Drifting Towards 40 ~ Days of Future Passed on the Threshold of a Dream: Book Three

A time ago, I began a chronicle retelling the events of my 40 birthday weekend. There's been a pause...and I heartily apologize for it.

For those who wish to recap, see here and here...


Chapter Three: 10/01/07 – Mon "Lazy Day"

After the walking in good company the previous night and the good food and festive camaraderie how could one not sleep peacefully? Well...I certainly did, for one. And, to be honest, I was kinda hating it when the alarm clock was going off at seven in the morning.

Why seven? Wasn’t I on vacation? Didn’t I have one of my bestest buds nearby and a loosely scheduled schedule with no real "musts" for time aside from dinner?

Well...the answer to all that would be "Yes"...however, kev_bot and I did have a mission today. Experience Expedition Everest as the very first thing this morning!

Now, for me, this was a double-first: First time ever on the grounds of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and also I had not had the chance yet to ride this new E-Ticket attraction. Kev was already buzzing with anticipation as he knew what it was going to be like as he got to try it out this past May. I could see the glint in his eye with this chance to be able to "introduce" me to something he came to enjoy about the parks that I hadn’t tried out for myself yet. I was looking forward to Everest as well having seen a couple of Disneyworld-centric travelogues on the Travel Channel and the online reactions and reviews from when it opened in the parks (bavarianbehr & tampascoob & _decibel_). Also, I am admittedly a thrill-ride junkie enthusiast.

Parking at Animal Kingdom, we were slotted in to a space in the Unicorn section. Now, this led to a little Disney "backstory" for me to share with KevBot about the oft-rumored Beastly Kingdomme that was originally planned to be part of Animal Kingdom way back when. From what I remember hearing, the reasoning behind that section of the park was that while the majority of the experience would be based/themed off of real geographic locales and animals the imagineers also developed an area for most manner of fantastical creatures (dragons, unicorns, etc).

If anyone, besides KevBot and myself, remember back to late-1997/1998 McD’s had a Happy Meal promotion set up for the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. One of the toys was an English style dragon whose wings would flap among other animal themed toys. The dragon was there to represent the Beastlies...and had also been on one of the versions of the signage for the park itself. Unfortunately, this wasn’t fully on my mind while Kev and I were amok-ing back and forth to Everest – so I didn’t think to look. Ah well.


...me being artsy with a candid shot....


A "shrine" to the Yeti that is seen along the path of the queue


Respect mai authorYeti!


The theme-ing along the queue line was up to Disney snuff...and we hit it early enough in the morning to only have a minimal wait (both times...yeah, we went right back in line after the first ride through). For those who haven’t tried it out yet but want too I shan’t divulge tidbits of the attraction. For those who have tried it on for size...I guess we can agree it’s a must-do when attending the parks. Am I right?






And...yes...I snuck a DILF snapshot of a specimen appealing to both His Botness and myself...


Prime DILF, with stroller...


Both Kev and I agreed that the only thing we wanted to get out of Animal Kingdom (at least during this trip) was taking a couple of turns on Expedition Everest then motor over to Disney Studios and spend the bulk of the day there (which is a good thing...and you’ll see why in a little while...). So...having sated our need for Everest we walked against the tide of incoming humanity towards the exit gates. Kev had a need for liquid refreshment during which I happened across a neat little thing to do for aadroma, being the polyglot that he is.

Hopped in the car and soon enough we were in Disney Studios, which is where we had planned to spend the bulk of our day. To start off the Studios amok-ness, we had to capture the moment with two others who enjoy being amok:


Camera, camera,
In your hand.
Who’s the furriest and funnest
In the land?


Our amok-ing rambled through the park from the Great Movie Ride, to the Tower of Terror, to the Indy Stunt Show, to Star Tours, to Muppet 3D, back to Tower of Terror, wash, rinse, repeat to lathery fun being had all ‘round. I had remembered Herr Kevstein mentioning he had passed on Star Tours and the Muppet 3D on his previous trip (May ’07) so it was a neat treat to see his experience to these attractions.


Kev...mock fear cause he laughs in the face of fear
then screams like a girl


Yeah...good thing I don't plan to run for any political office or anything...


During a small-ish lull in the afternoon (What? A lull in the afternoon? At DISNEY? NOWAI!) KevBot posed the request of zipping over to Magic Kingdom. Checking the time and judging it against what was planned for later – Kev only knew that we had dinner rezzies for Disney Studios – I nodded in agreement.

As we made our way towards the gates the daily parade at the Studios (Stars and Motor Cars) was tromping along. I normally don’t get in to this parade much, but there was a tricked out Studebaker I caught sight of I had to snap a pic of.


Just a Tatooine classic...


Out the gate and thanks to Disney transit we hopped a bus between parks and walking up the ramp to the monorail about ten minutes later.

Now, here’s where I get a chance to add a last minute twist. On the monorail ride over from the Magic Kingdom parking lot to the park’s entrance I arrange for Kev and I to ride in the front cabin with the pilot. Just our luck...we get Monorail Pink as our chariot. And, not sure whether to be thankful or not, but the pilot was a none-to-pretty older man. So...no need to worry of an accidental three-way as the monorail trundled along through the Contemporary hotel.

Will save talking ‘bout the Kingdom for the next chapter. This mini-excursion was to peek in at the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and we tried Space Mountain but it was temporarily shut down. But there were no sad spirits...no sirree. I was in the “happiest place on Earth” and KevBot was there with me every step of the way.

