E(ticket)lizabeth
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2002
- Messages
- 46
Cast: Me, Elizabeth (39); DH, Art (49); DS, Stuart (17 mos); MIL, Marlene (70-ish)
Setting: All Star Music, Dec. 3-11
Our original plans were for Art & Elizabeth to go to MGMs Extra Magic Hour in the morning, and then pick up Marlene & Stuart to head to Animal Kingdom. We decide we dont need the Rock-n-Drop again, since we just did MGM yesterday, so we just head for Animal Kingdoms opening. Wed never seen the little character ceremony they do, so its kind of fun to get there early. (We actually came before opening on the last trip, but we had breakfast at Donalds, so we didnt see the opening ceremony then.)
Were using a different set of touring plans, to a point, so we try something new for us this year. Instead of joining the crowd and heading back to Kilimanjaro Safari first thing, we split up. Art takes all our park passes and walks back to the Safari with the crowd to get Fastpasses for us, while Marlene & I take Stuart to Dinoland to ride Triceratop Spin. Theres nobody here but us! We ride Triceratop Spin 3 times without getting off, and Stuart absolutely loves it! We finally decide to get off and let Stuart walk around Dinoland a littleI go see if theres anything he might enjoy in the Dig Site, while Marlene & Stuart go and look in the shop. There really isnt anything for a little guy in the Dig Site, so we just hang around until Art shows up. He took a long time to get our Fastpassesactually, he says he just didnt bother hurrying over to Dinoland. Stuart enjoys another couple of rides on Triceratop Spin, then Art & I ride Primeval Whirl, and we head for Asia.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek is also pretty quiet at this time of the morning. The tigers are mostly sleeping (like always!), but one is sitting up by the ruined pool and another is down by the windows, so we got some good pictures, and Stuart seems to like seeing them. He didnt care about the bats, because they werent doing anything, but the moving tiger he likes.
We continue through Asia and head for our Fastpass time at the Safari. Were maybe 15 minutes late, but the CM doesnt care, just as our plan provider had said! We walk right on, and really enjoy our trip. We dont see anything new this time, but I see the lions better than I usually do, and I see an elephant Im sure is quite pregnant. (I dont know if they still had the elephant who delivered on Dec. 19 out on the savannah that late in her pregnancy, but if they did, I saw her! If they didnt, theres another calf coming soon!) Stuart looks at all the animals, and then suddenly, puts his head down on my chest and falls fast asleep! Poor tired babyI guess all that riding Triceratop Spin and looking at tigers really wore him out. Actually, he usually takes a morning nap, so hes been completely off schedule for our trip. This isnt a bad place or time to fall asleep! We finish the safari, and decide its about lunch time, so we head into Tusker House. We talk about what else we want to do today before we head home for a break, and I look at the show schedule. Oh, shoot, looks like weve missed our best time today to see Tarzan Rocks! The next show is later than I want to stay today. Same story for Festival of the Lion King. Well, were coming back later! We have at least 2 partial days in every park this trip. So, after a nice lunch (Tusker House always has great food), we do a bit of shopping and head out, deciding well call Boma from the hotel to see if we can make our dinner a little earlier tonight.
On our way out, I realize Ive made a terrible mistake with our schedule. There was a reason why we were planning on coming to AK later todaythis was supposed to be the shows & parade day, and since were leaving early, we havent done any shows or the parade. The next AK day is supposed to be for the animals, and then over to MGM for the afternoon. Okay, Im going to have to figure out how to fix this. I dont say anything to anyone until I get back to the room. The whole drive, Im racking my brains for a solution.
When we get to the room, I check our schedule and figure this out. The original schedule, briefly (no travel days):
We have a nice rest at the resort, and move our dinner up to 6:30. We go a little early so we can wander around and shop, and Stuart has a blast going up and down the elevators (he tries to go by himself, so we really have to watch him!) and stairs, outside to see the pool, and just generally all over the place. He almost gets to go to Jiko, too, since we meet a nice lady whose date is late, and she says Stuart can go instead, if her date doesnt show up pretty soon! He does, though, so Stuart has to eat with us.
The Lodge is gorgeous, as always, and this time, were not so exhausted we cant enjoy it. Then at 6, they have a kids parade where all the kids go into the marketplace and pick out an instrument to carry and play in the parade. Stuart and I go in and find a stick with cymbals on it, and he shakes that as we walk around the lobby. About halfway around, he slows down, so I pick him up for the rest of the parade. I think hell like it more next time were here, when hes a little older. After all, he just started really walking last week!
Dinner is wonderful-we always enjoy Boma. When our server comes to ask us what drinks we want, I ask if they have any frunch, even though its usually on the breakfast menu. He says, of course, and we all order a glass. Yum!
The she-crab soup is delightful, and Stuart seems to enjoy it, although its pretty thin so is hard to feed to him. He loves all the breads and fresh fruit on the buffet, and eats a little of the other food, too. He particularly likes the baboti, as do I! He eats a pretty good meal tonight, and enjoys the crunchy chocolate desserts and the mini-cheesecake tarts (me too!). Art loves the zebra domes, but Im allergic to coffee, so I dont eat anything that has even a little coffee or Kahlua in it. Bummer, but there you are. We have a great meal, Stuart is wonderful, and we head back to the resort ready for a relatively early night. Its been a great day, even if I did mess up the schedule. I think Ive got it all figured out, it should work out fine, and we didnt rush too much or push ourselves too much today, which is really nice.
Tomorrow, Epcot!
Setting: All Star Music, Dec. 3-11
Our original plans were for Art & Elizabeth to go to MGMs Extra Magic Hour in the morning, and then pick up Marlene & Stuart to head to Animal Kingdom. We decide we dont need the Rock-n-Drop again, since we just did MGM yesterday, so we just head for Animal Kingdoms opening. Wed never seen the little character ceremony they do, so its kind of fun to get there early. (We actually came before opening on the last trip, but we had breakfast at Donalds, so we didnt see the opening ceremony then.)
