Four Families, One World: A Mome Rath Meets Beverly! May 29-June 5, 2011

[daisyyy]

Just saying Hi!

I want to catch up and read the whole thing... but I haven't had the chance.. I know there will be a ton of pictures which I LOVE to look at.. and your kids are adorable too.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey Jenn! I'm so glad you remembered about Characterpalooza! Lovin' the shots......... Chip and Dale fighting with the pens is adorable.

And of course you know I'm loving your son in his P/F costume (can you believe I don't know them apart???????) And how funny that he looked like Smee too!

The kids are ALL just as cute as can be. I'm not sure if I can keep reading. It's making MY kids look so old.....The boys were 4 and 6 when we took them to Disney for the first time..... one whole day in the Magic Kingdom. Can you believe I only took ONE roll of film that day????? My how times have changed.......

So let me get this straight.... you don't do motion simulator rides...... but you WILL do ToT???????? That's the one ride I just don't care to do again. I've done it twice now. That's a fair chance, right??????

You better get cracking...... sounds like life is ready to explode again for you......

Have a safe and happy 4th!

 

[jenseib]

Great character shots. I hope to get there some day too. I know fantasmic is playing every day whe nI am there this summer, so my guess is there will be no character palooza then

 

[mom2rtk]

Great character shots. I hope to get there some day too. I know fantasmic is playing every day whe nI am there this summer, so my guess is there will be no character palooza then

Jen,

Here is the info I pulled out of another thread. It really messed with my schedule the week we want to go. Since it's December all the Fantasmic showings are at 6:30, so definitely no Characterpalooza those days. I don't know when it shows when you're there, but since it's summer and gets dark later, I bet you'll be fine:



Originally Posted by mymouse
Here is the schedule that was posted before on the dis-

The studios unofficial schedule which seems dead on accurate is posted here, for the first time on DIS I think-thanks to RAXIP:

The are no characters if the first Fant! starts before 7:30pm.
When the first show is at:
7:30- one 20min set at 4:45
8:00- three 20min sets starting at 4:50
8:30- two 30min sets
9:00- four 25min sets (two groups w/ two sets each)
When there is no Fant! there will be four 30min sets starting at 4:50pm

 

[jenseib]

Jen,

Here is the info I pulled out of another thread. It really messed with my schedule the week we want to go. Since it's December all the Fantasmic showings are at 6:30, so definitely no Characterpalooza those days. I don't know when it shows when you're there, but since it's summer and gets dark later, I bet you'll be fine:



Originally Posted by mymouse
Here is the schedule that was posted before on the dis-

The studios unofficial schedule which seems dead on accurate is posted here, for the first time on DIS I think-thanks to RAXIP:

The are no characters if the first Fant! starts before 7:30pm.
When the first show is at:
7:30- one 20min set at 4:45
8:00- three 20min sets starting at 4:50
8:30- two 30min sets
9:00- four 25min sets (two groups w/ two sets each)
When there is no Fant! there will be four 30min sets starting at 4:50pm

I think it's at 9 PM each night

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

This is actually take two... I had a lovely response ALL TYPED OUT and the daggone dial-up ate it...

You hit the jackpot for characters in the Animation Academy! I was told by a CM (you probably already know this) that sometimes when Fantasmic is showing there's more unusual characters in there, and that seems to have been the case for your trip. Awesome!

I'd love to catch more of the rare characters! I think E would faint if we caught Max! I consider us extremely lucky to have met the Witch Hag last fall, so I think all my luck was spent then.

So I'm not gonna lie, having heard about teh trip through teh phone and having such quick updates is leaving me.. well speechless I know.. right!

I get what you ask and I don't appreciate, or I do I am just running out of ways to saw AWESOME and LOVIN' IT


keep it coming

Love all the characterpolza pics! We did that and it was a nice break to just relax and wait to see everyone.
So the new Star Wars ride makes a person dizzy Huh? Good to know my DH & I get motion sickenss pretty easily.

I have found that I'm really sensitive to the simulator rides. There are even parts of Soarin' that start to get me and I know where they are so I know when to look away.

I guess with Star Tours that there are parts of pod races that are real doozies, so yeah... looks like it's definitely out. Star Tours at DLR put me down for at least an hour. It was not pretty!

Just saying Hi!

I want to catch up and read the whole thing... but I haven't had the chance.. I know there will be a ton of pictures which I LOVE to look at.. and your kids are adorable too.

Thanks! :

Hey Jenn! I'm so glad you remembered about Characterpalooza! Lovin' the shots......... Chip and Dale fighting with the pens is adorable.

And of course you know I'm loving your son in his P/F costume (can you believe I don't know them apart???????) And how funny that he looked like Smee too!

The kids are ALL just as cute as can be. I'm not sure if I can keep reading. It's making MY kids look so old.....The boys were 4 and 6 when we took them to Disney for the first time..... one whole day in the Magic Kingdom. Can you believe I only took ONE roll of film that day????? My how times have changed.......

