlier.
With warnings to DS to not complain when we said it was time to leave the pool, we quickly suited up and headed on down. Again, the pool was very busy. Again, the lounge chairs were few and far between. Again, DH and I were somewhat disappointed in the whole pool experience. And AGAIN, DS hopped right in and proceded to thoroughly enjoy himself.
DH and I were very happy to spend a bit of time in the hot tubs, AGAIN, though.
We left the pool area feeling decided refreshed. At least it helped to cool off. Limbs stiff from the immobility of sleeping were stretched out. Our appetites were seriously huge. Nothing like swimming to really get your hunger on. We were so ready for the tasty meal ahead.
We didn't bother with showers. Chlorinated water cleans, right?
I mistakenly reported what DH wore to dinner this night. We like to joke that he is my life-sized Ken doll. Whatever I want him to wear, in general, he will wear. Whatever floats my boat. He's all over that. A while back we found these great rayon shirts in various tropical and tribal inspired fabrics. I really liked them. I bought him a bunch. We had picked one out to wear to AKL because it seemed especially appropriate. So much so that we make jokes about DH possibly getting mistaken for a CM. We brought DH a change of shirt and shoes to wear to AK in the car.
Getting around WDW by car is really very easy. This time, I left DH to just enjoy the ride and not struggle to read out directions from the trip binder. He had been making cracks about how the only one in the car that couldn't read and drive was having to navigate. I just followed the signs to AKL. It helped that we had been there before. But still. Piece of cake.
As I had predicted, our early arrival at Jiko was no problem. The restaurant was virtually empty. To read about our dining experience, click
here, if you haven't already read my dining report.
Feeling pretty groovy with full tummies (and a bottle of wine between DH and myself), we headed on out to AK.
As we drove through the parking gate, I was thrilled to see that Disney must have changed the park hours from the last time I had looked at home. AK was open until 8 PM! It was 7:45 PM. We had made it there BEFORE PM EMH started!
The parking attendants were absent at this time of evening. We were able to choose our spot. We snaked our way up to park very close to where we had been earlier that morning.
Our first destination was back to EE. I had FPs from earlier in the day. I had told DH that we might be able to use them. DH is a stickler for rules though. He didn't think it was right, and he didn't even want to ask about it. We could keep those FPs as souvenirs.
On the way to EE, we saw a Photopass photographer standing where the mountain for EE forms the backdrop. There was no one waiting, so we paused. We took a few poses with all three of us, and a few more with just DH and myself. I didn't see another Photopass photographer throughout our evening's touring, so I was very happy that we had stopped to get these taken.
We arrived at EE to find that there were no FPs for EE available. Unlike MK, AK doesn't restart the FP system during EMH. The line was clear out of the queue and heading down the walkway. We understood that anyone who had gotten into the line before official park closing would be able to ride. Likely there were many non-Disney guest park attendees in that line. Confirming with the CM working the line that riding it later would likely be better, we headed over to Kali River Rapids.
I love a good water ride. We've ridden the circular raft version of a river ride at Sea World in San Antonio. It's a fun little jaunt around a concrete pathway through some pretty landscaping. We have a good time riding it. You get sufficiently wet. Especially if you are at the front of the raft as it dips down and water comes splashing over the side. I have a knack for being in the wettest seats on rides like this.
I expected no less this evening. If you are familiar with travel fabric. My skirt was made of it. Not necessarily quick drying. But a comfortable thing to wear wet. My shirt was out of quick dry fabric. And now, I had my Tevas on. I had also brought a change of shoes for after dinner. We were all dressed to get wet.
I was ready to see Disney's rendition of a water raft ride! I love Disney theming. There was a 20 minute posted wait. We hopped in line.
As excited as I was to see all the theming of KRR, I can scarscely remember what the queue is like. We ended up meeting a family, Dad, Mom, and two kids (bro and sis), from Virginia. They were DVC members and staying at the AKV. Their daughter was close in age to our DS.
It was really cute to see these two youngins take a shine to the looks of each other. My DS. I see it before me now. Those eyelashes are going to be something else for the young ladies to resist. And like I've already mentioned. My DS doesn't have any negative thoughts about those young ladies. He has already talked about life with a wife. When he's a Daddy. Did I mention that he asked a girl to marry him in Kindergarten?
