A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[BrerMama]

How can anyone be grumpy during FOTLK? Seriously, it takes everything I have to not get up and start dancing right along with the performers. It's just the happiest show I've ever seen.

Hope you get to do the parade! And hope Mr Grumpy Pants cheers up!

 

[vleeth]

Oooooohhh...a secret...can't wait for the next update!!!!!!!!!

 

[MommyMissy]

I have to come out of lurkdom to tell you I have spent the last few days reading your entire TR, and I LOVE it!!! Thanksfor sharing. Now I am starting on the PTR hoping to find some help as I am starting to plan our first trip for Oct. 2013. I can't wait for the secret.

 

[petals]

There's a secret to the parade?

 

[momabaarjo]

What Do They Have Against Parades?​

What’s my secret? Anyone who stalks the DIS or other great WDW websites has already probably read about this AK parade tip…Well I know that the parade loops around the Tree of Life and ends where it begins in Africa, so my plan is to let the parade begin while we are exploring the Pangai Forest and then about 20 minutes after the start of the parade make our way back to main street Africa to view the parade as it ends without the crowds in Africa and the best part, you dont have to sit and wait on the curb stalking your spot out an hour before. As the parade leaves Africia, so does the crowd with it. Sounds like a great plan, right?

We make our way into the forest where we encounter a hippo who is allowing us an up close and personal view of him.

Then we spent a long time watch the meercats stand on the lookout. There was a bird annoying them high in sky above so it was fascinating to watch them call to each other and stand up on guard.

Then finally, the highlight of the day

…getting to see Baby Lilly.

Exploration completed we head back onto the African Village, and I see the end of the parade up ahead and yes, the crowds are following and Africia is basically empyt! Jeff and Goo head to the bathroom while I find a spot for us to view the parade (and yes, I am smiling to myself that my secret is working according to plan). Jeff and Goo find us and everyone asks what we are doing sitting on the curb, to which my smile erupts into delight as I tell them we are going watch our first Disney parade and my family groans at me in disgust. I am shocked and horrified at the reaction I am receiving from them. What, you don’t want to watch a parade, but they are so cool. Their moans turn into protest and I ask them what they want to do…well it is not sitting here waiting for a parade. Disappointed they decide to use the fast passes for the Safari we had gotten earlier in the day (thank goodness fast pass times were not yet being enforced). So instead of getting to see the parade I find myself back on the bumpy safari trail with animals who decide they have had enough sightseers for the day and are in hiding for the most part.

We arrive back into the village just as the parade has ended and I am saddened that we missed it, but we have accomplished everything that I had planned for the day (with a few exceptions because of the crowd, which for the most part was only a factor at Camp Minnie & Mickey) way ahead of schedule. With a pocket of fast passes to use we set off to finish the day...

 

[momabaarjo]

How can anyone be grumpy during FOTLK? Seriously, it takes everything I have to not get up and start dancing right along with the performers. It's just the happiest show I've ever seen.

Not my grumpy pants...Disney music really does nothing for him..

Hope you get to do the parade! And hope Mr Grumpy Pants cheers up!

Oooooohhh...a secret...can't wait for the next update!!!!!!!!!

Updated....

I have to come out of lurkdom to tell you I have spent the last few days reading your entire TR, and I LOVE it!!! Thanksfor sharing. Now I am starting on the PTR hoping to find some help as I am starting to plan our first trip for Oct. 2013. I can't wait for the secret.

Welcome, and I am honored that you have read all my ramblings! Can't wait to join in on your PTR! Ask away with questions...there are a many very knowledgeable people following along that love to plan!

There's a secret to the parade?

Yep....

 

[BrerMama]

OK, that made me laugh out loud. The mental picture of you sitting there so excited, and your family shooting it down... totally would happen to me. I do have great hopes of staying through the parade this trip. Did the crowds thin out after the parade?

 

[Enchanted88]

I'm so sad you didn't get to see the parade!! I would have watched it with you!
BUT how cute is baby Lily?! I'm glad you got to see her! She wasn't around when I was there last Feb!

