Katie and I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and left for the bus at 7:15 a.m. At 7:24 a.m. we stopped along the way to take some photos around the resort. By the time we made it to the bus stop, the Animal Kingdom (AK) bus just pulled up. Katie and I were able to get right on. There was a guy on the bus who was cleaning his two very professional cameras. We got off and got in line for Extra Magic Hour at 7:50 a.m.
The first time we were in line the cast member said that because Katie didnt have her room key on her wed need to wait at the other end. So great, we have our park tickets but because only I brought my room key we cant get in an hour early. Mom had said we wouldnt need Katies room key. Got in another line, where Katie noticed people were using their room keys to get in. It was a different cast member so I thought wed try again. I told her that I had my room key but my sisters is still in the resort room. She said, Well I guess that means youll get to ride Expedition Everest while she waits here. Then she smiled and let us in. I can understand that they want to make sure that only resort guests are getting in, but it would have stunk to wait in line another hour to get in.
So once we made it in we followed the signs to Asia and made it to Expedition Everest. What a beautiful white capped mountain scene, very misleading about the scary beast that waited for us within. Once in the queue, Katie started telling me about the types of architecture. We were in line for maybe twenty minutes, and we had gotten in line at 7:20 a.m.
We loved going up and then shifting to riding backwards and plunging into darkness. And then that Yeti tried taking a swipe at our train, but luckily we made it through unscathed. Once we got off I felt a little woozybecause I do when rides go backwards, but was feeling great within 5 minutes. We looked around a little in the gift shop. We saw the Yeti handmitts and the binoculars that were disguised as the Yetis face. We left Everest and this time we walked at a more leisurely pace. Katie just wanted a chance to browse through shops which sounded great to my shopaholic personality. My slightly adventurous side wanted to ride Dinosaur.
So we trekked over to Dinoland and hopped in the still very short line for Dinosaur. As I was watching the preview for our ride it reminded me of Mary626 and her husband not trusting this guy. And how come, if it was so safe, he wasnt joining us on our trip back to the Cretacious period. So after Clair Huxtable/Philcia Rashad and that guy gave us our assignment and safety instructions we were off. . .to another line. It took no time at all and we were in out time traveling vehicle. Katie just laughed and enjoyed herself. Now, I always ride this sitting next to Kammie and we hold hands as if these dinosaurs ate actually going to eat us as a hors doeuvre. We scream as the last meat eater jumps out as us on our right side (which is the side we always sit on. Silly girls never learn)! So I missed that excitement Kammie adds to the ride. I thanked our dinosaur as he held up the tree so we can escape under it back to the present time. As were waiting to disembark we noticed a dad and son in line waiting to be assigned to a time traveling vehicle. I pointed out to Katie how the little boy looked like Joey (our younger cousin on our dad's side) when he was about the boys age (four or five.) At the same time we noticed the boy flicking his wrist repeatedly like Joey doesself-stemming. Then he tried pulling his shirt up as his dad tried pulling it back down and leading him by his other hand to their vehicle. He seemed that he too may be autistic like Joey and we thought how weird it was that he looked like Joey alsosince his condition doesnt cause similar characteristics in people, like Downs.
Once we were allowed to leave we checked out our picture and noticed I looked frightened and Katies face looks normal. We looked at some books and plastic dinosaurs and thought how cool theyd be for Kammies classroom. We stopped under a covered sitting area right outside of the exit to eat some breakfast. I had brought a breakfast cookie while Katie enjoyed her morning applesauce.
Now we were done with the big attractions and we could shop around. We walked down a small trail and found dinosaurs that were really hidden in the foliage, and at the end was a dinosaur lying on the ground with a gaggle of small children flocked on and about it.
