~ A 21 month old, a celebrity sighting, & a whole lotta food~2 week trip~ 2/28 update

[tinkgurl]

Yay! You rode EE! I love this one. It's way better to ride in the very back! It's faster and scarier, plus as you're going up the big incline, you can turn way around and see the Contemporary and some of the MK in the distance!

Haha, love the pic of Dylan playing on those steps.

 

[jordanyosh]

Warthogs, Cheetahs and Lions rarely seen. Yet you get a warthog. NICE They are ugly though.

EE Single Rider is the best. backwards, the best. theming...out of this world.

 

[LilAnn]

Yay for riding EE twice in 20 minutes! I rode it for the first time in August too. The yeti was doing the same thing for us and I had read on the boards that there had been issues with the animatronic yeti. I'm assuming the shadow lighting and strobe lighting was the replacement effect they came up with. I love surprising families with FP tickets too when we can't use them. We ended up giving away some TSM fast passes when our DD was ready for her nap and we had to leave the park. I think we spent so much time trying to find the 'right" family to give it to. Loved the little kid's reaction. Can't wait to read about your celeb sighting!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Yay! You rode EE! I love this one. It's way better to ride in the very back! It's faster and scarier, plus as you're going up the big incline, you can turn way around and see the Contemporary and some of the MK in the distance!

Haha, love the pic of Dylan playing on those steps.

It's funny because I was almost as excited to write about riding EE as I was about actually riding it. I want to try the back sometime. We have always been to the front or middle of the train. We'll have to ask for the back seat the next time.

Warthogs, Cheetahs and Lions rarely seen. Yet you get a warthog. NICE They are ugly though.

EE Single Rider is the best. backwards, the best. theming...out of this world.

I agree with your summary.."Yet we get a warthog." We have seen the cheetah a few time (barely) but we have NEVER seen a lion on the Safari. I wish the warthogs looked more like the Lion King version.

Yay for riding EE twice in 20 minutes! I rode it for the first time in August too. The yeti was doing the same thing for us and I had read on the boards that there had been issues with the animatronic yeti. I'm assuming the shadow lighting and strobe lighting was the replacement effect they came up with. I love surprising families with FP tickets too when we can't use them. We ended up giving away some TSM fast passes when our DD was ready for her nap and we had to leave the park. I think we spent so much time trying to find the 'right" family to give it to. Loved the little kid's reaction. Can't wait to read about your celeb sighting!

I wish the Yeti would have been working the way I remember it, because it was really scary. That was the only thing I was disappointed with on the ride this time, because my anticipation for what was coming was huge...and then it didn't happen. I'm glad that I didn't just make it up in my mind though!

That's so sweet that you put so much time into picking the right family for the FP. I'm sure that they really appreciated it.

 

[jordanyosh]

I wish the warthogs looked more like the Lion King version.

It would be nice if they could talk and sing too.

 

[ladybugmom]

Sounds like a great day, Alison!! EE sounds like a lot of fun. It was closed down the day we were there due to all of the rain. I hope to ride it this next trip!! Isn't it fun giving FPs to other families?! We did it on our trip, too!! I just love making someone's day and spreading the magic!! I can't wait to read more and I'm so curious as to which celebrity you saw!!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

I love AK! EE makes me sick though, so I can't ride it anymore. It is an awesome ride and the details are incredible!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

It would be nice if they could talk and sing too.

Is that too much to ask for? It IS Disney, after all.

Sounds like a great day, Alison!! EE sounds like a lot of fun. It was closed down the day we were there due to all of the rain. I hope to ride it this next trip!! Isn't it fun giving FPs to other families?! We did it on our trip, too!! I just love making someone's day and spreading the magic!! I can't wait to read more and I'm so curious as to which celebrity you saw!!

I hope you get to ride EE. It is fabulous (if you love coasters). The FP thing is fun. My parents had never done that before, so it was cool to hear my dad tell us about it. Celebrity sighting is coming up in the next update or two.

I love AK! EE makes me sick though, so I can't ride it anymore. It is an awesome ride and the details are incredible!

Aww, that's too bad that you get sick. Have you ever tried motion sickness pills? I was a little worried about going on it since it had been so long. But apparently, I have a stomach of steel because it was no problem.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

I love EE!!! Glad you got to ride it two times in a row!!!!

The fast pass thing...very nice...more people should be so kind to do those little random acts of kindness!!! I think you are right about the karma too! It pays off! I sometimes pay for the unknown person behind me in a toll booth. The collector looks at me like I have two heads and I just smile and say I just want to be nice! It's only a bit of change!! LOL Just makes someone feel good I think. I also think it makes the recipient do it also!!

 

[punkin413]

i know i'm way late but i'm here! i will catch up later.

