Nala and pride "Here we go again!" Final thoughts and COMPLETE! Updated 7/30 About This Page:

[luvnwdwgal]

What a great time!! I'm sure my DH would enjoy the fishing excursion too, although I think I'd opt to do something else on my own. Looking forward to more!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[PrincessSharon]

Great update, Nala! And kudos to Kiara for catching a fish! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Add me to the list of those who wouldn't be kissing a fish! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Can't wait for more!

[Nala]

Back in the room, Kiara wasted no time falling onto one of the comfortable beds and slipping into a short nap. It seems the big breakfast with Lilo and Stitch and the fresh air on Bay Lake had taken their toll on her. She was out like a light in a matter of seconds after her head hit the pillow. While she snoozed, I went down to Roaring Forks and picked up a few sandwiches for lunch. I returned to the room and was not surprised to find her still asleep and also not surprised to find Grumpy on the balcony just relaxing and enjoying the sights and sounds of the WL. And as I sat with Grumpy, I reminded him that I really wanted to be at the AK in time to catch Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade. It was my favorite parade on property and one we hadn’t seen in awhile. And Grumpy, being the ever thoughtful husband, wanted to make sure that happened. So, he set to the task of waking our sleeping beauty. And that is not an easy feat. But he finally got the job done and we got ready to make our way to AK. My happiest of all places in my happy place.

We arrived at the AK shortly before three o’clock and even though I have been there many times before, walking through the gate is a powerful experience for me. Just stepping through the turnstiles and making our way through the lush gardens brings a sort of peace to my soul. And, what was even more wonderful, was the fact that I didn’t have to leave anytime soon like on a normal day. This was an EMH evening. Not only did I get to spend more time in the happiest place in all of my happy place, but I got to see it a night. I have said it before and I will say it again, the AK is amazingly beautiful at night. And I was thrilled to be able to see it again.

Our first stop was in the Oasis to get our wrist bands for EMH. The CM who was giving them our told us the we were number 112, 113, and 114. I didn’t get too excited as it was only about 3:15 PM and I was sure that many more would come in before the official closing time, but it appeared it was going to be a quiet EMH evening. Once we had secured our wrist bands that assured we wouldn’t be booted out of the park, I forced Grumpy to pose for a picture.



We then headed to the Dawa Bar to wait for the parade. In the past we had secured a spot on the bridge into Africa only minutes before the parade started and I assumed this time would be no different.

So, at the Dawa bar we settled. And on past trips, Grumpy headed to the bar to order one of my favorite drinks on property “Lost on Safari”, and who does he encounter but our favorite bartender, Bryon. Bryon, the CM who gave me the “wanna be CM card” on our last trip. I saw Grumpy talking to him and couldn’t resist joining in and saying hello. He claimed he remembered giving me the card (which I highly doubt as my face was then covered in face paint) and we started talking about EE. Byron and the other bartender on duty then went on to tell us about how cool EE was and shared their experience on the ride. They then both went into a triad about how much of a zoo the AK was going to be staring on Friday. The word zoo kept coming up and Grumpy looked at me and said “ I thought this park was NaHTaZu!” I got the joke and was laughing, but no one else did. But thanks to the insight of our favorite bartender, we made a decision at that moment to change our plans. Looks like we would be hitting the AK the next morning instead of waiting until Friday. And for me, coming back to the AK the next morning and riding EE for the first time would be bad why? Gotta love the insight of CM’s!

After we got all the information about EE from Bryon, we settled at a table to wait for the parade. As we were sitting at our table, Grumpy struck up a conversation with a lone gentleman at the table next to us. He was in Orlando on business and on his off time was visiting the parks to do research so he could be prepared when he brought his kids back in the summer. He started asking Grumpy for advise and tips. And this is when Grumpy turned the conversation over to the Disney expert in the family. That would be me. And unlike Grumpy, who can talk to anyone with ease, I found myself overcoming my somewhat inverted personality and blurting our my wealth of Disney knowledge. (much of which I accredited to the Passporter boards) I gave him my takes on the parks, offered tips and even gave him the Passporter website address for additional information. Oh, the joy of passing on the magic!

