9 Days of Singin, Snorkelin,Soarin & Safari'in! APRIL/MAY @ AKL ! UPDATE 6/2

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here!!! I'm slowly attempting to catch up on the DIS after being absent for so long lately. Loving your report!! It makes me ache to be there...hopefully we'll swing a trip this year, or VERY early next year!!!!

Here are the boys on line:

"on line" that's a New York thing I just don't understand... But, I better get used to it, eh?

We leave TOMORROW morning for a flight out there for apartment hunting in Astoria! I'll be sure to tell the nabe you say hello.

 

[andrews1ma]

I'm here!!! I'm slowly attempting to catch up on the DIS after being absent for so long lately. Loving your report!! It makes me ache to be there...hopefully we'll swing a trip this year, or VERY early next year!!!!



"on line" that's a New York thing I just don't understand... But, I better get used to it, eh?

We leave TOMORROW morning for a flight out there for apartment hunting in Astoria! I'll be sure to tell the nabe you say hello.

Hey Brooke!!! Welcome back to the dis!!! I am so excited to here details on your adventures in apartment hunting! I hope you take some pics...hint hint...actually that's a request- Please take some pics!! I would love to see some old nabe pics.

You will get back to disney- I did and I really thought we never would have. If there is a will there's a way!!!

Good luck tomorrow, have a safe trip and I hope you dont have to "wait on any long lines" at the airport !

 

[Simba22]

Happy Friday everyone!

I just found your TR and I'm glad I did! I am really enjoying it so far and reading it gave me something to pass the time here at work for a little while!

I have a minor obsession with storms so I would be one of those people that loved that table at Ohana! I am happy that you guys were able to be moved somewhere a little calmer! We have only eaten at Ohana for breakfast before, but I have dinner there scheduled for our trip in October. I'm really excited about it!

It's funny you mention One Man's Dream...the first time I did that, the first thing out of my mouth when I saw the model castle was "now THAT'S a Barbie house!!" ::sigh:: I miss Barbie!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Just popping in to subscribe!

Love your TR so far. TSM is one of my favorites too. It's such a great ride. We took grandma like 6 months ago, and she's still talking about it!

Thanks for the description of One Man's Dream. We always pass it up, but it looks really cool. We'll have to check it out next time.

Can't wait to read more.

 

[Simba22]

Just popping in to subscribe!

Love your TR so far. TSM is one of my favorites too. It's such a great ride. We took grandma like 6 months ago, and she's still talking about it!

Thanks for the description of One Man's Dream. We always pass it up, but it looks really cool. We'll have to check it out next time.

Can't wait to read more.

I just want to say that I LOVE your user name! The Rescuers Down Under is one of my FAVORITE Disney movies!

 

[andrews1ma]

Happy Friday everyone!

I just found your TR and I'm glad I did! I am really enjoying it so far and reading it gave me something to pass the time here at work for a little while!

I have a minor obsession with storms so I would be one of those people that loved that table at Ohana! I am happy that you guys were able to be moved somewhere a little calmer! We have only eaten at Ohana for breakfast before, but I have dinner there scheduled for our trip in October. I'm really excited about it!

It's funny you mention One Man's Dream...the first time I did that, the first thing out of my mouth when I saw the model castle was "now THAT'S a Barbie house!!" ::sigh:: I miss Barbie!

Can't wait to read more!

Gosh Friday seems so far away at this point! Seriously where do the weekends go!

First off Welcome and I am glad you are enjoying so far. I wish I could Dis at work but we are not allowed to use the internet for anything but business related purposes. i am still trying to craft a way to incorporate Disney into the Credit Union's business needs!!!

Wouldnt those models have made the best Barbie play areas! Even the ship from Typhoon Lagoon. I imagined creating an island where barbie and her friends get ship wrecked on a dessert island!!! i so need a little girl!!!

the storm that is all I can say about that one!

Just popping in to subscribe!

Love your TR so far. TSM is one of my favorites too. It's such a great ride. We took grandma like 6 months ago, and she's still talking about it!

Thanks for the description of One Man's Dream. We always pass it up, but it looks really cool. We'll have to check it out next time.

Can't wait to read more.

I still cant believe I hadn't ridden TSM until that day- it kills me!!!

