A Tale of [family madness in] Two Cities - Final Thoughts & PTR Link!

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Continuing through the Oasis...

Are your ducks in a row?

And out toward the Tree of Life.

We went into the viewing area right at the base - Joe and I hadn't been there since 2006, so it was like it was brand new to us too.

Poppa took some video of the animals here, 2.5 minutes long.

It's a neat viewing area, you can see some great detail in the Tree of Life.

See the Kangaroo?

As we left the area I noted that It's Tough to Be a Bug only had a 5 minute wait time, during Christmas week! Too bad Henry is still too young for the show - and no one had a big interest in it. So we kept on through Discovery Island.

Into Asia - which I knew would be a BIG hit with Poppa due to it being a photographer's playground.

We couldn't even get a few feet into it without stopping. Poppa was up and out of his wheelchair, loving it and soaking it in.

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Walking into Asia (51 seconds)

Joe had run to get us FPs for Kilimanjaro Safari, met back up with us here in Asia and we all decided to get in line for Finding Nemo.

The line however, found US. This baby snaked back. Waaaaaaaaaaay back. And unlike many other rides, being in a wheelchair during Christmas season was limiting on this attraction - there were few seats for wheelchairs, so there was ZERO guarantee that we would even get in after waiting.

What to do? After some discussion and contemplation, we opted to stay in line and try. The crowds were thick, so walking the park - which is normally very enjoyable at AK - was frustrating and tiring.

While we waited...

Henry stole Poppa's hat.

His hands were sooooooo cold. He would NOT keep his gloves on, but he would keep mine on.

And they had entertainment next to the line, which was very nice.

Steel Drum Band (38 seconds)
That video also gives you an idea of the crowds!

The line did start to move shortly after we got in it - and it moved quickly as you would expect from a theater show.

But then it stopped.

Then started again.

And stopped just barely in front of us.



Really????

We waited. The CMs hadn't said they were done yet.

We hoped.

And a CM approached...

dropped the rope and started letting people in...

including us!

We made it!

Writing it out it seems like such an ordeal - but it was! When we have seen this previously we have literally coasted up into the show a few minutes before it started and snagged a seat. This was a process! But we made it.

The show started...

and stopped.

Everyone half laughed/half groaned.

We sat in the darkness for a few moments when the house lights were brought back up. After about 10 minutes, naturally, someone started the wave. And after a few more the houselights dimmed again to a thunderous applause.

Fish are friends, not food!

Finding Nemo video:

• Beginning of the show (5.5 minutes)
• More (2 minutes)
• Fish are friends, not food! (3.75 minutes)
• Just keep swimming (4 minutes)
• Darla!!!! (2 minutes)
• "Not my Dad" (44 seconds)
• Riding the EAC (3.5 minutes)

It was an excellent show - as always! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the music from it, just browsing through all my pictures makes me smile and remember the songs and their wonderful voices. Such a quality show!

After the show let out we were met with this:

Moving was a challenge.

We made it out, still breathing and all limbs attached.

Henry wanted everything.

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Our FP time for the Safari was open so we headed in that direction. Slowly. Very slowly.

I always feel compelled to take a picture of this building due to our November 2008 trip.

This appears to be a family discussion - I imagine it was about leaving now or braving the crowds for the safari.

A few moments to watch the monkeys.

Just a couple people!

I spied the coffee shop over there - and boy did it sound good, I was tired and it was cold, but the line was many, many people deep.

Poppa took some video of the area, and you can get a small taste of the crowds. 54 seconds.

I recall us being a bit confused as to where the FP line for the Safari was - there were people lined up every where. The line stretched a good distance OUT of the queue. We somehow found the end and I asked a few groups in front of us if that was in fact the FP line - it was.

Seriously.

Knowing that once you even got inside the queue it was a long haul, there was NO way I was waiting in a line that stretched to outside of the queue. This could not be right. I told the family to hang tight and I found a CM. The CM explained all these people lined up were either a) confused, or b) waiting for their FP window to open. He looked at our tickets and ushered us right into the queue area, which was EMPTY.

It was the weirdest thing! People waiting in line for their FP window to open?!?!?!

All well! I was thankful! We buzzed right through the queue

They took one look at Poppa's wheelchair and we were pulled aside and put onto a jeep within minutes.

