Well, the last three days we had gone non stop all day every day, so by the last day, we are exhausted. We had planned on getting to AK by opening, but we had to get up, pack, get ready, and my husband specifically wanted McDonald's for breakfast. So we woke up late, got all packed up and headed to Mickey D's.
Ok, total tangent, has anyone been to the crazy McDonald's on International Drive a few miles north of WDW? It is the strangest MD's I have ever seen. They have like bow tie pasta with shrimp in a butter wine sauce and panini's and gourmet wraps and all kinds of stuff! The menu is about 3 times bigger than any other one I have ever seen. I had never even heard of this! Crazy.
Anyway, we finally get to AK and it is HOT. I warned my husband it was hotter than the other parks, but oh my GOSH, I thought I was going to just melt in to a puddle. We headed to Expedition Everest and grabbed fastpasses, then headed over to Kilamanjaro Safaris. The wait said 50 minutes, but I though 'no way, every other wait has been way shorter than the posted time'. Wrong! We waited for an hour. I was worried because I had heard that if you don't do KS first thing in the morning that you won't see nearly as many animals, but we saw a TON. I got a money shot of a white rhino. He was like two feet from me! Even the driver was surprised he came so close...
Then the lion was up and walking around which our driver said was also very unusual. So my husband was really impressed with this ride. He doesn't like zoos at all and I think he expected a big ol zoo! Silly man. Doesn't he know where we ARE?
So then we headed over to Dinosaur and grabbed fastpasses before getting lunch at Flame Tree. My husband LOVES barbecue so I had been telling him all about FT and how everyone says it is great. Just one more way to lure him to the parks.

Well, it was delicious besides the fact that we were miserably hot while eating. But the ribs were very tasty as was my cole slaw and corn muffin. Yummy! I was too hot and tired to think about taking a picture though. Sorry!
After lunch we went back to Dinosaur to ride. DH really liked this one too. I think he expected something a lot tamer. Then it was off to EE. Love this ride. DH was super impressed with the effects and how many times we changed tracks in the ride. Besides being so dang hot he gave AK a thumbs up!
So now our trip was coming to an end and it was time to get to the airport. Well, I was not on the same flight home as him, so we said goodbye, see ya in a few hours at the airport and I headed to Au Bon Pain for a sandwich. Well, earlier at AK we would have done anything for some shade, but as soon as it is time to get on a plane home, what happens? Thunderstorms! Lightning! What does that mean? You guessed it! Huge delays. DH and I keep texting back and forth at our delay times.
Now, I had a layover in Atlanta, but I knew there was a direct flight to DFW at the very next gate on the same carrier. I asked the lady working at the desk if there was a chance I could standby for that one and she told me there was no room and to just wait, I would have no problem making my connection even with the delay. I say ok, and sit and wait, and wait, and wait. Much later the same lady comes on the overhead and says 'well our plane is finally here, but if you are connecting to blah blah blah or Dallas, you won't make your connection.' I RUN to the stand. Everyone is yelling at her, mad, like it is her fault. I try to be really nice and say 'all I want is to stand by for this direct flight. She says 'how many are in your party?' and I say 'just one'. Well a few entries in to her computer and whammo presto! 'here is your ticket, you are on that flight'.
Heck yeah! I was going to get home a couple of hours earlier than planned! And that flight was still on time. So I head over that way and look down at my ticket to see what kind of seat I got, not that I cared. I see that I am in Group 1 and in seat 3B!!!! I am thinking 'that HAS to be first class!' And it was. I have never flown first class, so I was really excited. I had free wine and a better snack. =) I also sat next to this nice lady and after over an hour of talking we realize I used to babysit her son in law! Random right?
So I get to the airport just a little bit after my hubby and we head home. It worked out well since I would have been way later and he was going to go all the way home then come back! So I was tired and sad to leave, but I am going back in September for free dining, which I have never done before, so I am stoked!
I hope to see a lot of you there! Be sure to wear your lime green Mickey heads. I will!