Glad you stopped in to say hello and I hope you are enjoying this little trip so far.

I have an update coming right up to finish out the day at DHS. Warning- long update and lots o' pics!

 

[andrews1ma]

Continuing on with our DHS day:


We decided to walk around a little because DHS has so many neat little finds. I love walking the back streets; it reminds me of home- my first home, NY. I love how they pipe in the sounds of the buses and horns, etc… because that is truly what NYC sounds like. The streets were empty which was nice. We took a few pics:

Grumpy has yet to find a good one of these in NC since moving from NY:

What ? no water ?

then we decided to sit for a few

and sat some more:

just a little tip- don’t sit too long cause it is really hard to get going again.



While we were sitting I checked out the show schedules and noticed something that I had read about on the boards that I heard was good. The “Mulch, Sweat and Shears” band. And they would be heading down the Streets of America, right where we sitting in just a few minutes. I told Grumpy about them and said we should just hang and wait to check it out. Andrew was not too keen on this idea

but we did anyway and boy were they worth it. These guys would end up being the highlight of Grumpy’s vacation. Seriously he said this was one of his fave’s of the vacation!



Grumpy thought he was being funny and kept making me repeat Mulch Sweat and Shears over and over- try it- you’ll see! He kept asking what the name of the bad was. grrrrr.

Finally we heard them coming

and they were a whole lot of funny!!! A lot of audience interaction Here is another time where I wished I had taken more pics. They played some great music- good ole rock and roll. They even played “Born to be Wild’ and the lead singer used a motorcycle prop that he had on the truck and pretended to ride the motorcycle around. I told Grumpy he should have borrowed that for his AI audition- he would have definitely gotten picked!



OK- bummer part coming up- once again I have failed you. During one of their songs the lead singer/band manager came over and picked me to come join the band. He handed me one of those blow up guitars and made me get up and rock out with them!.It was seriously the funniest thing. They had doing moves like rocking back and forth, playing the guitar behind my head, and for the finale- one of those jump up split moves. Then I had to pretend I was smashing the guitar! Since I was the keeper of the camera- I had it around my waist so only one pic was taken from Grumpy’s really ancient camera on his phone-

It is very teeny tiny- sorry but it is the best I can offer. I will say that if you butt your face up to the computer screen you may be able to make out the faint images of me holding the blue blow up guitar.

They were great and I highly recommend checking them out if you haven’t seen them yet.


Oh and I got to keep my guitar!




We walked around a little bit more and decided that we wanted to sit a little bit more so we checked the show times and Beauty and the Beast would be starting shortly. Yeah! I haven’t seen that in a long time- since Andrew was little. I absolutely love that show so I was game!

As we were heading that was there was some streetmosphere going on. These guys asked for my guitar and proceeded to serenade me to the tune of Oh Donna. Oh cause my name is Donna! It was funny!

I have some video but don’t know how to post it on here- any help on that?






They returned my guitar and we made our way over to B&tB





Here are some pictures from the show for anyone who has not seen it yet.

I had seen the original production of Beauty and the Beast on Broadway – Deborah Gibson played Belle- for all of you that were around in the 80’s!. This is such a beautiful shortened down version of the Broadway production. It made me smile!



Continued on next post.........

 

[andrews1ma]

Continued from last post.......




After the show stopped at Starring Rolls for a snack I had seen this on one of Memom’s TR’s and was craving one ever since!

It is a ginormous Butterfinger cupcake and it was amazing! We were able to cut it into 4 pieces and share. We also shared one of these:

We rode star tours after that - but you really shouldn't ride Star tours after devouring something that big. I felt queasy for bit after that- lesson learned!

We were still stuffed ( one of us stuffed an queasy) and needed to walk a bit more.





Andrew took a pic with this guy

Andrew really misses his northern snow- so this would have to suffice! I should keep that pic out during the winter for him.







Then we headed over to The Magic of Disney Animation. Another first for us. We had to do this fast as our ADR’s for 50’s Prime Time were coming up fast. We hurried over and as soon as we were seated I realized that I had dropped the Blue Guitar. Andrew was sad- I think I had mentioned before that he ahs this weird attachment to inanimate things. What kinda bothered me is that I am the type of person that if I see someone drop something I will chase him or her down like a looney to make sure they get their item back. No such luck here.