We all were having a fine time hanging out in this line. So much so that when we got to the CMs that ask for your party size, the other Dad said 7 so we could all ride together.
I again pulled out my trusty gallon-sized ziploc bag to protect my park bag. As I had read here on the Dis, the place in the center of the raft to store your bags WAS wet already. It was another feel good moment for me. It's so nice to have done some research, prepared yourself, execute and have it all be simple and worthwhile.
There is NO WAY to ride KRR without getting totally soaked. Seriously. How in the world does anyone manage to NOT get wet on this thing? The first thing in the ride is a huge geyser that is constantly erupting. The raft goes right under this thing. And there you have it. Your clothes are now plastered like paper mache to your body.
There is also a fairly significant rapid, I guess, in terms of steepness. It's not like going over a waterfall, but it is a fair distance at an angle designed to give you a thrill. We were disappointed that there was only one. And that the ride seemed short. It's a keeper though.
We took our dripping selves across the bridge that crosses the ride. Herein are the water cannons. Water gun doesn't really convey the reach of these devices designed to give the exiting riders their revenge on any who appear to have made it this far on the ride below without getting sufficiently wet. Unlike other parks, no coin is required. Rest assured that the children especially will shower you with aqueous affection and laughter if you happen to pass underneath. My DS being no exception. I was pleased that the young man currently manning one of the few cannons there knew how to take turns.
We wandered into the little shop at the crossroads of the main path and the one that leads to KRR. I found several things in this little store to my liking, not the least of which was a spot of air conditioning. I sometimes have issue with buying things for myself. I think many mommas out there do. It's easy to buy for others. But somehow, buying for self is extremely difficult. I have found that with so many changes in life, becoming a momma, a full-time homemaker, moving so often, I have lost touch a bit with what I actually like. And I worry about buying things only to have them collect dust.
I was hemming and hawing over a skirt. At $36, it was just beyond that price threshold where I have to hesitate and contemplate and wonder about whether or not this would really be the best thing for me to spend money on. DH doesn't relate to this at all. "Bebe. Get the skirt. You can spend some money on yourself. We're on vacation. Stop worrying about it."
There was another lady in the store just as enamoured with these skirts as I was. These skirts came with an owner's manual. Seriously. 1000 Prints. 100 Ways to wear. 1 Item. I got the longer skirt. Go to
www.karizadesigns.com. There's an instructional video. It's a wrap around style of two layers of fabric. Depending on how you wrap and fold and manipulate the two layers of fabric...It's not just a skirt. It's a dress. It's a shirt. It's the coolest thing EVER. After I got home and saw that the online price was $52, I was feeling pretty good about my $36 "splurge." This is the skirt that I wore to dinner later in the week. I will point it out when we get there.
We headed over to EE. Sure enough. The line was significantly shorter. A 30 minute posted wait. We walked on through the bell section and into the long outdoor switchback area with the short rock-like wall. And there we waited. Hmmm. No movement for a while. Do you hear the ride going? No. But I hear the announcement. Technical difficulties. You may experience a longer wait than anticipated. Thank you for your patience.
To my surprise, people IMMEDIATELY started to bail. Seriously? You won't wait just a bit? What if the ride comes right back on line? The three teenage men in line in front of us and I exchanged looks. "Whatever makes the line shorter works for me." Ah yes. We exchanged knowing smiles. Bail people! Get on out of here!
The three teenage girls BEHIND us in line weren't as patient. Thus began the great debate. Like the Clash song, should they stay? Or should they go? What if. What if. What if.
Despite the fact that the ride wasn't working, we moved forward in line. Taking pictures, we pased the time. DS took a picture of DH and me.
We moved forward a bit more. DS and I pulled up some rock. Self portrait.
DH said he could take a picture!
Meanwhile, the debate behind us continued.
The boys in front of us were reliving their day, looking at all the pictures they had taken on their much more advanced cell phones that I am likely to ever carry. Texting friends. Chillin'.
The line moved forward away from my sweet sitting rock. Now DS and another little boy were climbing Mt. Everest for real.