We headed over to Outfitters where Katie pointed out two potted plants that were covered in rats and snakes. One of the pots looked like rats were escaping out of it while the one next to it had a snake wrapped around hissing at those rats. We headed inside the shop at 9:34 a.m. and passed a Cast Member as we were making our way in. I said something to Katie and referred to her as Bug and the cast member turned in our direction as if I had called her name out. I told Katie that she shouldnt feel so bad because someone else has the same nickname. We snapped some pictures of the things wed like to have. I found a cute baby blue t shirt with a collage of Disney love sayings and characters. Katie found a wooden carved zebra that only cost three dollars. She wanted to wait though, but we never did go back to buy it. I also thought the pink tee with the sliver glittered Tink that read Magical was pretty. I shot a picture of Lilo & Stitch plate for Dad. He hasnt even seen the movie yet, but last year down here and it was before Fathers Day and there was a Stitch all decked out for the day so Dad wanted it. We all three (girls) got it for him. And so now Ive made Stitch Dads mascot, but Dad wants it to be his favorite characterTigger. For Christmas we got him Stitch holding a pointsettia and during our February trip for Kammie and Erics Disney Fairy Tale Wedding (DFTW) planning session I used my Stitch antennae topper as a stand in for Daddy in our pictures. So, now I tease him with Stitch, telling him I am going to give him the big Stitch for his upcoming birthday. But I digress (big time.)
Then I notice on the floor that there are critter footprints and take a photo of them. We left the store at 9:49 a.m. I look to the right and Katie to the left where she notices Stitch is, standing taking pictures and signing autographs. I tell Katie I want my picture taken with him. And Katie says she doesnt want to take her pic with him, and I tell her she doesnt have to, but all she needs to do is take my picture. This way I can put the picture in a Stitch frame and give to Daddy for part of his birthday gift. So she reluctantly got into line with me. There was a mom with her little girl in front of us and more people behind us. Katie said that Stitch could be going in soon and couldnt believe Id have my picture taken before the little children behind us. I told her that if it came to that Id let the kids behind us before myself. At that time the cast member said Stitch would be with his last family before taking a short break. She told us we could wait a short while before hed be right back, but I knew Katie wouldnt go for it so we stepped out of line and headed for the park exit. We planned on going back to the room so Katie could take a short nap and then wed head off to the Magic Kingdom.
We entered the area for the bus stop to take us back to the Grand Floridian. The cast member working there asked us where we were going and then made us move right up to the gate. He stopped every person walking by and asked where they were going. And even if they stated their destination and pointed to where they were headed to, the guy would direct them to where they needed to go. Then a lady came up to us and asked if the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds bus had just left and we told her it had. It was sitting there waiting for about five minutes with no oncomers before it left. So she stood over by us since we were at the stop for the Grand Floridian (GF) and Fort Wilderness. We saw another bus heading off as a mom comes running down the aisle with the rest of her group lagging further behind. She was waving her arms yelling at the bus driver to stop. At that time that Cast Member waved at it to go on. After all they do have a schedule to keep and Im sure there were families waiting at the resort for the bus to come pick them up. The mom however was making a big stink about it. First saying how rude the bus driver was not to stop for them, and then yelled at her family for not running for the bus stop as soon as they exited the park.
A bus soon stopped by and the cast member asked where we were going and the nice lady waiting with us said she was going to Fort Wilderness, so the Cast Member (CM) radioed to the bus driver that he had three going to Fort Wilderness (FW). I spoke up and reminded him we were going to the GF, so he radioed that to the driver as well. Then the CM said we could board the bus. Katie and I sat together on the bus drivers side and the other lady sat across from us. The bus driver asked if everyone was going to FW and so again I said we were going to the GF, and the lady said she was going to FW. First stop was FW and the lady disembarked, so Katie and I continued with talking about what we were going to do. We came up to the GF and the bus driver asked if we were going through the main building and we said yes. So he dropped us off in front instead of going down to the bus stophow nice!
We started walking across to the main building when I heard, Danaile! So I looked left and saw Kammie. Dratswe werent supposed to see these people for the rest of the day
And I had told Eric, as he left last night, that I wouldnt see him again until the Rehearsal. As we met up to Kammie and Eric, Kammie told me not to look at Eric since I said I wouldnt see him yet. Mom and Dad were a few feet ahead of them. They had all gone to Down Town Disney (DTD) to Arribas Brothers to get Kammie and Erics cake serving knife set engraved. Now they were going to go to the Magic Kingdom (MK) to get their Wedding Ears. Katie and I said wed go with them. I needed to use the restroom, and so Eric chimed in that he did too. At this time we were already on the elevator going up to the monorail floor. I said Id be fine until we made it to the MK, as long as Eric could and he said hed be fine. We all jumped on the monorail.
