Team Renfroe's 2nd Trip Report - 1,500 pictures, dining reviews, and DISmeets!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Alan-nice update!

I was thinking about your business when DH announced he wanted to eat at Grey's Papaya for lunch the day before we fly to Disney (we'll be in NY for the day...)DD & I want to do something different and I'm not a big fan of the hot dog and papaya juice combo-now if it were one of those chili dogs on your menu...

I must be one of the only people who have been to Disney in the last ten years who has missed Le Cellier and dinner at Ohana-we did the breakfast there with Lilo and Stitch-it was great fun... (I do like Kona and Boma very much...)

I said it before and I'll say it again-your kids look like such sweethearts...

Looking forward to your report on EE and Yak and Yeti-it''ll be my first time for both of those in 2 weeks...

BTW-What exactly is in a Grand Marnier Slushie-I saw those back further in your TR-and I think one is calling my name...

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great Photopass pics!
I never realized the easiest way to EE was through Dinoland, but that makes much more sense, thanks for the tip!

 

[MagicShell]

Your photo pass pictured turned out nicely. EE is also my 2nd favorite ride, behind TOT.

 

[stepdisney]

Yay another update!!! I was getting hungry and I wanted to know when we would be eating again. We leave in 3 weeks and I love your reviews. I can't wait to eat at 'Ohana's and my DSIL will be eating at Yak & Yeti for the 1st time for either of us. Can't wait to read your review .

 

[ckdsnynt]

Hey Alan-nice update!

I was thinking about your business when DH announced he wanted to eat at Grey's Papaya for lunch the day before we fly to Disney (we'll be in NY for the day...)DD & I want to do something different and I'm not a big fan of the hot dog and papaya juice combo-now if it were one of those chili dogs on your menu...

I must be one of the only people who have been to Disney in the last ten years who has missed Le Cellier and dinner at Ohana-we did the breakfast there with Lilo and Stitch-it was great fun... (I do like Kona and Boma very much...)

I said it before and I'll say it again-your kids look like such sweethearts...

Looking forward to your report on EE and Yak and Yeti-it''ll be my first time for both of those in 2 weeks...

BTW-What exactly is in a Grand Marnier Slushie-I saw those back further in your TR-and I think one is calling my name...

Nope, I have been umpteen times and never eaten at either one! Either we have no class/taste or we have been unlucky with adrs!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Can't wait to see all that you got done in AK during EMH! I noticed the Capt. Hiram's shirt you had on...a good friend of mine used to work there! In fact, she is my daughter's godmother! That's so funny! She is originally from PA and moved to Fla in 1999.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

What adorable family photopass pictures. I especially like the one with all of you "growling" like animals! And as others have said I continue to be impressed with at least how well it seems your kids get along. You'd never shots like that of my brother and I from back in the day.

Thanks for the tip on accessing EE via Dinoland!

Looking forward to more!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Yay!! A Team Renfroe update. I still don't know how you are fitting this in with everything else you've got going on but I'm happy you are!

Me either! I'm totally committed to this trip report. It is much farther between updates than I would like, but I do them as I get a chance. I'm starting to get more personnel in place at the restaurant, so maybe the updates will begin to come faster now.

Hooray, just logged on and saw you had a fresh new post! Love the photopass pics. I laughed when I saw how Wil was not as hip to the growl face pic as the rest of u guys are. The posture in his hands just don't say "I am so excited to be taking this picture."

Hahaha....yeah, that picture of Wil is classic. That's a 12-yr-old for you....too cool to hang out with his nerdy parents and pesky sis.

Oh dear, I am late to starting this one, but I'm subbing. My Dd16 told me "sub" to this one mom, it's great, so here I am.

Now I'm going to actually go and read your report

Cool! Welcome aboard...and tell your 16-yr-old we said thanks!

Will do Kat!

Alan, great update! i want one of those pics of me holding baby simba LOL

Juliana really got a kick out of that picture! We had that same pic made last year, but we didn't purchase the PhotoPass pics. This year, we knew what to expect, so we hammed it up full on.

Hi Alan! Great Update !! The PP pix were great I love Juliannna holding Simba and Elizabeth does a FIERCE ROAR!!!!!!