Having had a nice peek at the Mouse’s first Florida house, we monorailed and bussed our way back to the Studios. All the while, improvwhore’s "curse of jealousy" looked to be about to come true. Seems that when he caught wind of Kev’s and my impending trip he got flustered – whether with bile or a backlog of pent up testosterone from imagining we two in the same hotel room, who can say. He opted to threaten us with rainy weather...and the clouds were a-gathering.

So be it, I stated. No matter what, no outside influence like that would dampen our moods. Far from it.

We were able to grab another run on the Tower of Terror and we slowly made to ramble. There was a bit of time before dinner and we couldn’t think of anything else to tackle at the moment.

Then there was a skydrop...and another...

Little pelts of water falling from above...and picking up the pace...

We cut sideways in to one of the many interconnected boutiques to try waiting it out. But ImprovWhore seems to have worked his momentary hex pretty well. But...there are ways around a hexing like that. Looking out the doorway, the rain was still torrenting down and all methods that I had prepped were back in the hotel room.

So...due to the hex there was "Disney Stupid tax" to pay in the form of buying new rain ponchos to go with the ones we had brought but left in the room. Ah well...

So...covered in vinyl we stepped out to the drippy evening and took our time browsing and ambling with my subtleness directing us towards what I had laying in wait for dinner – the 50’s Prime Time Café.

Now...initially, when plans were being developed I had hoped to surprise KevBot with the hotel that had been booked. But, as we both were concerned with our budgeting for the trip I broke that surprise so he/we could plan appropriately. As a fall back, I opted to surprise him with specially selected dinner spots.

And...on this first night of park-amok-ness I scored big time on the surprise revelation.

He walked in and as I checked in for the reservation I could feel his sense of excitement bubbling up. Seems the décor and theme of the restaurant really hit close to home for him in a pleasing manner; which made me quite the happy JoeZer. I was smiling and had warm fuzzies...he was all a-twitter and glowing with personal nostalgic glee.

The basic set-up for the restaurant is that everything is decorated and designed to mirror the stereotypic and idyllic 1950’s Era home and kitchen where mom is making everyone’s favorite meal (selected from the menu, natch). "Auntie Jan" was our waitress for the evening and she was a hoot to have.

Having eaten there a couple of times before (one of my favorite places in the Disney park to have a nice, sit-down meal at), I knew what to expect. So I jumped in to "role" and was getting great rapport with Auntie Jan. KevBot (well...she called him "Scooter"...) was getting used to it and gaining his Disney themed restaurant improve-lite feet.

Appetizers and dinner were as tasty as ever...the company fun and the staff entertaining.

Then...oh, but THEN...Kev had to leave for the potty.

Nary a second later, Auntie Jan swung by to check on us...noting Kev’s absence. My evil little heart giggled quietly. He had been marked...targeted by an improver.

He returned, body relieved, and tucked in to the rest of his meal. There had been enough time before his return to be able to adopt a neutral, yet happy expression as I had my own plate of tastiness to finish.

Then, Auntie Jan came back on her rounds and "pounced". Let the photo show as proof…


Auntie Jan chastizing "Scooter"


"Scooter" taking his "punishment"


Seems he forgot one small rule. Politeness. He neglected to ask to be excused from the table. There was no harm...no malice...just part of the restaurant’s experience of subsuming yourself into the 1950’s formica colored world. And, if his expression couldn’t say it enough, Kev was thoroughly enjoying the experience.

For desert we had to consult the Viewmaster. Yep…the old G.A.F. Viewmaster stereo-photographic toy. The desert menu was set up on a reel that one could click through to see his/her selections and go from there. We both opted for a desert aimed at the younger set: the "make your own" sundae. The portions were just right for one without any ice cream going to waste.

As we left the restaurant Auntie Jan picked on us for letting someone (each other, we replied back) having drawn on us in India Ink (indicating our visible tattoos) and sharing a farewell hoping to see "Scooter" and me at the family reunion next year. A subdued Studios park greeted us outside. The rain had stopped...the streets/walkways were slick and small puddles here and there reflected the neon and marquee lights. Kev was in extra gleedom as he recounted how "Scooter" was a nickname for Mister Springsteen.

Back at the hotel we flopped and rested, enjoying each others quiet company as one of the hotel’s Disney Park info channels rambled on the television. We basked and grinned and talked in low voices sharing in the continued and extended moment.

Yet...there was one last excursion for the evening. Kev had a mission...and I was his driver...


Abracadabra
It's Magic!


...a midnight run to the Virgin Music Megastore at Downtown Disney...a magic hour between days for Kev to grasp and conquer...claiming his musical prize.

By circumstantial coincidence, Bruce’s album "Magic" was being released to the markets the same time that we were running amok in one of the most magical places on Earth.

Yes...there was magic afoot...and not just in the form of compact discs or theme parks or dinners in themed restaurants. Most apparent, it was in the form of friends becoming closer and seeing deeper layers of each other...



Lazy day, Sunday afternoon,
Like to get your feet up, watch T.V.
Sunday roast is something good to eat,
Must be beef today 'cause lamb was last week.

So full up, bursting at the seams,
Soon you'll start to nod off, happy dreams.
Wake up, for tea and buttered scones
Such a lot of work for you Sunday Moms.

It's such a crying shame
Week after week the same.

Today's heaven-sent and you're feeling content,
You worked all week long.
Still, it's quite sad tomorrow's so bad
And I don't feel so strong.

Lazy day, Sunday afternoon,
Like to get your feet up, watch T.V.
Sunday roast is something good to eat,
Now it's almost over till week.

That's how your life goes by
Until the day you die.