We did the animation show – which was a first for all of us and it was cute. I was truly looking forward to drawing a character but when we got to that area the doors were closed and the next session wouldn’t be starting for 20 minutes or so. We would have to skip it that night with the hopes of being able to do it on our next visit to DHS later on in the trip.



I did take a pic with this witch:

Can you tell which is witch!!!!


Now it was time for our dinner and we were looking forward to this. We ate here back in 2008 and it was one of our favorites.

50’s prime time:

we checked in and hung out in the waiting area:

We only had to wait a few and then we were called – we got a TV table!




Cousin Stacey was our server and she was great. She took a pic for us.

If you are planning on eating here I would request a TV table when you check in. You may have to wait a little longer but I think it’s worth it!

She ribbed Andrew a lot during the dinner to keep his elbows off the table and eat all his veggies or he couldn’t have any dessert.

Sorry no food pics but Grumpy had the Fried chicken- yummm! And I had the Pot Roast. I am usually not a meat eater but apparently this is their most popular dish and it was great. Really tender- I think it was served with mashed potatoes and some veggies. I cant remember what Andrew had- probably pizza.

While we were finishing dinner Andrew reminded us that we had to hurry to make it to the AI finale. This is the show where all of the winners from the day’s shows compete for the golden ticket prize. It is a fast pass to the front of the line at any national audition for the real American Idol Show-pretty cool!

We got our desserts-, I had the S’mores, which I had gotten the last time we were there, and they are my favorite! No pics. Grumpy got a cupcake, which I thought was weird since we had eaten 2 not too long ago. Andrew got the ice cream sundae. All were delish!

Now we had to literally run over to AI and made it in just before they closed the doors. The finale was awesome. The singers were amazing. There was a mom from Raleigh, NC that sang that sang “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas and I literally got chills. Before she sang they panned to her family in the audience, her husband and 2 little boys. I thought, wow, how amazed must those little boys be at their mama up on that big stage singing her heart out. She was my favorite and I did vote for her. She did not win though, because this other little 15 your old boy came out and sang Elton John’s Circle of Life and he got a standing ovation. The audience went nutso over him. He will be on the real AI, and I will remember him when I see him. His name was David Schwartzenberg....Andrew remembered that!



Here are some pics from the finale show, yes I broke some rules here, I am not afraid of going to the Disney Jail!

He is sitting in the front row, second from the right. The Raleigh, NC mom is sittin in the back row- right behind him- 2nd from right. She was just the sweetest thing!!






one of the judges was funny- she said he looked like a little puppy dog, and that he looked like he could be the son of David Archuletta and Kelly something or other from his season.

That was a highlight of our trip! We loved it!






When we exited the theater- my buddies were waiting outside to perform for me!

The funny thing is that the bassist walked over to me during the show and say “ hey, I know you”. I felt like a groupie!





We rode TSM another time- with a FP that we must have gotten earlier in the day- I cant remember, but I do know it was FP cause I still hadn’t entered on the stand-by queue.




Our scores:

Continued again.... on the next post!

 

[andrews1ma]

Continued from last post......



I love this park at night so we took advantage of being there during EMH evening hours and hung out. We snapped some silly pics:

the boys goofed around a bit:

A hitch-hiking ghost- perhaps?

I am sure we were getting some stares so we composed ourselves:

and headed out of the park to end what was the longest and best day of our vacation! We were seriously spent!


We had lots of firsts and many repeats and I have to say that DHS is now my most favorite park!

My current tally of missing items:

One scallop forest
One Irish Dancer
One Irish Band
One Spicy Cheese Pretzel from The Launching Pad
Rain from Singin in the Rain umbrella?


So far we have sung, up next we safari!

 

[MeMom]

After the show stopped at Starring Rolls for a snack I had seen this on one of Memom’s TR’s and was craving one ever since!

It is a ginormous Butterfinger cupcake and it was amazing! We were able to cut it into 4 pieces and share.

You have to see those things in person to realize how big they are. They are like cupcake mountains!

I think John did a pretty good job on his, but I can't guarantee that he finished it.

Love the Beauty and the Beast pictures. I look forward to seeing that in a few weeks, as we have not seen it in the past few trips.