Yeah, Elizabeth really got into character, didn't she!!! Maybe she was just expressing some repressed emotions from hanging out with the rest of us all week!

Congratulations!!! I'm happy for you!!

Another great update Alan!! Can't wait for your Y&Y review. I made Sept. reservations based on your reviews from last year!!

Great photopass pics, and the one of the kids in front of the AK sign is great!!

Here's a spoiler alert - LOVE Y&Y! Our service was not very good this time....but the food more than made up for it.

Starting reading your report last evening and I am hooked, FABULOUS!! I love TR with tons of pics and yours is delivering in a big way. Can't wait for more

SUBBING

So cool! Welcome aboard! Lots and lots more pictures to come.

Hey Alan-nice update!

I was thinking about your business when DH announced he wanted to eat at Grey's Papaya for lunch the day before we fly to Disney (we'll be in NY for the day...)DD & I want to do something different and I'm not a big fan of the hot dog and papaya juice combo-now if it were one of those chili dogs on your menu...

I must be one of the only people who have been to Disney in the last ten years who has missed Le Cellier and dinner at Ohana-we did the breakfast there with Lilo and Stitch-it was great fun... (I do like Kona and Boma very much...)

I said it before and I'll say it again-your kids look like such sweethearts...

Looking forward to your report on EE and Yak and Yeti-it''ll be my first time for both of those in 2 weeks...

BTW-What exactly is in a Grand Marnier Slushie-I saw those back further in your TR-and I think one is calling my name...

I love Grey's Papaya! The first time I heard of it was in the movie "Fool's Rush In." When I found out that I could have them shipped to Alabama, I was thrilled! We are selling about 600 of those a week right now...and they are not our best sellers! (Our best seller is....you guessed it....the basic original chili dog.)

We did the 'Ohana breakfast last year and loved it. If you get a chance, definitely try the dinner. I just really like the vibe at the Poly and at 'Ohana.

Thanks for the kind comments about our kids. I think they are the best kids ever. The only trouble we ever have with them is fighting EACH OTHER.

Woohoo for you on your trip in 2 weeks! Expedition Everest is absolutely amazing. There are taller, faster, and scarier roller coasters out there than EE....but none that are as unique. I could ride that ride over and over and over again.

I can't recall what is exactly in the Grand Marnier slushie, but it is pretty much Grand Marnier and a basic orange slush. Very, VERY good! You MUST try!

Great Photopass pics!
I never realized the easiest way to EE was through Dinoland, but that makes much more sense, thanks for the tip!

Someone had given us that tip and it really works. We will use that route from now on.

Your photo pass pictured turned out nicely. EE is also my 2nd favorite ride, behind TOT.

Oh, ToT.... Good one! It is probably my 3rd fav. It's hard to pick favorites between EE, ToT, and RnRC for me. Those are literally the best three rides I've ever been on.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Yay another update!!! I was getting hungry and I wanted to know when we would be eating again. We leave in 3 weeks and I love your reviews. I can't wait to eat at 'Ohana's and my DSIL will be eating at Yak & Yeti for the 1st time for either of us. Can't wait to read your review .

Here's a preview - Yak & Yeti is wonderful...if you order the right things. My review will be coming up soon.

Nope, I have been umpteen times and never eaten at either one! Either we have no class/taste or we have been unlucky with adrs!

I KNOW it is not because you have no class/taste! Must be those unlucky ADRs!

Can't wait to see all that you got done in AK during EMH! I noticed the Capt. Hiram's shirt you had on...a good friend of mine used to work there! In fact, she is my daughter's godmother! That's so funny! She is originally from PA and moved to Fla in 1999.

No way! I LOVE that place! We had a timeshare at Oyster Pointe for a while and went to Sebastian in 2005 on vacation. I loved it! It was a very relaxing, type B vacation....and Capt. Hiram's is such a cool place. We ended up eating there three times in a week! Sebastian is like a well-kept secret, and I hoped it never gets overly spoiled by tourism.

What adorable family photopass pictures. I especially like the one with all of you "growling" like animals! And as others have said I continue to be impressed with at least how well it seems your kids get along. You'd never shots like that of my brother and I from back in the day.

Thanks for the tip on accessing EE via Dinoland!