It looks like you had a very successful day, aside from having your parade plans vetoed! haha
I LOVE FOTLK, it's such a fun show! Ben and I went and saw it twice in February, and probably will again in November! Lion King is one of my favorite movies so it holds a special place in my heart!

Also, (sorry that my reply is crazy random this morning lol) I love your Tree of Life pictures! Ben and I had such a fun time looking at all of the animal carvings on there! It's truly incredible how many of them there are! Very authentic!

I hope you have a great week!

 

[momabaarjo]

OK, that made me laugh out loud. The mental picture of you sitting there so excited, and your family shooting it down... totally would happen to me. I do have great hopes of staying through the parade this trip. Did the crowds thin out after the parade?

Yep, my lovely family

We came out of Panagi about the time the parade hit the bridge going out of Africa...I could see a float and a swarm of people following in behind the float...and yes, Africa cleared out! And for the most part I think so did the park, although in addition to EMH-am there was also EMH-pm that night as well...the only time crowds were really ever an issue was at Camp Minnie & Mickey. The rest of the day my touring plans helped us to avoid everyone!

I'm so sad you didn't get to see the parade!! I would have watched it with you!

Thanks...I remember to my first trip and the parade seemed like a silly waste of time, but after my first one...I was hooked and stopped to watch!


BUT how cute is baby Lily?! I'm glad you got to see her! She wasn't around when I was there last Feb!

She was cute and really active...right up to the window lots.

It looks like you had a very successful day, aside from having your parade plans vetoed! haha
I LOVE FOTLK, it's such a fun show! Ben and I went and saw it twice in February, and probably will again in November! Lion King is one of my favorite movies so it holds a special place in my heart!

Also, (sorry that my reply is crazy random this morning lol) I love your Tree of Life pictures! Ben and I had such a fun time looking at all of the animal carvings on there! It's truly incredible how many of them there are! Very authentic!

It is amazing, I am glad we took the time!

I hope you have a great week!

It is a great week...aren't you lovin the cooler weather (especially today) sure beats last year when we were at 110 at the same time! I am working (training) with teachers this month at the District Office...my first year in almost 10 years that I have not done summer school!

 

[Disneychix]

Dont' fee too badly, the only parade we've ever seen is snippets of the MK parade as we're zooming past it! My family is soo not ready to sit and watch a parade!

I gotta ask, does Boo get to use his FP for KRR??

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I just spent several hours reading the whole trip report ,so far as you have written anyway. I love it! I'm going back to read the pre trip now. I found this because I was looking for some pics of UO/IOA at the holidays and just went on from there.

You have some great pics, both zoom and low light, may I ask what kind of camera? I am starting to look for a new one.

I'm subscribbing and looking forward to the rest of the story!

 

[annmarieda]

We are lookin at the last week of September 2013...F&W, MNSSHP, or the Tower Run...although thinking about running is making me run the other way in terror!

I also had to laugh about your mention of my bat experience... OH MY! But all males? Really? Hmmmm I guess having "needs" doesn't mean they have to have the opposite sex to satisfy them.

I am sorry bout the parade. I can totally sympathize. Normally my family is totally against parades. I am the one begging. This time though I didn't fight nearly as much as I have in the past..

Great updates!

 

[momabaarjo]

Wrapping Up our Day at AK​

With a pocket full of fast passes (no flaming, please) we head over to KRR for Boo to take his ride and the rest of us watch the monkeys.

After he came off, I saw that he was not very wet and I had wished that I had gone with him…you know for some mom and preteen bonding time. Then it is back to EE where we have 7 passes between 3 of us to use up.

Ab rides the first time with Boo and myself, but sets out the 2nd ride with Jeff and Goo. Having had enough after the 2nd ride we decide to spread a little pixie dust and handed our remaining 2 fast passes off to a father and daughter who had not ridden yet and were about to turn away when they saw the wait time of over 60 minutes. Tired and worn out, we decide that we have done everything we wanted to do and to go back to our room for a little rest before dinner and then the NYE celebrations. Of course before we can board a bus, Jeff has to get his pocket knife out of prison (err, the locker) and there is a matter of that Christmas tree we need to take pictures in front of.