We headed to City Hall and used the restrooms. I showed Dad the Barber Shop, where I had my hair cut for Locks of Love back on our February trip. He said he never knew or saw it before I had told him thats where I wanted to get my hair cut for LoL back in February. I took some pics around where the riverboat usually was, but is under rehab for the time being. We walked along the water and saw Woody and Jessie taking pics with their young fans so I photographed them from behind. At this time it was already 11:08 a.m. We noticed a mom and her ducklings in the water below. They were so cute bunched up together. We were up to Splash Mountain when mom said she didnt know we were going here and didnt have anything water proof to protect her camera and the video camera that would be used for the wedding so she wouldnt get on it. So I stayed behind with her and the rest of the family and Eric got in line.
Mom and I went to the Briar Patch Shop and looked around. I wanted to see how much a snow globe would cost for Elizabeth since thats what she wanted me to bring back for her when I asked her what she wanted. The smaller ones ran for about $15, which was perfect. I liked the one that had Tink and then the castle inside the snow globe. But didnt want to get it yet. Since I had my cell phone and Kammie had Erics I told Mom we could walk some instead of standing in the sun waiting for them. We walked a little further to where you could see people going down the drop. Mom noticed them in a boat going around the drop. So I began practicing taking pictures of people as they splashed down. But Mom moved three times as people moved out of the way. So I was still perfecting when I needed to click the button and when the actual picture would take. Then when I realized it was Kammie in the boat about to come down I had hesitated a second and so the boat was centered as it came down. Oh, well. As we walked back to where they would come out of the ride I erased fourteen practice pictures. A couple of them had been perfect, but there was no way Id find the people of whom I took the pictures of.
It was about quarter to noon so we all decided to find a place to eat lunch. Our family loved eating at El Pirata and El Perico from our first few trips to WDW, but during our last few trips they were closed. Dad took us through Pecos Bills, but just kept walking through the seating areas. Soon we were in front of our favorite counter service restaurant in the MK. All the girls had the yummy taco salads in those delicious shells. Dad and Eric had burritos, tacos or something like that. After enjoying our TexMex lunch mom headed off for the bathroom. The rest of us headed back fully outdoors. I had Katie take a picture of me and the bride-to-be. Now it was already 12:27 p.m. and as mom was coming out to join us I took a picture of Katie leaning on Daddy.
We walked back along the plank walkway next to the water and I took more pictures on the return journey. We made our way to Mickeys PhilharMagicI love this show! Especially the yummy smells that are pumped into your seat during Be Our Guest. I wanted a picture of the poster at the entrance, so told Mom to get out of the way and then caught heck from Kammie about it. I snagged some pictures of the cute posters of the musical that were playing. Like Ariels Coral Group, An Evening with Wheezy-Now in its final squeak, and Hades sings Torch Songs. I asked if they had time to stop into Tinker Bells Treasures shop, since the guys had a tux fitting with Carolyn Allens in our room at four for the wedding. They said it was fine. While in there I went ahead and bought that Tinker Bell with the snow globe for Elizabeth (our younger cousin on my dad's side, and my God daughter
) and a princess antennae topper for Shelly (co-worker.) I got my little envelopes out with Disney Dollars allotted for each gift inside. The cashier was very nice and asked where I was from. When I said Nebraska she said we had beautiful countryside and asked if I lived by any farms. I told her I lived in a city outside of Omahamore of a suburb outside of our big city. She said suburbs were best. She got a box for the snow globe and finally I was ready to head out. We stopped in at the Hat Shop, to get Kammie her Bridal Minnie headband and Erics Mickey ear top hat. Then we left the Magic Kingdom.
When we had our tour of the Grand Floridian the CM told us the fastest way back was the boat. So we took a boat back. We got back at about ten to two to the GF. We hung around the room until about quarter to four, when the boys and Carolyn Allens would begin arriving. Erics family were still driving and his dad and youngest brother wouldnt make it to the fitting. Kammie said if they didnt make it in by 9:00 p.m. Katie and I could take Mr. and Mrs. Morans spot on the Wishes Cruise that Kammie had scheduled as her and Erics gift to their parents.
Katie and I headed off to the MK once again.
