Adopted ducks + Wild Africa Trek + seriously great food= an AWESOME trip! The end p10

[aprilisis]

trying to figure out where I left off! I had started your trek and think I finished....was about to comment and had to walk away from the computer when I came back lost track of where I was (this was last week) but I do have to say as always your pictures are excellant!

found where I left off; Tom Sawyer Island

Wonderful trip report!!!

your pictures from the observation deck are awesome, a perspective I have not seen before!

I really enjoyed traveling with you on this trip! Thank you! again for the great pictures!!!

I laughed at your comment about Harry Potter! I am a huge HP fan but from things I have heard have not been as eager to visit as I was....it does look like a great way to immerse yourself into the book but very little excitment of attraction fun!

again, Thanks! for sharing your trip with us!

Connie

Thanks!!! The Harry Potter section of the park at IOA is really cool- and I LOVE the new ride, but I have to say I was disappointed that they renamed 2 rides instead of creating more new rides. I have to say, though, that the new buildings are really great! When I walked into that section of the park it was the first time in a long time that something has "wow'ed" me like that. People pack like sardines in that small area & that can get irritating. I'm not sure how it is first thing in the morning, though, but I want to try to get there at that time next time I go. You're going in the fall, right???

 

[aprilisis]

Some final thoughts: Where the heck is Babycakes in DtD??? It wasn't on the map & I didn't see it anywhere.
Characters in Flight was cool. It is worth doing once. I think I would do it again at sunset and once at night.... and maybe a few more times to get the different views from each side. I'm too chicken to walk around on that thing!
WAT is SO worth the money! I can't say enough good things about this. The guides are the best. I was so nervous about the foot bridges- they were so supportive that they made me feel 100% comfortable. They knew a lot about all of the animals and they were constantly cracking jokes. I also felt like we weren't even in the park. It was so relaxed and quiet- plus the group was so small that we were all talking with one another. We saw tons of animals, but the crocs were my favorite. I loved the safari ride that we took because the vehicle stopped a lot in order to allow us to take photos. The spot that was stopped at for the snack was awesome. I could only eat half of the lunch, however, because half was meat. I told them I was a vegetarian when I booked the tour (because of the lunch/snack) & they responded that being vegetarian was a "lifestyle choice" So basically they said "too bad". The food that I did eat was awesome & I gave the bottom half of the food container to the couple I was sitting with. Plus Lani gave me some carrots, so it all worked out. I actually was sad when the Trek was over! I just didn't like that the lunch situation brought attention to me & that I'm veg. I don't normally tell people because I don't want anyone to know. I catch too much grief for it.
The new Star Tours ROCKS! I love that there are a bunch of the characters in each different scenario and that the scenarios change every time. I think the best thing was seeing people actually excited about Star Tours again. The gift store was packed at midnight that Saturday night!
While the room wasn't the best at the Poly, the resort is so quiet and peaceful. I loved seeing the Electric water pageant, sunsets, and fireworks from the room. The location is so convenient. The Wyland gallery/store is always somewhere I like to visit. Having an actual Dole Whip dispenser within walking distance (in Captain Cook's) can be dangerous, but I really enjoyed it. The pools are both great. I really just love the atmosphere and all of the wildlife and vegetation. I'm going to miss my ducks!!!
The animation class is great! It was fun to learn to draw a character and it is a great way to beat the heat for 25 minutes.
Two of my favorite places to eat at WDW are Artist Point and California Grill. I haven't been disappointed by the food in either place once. The breakfast at 1900 Park Fare was great, though they no longer have the cheese blintzes. I haven't had one (anywhere) since the one I had there in 2001 & I've been wanting one ever since. Jiko & Boma are awesome, but every time I walk into AKL I feel sad because I'm not staying there. I love the vegetarian menu and the food choices at Jiko. Boma has my favorite grilled tomatoes, jungle juice and such fresh fruit. My new favorite snack has to be the guacamole in La Cava del Tequila in Epcot, but I still love the veggie egg roll in Animal Kingdom.
As usual, I left feeling like I didn't do everything I wanted to do, but I think that is the case with every trip every time I leave WDW. Thank goodness I'm going back in November!
Did I miss anything??

I thought I'd share my favorite 100 photos of the trip. I know that's a lot, but I did take about 1000-1100 photos this time. I'll post them in totally random order accompanied by my idiotic commentary.

This photo was taken the first day of the trip. As you can see, Characters in Flight was not operating at the time. I was disappointed, but I knew I'd get back there.

Sunset in EPCOT by the Imagination pavilion:

At the entrance to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:

This was taken the first day of the trip at the bar at RFC.

The lobby at the Polynesian:

I know that people get freaked out by the bats, but I love them.

You all know I miss these guys (or girls):

I love that this giraffe looks like he is sticking his tongue out at me:

My cow at Rafiki's Planet Watch (or whatever they're calling it now):

This was taken on a blazingly hot day at AK:

DQ:

I loved these little yellow birds. They were right inside the entrance to Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.

This was taken at my favorite spot to photograph EE:

One of the little finches in Maharajah Jungle Trek:

This is from one of the stores in Morocco. I love these lamps, but I think they are made from Sheep or some other animal's skin, so...no thanks.

I never even knew there were lemurs near the Tree of Life until this trip:

I love the Komodo Dragon. They look so docile, but are actually pretty aggressive in the wild.

I like this shot from Characters in Flight because you can see EPCOT, ToT, and the brush fire (WAY over to the right in the photo).

I was so happy to see a few topiaries still on display since I had missed the F & G Festival by 2 days.

Sunset from the CG is always nice, but this was the first time I actually left the table to take photos from the observation deck.

This was from my solo EPCOT day. I took a ton of photos that day!

I loved the crocodiles & seeing them so close was a rush!