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Despite it being early afternoon by this point, we had a great safari! And I will admit to being a bit excited and sliding across the seat a few times (Joe, Henry and I had our own), trying to get pictures - and the CM yelling at me. Well, it wasn't directly at me, but it was more like, "And as a reminder, please stay seated at all times." In my defense, my butt never left the seat. I just slid.

I was thinking of CP when I saw this friendly giraffe!

After the safari our energy level was sinking as our hunger level was rising, so we opted to leave the park with plans to return that evening. We had only done two things that morning, but the crowds truly made things very difficult. It was a bit frustrating to me knowing that Poppa would love this park - and I knew the family was missing the magic of it all due to the constant fighting of the crowds we had to do.

On our way out everyone was marveling at this sign:

It was only the 29th and we already hit a capacity at one of the parks. And of course jokes about how we thought everyone was at AK had to be made...

Bye AK, see you tonight!

Oh, wait. Before we leave, we must take 1.2 million pictures of that tree!

Very cool.

We boarded the bus and lazily wandered into Kindani Village - ready for a relaxing afternoon around the lodge.

 

[jordanyosh]

Those crowds are C-R-A-Z-Y!!!!!!!

Finding Nemo...I played those videos just to hear the songs again....my favorite show at WDW....

Y'all got some great shots even some w/o people in them....

 

[lovegrumpy]

Man i would have hated having to deal with those crowds.

 

[luvfigment]

The crowds were CRAZY!!!! Looking at the pictures of Henry from this trip shows how much he has grown in the past 6 months or so! Your pictures are amazing and I hope one day I can tak pictures like that.

 

[wdwgirl03]

BROOK!! You are back! How did I miss that?!

Great news about being able to keep your DVC and great update as usual. Love all the AK pictures.

 

[PopArtGal]

I loved the Nemo musical. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[k_reile]

those crowds alone will be the reason I will never get my DH to go at that time! LOL! But I want to see xmas decorations someday...so maybe I will convince him to early december when the crowds are lower!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Too funny about Henry wanting Donald to join the ducks!

Hurray for making it into Finding Nemo!

Love the giraffes, of course, and all the other fabulous pictures from Animal Kingdom, but those holy large groups of people!!! I can't believe how crowded it was!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Great update Brook! I had to keep reminding myself that you were there Christmas week because I have never seen crowds like that I hope it's a bit calmer when you come back for the evening.

 

[TyRy]

WOW - those are crowds. I don't think I'd do well in that...I'd be too impatient.

You may have answered this before but I don't remember...did you think about renting an offsite scooter for Poppa instead of the wheelchair? We're going with my dad who is in great shape, but has bad feet and can't walk forever. I'm trying to convince him to go the scooter route. Was the wheelchair maybe easier? We only need it for when we are at the parks.

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Great update! Ah the crowds of Christmas/NYE. I remember it being cold more n than I remember it being crowded.

 

[A.Mickey]

Unfortunately, we won't be able to do the Chicago/St. Louis trip because we will be having visitors in NYC during that time - and, its just too soon to save that much for it after all these moving expenses. But, we DO want to come to Chicago sometime, so perhaps next spring/summer...

Well when you do, I wanna hang out for a little bit! If we don't bump into one another at WDW first!

Love the update! Wow! I have never seen so many people at AK!

I love the safari, I always thought morning was the best time....but seems that the safari's I have been on in the afternoon have been much more memorable then the morning safari's. Glad to see you back finishing your TR!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yay you updated your report!!!

Holy crap, that's a lot of people! I've been whining about how it was more crowded than I expected it to be when I went in May, but I'm going to have to shut my mouth now - what we saw was nothin'!!

I'm glad you were at least able to see Nemo and ride the safari, but so sorry that you had to deal with that mess - I think dumping the park and heading back to the resort was a great idea!

 

[KristiMc]

Great update Brook. The pictures are beautiful.

 

[jenseib]

You updating fool!!! Wow was it crowded. I would go crazy with all those people

 

[blessedby3]

Holy Guacomole (sp?)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a bunch of people!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You all are so brave-I think I would have given up before getting through the gates
Anyway, I love all the pictures you posted. Very nice I wish that I had a camera that took such good pictures. Especially on the safari. Mine are always blurry and yucky- too many bumps in the road. Love the ones of the giraffes- they are so beautiful And the pictures of the ornaments on the tree are great. Such creative ornaments.
Thanks for the update Cant wait for more

 

[Connie96]

Loved the update Brook! It's so great to have you back!