Katie wanted to ride Space Mountain, so we waited 50 minutes to be boarded. Katie noticed that every adult escorting a child would have the child sit in front of them and then double tap on the childs shoulders after the safety bar was lowered, whether it was for the childs assurance or the adults, we werent sure. Katie was a trouper and sat behind me with the baggallini in her leg space, as I was afraid I wouldnt have the room. I got to sit in the front of the space vehicleit was pretty cool. When we got offwhich Im never graceful at getting out of and feel so clumsy doing soKatie said that she never noticed that I laugh more than a scream like Kammie does.
We headed over to the Carousel of Progressone of my favorite attractions in all of WDW. Some of our trips it has been closed and really bums me out :9 I wish that the 60s and 80s were added to the ride, cause it would be so cool to see the family in the psychadelic 60s and then my childhood years of the 80s.
Anywhoo, we then headed over to Transit Authority or People Mover. I took some pictures of our journey. In the car in front of us it looked like a pair of grandparents, a grandson, and a great grandmother. Getting off was a little tricky as the eldest lady was having some trouble trying to get off of the moving sidewalk, and Katie and I were trying not to run into them and at the same time not trying to get run over by the impatient people behind us. It was even harder for the poor lady to get on the moving sidewalk that takes you down.
It was around 6:00 p.m. that we headed towards the boat dock. One had just left so we knew it would probably be five minutes before another one. We stood next to a mom, grandma and little girl. The little girl was in a long skirt and a long sleeved sweatshirt she made me sweat just looking at her. Then a boyfriend and a girlfriend came up behind a grandma, grandpa, mom, little boy and girl. The mom told the little boy he always got to do what he wanted, and the grandma joked about tossing him over the dock, while the grandpa threatened him with it. It was creeping up on 18 minutes of us waiting for that boat. So the big family went off to take the monorail. The boyfriend told his girlfriend that there were alligators in the water. She said it was man made so there wouldnt be any. They asked the CM and she said they were both right. Its a man made lagoon, but because there are swamps behind the Magic Kingdom there are alligators in the Seven Seas Lagoon. Though 90% of them are in an area that gets no traffic. They are the reason that there is only swimming in areas where you can see the bottom and not in the murky areasbecause they cant guarantee peoples safety where they dont know where alligators are at.
The CM in charge of the boats said that they had a new driver for one of the GF boats and so usually there is a boat to pick up people at the MK every five minutes or so. But the new guy was now docking at the Poly and the other boat just left the Poly. Sure enough here came our boat and the other one wasnt too far behind, but he had to stay out in the water.
We loaded everyone in and headed towards the GF and all I could think of was the 10% of alligators that may be hanging out in the water with us. Our experienced driver pulled up to the dock and tied on the rope and then put the boat forward and backward until it was flush with the dock. He then dropped the rope and told the people waiting to board to wait until we had all disembarked. We got off with a young couple all dressed up. They had been brought to the MK dock in a boat by themselves, because they had got on a wrong boat earlier, so a CM drove them to the MK dock so they wouldnt miss their AR.
They were a few steps ahead of us and stopped to look at the map of GF. A CM was passing them and asked if they were going to Citricos and they said yes, so he directed them where to go. Katie and I were impressed that he could peg which restaurant they were going to. We then headed to Gasparillas Grill to get our dinner and then head to the room to eat. We went in and Katie decided she wanted a cheese pizza and I thought that it sounded good. She thought we could get some chips to go with it, but remembered we had some from the road trip and we could just eat those. We stood by the pizza ordering area, but no CM came to help usthey just kept waking by. People were coming and getting their food but no one was ordering. Katie got fed up that I wouldnt ask, and told her she had to. She went over to the sandwich area and asked a guy who was waiting for his food. He said his wife was the one who ordered the pizza and where he thought she ordered, which is where we had been waiting. She thanked him and pulled me back over to the order area. Now there was a family ordering in front of us. After they ordered we got up front again. Finally one of the CMs came over and said, Number 24, right? We told him that we hadnt ordered and he apologized for thinking we already had. We got two cheese pizzas to go. We got our beeper and headed over to the eating/arcade area and talked about what had just happened. With in like three minutes the buzzer went off and we went up and got our pizzas, filled up our mugs, and headed to check out. I wanted Mickey Ears ice cream bar, so did Katie and I got one for each of us. After we paid and left out the building I asked Katie if she would like to eat outside, but we decided to eat back at the room.
