Hot, Flat, and Crowded (Family Reunion Day Two)

It was 102 degrees on Monday, our day at Disney Wild Animal Kingdom. The parked strollers extended into infinity. The best-selling souvenirs were motorized plastic fans hooked to spray bottles. We had a great time, anyway.Wild Animal Kingdom is filled with creatures, real and imagined. Dave's very favorite ride, in all the Disney parks, was "It's a Bug's Life," a 3-D adventure in which we became "honorary insects" and were introduced to bigger than life stinkbugs (who stank), leafcutters (who bared their teeth and roared) and termites and cockroaches whom we could feel dashing out beneath our seats (truly innovative technology). To reach this dark fantasy, we traipsed round and round the Tree of Life, the huge centerpiece of the park, which is carved with hundreds of animals.We thought of Michael on our Himalayan adventure--a roller coaster ride to find the yeti among the far-away snowy peaks. This may be as close as we'll get to his real Nepalese experience!And we weren't adverse to a bit of glitz--the Circle of Life spectacular. The huge hall was divided into four parts. We were the "warthogs," and cheered for our mascot, as well as the great Simba.

We marveled at the creativity of the floats and costumes in the parade. They reminded us of the great Lion King puppets that accompany the Broadway show.

I thought of Jonny and Jenny as Dave and I wandered along the Maharaja Trail, with its faux Indian ruins and real tigers (in contrast to the real ruins and faux tigers I found in India). My very favorite ride was the "safari" past sleepy but real African wildlife, and even a boabab tree which, though made of concrete and paint, made me wistful for Ethiopia.

Of course, I took my book, but was almost too interested in the sights at hand to read it.