Looking forward to more!

Thanks, Christine! I wish our son and daughter could get along at home the way they do at Disney.

Accessing EE through Dinoland is definitely the way to go! Just take the right into DinoLand, then stay on the left path that leads you along the river, past Finding Nemo: The Musical. It is a much less crowded than the walk through Asia.

 

[karajeboo]

Ooooh, I love EE too!!! Very excited to hear about Y&Y as that place just does not interest me.... yet!

 

[alan_renfroe]

The Animal Kingdom is such a visually pleasing theme park. If there were more rides and attractions, I think it would be my favorite. It is so uniquely beautiful and I'm amazed at the attention to detail.

As we entered the park on this day, we walked around Dinoland to get to Asia and the entrance to Expedition Everest.

The weather was definitely overcast - and we fully expected rain at any time. The forecast had been calling for rain all week....but so far it had only rained during the evening. We had a rain-free day at Hollywood Studios on Saturday, a rain-free day at Epcot on Sunday, and now it was Monday at Animal Kingdom and it still had not rained. We were having a GREAT time!

Being that last year was our very first trip to Disney World, we sort of breezed by everything quickly. This year, I was determined to "stop and smell the roses" a little more. The que line for Expedition Everest is amazing! It really sets the tone for the ride. I never want to stand in long lines for anything....but I don't think I would mind standing in line for EE. (Fortunately, however, we did NOT have to stand in a very long line at all!)

Finally, we get to ride! Last year, Juliana would not ride EE....but this year, she was brave and decided to ride.

As always, Expedition Everest was AMAZING!! Wil, Elizabeth, and I LOVED it and immediately wanted to ride again. Juliana....not so much. She did not like the part where you go backwards into the mountain. She said it made here stomach feel funny. Oh well - I guess she'll have to sit this one out next time. Anyway, after riding, we got four FastPasses to ride again later.

After Expedition Everest, we began our walk from one side of the park to the other. We walked through Asia to Africa, where our next experience would be the Kilimanjaro Safari. I took several pictures along the way:

Coming up next - Africa and Kilimanjaro Safaris

 

[englishrose47]

I te theretoo Alan !! Somebody recommended it !!! Oh that would be YOU!!I ant say what I had but it was GOOD!!!! Ithink I ordered the recommended desset !!!!!!

 

[englishrose47]

Great Update Alan !! My favorite at AK is Safari!!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

We continued our walk to Africa and made pictures along the way:

It was already hot - and starting to get a little crowded.

We made it to the front of the line in very little time! But then everything just stopped for awhile. The policy on Kilimanjaro Safaris is that the animals have the right of way. Apparently, there was an entire heard crossing one of the pathways and the safari vehicles just stopped for about 20 minutes.

Finally, things were moving again and we were on our way!

Coming up next - more scenes from the Kilimanjaro Safari

 

[alan_renfroe]

Pictures are worth a thousand words....so I'll just post the pictures for this chapter. Sit back and enjoy the safari!

(continued in next post)

 

[KatMark]

Yes, updates! Hooray. Anxious for your review of Yak & Yeti--we loved it last year--it was our second favorite meal of the trip. We'll miss it this year but, as we are only going for three nights/four days, we are skipping AK all together this trip. Alan, started a little pre-trip report if you want to take a peak when you have a minute.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249942

 

[alan_renfroe]

Coming up next, The Festival of the Lion King, and later, lunch at Yak & Yeti.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Alan, you are killing me here! I wanna read about this Yak and yeti business! thanks for another awesome picture filled filled update though!

 

[Welshcakes]

Hiya, I've caught up with everything and I must say it looks like you are all having a GREAT time. You've taken some lovely photos and I feel as if i'm on my hols too.

Now get back to selling those yummy hot dogs of yours!! Ha HaHa Ha

Hope all is going well for you.

Can't wait for more.

Welshcakes

 

[ckdsnynt]

Alan : I am so enjoying your TR. Know how much I am enjoying it? Twice as much as everyone else! Why, you ask? Because of the firewall we have on our computers at work! I can't see any of your pictures so I have to read the TR at work and then go home and re-read it and look at the pcitures and match the words up with the pics! So, I get to enjoy it twice as much as everyone else!