We made it back to the room and Mom and Dad were resting on their bed and Kammie and Eric were resting on the other bed. Katie and I didnt expect anyone to be in the room. They had all gone to Kona Café for dinner, so I was a little upset that no one had called my cell to see if Katie and I would have liked to eat there too. So I took my food out on the deck and enjoyed the view while enjoying my pizza. I wanted to get eating on my ears before they melted so I skipped the chips. Dad came outside and watched the boats go by with me for awhile.
Katie didnt want to go back to the Parks and settled in for a night of watching the Disney Channel. Mom was getting ready for Kammie and Erics parent present. Kammie soon got ready tooI asked if Mr. and Mrs. Moran had made it in and Kammie said they had. Darn I wanted to go on that boat ride, oh well
I took my fingernail polish out to the deck. I was going to put on fresh fingernail polish for the next two daysour Girls Day Out and the Rehearsal. Then I would put on a brand new application for the wedding.
I took my cell phone, cd player walkman, camera, and fingernail polish and went out to the deck. I bought the fingernail polishwhich was actually toe nail polish by DuWop called Glass Slipperjust for the wedding (how appropriate for a Cinderella-esque wedding) and was excited to see how pretty it would look. I applied the fingernail polish while listening to a CD I had made for the trip which included some music from wedding movies I love. After I had done my fingernail polish I listened to more music and played a game (like Tetris) on my cell phone. I kept an eye out for the boat with my other half of the family on it.
I finally heard someone yelling my namehad the headphones on so it took awhile. I stood up to the railing and realized that the boat was small (pontoon) and my family was down there. I took a picture that you can see no one in and tapped on the door and Katie came out too. Down in the boat they took pics of us. They told me later that it looked like I had been hiding away from them and not responding. Then they motored away.
A little while later I came back in the roommy nails still tacky from the humidity outside. I gave them a few minutes inside to de-sticky and then jumped in the shower. I went ahead and scruch dried my hair so Id be ready to go in the morning. Then I went ahead and got into bed. Since Kammie was spending the night with Tina (Kammie's friend from high school, Bridesmaid) Katie got to spend the night with me. We watched the first part of Saturday Night Live with the comedian Dane Cook (or something) and nodded off. Sometime, lots later, I heard Mom and Dad come in from seeing Dave and Mary and they went to bed as well.
The lamp with Mickeys head was so cute. The wallpaper even was filled with the Fab Five as topiaries. The soaps and lotions beautifully fit the theme down to the White Rabbit cotton swabs and cotton balls. I loved the picture that looked like shelves filled with books, plates, pictures and other Disney objects. I had paid to have us upgraded to a MK view. We could see Space Mountain fine, but there was a tree branch that blocked our view from the castle and essentially the fireworks. My parents asked if I was sad that I had paid extra and didn't get the view of the castle. I told them no. The room was just so gorgeous and if they didn't pay for it I could never have afforded it myself--and thanked them immensely for the room! It was just so pretty and comfortable and they even had a whicker hamper for our towels! It truly was a magical disney experience!
I can't access the pictures either 
There was a Streetsmosphere Performer talking to the group of people next to us. We discussed what we should that day so we would have some sort of a plan of attack. Since Tina had been to WDW once when she was very little and doesnt remember that trip and then again with Kammie for their Future Teachers of America Convention in 2000, she hadnt been to AK. I thought we should go there so she would get the chance to ride the Yeti and look around a bit. Then we could go to our late lunch ADR. Next, we could head over to MGM so Tina could get her rides in there, and then back to MK for Extra Magic Hours (EMH.) Sounded good so we finished up eating and catching up some and then headed for Space Mountain.
) so I stood line and shut my mouth. During the time we were in the line outside of the building, people kept walking in front of us like we were the cross walk. I am not joking, people would walk out of their way to walk in front of us. Even as we got closer to the building, they still crossed in front of us. Even if we stood tightly together or up against the people in front us, they would still excuse themselves on through. We didnt really mind, just thought it was quite amusing. It must be our sweet faces 
As we got off, we all laughed at Katie and she took it in stride