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

I love EE!!! Glad you got to ride it two times in a row!!!!

The fast pass thing...very nice...more people should be so kind to do those little random acts of kindness!!! I think you are right about the karma too! It pays off! I sometimes pay for the unknown person behind me in a toll booth. The collector looks at me like I have two heads and I just smile and say I just want to be nice! It's only a bit of change!! LOL Just makes someone feel good I think. I also think it makes the recipient do it also!!

Hey, your trip is just around the corner. How exciting for you!

I agree with the random acts of kindness. I have done that at a toll booth too and gotten the same reaction. You would think that more people do that, but I guess not.

i know i'm way late but i'm here! i will catch up later.

Hi Dawn! Thanks for coming over!!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

After a fun ride on the Safari, we decided to have lunch and found Tamu Tamu close by. Todd got a burger & chips, I got a turkey sandwich with apple slices. My mom got a tuna sandwich that she said was really good. Overall, it was a very standard menu, but the food tasted good and that was all that we cared about.

Did I mention again that it was HOT. We spent a lot of time finding these misting fans to cool off.

A group of African musicians started playing near where we were sitting. They were getting people to get up and dance with them. It was pretty funny. The music was mostly drumming and it really did make you want to start moving around. Dylan was dancing in his stroller but didn’t want to dance once we let him get out of it. He went over and sat on a little ledge and watched everyone else though and he looked like he was enjoying himself.

My mom had been on a quest the whole trip to find frozen lemonade. I don’t know what was so great about it, but every park that we went to, she would get a craving for it and my dad would spend all this time looking for frozen lemonade for her. Apparently somewhere close by had it available so they both got a cup of it. Of course, Dylan wanted to try it and of course he loved it. All of a sudden, he became the most well behaved little boy, sitting quietly with his hands in his lap….with his mouth wide open, waiting for more lemonade to be inserted. It was hilarious. He looked like a pleading baby bird. We stayed there until they finished the whole thing because he wasn’t moving!

After lunch we walked on the Pangani Forest Trail, since my parents weren’t with us the first time. Dylan knew exactly where he wanted to go this time and headed straight for the fish. He liked the bubbles that were coming up the side of the tank.

Right above the fish, we were able to watch a bird building a nest. Let me just say that it was fascinating. He was so fast about what he was doing and all of his movements were quick and precise. He was grabbing long blades of grass and pulling them through each other. We watched him for quite a while and got some great video. That is something you don’t see everyday, and I was so happy that we got to witness this act of nature. I can’t put in to words how cool I thought this was.

The hippos were still sleeping in their area and there were no meercats out at all. I was so disappointed because I know that Dylan would have really enjoyed watching them. This is the first time we have ever visited and not seen at least one. I guess that will have to wait for next time.

We got to the gorilla section and there were 2 large gorillas hanging out in the area with the glass. It was really crowded so we stood in the back and took some pictures, then got ready to leave. We realized that Dylan’s diaper needed changing, so my parents went on ahead and we pulled his stroller over into a corner and changed his diaper. The crowd had moved on, and when we got done, we looked up and the gorillas had come back. We got to view them all by ourselves for a few minutes before another group came through. It was so great! Dylan stood right by the rope and was only a few feet from the gorilla and he was so excited. For once, we can be happy for an inconvenient diaper change!

We saw that the Festival of the Lion King was getting ready to start so we walked over there. We took some great pictures along the way. This park is so beautiful! My mom’s camera really captures the beauty of some of the areas along the walk.

I love how this looks like some sort of creature.

Once we got there, we realized that we had looked at the wrong day on the schedule. The next show wasn’t starting for another hour. We stood in the misting fans while we decided what to do. My dad decided to give Dylan a really bad hairstyle since his hair was so wet. LOL.

My mom was really hot and wanted to cool off in some air conditioning so my parents went to the gift shop. I really wanted to walk the paths near the Tree of Life, because we had never done this before. I can’t believe how many times we had passed that up to go on other rides. We also have never seen It’s Tough To Be A Bug at AK. We have seen it at DCA in California, so we never feel the need to go see it when we are at this park.

Wow! The tree is amazing! I can’t believe how much detail was put into that. We just walked in silence and took pictures. There was no one else on the trail with us, so we were able to just stand and observe without interruption. I’m so glad that we did this! I have never felt like I was missing out on something by skipping this before, but now I know that I was wrong.

After we completed the trail, we headed back over to meet up with my parents for FOTLK.

Up next….my celebrity sighting!!! Yes, it is finally here, and I think it’s a good one!

 

[cjackearl]

Wow, lots of catching up to do, but I think I've done it. You got some beautiful pictures in AK. Glad Dylan got to see the gorillas up close and personal. We did the other trail which was also pretty cool. Well, literally hotter than hot, but you know what I mean. Dylan made a perfect little Billy Idol. I can see him belting out Rebel Yell.