Were using a different set of touring plans, to a point, so we try something new for us this year. Instead of joining the crowd and heading back to Kilimanjaro Safari first thing, we split up. Art takes all our park passes and walks back to the Safari with the crowd to get Fastpasses for us, while Marlene & I take Stuart to Dinoland to ride Triceratop Spin. Theres nobody here but us! We ride Triceratop Spin 3 times without getting off, and Stuart absolutely loves it! We finally decide to get off and let Stuart walk around Dinoland a littleI go see if theres anything he might enjoy in the Dig Site, while Marlene & Stuart go and look in the shop. There really isnt anything for a little guy in the Dig Site, so we just hang around until Art shows up. He took a long time to get our Fastpassesactually, he says he just didnt bother hurrying over to Dinoland. Stuart enjoys another couple of rides on Triceratop Spin, then Art & I ride Primeval Whirl, and we head for Asia.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek is also pretty quiet at this time of the morning. The tigers are mostly sleeping (like always!), but one is sitting up by the ruined pool and another is down by the windows, so we got some good pictures, and Stuart seems to like seeing them. He didnt care about the bats, because they werent doing anything, but the moving tiger he likes.
We continue through Asia and head for our Fastpass time at the Safari. Were maybe 15 minutes late, but the CM doesnt care, just as our plan provider had said! We walk right on, and really enjoy our trip. We dont see anything new this time, but I see the lions better than I usually do, and I see an elephant Im sure is quite pregnant. (I dont know if they still had the elephant who delivered on Dec. 19 out on the savannah that late in her pregnancy, but if they did, I saw her! If they didnt, theres another calf coming soon!) Stuart looks at all the animals, and then suddenly, puts his head down on my chest and falls fast asleep! Poor tired babyI guess all that riding Triceratop Spin and looking at tigers really wore him out. Actually, he usually takes a morning nap, so hes been completely off schedule for our trip. This isnt a bad place or time to fall asleep! We finish the safari, and decide its about lunch time, so we head into Tusker House. We talk about what else we want to do today before we head home for a break, and I look at the show schedule. Oh, shoot, looks like weve missed our best time today to see Tarzan Rocks! The next show is later than I want to stay today. Same story for Festival of the Lion King. Well, were coming back later! We have at least 2 partial days in every park this trip. So, after a nice lunch (Tusker House always has great food), we do a bit of shopping and head out, deciding well call Boma from the hotel to see if we can make our dinner a little earlier tonight.
On our way out, I realize Ive made a terrible mistake with our schedule. There was a reason why we were planning on coming to AK later todaythis was supposed to be the shows & parade day, and since were leaving early, we havent done any shows or the parade. The next AK day is supposed to be for the animals, and then over to MGM for the afternoon. Okay, Im going to have to figure out how to fix this. I dont say anything to anyone until I get back to the room. The whole drive, Im racking my brains for a solution.
When we get to the room, I check our schedule and figure this out. The original schedule, briefly (no travel days):
- Sun: MK, break, Crystal Palace early dinner, MVMCP
- Mon: late breakfast Spoodles (switched to Yacht Club Galley), MGM for A&E, DD for M&S
- Tues: MGM for A&E if they want, AK afternoon for shows & parade, 7:30 dinner Boma
- Wed: Epcot, noon lunch Marrakesh, 5 pm CP, Rose & Crown dinner
- Thurs: AK, break, MGM for shows, parade, & lights, 4:30 dinner 50s Prime Time
- Fri: MK EMH, break, 3:40 tea, Epcot, 8 pm dinner Coral Reef
- Sat: Epcot, break, 5:30 dinner Chef Mickeys, MK for A&E (Spectro, Wishes)
We have a nice rest at the resort, and move our dinner up to 6:30. We go a little early so we can wander around and shop, and Stuart has a blast going up and down the elevators (he tries to go by himself, so we really have to watch him!) and stairs, outside to see the pool, and just generally all over the place. He almost gets to go to Jiko, too, since we meet a nice lady whose date is late, and she says Stuart can go instead, if her date doesnt show up pretty soon! He does, though, so Stuart has to eat with us.
The Lodge is gorgeous, as always, and this time, were not so exhausted we cant enjoy it. Then at 6, they have a kids parade where all the kids go into the marketplace and pick out an instrument to carry and play in the parade. Stuart and I go in and find a stick with cymbals on it, and he shakes that as we walk around the lobby. About halfway around, he slows down, so I pick him up for the rest of the parade. I think hell like it more next time were here, when hes a little older. After all, he just started really walking last week!
Dinner is wonderful-we always enjoy Boma. When our server comes to ask us what drinks we want, I ask if they have any frunch, even though its usually on the breakfast menu. He says, of course, and we all order a glass. Yum!
The she-crab soup is delightful, and Stuart seems to enjoy it, although its pretty thin so is hard to feed to him. He loves all the breads and fresh fruit on the buffet, and eats a little of the other food, too. He particularly likes the baboti, as do I! He eats a pretty good meal tonight, and enjoys the crunchy chocolate desserts and the mini-cheesecake tarts (me too!). Art loves the zebra domes, but Im allergic to coffee, so I dont eat anything that has even a little coffee or Kahlua in it. Bummer, but there you are. We have a great meal, Stuart is wonderful, and we head back to the resort ready for a relatively early night. Its been a great day, even if I did mess up the schedule. I think Ive got it all figured out, it should work out fine, and we didnt rush too much or push ourselves too much today, which is really nice.
Tomorrow, Epcot!
