The Terrible Catsafterme

Tuesday, April 17, 2012, was designed to be somewhat of a day of rest. We had spent the last two days flying to Florida and scouring the parks of Walt Disney World. We had two more days ahead of us, so we took this day as an interlude. I took this to heart and stayed in bed until 10 or 11 or noon or so. I wasn’t sleeping that entire time, but I had gotten up ultra-early to cuddle with Silas, who was still suffering from a cold like I was. Two peas in a pod, we were. So once we were awake, I played with him and played on the internet, trying to get a date with Blue October girl.

Silas hangs out on my bed in our room

Eventually I ventured out of the motel room in search of food at the World Premiere Food Court. I was liking the benefits of my Disney Dining Plan, so I was able to get a delicious turkey and muenster on Focaccia, another ice cream cookie sandwich, and an orange juice to help repair my cold.

Silas didn’t get to enjoy too much of the Disney cuisine

Adam and Megan were busy in the pool, so after lunch I sat poolside for a bit chatting with Mom, Denise, and Barbara, glancing at the antics of the kids and Bob every once in a while.

Adam and Bob attempt a feeble game of ping pong. None of us really understood why Bob was wearing his towel in this fashion.

It was around 4:30pm when we actually departed the resort (getting some photos of the giant Toy Story figures outside our building on the way), and caught the bus to Downtown Disney. We got there at about 5:00. I had only been here one time – with Ashleigh in 2010.

Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!

Per the sign’s directions, we did not climb aboard Woody

Since shopping isn’t really my thing, I just tagged along with Ashleigh and Silas, as we were almost immediately separated from everyone else. We actually ran back into Mom in the giant World of Disney toy store. Silas grabbed at every toy in sight and ended up getting an oddly colored Mickey Mouse for his very own.

Megan and Adam in Disney’s Pin Traders

Silas clings to his new Mickey on LSD doll

Everyone seemed to converge on the LEGO Imagination Center, where we hung out for nearly a half-hour. Adam took particular joy in building race-able Lego figures. I enjoyed watching Silas trying to piece them together. Ashleigh searched high and low for a gift for Stephen.

Adam works diligently to put together a vehicle at the LEGO store

Silas and I work toward just getting two LEGOs interlocked

Our dinner reservations for the evening were at the Rainforest Cafe at 6pm. I’m fairly certain that out of all the times that I’ve walked by this restaurant at Animal Kingdom, Disneyland, the Las Vegas Strip, Opryland, and even San Antonio, I’ve never actually eaten there.

Sometimes a crying baby can be hilarious

The atmosphere was very cool to be sure. In true Disney-esque fashion, many of the wild animals were partially animatronic, there were simulated ‘rain bursts’ every fifteen minutes or so, and plenty to keep Silas interested. At one point he walked off with me on his trail, and then when he realized that he had roamed into ‘stranger’ territory, he burst out crying.

A scenic aquarium that was located next to our table

Foliage, a leopard, and Adam and Bob in blur-vision

Buddies

The food was sadly mediocre, but I wasn’t really complaining since this meal – no matter how much it cost – was part of our dining plan. I went with the Macadamia Crusted Tilapia and Coconut Shrimp. With the teriyaki glaze and mango puree, I had hoped it would be a little bit better, but it was just acceptable. Big hunks of pretty good cheesecake capped off the meal, so I didn’t complain.

My food looked good, but I guess it was the dryness that plagued it.

The gang digs in at the Rainforest Cafe

 Bob is deep in thought in solving the puzzles on the kids menu

Neither Silas nor I objected to the cheesecake meal ending

Silas did enough roaming to end up with dirty feet. Denise remarked that they looked like Pop-Tarts due to their squareness.

We were at dinner for close to two hours, before we all roamed out again to continue shopping. Naturally we ended up back at the LEGO store, and I also had a special treat in getting to see an old Woodland Altars campmate named Chris Whittaker. He had gone to camp with me several times throughout my run of ten years there, including my very first camp experience when he and I were in the exact same group! Although the reunion was right up my alley, it was actually Denise who had planned it with Chris’ wife Becki Lovett, who had also gone to Woodland Altars with her and Aaron. Chris was a bit older and Denise and Aaron had known him as a counselor. It was fun to chat to with them and their son and daughter outside the LEGO store in the warm summer Florida air – not far from where they now resided.

Reunion with Chris Whittaker

Bob pestered this LEGO lady, concerned that a nearby Disney mug belonged to Denise (and somehow identified that it contained Diet Pepsi), until it became such a production that I was forced to get a group photo to commemorate the foolishness

Ashleigh, Silas, Mom, Bob, and I eventually meandered away and headed to the first Margarita bar that we saw – which was appropriately named Margarita Bar – and we ordered margaritas.

Even though we were the ones drinking the margaritas…

…it was Silas who ended up passing out.

We left Downtown Disney a bit before 10pm and headed back to our lodgings. I was about ready to turn in, when Aaron sent me a Facebook message to come join him at the pool bar. So I did. he bought me a couple of beers and we had a nice chat about 80’s music and other deep topics. Ashleigh couldn’t get Silas to sleep so she meandered down as well – but sadly it was after midnight and the beer was no longer available.

Aaron and I cap off the evening with some beer guzzling

I hit the sack around 1am, defying my cold to hone in on my fun. I’d be back at it at the Disney parks bright and semi-early the next day.

The Disney World vacation will continue…

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 7th, 2012 at 6:27 am and is filed under 2010's - Early, Disney, Vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.