Basking in the Glow of the (not so) Creepy Clown -2/11-Pictures, Final Thoughts, PTR!

[MRYPPNS]

Brook do you have any pictures of th clear stroller bag?

I like how at the petting "farm" the animals can actually get away from the kids if they want by just going into the roped off areas.....you don't see that at the country fair!

Next time you visit....take a visit into the bathroom there...you and Joe will get a kick out of the stalls.

 

[Poolrat]

Great news for 15 days!!!!

I love CS. I have made the first train out there to check the board for animal examinations or surgeries. I not gotten lucky with a real great find but maybe someday.

 

[jenjolt]

Now I have to comment on your update!! First of all it amazes me how big Henry is getting! He sure is growing up isn't he!!! He is such a handsome guy!! Glad he enjoyed petting the animals and his first visit to Planet Watch! I always try to get back there because its just so cool!!!

 

[disney<333]

I know! I'm so bummed!!!!! The meet with you and MeMom and crew were serious factors in switching our dates. I tried to make it work, but it just wasn't happening. DVC is BOOKED starting the 13th.

I know your dates are better than mine crowd wise. I thought about moving up the trip to avoid the Spring Break crowds but that would mean missing a lot of school and work. I thought it wouldn't be too bad since Easter is the end of April in 2011.
I know that the spring break afternoon park crowds are really bad. My plan is to get to the park at RD, stay until around 12 and then I have a lunch ADR or we have plans outside of the park and then we'll come back around 4 for dinner and night time fun.
During our NJ trip every summer we always take the bus to NYC a few times so maybe we can plan a meet for the new interactive Disney Store or something.
I love your Animal Kingdom pictures. I need to get back to Rafiki's. We haven't had nice AK weather in a while now. I'm always hiding the camera or going through puddles quickly that I never notice all the little details.

 

[claryche]

Great update. Looking forward to the boneyard and the Flights of Wonder, because we have never done either of those.

15 days, I'm so jealous. But excited too because you are going to be there when we might be there. That is if I can twist my DH's arm into another trip so close to our November one. It would be cool though if we were there at the same time and could meet up.

 

[MeMom]

Cute!

and of course Disney has a dump shop out there, so we had to shop!

This shop does have some unique things. I might be able to use some of my classroom money there in a few weeks.

Shortly after we decided to head out - there was a bunch of stuff we didn't check out, but we can just save that for the next trip! We really enjoyed our time there, it was a very different experience, and Henry had a blast petting the animals. We will definitely be back to Planet Watch again. I'd like to see some of the animal care they do back there next time.

We love Rafiki's place.

As per my "3 Things" list we had the Boneyard or Flights of Wonder to conquer...where should we go next?

Whichever - bring on the pictures! You are in one of my very favorite parks.

Next time you visit....take a visit into the bathroom there...you and Joe will get a kick out of the stalls.

Yes, you need to know the scoop on poop.

Great news for 15 days!!!!

I love CS. I have made the first train out there to check the board for animal examinations or surgeries. I not gotten lucky with a real great find but maybe someday.

Remember my bestest one ever? The tiger!

We try to get there early and hope to catch more good viewings in the future. Such a rare opportunity for children and adults to see things like that! Very cool.

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

I can't wait to see Animal Kingdom from Henry's view. I have debated on letting Brooklynn take her camera. I might take it in October.

 

[MaryAz]

A big congrats for 15 days!!! I will be so looking forward to that TR!! great AK pics. We also really liked going out there. Plan to spend more time there in Dec.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

So much fun in AK!
I can't believe that Henry put Squirt back, most little ones just want it now and can't even think about what could be coming later....

As for swimming in Feb/March, it could have so much to do with sun and wind. I would think especially when you are at Boardwalk if you have lots of sun and not really cold temps you would be fine!
I really wanted to try out the slide on our March trip so I went for it. Brrrrr until I hit the pool, the water was nice and warm. Getting out, another story!

 

[MHTeacher]

Well, thanks to your wonderful links, I have just read through your TR! So much to say....

First, what a magical first day you had at Disney! Your room at BW looked really pretty, and you can't beat the location. Love that Henry was tall enough for Soarin' and what's with a five minute wait? Crazy---I'd been right in that line too!

I love that you planned three things for each day. No rushing around, just relaxing and taking it easy. After that NYE trip, it's nice to relax, isn't it?

I am extremely jealous of 15 days for your March trip.

 

[moparop]

15 days!!! Goodness gracious! That sounds a-maz-ing! And such great resort choices too!

I love your day at AK so far. Taking it easy and enjoying the sights. I know Doug would love Rafiki's. I have a feeling if we went in, he would not want to ever leave! His two favorite things are learning and animals!

 

[DisMomAmy]

We've only been out to Planet Watch once & it was a long time ago... probably 2002?? It looks pretty much the same from your pictures.

I'm impressed that Henry did so well with the goats. My boys (especially DS9) are scared of them. Henry looks like he lives on a farm and sees goats every day.

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a fun morning! Being able to get ready while sweet Henry was sleeping, Henry eating muffins while watching Mickey's Clubhouse, and heading off to Animal Kingdom are all wonderful!

I took a million pictures of the train station and train in Africa, too! I adored the theming there!

I am in love with the picture of Henry taking the picture of the goats in the petting zoo! So cute!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Oh my goodness, I'm sooo late to this TR! I just saw the link in your sig on my TR!!