 

[tinkgurl]

He does look like a baby bird! Hey..whatever works!

Aw, I love that he was able to stand and see the side of the tank. Where is this exactly?

Dylan's new hairstyle! A good picture to show his girlfriends when he's older!

Love the pics of the Tree of Life up close. I'm still amazed at all the animals in it!

 

[mickeystoontown]

It sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun at the Animal Kingdom...hot fun but fun nevertheless. I absolutely love walking around the Tree of Life and looking at the various carvings. It seems like we find something new each time we go.

I was just thinking to myself....did I miss the celebrity sighting post? Now I know I haven't!

 

[Cory's Gal]

I have finally gotten through your TR! Dylan is adorable and his Billy Idol costume was so awesome! My hubby thought that was cute too! Two weeks at Disney, so jealous! Can't wait to hear who you spotted on your trip! We travel with my parents too, we love it!!!

 

[ladybugmom]

Great update!!! Wow--you got some beautiful pics this day!! AK is sooo pretty--I really hope we have a pretty day there on our next trip. We didn't see much due to the rain. The gorilla pics are amazing!! I cannot wait to hear about this celebrity!! I hope you update soon!! You have us all wondering!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Great update! Awesome pictures!!! I am hoping you get your next update on here before going on your DL trip!!! I am really anxious to hear about the celebrity!! Did you sneak a picture??!!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Wow, lots of catching up to do, but I think I've done it. You got some beautiful pictures in AK. Glad Dylan got to see the gorillas up close and personal. We did the other trail which was also pretty cool. Well, literally hotter than hot, but you know what I mean. Dylan made a perfect little Billy Idol. I can see him belting out Rebel Yell.

Hi there! It's been a while, and I've been wondering how you are. How is your family doing?

I really wanted to do the other path too, because the tigers are my favorite. We just never made it over there. I know what you mean about the heat. It was sweltering most of the days, especially at AK.

Yeah, we were happy with the way that Dylan's costume turned out. He thinks the pictures are really funny when he sees them.

He does look like a baby bird! Hey..whatever works!

Aw, I love that he was able to stand and see the side of the tank. Where is this exactly?

Dylan's new hairstyle! A good picture to show his girlfriends when he's older!

Love the pics of the Tree of Life up close. I'm still amazed at all the animals in it!

This tank of fish is right when you get inside the bird area on the trail. You walk in a little ways and it is on your left. There is a ton of fish in there and it's really colorful.

Yeah, that picture of Dylan's hair is going into the "vault"...to be brought out at some future (embarrassing) time. Hey, being a parent has to have some perks, right?

It sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun at the Animal Kingdom...hot fun but fun nevertheless. I absolutely love walking around the Tree of Life and looking at the various carvings. It seems like we find something new each time we go.

I was just thinking to myself....did I miss the celebrity sighting post? Now I know I haven't!

Nope, it will be the next update. I didn't realize how late in the trip that it was until I got going. I really didn't mean to have it stretch out this long.

I can't wait to go back and see the Tree of Life again. I'm sure we will see all new things next time.

I have finally gotten through your TR! Dylan is adorable and his Billy Idol costume was so awesome! My hubby thought that was cute too! Two weeks at Disney, so jealous! Can't wait to hear who you spotted on your trip! We travel with my parents too, we love it!!!

Thanks! The costume was a lot of fun to put together. For some reason, all of the guys that we know thought it was SO cool. All the other moms had their kids in cute little (sweet) costumes, but not us! LOL.

We were so lucky to get to go for 2 weeks. It will probably never happen again. It was just the circumstances falling in our favor. I'm really glad that my parents got to go as well.

Great update!!! Wow--you got some beautiful pics this day!! AK is sooo pretty--I really hope we have a pretty day there on our next trip. We didn't see much due to the rain. The gorilla pics are amazing!! I cannot wait to hear about this celebrity!! I hope you update soon!! You have us all wondering!!

My mom's camera is amazing. I couldn't believe the great pictures that she got from AK. I hope that you have a nice day next time too. There is so much detail to appreciate, and it's hard to do that when it is raining. I will probably do an update during the days around Thanksgiving when we have some down time from our trip.

Great update! Awesome pictures!!! I am hoping you get your next update on here before going on your DL trip!!! I am really anxious to hear about the celebrity!! Did you sneak a picture??!!

We snuck a few pictures. I think it is cool because of the circumstances that we saw this person in as well. I will probably do an update around Thanksgiving, when we have some slow time.

 

[eandesmom]

You got some amazing pictures there! Just lovely.

Very cute with the lemonade