Nice end of the evening silly pictures, too. It's just fun to be out in the middle of the streets at night when it's Disney World.

 

[Simba22]

Great update! We always have a great time at DHS too! Those cupcakes are HUGE! I can't believe I've never seen them before!

And tell Andrew not to feel bad about the snow...the last couple of winters up here have been relatively warm so we hardly got any snow at all. We didn't get anything but rain for the most part... It's like it would snow just enough to be a pain in the neck but not enough to close schools.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Great updates! looks like you guys had a fun filled day! we missed Beauty and the Beast this year and last (I really wanted to catch that one this year--just was not in the cards; next time I guess)...wonder what was with the umbrella?!? it was working the day we were there...but, they had a long line of kids waiting to get rained upon!

when I upload video I do it the same as pics I just load it up to photobucket...good luck

 

[Charleston Princess]

The umbrella pic is very cute even if there wasn't any rain.

Love the band story!!! Wish we had some video of that, too!

I could use one of those butterfinger cupcakes for my mid-day snack! Yum!

Good advice on requesting a tv table at Primetime! I will definitely remember that!

 

[andrews1ma]

You have to see those things in person to realize how big they are. They are like cupcake mountains!

I think John did a pretty good job on his, but I can't guarantee that he finished it.

Love the Beauty and the Beast pictures. I look forward to seeing that in a few weeks, as we have not seen it in the past few trips.

Nice end of the evening silly pictures, too. It's just fun to be out in the middle of the streets at night when it's Disney World.

I couldn't believe the size of them! But they were sooooo good...mmmm I would love one right now!

Beauty and the Beast was such a nice unplanned treat. I couldnt believe Grumpy and Andrew were all for it. It shows you how desperate they were to sit down!

Great update! We always have a great time at DHS too! Those cupcakes are HUGE! I can't believe I've never seen them before!

And tell Andrew not to feel bad about the snow...the last couple of winters up here have been relatively warm so we hardly got any snow at all. We didn't get anything but rain for the most part... It's like it would snow just enough to be a pain in the neck but not enough to close schools.

Those were some of the best cupcakes I have ever had! Oh and I also saw them at Disney Quest believe it or not! They had them at the CS on the top floor.

I feel the same way as you about the snow. Even when it was a nice pretty snow, it only lasted for a day or 2 before it became nasty NY snow! I dont miss it one bit.

Great updates! looks like you guys had a fun filled day! we missed Beauty and the Beast this year and last (I really wanted to catch that one this year--just was not in the cards; next time I guess)...wonder what was with the umbrella?!? it was working the day we were there...but, they had a long line of kids waiting to get rained upon!

when I upload video I do it the same as pics I just load it up to photobucket...good luck

Maybe I was spazzy with the umbrella, but I did try every which way and no water!

Definitely try and catch Beauty and the Beast next time-( I know you traveled with a large group and it really isnt worth dragging them to see it if they are just not going to be into it).

Oh and get a cupcake too! Your little guy would love it!

The umbrella pic is very cute even if there wasn't any rain.

Love the band story!!! Wish we had some video of that, too!

I could use one of those butterfinger cupcakes for my mid-day snack! Yum!

Good advice on requesting a tv table at Primetime! I will definitely remember that!

aww thanks! I am such a dork though!

Loved the band! I love music and I love people that can play instruments- especially the guitar. They were a hoot! Seriously if you have not seen them they are worth hanging around for.

Butterfinger cupcakes- yummm!!! I want one right now, too bad I am in the library waiting on Andrew while he is getting tutored in Math and Science. He has his end of grade testing coming up so we are busy busy busy! A butterfinger cupcake would come in so handy right now-I need a sugar fix!

Oh and if you plan on dining at 50's prime time- you need a TV table!

and on a side note- I havent been back over to your TR tonight but if you still havent gotten any good ideas I will brain storm for you on the Birthday card for Chelsea. You have got my creative juices flowing.

Hopefully I will have another update soon, maybe later tonight if I can get my act together!

 

[Charleston Princess]

and on a side note- I havent been back over to your TR tonight but if you still havent gotten any good ideas I will brain storm for you on the Birthday card for Chelsea. You have got my creative juices flowing.

I understand the crazy nature of school right now -- I can tell you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mine is all over by tomorrow.

Brainstorm away! I need lots of ideas!