And the debate behind us continued.
I have to say it was a pretty boring topic of conversation to overhear. There was only one stroke of wisdom. This added by someone's Dad. You might as well wait for 30 minutes and see what happens. Wait for how long you thought you were going to wait and then decide if you want to keep waiting. Sage advice, I thought. DH did too. He even repeated it to me.
Sure enough. It didn't take the full 30 minutes for EE to get back on track, so to speak. Almost. But not quite. We started moving forward at a nice steady pace.
There's a water fountain in the EE queue, right before you enter the building. We refilled our water bottle here. Handy. The water was fairly cool as well.
Unlike this morning, the pace through the queue was more sedate. More leisurely. There was just enough time to take pictures. The last glimpse of EE before entering the building
In the building:
DS was hoping that we would sit in the front row again. Well, Son, we'll sit wherever they tell us to sit. Maybe if there were less people we would ask. But everyone is just pretty excited to get moving again.
EE at night is a TOTALLY different ride than during the day! I know that DH and I enjoyed it a LOT more than DS. This time, there was no mistaking where the Yeti was. He was all lit up with red accent lights. He was quite frightening in the dark. It would be a whole level up in thrill if he actually swiped at you as you went past, red eyes flashing in the dark. DS wasn't quite as enthused about nighttime EE as daytime EE.
We were ready to get wet all over again! So were tons of other park goers! Everyone that bailed on EE must have headed over to KRR. The wait was insanely long. We headed over to Dinosaur.
I really wanted to ride Dinosaur. The first time, and only other time we rode it, I watched DS more than the ride. The posted time was 40 minutes. Since I was the only one that really wanted to ride, it seemed to not be good timing. We headed over to a ride that we all could ride. Primeval Whirl.
When DS first saw this ride two years ago, he thought it looked AWESOME and he couldn't wait to be tall enough to ride it.
DH thought it looked puke-a-lious. He doesn't do so well on things like tea cups.
The ride is not as vomit inducing as you might expect. Certainly no where near the calibre of the tea cups. In fact, it's quite jerky as there are points along the decent where the breaks fiercely engage to slow your downhill and spinning action. DH didn't care for this ride. DS thought it was a blast. I just wished they didn't repeatedly hit the breaks.
We hurried DS through the enticing booths and carnaval games and back over to Asia to see how the line at KRR had progressed. Hopefully diminishing. Oh yes. It had diminished alright. To nothing. The ride was shut down with technical difficulties.
We headed back to EE. Still 30 minute wait time. We hopped in. DH was pumped to ride it again. DS, not so much. This time DS rode with me. DH had the single rider for company. DS tucked his head down and didn't really watch the ride this time around. It was getting too late. DS didn't want to see the Yeti so close to bedtime. It was just 15 minutes to the other side of the ride.
I knew that we couldn't end the night on this note. We hurried back over to PW. DH sat this one out while DS and I rode.
DS had had some time to think. He was remembering the badges that we had seen in the EE shop earlier this morning. These are laminated momentoes attached to a lanyard. We had gotten a similar souvenir on our first visit from Buzz Lightyear with the rank DS had achieved when he got an exceptionally high score. DS thought he would like us all to get badges for EE.
OK Sweetie.
We headed back over to EE. I took these photos along the way.
The park was shutting down. Check out DH and DS in the empty path.
The gift shop at EE was still open. DH and DS headed straight over to the badges. I took a pic.
As befitting our perceived rolls on our expedition, we each picked out our Summit Team positions. DH got Lead Climber. DS got Guide. I got Sherpa.
(Due to picture limitations, the story of our AK PM EMH will be continued in another post.)
The EMH would make the park so crowded during the day, with no reward of getting the extra hours later.
It does just look like you had so much fun...
I think it is one of the best rides and memories for WDW. I can't wait to hear how your DS enjoys it!! 
I couldn't believe it! Growing up in CA? Seriously. I was in totally shock. I still feel guilt throwing away glass. I've had to get over it because I just can't deal and get it to a recycling place. But still. It hurts when the salsa jar hits the trash.
I regularly go through and lighten the load!
You didn't KNOW KP!!!
SO not built like my boy.