So let me get this straight.... you don't do motion simulator rides...... but you WILL do ToT???????? That's the one ride I just don't care to do again. I've done it twice now. That's a fair chance, right??????

You better get cracking...... sounds like life is ready to explode again for you......

Have a safe and happy 4th!

The boy's heads loosely resemble the first letter of their first names.

I know I'll be there with you in a few years, looking back over these photos and reminiscing over the past. I just hope that when it comes that time, they still appreciate the parks!

ToT doesn't bother me. It's simulators and spinners. Any coaster that has a really tight turn (kind of like a screw) get me too. They really throw my brain off.

Great character shots. I hope to get there some day too. I know fantasmic is playing every day whe nI am there this summer, so my guess is there will be no character palooza then

I've been waiting for the reports from the summer, but I've not seen anything yet.

It looks like Janet found one though! If there's a character around, I bet'cha we'll find them!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE
DAY!


To all our troops serving, discharged, or retired and to the families that support their efforts. To all those that we have lost when they made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,

THANK YOU

for all that you do!​

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Our aim was to get to AK early to make the most of our day. Once we crossed through the gates, we were greeted by little plexiglass boxes full of bugs, and some of the bug’s keeper to educate anyone who care to listen about their little friends. The boys ran from box to box while Norma grabbed an EVC and a new GAC since the one we had yesterday was only good for yesterday.

After Norma got hers, I went to get one as well.

For those of you who have not been following my December 2011 PTR, I have been having major knee issues. Extreme swelling, lots of pain, and the inability to trust that it won’t slip out of place (great instability). In short, I’ve had trouble with stairs (unable to climb them) and the ability to stand for long periods of time. I saw a orthopedic specialist the week after our trip and the diagnosis is that I WILL need a full knee replacement in the future. I have bone spurs in the knee joint, arthritis, my meniscus is completely screwed (not torn, but severely deteriorated), and I have the beginning of a Baker’s cyst – as Baker’s cysts grow, they cause pain and the presence of one is an indication that a knee joint is on its way out.

My biggest piece of advice here… DO NOT REQUEST A GAC AT AK…

The CMs in Guest Relations didn’t want to give me one at all. They told me that the lines were mainstreamed (I despise that word…) and I should utilize FP when possible. They did the same to Norma. She has a severely displaced hip. Long distances, inclines, and stairs are pretty much a no-no for her. Now, I’m sure you are asking why did we need 2 GAC passes? Let me share our reasoning behind it.

1) the max 1 GAC can accommodate is 6 people. There were 9 in our party and we didn’t want to be “that guy” that tried to sneak in extra people

2) we both needed accommodations

3) we wouldn’t always being doing the same thing.

Long story short, this was not an acceptable solution. The GAC they did give me didn’t do anything to help me out. I left the park that day in the most pain I have been in since I had my kids.

That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Since our group had momentarily split [again] we chose the Tree of Life for the rendezvous point. We had some group shots taken to utilize our Photopass use. Again, we haven’t received our disc yet, so you will eventually see that my kids really don’t like other people taking their picture…

Our first attraction of the day was Kilimanjaro Safari. I have done KS in the later afternoon and after the rain – this was my first go at the most recommended time of the day!

I love the safari. I think it’s an amazing feat to put together that type of an exhibit. Today was little different. We have always ridden in the front of the truck. This go we were in the middle. I never realized how bumpy the middle is! Therefore, a good chunk of my photos were blurry, despite my best effort to keep my shutter speed high. This trip was the FIRST time that we’ve ever seen the giraffes up close. Usually they are back in the trees when we’ve gone before! We didn’t see many of the Tommys or the cattle and we only caught 1 lion. We did get a peek of an ostrich, but it was in the back of the exhibit as well.

My favorite part of safari is the hippo section.

Now, one thing that I DID notice new on this trip is the number of buildings that I never saw before.

Am I thick or did these just pop up?

Anyway… after leaving our adventure on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, one of my favorite things about AK is the theming. You cannot beat the detail they put into this park.

I snapped these while the kids made masks just outside the path out of KS. This is also where we discovered Disney’s other best kept secret.

I turned the mask over to tie the elastic strap on the back. I noticed a little manufacturer label on it. It said Oriental Trading. I just about fell over and started laughing. Disney’s best kept secret!!!

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I didn't know your knee was that bad, what about december? Am I going to have to push you around again and get to go in the handicap line and stay on rides I'm not sure if I can handle doing that again

As per the building those are where the Safari Trek people partake in lunch after their "safari."

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I didn't know your knee was that bad, what about december? Am I going to have to push you around again and get to go in the handicap line and stay on rides I'm not sure if I can handle doing that again

As per the building those are where the Safari Trek people partake in lunch after their "safari."

I don't know right now. I got shot up with cortisone the Monday that we got back. For 3 days I had 2 knees again but the WORST pain while the medicine kicked in.

