I was awake at 6:30. The news was saying that we might have a day full of thunderstorms. Not exactly the news I had wanted to hear. Tonight there is a total lunar eclipse and I haven't seen one in quite a while. I'd never seen one at WDW.
After debating on whether to go to TL or the AK, I chose the AK in the hopes it would be less crowded then my first visit. It was.
I started in Asia and went to the trail. Several years ago I had been told by a CM in the bat area that when the bats end up on the ground or low bushes, someone has to go hang them back up. I found this quite amusing. What do you do for a living? Oh, I'm a bat hanger! Today I got to see it in person. The man in charge of rehanging came out, donned a large, heavy pair of gloves and picked up one who had fallen or climbed down too far. These bats have to start their flights from a high perch, as they don't have the ability to lift themselves up from the ground. This was the most active I've ever seen the bats. Some were flying around, some were fighting and some were eating. They are fascinating creatures.
Next, it was on to the tigers. Two were sleeping upside down right next to the glass. It reminded me of my own cats.
When I arrived where the gorillas are I got a real treat. Many of them were right next to the glass including the big silver back male. I have never seen them up close before.
I skipped the rides and headed back to Africa coming across the creeping vine person again. Then I grabbed a Fast Pass for the Safari and went to have lunch at the Tusker House.
The ride was quite good. We saw many animals including an ostrich that blocked the road.
By now it was 1 p.m. so I decided to head out stopping at ITTBAB before leaving.
I dropped the scooter back at the hotel and left by foot for DTD. There was another fairly long wait for the bus. Almost 30 minutes went by but at last a DTD bus arrived. At the various stores I bought some souvenirs for the folks at home and a 2003 shirt, red, white and blue Mickey antenna topper and a few more pins for myself.
By the time I got back to the hotel I was a bit on the tired side. I had foolishly thought about walking the front of EPCOT and watching RoE from the very beginning of WS but decided that wasn't going to happen with the way my legs and feet were feeling. So instead, I put on my bathing suit and headed over to the pool. What a nice place. The pool is quite large and it wasn't crowded, at least not while I was there. The jaguar slide in fun and I went down it several times. There is also a volleyball court, a small bar and a take out restaurant near the pool as well. Back aches and pains? Try the fountain God back massager. After swimming a bit, I sat by the pool listening to Disney music on my CD player. Does life get any better than this??!
Then the highlight of the pool area, a giant spa. I stayed there for quite a while and spent some time talking to a nice lady from West Virginia. Between the hot tub and the fountain God, my back, legs and feet felt brand new when I got out.
I went back to the room, showered and got something to eat. I also spent some time just watching TV and the clock. Finally it was 9:30 and I headed outside to check the sky situation. At first the clouds were hanging tough but they parted and I was able to see that about 1/4 of the moon was gone. I went back in to the room, grabbed my camera and tried to find a good venue for picture taking. It would have been ideal if the moon had risen behind the pyramid but it was off to the right. I was able to get some shots with the pyramid in the picture though. I'll have to see what they look like when I get home. Speaking of photos, I brought 30 floppies with me and I only have a few left. I'll probably need to buy some more if I keep taking pictures at this rate.
After hanging out at the pool for a while, I went back towards my room and got my binoculars. Then I spent the next 30 minutes watching the eclipse go total. Several people asked to share the binoculars and we all Ooo'd and Ahh'd over the effects. Just as it totaled, the clouds rolled back in. By then it was 11:15. I wandered back to my room, sleepy but happy that I got a chance to view this wonder of nature. It was lights out at midnight.
High Points: The closeness of the gorillas. The pool at CSR. The Lunar eclipse. The whirlpool at CSR.
Low Points: Continuing long waits for the bus. The clouds that obstructed part of the eclipse.
Weird Points: A young girl around 18 months who came over and sat with me at DTD and didn't want to leave. The Fountain God back massager in the CSR pool.
Best Point: The bat hanger!
Roberta
After debating on whether to go to TL or the AK, I chose the AK in the hopes it would be less crowded then my first visit. It was.
I started in Asia and went to the trail. Several years ago I had been told by a CM in the bat area that when the bats end up on the ground or low bushes, someone has to go hang them back up. I found this quite amusing. What do you do for a living? Oh, I'm a bat hanger! Today I got to see it in person. The man in charge of rehanging came out, donned a large, heavy pair of gloves and picked up one who had fallen or climbed down too far. These bats have to start their flights from a high perch, as they don't have the ability to lift themselves up from the ground. This was the most active I've ever seen the bats. Some were flying around, some were fighting and some were eating. They are fascinating creatures.
Next, it was on to the tigers. Two were sleeping upside down right next to the glass. It reminded me of my own cats.
When I arrived where the gorillas are I got a real treat. Many of them were right next to the glass including the big silver back male. I have never seen them up close before.
I skipped the rides and headed back to Africa coming across the creeping vine person again. Then I grabbed a Fast Pass for the Safari and went to have lunch at the Tusker House.
The ride was quite good. We saw many animals including an ostrich that blocked the road.
By now it was 1 p.m. so I decided to head out stopping at ITTBAB before leaving.
I dropped the scooter back at the hotel and left by foot for DTD. There was another fairly long wait for the bus. Almost 30 minutes went by but at last a DTD bus arrived. At the various stores I bought some souvenirs for the folks at home and a 2003 shirt, red, white and blue Mickey antenna topper and a few more pins for myself.
By the time I got back to the hotel I was a bit on the tired side. I had foolishly thought about walking the front of EPCOT and watching RoE from the very beginning of WS but decided that wasn't going to happen with the way my legs and feet were feeling. So instead, I put on my bathing suit and headed over to the pool. What a nice place. The pool is quite large and it wasn't crowded, at least not while I was there. The jaguar slide in fun and I went down it several times. There is also a volleyball court, a small bar and a take out restaurant near the pool as well. Back aches and pains? Try the fountain God back massager. After swimming a bit, I sat by the pool listening to Disney music on my CD player. Does life get any better than this??!
Then the highlight of the pool area, a giant spa. I stayed there for quite a while and spent some time talking to a nice lady from West Virginia. Between the hot tub and the fountain God, my back, legs and feet felt brand new when I got out.
I went back to the room, showered and got something to eat. I also spent some time just watching TV and the clock. Finally it was 9:30 and I headed outside to check the sky situation. At first the clouds were hanging tough but they parted and I was able to see that about 1/4 of the moon was gone. I went back in to the room, grabbed my camera and tried to find a good venue for picture taking. It would have been ideal if the moon had risen behind the pyramid but it was off to the right. I was able to get some shots with the pyramid in the picture though. I'll have to see what they look like when I get home. Speaking of photos, I brought 30 floppies with me and I only have a few left. I'll probably need to buy some more if I keep taking pictures at this rate.
After hanging out at the pool for a while, I went back towards my room and got my binoculars. Then I spent the next 30 minutes watching the eclipse go total. Several people asked to share the binoculars and we all Ooo'd and Ahh'd over the effects. Just as it totaled, the clouds rolled back in. By then it was 11:15. I wandered back to my room, sleepy but happy that I got a chance to view this wonder of nature. It was lights out at midnight.
High Points: The closeness of the gorillas. The pool at CSR. The Lunar eclipse. The whirlpool at CSR.
Low Points: Continuing long waits for the bus. The clouds that obstructed part of the eclipse.
Weird Points: A young girl around 18 months who came over and sat with me at DTD and didn't want to leave. The Fountain God back massager in the CSR pool.
Best Point: The bat hanger!
Roberta
That back massager sounds so good right now. Wish I had one. 