Pictures taken, pocket knife back in pocket we board a bus that all too fast becomes extremely crowded making the trip back not so pleasurable, especially since we learned we were the last stop. At the first stop, the Swan, we decide that it would be faster (and less stressful) to get off and walk across the bridge to the Boardwalk then to go to the Dolphin, BC, YC and then BW.

Back in our room we
take a much needed rest, during which I start having second thoughts about our dinner ADR and how tired we all are…will we make it to dinner?

 

[momabaarjo]

Dont' fee too badly, the only parade we've ever seen is snippets of the MK parade as we're zooming past it! My family is soo not ready to sit and watch a parade!

Usually that would be me too...but I had scheduled in time for the darn things and to get a NO....

I gotta ask, does Boo get to use his FP for KRR??

Updated....

I just spent several hours reading the whole trip report ,so far as you have written anyway. I love it! I'm going back to read the pre trip now. I found this because I was looking for some pics of UO/IOA at the holidays and just went on from there.

WELCOME...I love people who can also appreciated the dark side of Orlando.

You have some great pics, both zoom and low light, may I ask what kind of camera? I am starting to look for a new one.

I have a Cannon G10 (about 4 years old). It is a step up from a point and shoot, still basically a point and shoot but I can mess with light settings and speeds...it has taken me about 3 years of trial and error to start taking good pictures (for the most part, still take some really bad ones). I love it...although sometime at WDW I cracked the screen...thankfully the crack in only in a corner and did not fan out in many directions. DH is still mad about it....

I'm subscribbing and looking forward to the rest of the story!

I also had to laugh about your mention of my bat experience... OH MY! But all males? Really? Hmmmm I guess having "needs" doesn't mean they have to have the opposite sex to satisfy them.

I did not realize they were all males...interesting too! We were we so into them eating that I did not notice the gender. Guess what happened after you viewing AK decided to make it more of a G display....

I am sorry bout the parade. I can totally sympathize. Normally my family is totally against parades. I am the one begging. This time though I didn't fight nearly as much as I have in the past..

Great updates!

So does that mean when we go you will let me watch a parade....

 

[lovethattink]

Love the pics of the kids! Bummer the bus was so crowded. Shared busses can really add time to the commute. The walk from the S/D to Boardwalk is a nice walk, especially at night when it's all lit up!

 

[momabaarjo]

Love the pics of the kids! Bummer the bus was so crowded. Shared busses can really add time to the commute. The walk from the S/D to Boardwalk is a nice walk, especially at night when it's all lit up!

It is pretty at night...but this being really our first experience did not realize we were taking the LONG way back to the room. We went back onto the Boardwalk, but we later learn that we could of have cut down the canal area on the backside of BWV near the pool and up a set of stairs to our room and been about 15 minutes faster!

 

[BrerMama]

I sort of love those photos at dusk of the kids in front of the tree. Gorgeous!

 

[lovethattink]

It is pretty at night...but this being really our first experience did not realize we were taking the LONG way back to the room. We went back onto the Boardwalk, but we later learn that we could of have cut down the canal area on the backside of BWV near the pool and up a set of stairs to our room and been about 15 minutes faster!

Live and learn, lol.

Did you watch any of the street performers while at BWV? That guy that swallows the sword unnerves me!

Looking forward to seeing if you made it for dinner!

 

[catherines_mama]

[/CENTER]
Back in our room we
take a much needed rest, during which I start having second thoughts about our dinner ADR and how tired we all are…will we make it to dinner?

Was it really that dark when you finally got back to BW? Yikes long day!

I dont know if i'd lasted to NYE Celebrations... can't wait to hear if y'all did.

 

[annmarieda]

Of course, I will let you watch the parades! I will plant my rear on a curb next to you!

I love the pic of the kids in front of the tree. I think Ab is starting to look so grown up... funny in just a years time that happens