I think I overwhelmed him with Disney information because the conversation soon turned to football. And it was directed at Grumpy. And this is where things got very weird. Grumpy and the man on the quest for Disney information (whose name I can’t remember) started talking about the game. Grumpy proclaimed his love of the Bears but stated how glad he was Pittsburgh was in the Superbowl. Somehow, it came up that I was a Buffalo Bills fan. And it also came up that I was a Bills fan from Peoria. IL. Putting Buffalo and Peoria in the same sentence sparked the interest of a couple standing behind us.

While we were talking about how someone from Peoria becomes a Bills fan, the woman behind us spoke up and told me that her best friend was from Peoria. She went on to say that she and her husband were from Buffalo. What are the odds? What was stranger was that I looked at her and said “We have talked about this before. Last year, outside Canada in Epcot, we had this same conversation.” A year before, I had the same conversation with this same couple. And now I was meeting them again. I started recalling the weather of our meeting (a slight drizzle) and stated that it was a week later in January. They started thinking about their trip the year before and realized that every detail I was recalling was dead on. The exact spot, the weather at that moment, the time of year. And soon we were all laughing about how I remembered that moment in such great detail. The couple and our new found friend looking for Disney information wasted no time giving me praise for my ability to remember such detail. And the entire exchange freaked Grumpy out a bit too. I was enjoying the moment and ever grateful that no one asked for my cell phone number as that is where I would have drawn a blank. And as the conversation went on I couldn’t resist saying the obvious, “It’s a small world” which prompted me to also say “ Let’s all sing it!”

After a verse of “It’s a small world” the couple bid us goodbye with the hopes of meeting up again next year. As they walked away, I was still in awe of our meeting. I mean, what are the odds? Millions of people walk through the gates at WDW each year. What are the odds of meeting a couple from the town of my favorite football team who have a friend that is from my home town? And not only once, but a second time. I bet the odds are slim to none. Just the thought of that encounter made me smile for days.

Shortly after the couple left us, the gentleman on the quest for Disney information decided to leave us too. We bid him goodbye and Kiara and I went to find a spot for Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade. I assumed that we could find a spot to slip into on the bridge, but as we started to walk across it, I discovered it was quite full. I was about to panic that we wouldn’t get a good spot to see the parade when I noticed several CM’s standing alone in a roped off section on the bridge. Just as we approached them, one of the CMs addressed me, waved in his direction and dropped the rope to the empty section he was standing in. I thanked him, shuffled Kiara into the area and the CM hooked the rope up behind us as we entered. And there we were. All alone in a private section that was perfect for viewing the parade.

Having the entire section to ourselves allowed both Kiara and I to dance to the music like wild women. We had a ball doing this (well, I did anyway). And it also got Kiara a lot of attention from the characters. There was no one across from us on the bridge, so she became the main focus of the characters that passed by us. The combination of our perfect viewing spot, the character interaction and the fact that this is my most favorite of all Disney parades made this the most magical moment.

Hey, Dale, where's my kid?




And as I watched this parade pass by us, I noticed all the families on the floats and wondered if they knew how luck they were to be part of this magical parade. Oh, how I would love to be in their shoes!

[luvnwdwgal]

This installment has just blown me away! I can't believe you running into the same people again and the MAGICAL time you had during the parade! Awesome! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Joy J]

Nala, what a wonderful update!

Joy

[mattnkatsmum]

Sounds like you have had an amazing day so far, and that Kiara had a wonderful time at the parade!

[Jillybean]

Fantastic update! How [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] that you ran into the same couple from last year! Nala, you remind me so much of myself - - I really have a great memory for dates, people, etc., but don't ask me my cell phone number either! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I love that you and Kiara had a special spot for the parade -- what a great experience! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Jill

[Mickeysgal]

WOW!! How amazing you ran into the same couple again! It truly is a small world!! Can't wait to hear how the EMH at your happy place go. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

What a great day and parade [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Love the pics [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[ariel14]

What a magical time!
More pls!!!

[lauren-roxy]

Wonderful update Nala!! How cool is that to run into the same family!! It looks like Kiara had a ball at the parade!! Can't wait to read more!!!

[KandJluvdisney]

great update nala
more please

[PrincessSharon]

Great update! I'm amazed you ran into the same couple! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] I'll join you in that song! And how magical that you had a "private" viewing spot for the parade! Looking forward to more!

[MAria R]

Great updates!! It really is a small world after all.

[Minnie Lor]

It IS a crazy small world! Too cool! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your TR Nala. Mickey's Jammin Jungle parade is my favorite daytime parade. Can't wait to read more.