More Disney Stories

Day 4

Of course my parents slept in that morning, but we dressed Avinash up as a little monster and went to Animal Kingdom early anyway. Anuj and I went on the Everest coaster together while Ryan watched the baby before we all went on Safari. Unfortunately the monkeys were not on the Temple grounds like normal and we missed them during their active morning phase. The elephants and rhinos were out, but the lions were already sleeping at 8 in the morning. Then it was off to Dino land for my little monster! He basically slept through most of it, but woke right up in the gift shop. Just in time for me to take an adorable picture of him with his 'twin', a green stuffed T-rex. When my parents came we went to the little Nemo show, which was beautiful. The characters were like marine versions of the Lion Kind broadway show, but the music was sub-par. I think Anuj even fell asleep, but Avi loved it!
Then my parents of course wanted to see the India section of Animal Kingdom, even though it is technically called Asia and probably should actually be Nepal given the Mt. Everest ride, but all of the decor and posters are in Hindi and look Indian. Ryan and I were so annoyed that Disney couldn't have added some vegetarian or Indian food in that section of the park. Instead it's all very Americanized-Asian food. Although when we did ask about vegetarian options at Yak and Yeti, the chef actually came out of the kitchen to talk to us and made us all our own entrees to order! Oddly enough the sticky rice was the best part. Of course, after that I couldn't resist putting Avi in his adorable "India pants" (as we call them) and taking pictures in front of all the beautiful Disney landscapes. They are the same pants from his birth announcements and I can't believe how different they look on him now. They were so billowy and cute before, and now they are definitely tight around the waist and don't go all they way down past his feet anymore. My little baby is growing up so fast!
We went to Hollywood Studios that night and got to ride the awesome new Toy Story ride. The room you walk through while standing in line is absolutely gorgeous. It is decorated like a kid's playroom with larger than life toys, board games, building blocks, drawings and an interactive completely robotic Mr. Potato Head doll that makes of people waiting in line. Unfortunately we only got one picture of the beautiful room, but at least it was of Ryan's and mine's favorite building block - the half circle that fits under the bridge piece, but has so many other uses as well. Hopefully it will still look shiny and beautiful when we come back! The ride itself is full of carnival games which you play from a moving car. Avinash loved it too, he just very calmly sat in our laps while we all played the game, even my parents. Somehow Ryan managed to get the lowest score, except for my Mom who was holding the baby and trying to play at the same time.
That night back at the Saratoga resort, I was so sad that it was our last night all together. It was so adorable watching the way Avinash responded to everybody. My mom is always trying to teach him different things. She started out with the jeeb game- sticking your tongue out basically, then moved on to making clicking noises with your tongue and the roof of your mouth, making raspberry sounds and now blowing bubbles. Well, Avinash was just so excited to blow bubbles whenever he was with her that he would drool all over himself in his attempts to show her how well he could do it. He was really quite pround of himself. And of course, I have never heard Avi talk so much as when he is with my Dad. He just looks up at him and knows he has found a kindred spirit.
And when we had gotten home from the early that day, I pushed the stroller in the common room with a sleeping Avinash in it and walked into our little bedroom for a minute. When I came back I couldn't find him anywhere. I walked all around the suite trying to remember what I had done with him, then I walked into Anuj's room to find him cuddling up in the bed with football on. "The baby wanted to watch the game with me."
We had bought Anuj these red pajamas as a joke for his birthday a few months prior, and so when I found a similar one for the baby I of course had to buy it. I told my mom to bring Anuj's red pajamas along so they could wearing matching outfits, but didn't think he would go for it. Can you believe that he did! He happily dressed up to match the baby and I even have pictures to prove it. I think that Avinash is probably the reason why Anuj took time out of work to come on the trip, our first family trip in years. Avinash definitely loved hanging out with his Mamaji and would obligingly stick his tongue out whenever he saw him. After so much attention, I hope he doesn't feel lonely when we get back home.



Day 5

Our last day at Disney World, very sad. We thought about just relaxing at the resort in the morning since we had to leave for the airport in the afternoon, but we pretty quickly decided that we had better go to Hollywood Studios one last time. We met up with my friends Jess and Dean, who had just gotten engaged. Originally we had planned on getting breakfast or brunch, but instead made them ride the new Toy Story ride with us 3 times in a row, followed by Rock'n'Roller Coaster (that was just because my mom said that the vibrations of that ride felt like a good neck massage). We had tons of fun, but I think Jess was a little surprised by the number of food breaks that the Kumar family makes. We then rushed to a quick Beauty and the Beast show and that was it.

After a nightmare flight home, involving long lines, flight delays, a last minute gate change leading us to almost miss our flight, no one letting us sit together, no extra seat for the baby, a disgusting layover in New Orleans, and lost luggage, we finally made it home. Sigh. And back to work at 5am the next day. Being back home feels surreal, but I do still have this amazing feeling of happiness with me.
Even though, as everyone keeps telling me, Avinash will probably never remember this trip, we all had some amazing memories with him and I am so blessed that I got to spend so much time with my whole family! Hopefully, he won't be too embarrassed by these pictures when he's older ;)