Spaceship Earth is one of my favorite attractions to cool off in when it gets really warm.

Hippos are so huge, but they have the tiniest little ears! I took this one on WAT:

I love the dinosaurs outside of T-Rex. I took this on the first day while wandering around DtD:

Continued in next post....

 

[aprilisis]

You can't tell in the photos, but these guys were HUGE:

I love the Lego Monster! I take a photo of him on every trip!

I was amazed that I was actually able to snap a quick photo of this butterfly because it was flitting around from leaf to leaf so quickly.

The little yellow birds on the Pangani Trail were building nests:

This is another from the first day of the trip:

This was taken as we left IOA:

Now that I look at this photo, I wish I had been patient & waited to get the monorail in the shot.

This was taken a little before sunrise at the volcano pool:

The castle from Tomorrowland:

This parade is one of my favorite things at WDW:

I loved seeing the tigers on Maharajah Jungle Trek. I wish I knew how to get my camera to pick up the colors a little better.

Again, I wish I waited for the monorail to be in this photo:

The African Spoon Bill (I think) from just inside the entrance to AK.

This is one of my favorites at Universal:

This was taken just inside the entrance to Maharajah Jungle Trek:

This is the crocodile that made me nervous because he started to walk out of the water towards us.

These really nice potted flowers were all around DtD. I wanted to take one home with me, but I'm pretty sure that would put my luggage over the weight limit.

I was so happy to see the Galapagos Tortoise on the Discovery Island Trails at AK. I love turtles & tortoises. I know I say that about every animal, but it's true!

More Morocco:

My new favorite place to photograph BTMRR (Thanks, Lisa!):

The Hall of Presidents:

This was taken just before sunrise at the Polynesian beach.

I caught this duck mid-quack:

This elephant was spraying mud on her back to keep cool:

I love the Tibetan prayer flags that are all around Asia in AK:

Continued in next post....

 

[aprilisis]

This was taken during the last sunset of the trip from the TTC dock.

This was taken just after sunset from my room:

This sign is at the head of the walkway back to the Poly from the TTC:

My ducks crammed up against my sliding door (all except the stand-offish one in the background):

Balloons! I wish I stopped to take this shot because I just took it on the way by. Next time, I'll actually stop & ask the CM so I can get a better shot.

This one is a little dark, but I still like the colors:

This was taken in Morocco in one of the shops:

More crocs from WAT:

I like this one because you can see 4 bats & they're all hanging in different ways.

I love the new Lego scenes! I think this one was the most elaborate:

Ankole Cattle:

Planet Hollywood:

I like the way that this tiger's paws are curled while he sleeps:

I loved Pete's Dragon as a kid, so I had to include this even though it isn't the clearest photo:

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls:

Elephant:

I like this shot because the rhino looks like he's thinking, "What are you looking at???"

More DtD:

More bat stuff:

How can you not think the crocs are the coolest animals? I wish they has a less scary way to cool off, though.

World Showcase at sunset:

The cute, fuzzy baby elephant:

Bamboo at AK:

This was the first time I have seen these guys out & about:

I wish I had caught this in better focus:

Continued in next post...

 

[aprilisis]

More Ankole Cattle:

More DtD from the first day of the trip:

Again- I took a few of these guys because I had never seen them before:

Stork on one of the Discovery Island Trails at AK:

Majarajah Jungle Trek:

More crocs from WAT:

I love this bat doing his little vampire pose:

I thought this was one of the prettiest birds I've seen:

Sunrise at the Poly:

I had to take this photo. I don't know if I mentioned it, but I have an Eeyore tattoo.

Sunset over SSE:

I love this mural in Maharajah Jungle Trek:

This is my other favorite photo of the giraffe sticking his tongue out:

White Rhinos- Don't they look bored?

Another MJT photo:

I loved watching these little birds:

I liked this one for the sunset color:

This was so colorful at EPCOT:

My favorite giraffe again:

I loved this little duck! You can't tell in the photo, but his beak was really bright yellow.

I love this one because he looks so cute & happy with his eyes closed & soaking up the sun.

I liked this one because it has the Koi pond in the foreground:

More WS:

Doesn't it look like he's missing a tooth??

I think this one is my favorite from the whole trip:

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

HI April,
I'm off to a meeting, but wanted to quickly say your photo's are soo good...I love them all!
I googled babycakes and the directions say they are in the building marked Fresh-a-peel...??

http://www.babycakesnyc.com/locations.html

That will have to be your mission in November - to find Babycakes!!!!

 

[aprilisis]

HI April,
I'm off to a meeting, but wanted to quickly say your photo's are soo good...I love them all!
I googled babycakes and the directions say they are in the building marked Fresh-a-peel...??

http://www.babycakesnyc.com/locations.html

That will have to be your mission in November - to find Babycakes!!!!

Thanks!! No wonder I didn't find Babycakes!!! Fresh-a-Peel is in with that chicken place- Pollo Campero! That is the last place I would expect to find it!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I LOVE those pictures!

I didn't see the Mandrills on my first ever visit to AK, but both times I went to AK last November they were out. I just heard that they had a baby Mandrill born very recently (in the last couple weeks I think)!

 

[KatMark]

I really HATE it when my computer is not working and I have to rely on using my son's when he is not using it...I missed so many updates.

I love your Electrical Parade pictures and the fireworks too.

As for your 100 favorite pictures, I loved them all (okay, NOT the bat ones ). The giraffes are my absolute favorite.

Thank you for sharing with us, April. I thoroughly enjoyed (even if I was late half the time).

 

[Minnesota!]

Thanks! You have to those tomatoes if you ever go to Boma.

I agree - the grilled tomatoes are one of the best things I have ever eaten. I eat them with the Boma mustard or the Sambal. Heaven on a plate!

Great trip report!