 

[alliebelle3]

Subbing! Love the TR so far and can't wait to read more

I am dying to try that butterfinger cupcake. It looks amazing! I wanted to try one on my last trip (April...still debating whether or not I'm going to do a TR for it!), but my mom went to pick one up for her and I to share while I went on Rockin' Rollercoaster...and they were out of them. Boo! Next time!

 

[jenniferkeala808]

wow! great update of DHS! We saw that band pass us by but we were headed somewhere else and didn't get to listen to them!! that's so cool that you got to rock out with them though! don't worry! I can make you out in the pic! Glad you got a TV table at 50's! That's so cool!! We didn't get to catch the AI show but from your pics it looks pretty exciting!! Loving your pics from the nightime at DHS...gotta love all those Hollywood lights! Can't wait for more updates!

 

[andrews1ma]

Subbing! Love the TR so far and can't wait to read more

I am dying to try that butterfinger cupcake. It looks amazing! I wanted to try one on my last trip (April...still debating whether or not I'm going to do a TR for it!), but my mom went to pick one up for her and I to share while I went on Rockin' Rollercoaster...and they were out of them. Boo! Next time!

awwww bummer about not getting to try the cupcake! I feel like Disney must sell those at other locations. I had never known about it until seeing it on Memoms TR. We did see them at Disney Quest after that so I feel like they should be at other CS places in Disney.....somewhere. They are just too good not to be. Hopefully you will get on on your next trip cause I think the quest for a butterfinger cupcake is well worth booking another trip for! :rotfl

Thank you for joining in and I am in the process of writing an update. Stay tuned

wow! great update of DHS! We saw that band pass us by but we were headed somewhere else and didn't get to listen to them!! that's so cool that you got to rock out with them though! don't worry! I can make you out in the pic! Glad you got a TV table at 50's! That's so cool!! We didn't get to catch the AI show but from your pics it looks pretty exciting!! Loving your pics from the nightime at DHS...gotta love all those Hollywood lights! Can't wait for more updates!

Well if you get to go on your "Maybe" trip then you must do AI and check out Mulch Sweat and Shears!

I loved DHS at night...and it was the most beautiful night in terms of the weather. I could have stayed out much later if I wasnt with such party poopers who were all like " I'm sooo tired" and "My feet Hurt" adda yadda yadda!

 

[andrews1ma]

Tuesday- Day 4

I have not one pic from this day. I will give you a quick recap:

We woke up and headed to Typhoon Lagoon. I had my camera but for some reason did not take any pictures there that day. We had a great time- and only did the wave pool. Andrew loves it and wanted no part of anything else there that day.

We ate dinner back at the hotel CS- DH and I had the yummiest chicken pita. It had an African flair to it- a little bit spicy, and it was served with cous cous. I ended up getting it again for lunch later on in the trip- it was that good.


OK moving on to day 5:

I woke up early and decided to take a walk around and snap some pics. I just had to mention something funny here- the first few days of the trip we were back at the hotel later on in the day and Grumpy would mention how he loved the smell of AKL. It smells like smokey wood. Well this morning I realized why they pipe in that smokey smell- it is to cover up the REAL smell of AKL. OMG when I walked out onto the Savannah viewing area early that morning- the REAL AKL smell smacked me in the face! It was putrid! Hard to explain, but it was a very bad animal smell. Needless to say, the smokey smell works wonders and by 9:00 am the REAL stink is gone and you would never know it was there. I am curious if anyone else has noticed this?

ok- pics. Here are some that I took that early morning:

You can see our room from this pic - we were on the third floor- I believe 4 balconies in from the right ( we had a green balcony)

After my walk I grabbed breakfast and hurried back to the room, I was excited because today was.........


Animal Kingdom Day!!!! and Disney Quest, and 9:30pm ADR for Hoop Dee Doo review- we had a looooooong day ahead of us!!!!! My boys called this day the "Death by Disney" day!

This is Grumpy's favorite park so he was really looking forward to it. I loved how close we were- it took us all of 5 minutes to get from door to park entrance!

I will be back later!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I love the theming of Typhoon Lagoon. So tropical and fun!

I never noticed the smell at AKL, but piping in the wood smoke smell does make sense.

I see you found some of my rocking chairs!