It's starting to swell up and is extremely unstable still so a call into the specialist is back in order.

I figured those buildings were part of the Africa Trek but geez! Those weren't there in September... were they?

 

[TarzansKat]

Love the pictures in your Animal Kingdom update! So many, so pretty, so bright! Obviously it's not taking much to thrill me this morning, ooooo, pretty picture! Seriously, it looks like a lot of fun and I'm sorry they weren't more accomodating. That's a bummer.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I don't know right now. I got shot up with cortisone the Monday that we got back. For 3 days I had 2 knees again but the WORST pain while the medicine kicked in.

It's starting to swell up and is extremely unstable still so a call into the specialist is back in order.

I figured those buildings were part of the Africa Trek but geez! Those weren't there in September... were they?

No they were not there in Dec., but really they look like they were made of twigs and sticks it has to be easy to build something like that

Hope your knee gets better, but in truth I don't mind if I have to push you again, it will make me slow down

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

It's not bad enought for that... yet!

If there isn't resolution by then, I will get another GAC to help with the stairs and queues with more-than-normal inclines.

I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

From there, we made a jaunt over to Kali to take the kids for a cooling off spin. We passed a huge crowd blocking the walk way to find DeVine doing her thing. I love AK, but I’ll have to say, this is part of my biggest complaint of that park… there isn’t much room if there is a crowd along the path. We made it over to Kali and checked the kids for the height requirement. All the kids but Bella made the cut height-wise. We didn’t get too wet, except DD’s rear got soaked. I was smart and packed a change of clothes for each kid. DS was fine, but we did a complete change for DD.

My family was the only one that had never been back to Rafiki’s Planet Watch so we decided to board the Wildlife Express back to the area.

While inside the building, we saw Rafiki and Jiminy Cricket. We didn’t stop for Rafiki but we definitely lined up for Jiminy.

We took the kids around the viewing windows where some of our friends from the morning were on display. From there, we went to brush some goats!

We had a bit of a time after we got back there (Uncle Murphy was knocking again). Both boys took off at one point. I found Prince Philip running around inside the building – he took off to trade pins. DS took off to go back inside the affection section after we decided to leave for the day. We were lucky that the boys didn’t have very far to go being that it is a pretty contained area but still. It didn’t make things any less stressful. We boarded the train again and headed back to civilization.

I asked the group if we could go find the baby gorilla, Lilly, so off to Pangini we went. There, we found another hippo that was VERY active for the daytime hours. The guy was HUGE!

Around the corner we pressed on to see my little friend! At 15 months, she is still really small, but the CM on the trail said that she FINALLY is considered in the “normal” range for adolescent gorillas. This little doll has had a very rough start. She was born early and has struggled with her health since day one. She was very active today. We were told that earlier that day, she had found a stick and was spinning around and around and around until she got so dizzy she fell over! Things were considerably subdued when we got to the exhibit. You can see “dad” was just chillin’.

And our little friend was busying herself with the toys in the exhibit.

Following our visit, we took a much needed potty break. We considered heading back to do Kali again, but heard some familiar sounds. It was the parade. There was NO way out of Africa at that time. For some reason where were, there was still a front row spot on the rope so I grabbed the boys and headed up to the parade route.

We decided to cash in our FPs for Kali that we grabbed during our first ride earlier in the day. Leia, Linzie, Norma, Philip, and I all piled into the queue (DS, DD, and Bella fell asleep). We barely got wet. More than slightly disappointed, we decided to have another go.

Have I ever mentioned that it is DANGEROUS to challenge the rafting gods???

There was not a DRY spot on either of us. We managed to get sideways going down the hill. Needless to say, a large wave came over the top – it cleared the top of the seats – and hit us square on.

On our way out, I needed to add park days to our tickets and I should have taken a clue from our earlier encounter with guest services…

We went back home and fired up our grill again and had a wonderful meal before turning in for the night.

 

[TarzansKat]

Aw! Baby gorilla! So. Stinkin. Cute!!!!

You really angered those water gods, eh? Did you squish all the way back home?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Aw! Baby gorilla! So. Stinkin. Cute!!!!

You really angered those water gods, eh? Did you squish all the way back home?

OIMGOSH yes! It even got into my shoes. Squishy shoes are so gross! I neglected to bring my flip flops for the journey... note for next time!

 

[TarzansKat]

OIMGOSH yes! It even got into my shoes. Squishy shoes are so gross! I neglected to bring my flip flops for the journey... note for next time!

Ewwww.....

I've gotten soaked on Kali before, but fortunately, I was wearing flip flops. Oddly enough, after that, it started raining. And then we got on the bus and it was POURING. Getting on a cold, air-conditioned Disney bus while you're soaking wet? Not the most pleasant experience.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I am SOOOOOO jealous you got your picture with Jimminy, he was my first "fav" character growing up

and you getting wet this is all I have to say

 

[21hearts]

Aww the baby gorilla is sooo adorable!