Only at arrival but I have to say, your little boy is just so adorable! And your view from your room is gorgeous! I would have totally cried too!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Ok, I'm caught up! I didn't miss too much after all!

I love Animal Kingdom and all your pictures of the little details in that park are just beautiful! I don't think many people "get it" but you really have to slow down and look around to truly enjoy AK!

I have never seen that plaque either! Where is it!! I must find it next time.

 

[MeMom]

I love your day at AK so far. Taking it easy and enjoying the sights. I know Doug would love Rafiki's. I have a feeling if we went in, he would not want to ever leave! His two favorite things are learning and animals!

If I could pick up and go (and still have the same basic hours, pay, and benefits) working at Rafiki's Planet Watch/Conservation Station would be my ideal job. Since I can't, kids like Doug will be my ideal students!

I bet he and I could spend a couple of very fun hours out there.
If we ever have trips that overlap in Disney World, that's where we'll plan to meet.

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

You're excitement for your disney day must have woken you up! I am always like that in disney

I agree the bus sharing wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! There were some late nights though where I just wanted to go back to the room and sleep and of course we were the last stop

Cute picture of you and Henry with the Animal Kingdom sign!

I have never noticed the Animal Kingdom plaque either

Sounds like you all had a great time at Rafiki's! It is such a nice place to go check out to get away from the heat!

Can't wait to hear about where you went next!

 

[blessedby3]

Wow Brook, that Planet Watch looks awsome!! Out of all our AK trips, we have not ever done Planet Watch. Guess we will be doing that when we go in May. Not sure why we have never done it
Great update! I love the pictures of little Henry taking pictures So cute. Im glad you are feeling better too. Thanks for the help with linking my tr in my siggy. I am going to have dh help me figure that out today! Crossing my fingers we can do it! Thanks again

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I love to hear about about March! The crowd levels and 1 and 2! I LOVE THAT. That is what we had in September too. How was the weather then? We froze when we went in January, so it better be warmer by late Feb/early March, but PopArtGirl has me worried about freezing in March!

I hadn't heard that about the slide, a bit of a bummer, but H is still too little to go down on his own, so it will just be Joe and I out of luck. I only hit it once this past trip and Joe did 2 or 3 times. I think we'll be alright, espeically since we have 7 following days at BLT.

And speaking of BLT, according to the CM on the phone there is "plenty of lagoon view left for your dates." Monorail. Top of the World Lounge. Walking to MK. Wishes.

Just sayin'.



I am SO EXCITED to meet you!!!!!!!!! We should do a Kona Coffee meet! (or if you do end up at BLT, we can meet WHEREVER! Top of the World?! Seriously, I'm starting to dance in my chair! )

I really think it will a lovely time for you guys! The weather can still be a little fickle but it should be 35 degrees like it was this past January

You must have gotten lucky with your BLT reservation because it seems that our dates aren't available I can take the last 3 nights lake view but that begs the question of what to do with the first night! UGH! I'm torn! I could just leave well enough alone and stay with Boardwalk!

We definitely should do a Kona Coffee meet!!!!! I think a whole breakfast might be fun I know DD will LOVE Henry!

I love your update! Ryan was so excited to see Henry in the same "jammies" he has!

It sound like you had a fabulous time at the Planet Watch! We haven't been back there since 05! We may have to give it another try! Especially because it's a train ride! Ryan is all about trains!

 

[photographymom517]

Great AK update!!!

I know what you mean...there were mornings on our trip when we were up early but felt bad making Luke miss his favorite Disney cartoons! He was just so content sitting there so we figured why make him leave early when he's not ready to. He's in the stage where its so much easier to make him do something if its "his own idea." If I suggest something to him (like, why don't we get ready to leave now), then wait a few minutes and ask him the same thing again, he usually shakes his head "yes" and will go to the door! I'm so not ready for him to be grown up!

I loved the pictures of Henry at Rafiki's Planet Watch!!! So very cute! I know that alot of people skip it or don't care for it, but we find it to be relaxing & of course Luke loves the petting area! He also likes looking at the snakes (which mommy does NOT like! lol) We got to see Rafiki, Pocahontas, and Jiminy Cricket this trip! I was excited because last year, we missed all the characters there.

Those misting fans are the BEST on a hot, humid day!!! My husband and I took turns using them every chance we got! It was over 95 every day (with humidity it felt over 100) so we'd dry within 2 seconds! Unfortunately, Luke was terrified of them (especially the Coke bottle & Fire engine at DHS!) so sometimes, we had to literally RUN away from them as fast as we could! People probably thought we were crazy, but he would scream because he was so afraid. I started "watching out" for them at one point during our trip just so he wouldn't see them.

I love all the little details you find in the parks!!! I never noticed most of the signs you took pictures of, so I'm glad you included them in your report!

And...last...but of course not least...CONGRATS!!!! on your 15 day trip!!! That is amazing & I am thrilled for you guys!!!!

I never went at the beginning of March so I'm not sure about the weather. I have heard from others (same as people are reporting to you) that the evenings/nights are chilly but its still warm during the day. We went the last week of March (last year) and it was sooo hot! We wore tank tops & shorts everyday. Although I do remember a few evenings when I would bring along a hoodie for all of us, so it was still a little chilly.

Can't wait to read more of your report! And I hope that you are feeling better. I think something is going around with the weather changing all of a sudden in the Eastern US. We were all sick a few weeks ago. Yesterday the thermostat in our house said 89...today it says 67...yikes! What a change in just one day!

Have a good weekend!