All the way from Japan to enjoy the WONDER of Disney

[disneyholic family]

I can't agree more... we are waiting.

OT - Beth, your daughters music is beautiful.

thanks! I'll tell her you said so!! that will make her really happy to hear that!! (she's in thailand now)...

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Ok everyone get back on board. it's time for a safari at the Animal Kingdom. My breakfast in bed service continued for the family. Quite frankly it was just the easiest way. I watched the vacation videos last night and noticed two things. One that DDM joined me to go and get breakfast on this our last full day at WDW and two that I'm fat. I remembered how much I hate cameras. I had exercised a lot before the vacation and lost some, but now I see not enough. This means that when we get to the cruise part of this trip picture choices will be limited. I promise not to frighten anyone with the oicture of me on the beach or banana boat.

Any way back to the AK. Animal Kingdom is Kiyomi's favorite park. She loves the tree and safari. Knowing this I was determined that the same thing that happened to me in EPCOT was not going to happen to her. I didn't care what DDJ and DDA wanted to do, today was mom's day. As we entered the park I ran to guest services to get guidebooks in Japanese for the girls. It was then off to Expedition Everest for fastpasses.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

As we walk through the center area of AK DDM can't take her eyes off the center piece of the Animal Kingdom-The Tree Of Life. Who can blame her. It is an amazing sight. I could and I recommend to first timers take an hour just to walk around it and look. I see DDA and DDJ wanting to speed things up. I point out an animal to DDM and quickly take the girls to the side. I tell them strongly, but in a nice way that today is mom's day. End of story, don't want to hear it, no compromise and most of all NO THE BOY. They kind of grumble but for the most part this little talk paid off.

We work our way through oasis at DDMs pace looking at the animals and flowers. We pass some kind of black monkeys and I see one that looks like Junna when she sleeps. She wasn't happy when I pointed it out--OOPs Arriving Expedition Everest we get a fastpass and then see that the line wasn't so long. None of us had ridden it before so we decided to wait in line.
WELL worth the 20 minutes we waited in line.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

If you haven't ridden EE enjoy it the first time. THen ride it again and check out how the track changes. This goes double if you are a roller coaster buff like me.

Junna also continued to make faces any chance she got. When watching the video last night she would put her eye in the lense at every chance

While waiting in line I found a Hidden Mickey

 

[disneydance]

great job and I cant wait for more!!!!!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

we LOVE animal kingdom too.....so many people say they don't and i can't understand it...yes it's hot and gets crowded, but it's such a beautiful park!!!

it's DD's favorite after MK...

so EE was fun? that first hill climb looks pretty scary, but we can't wait to ride it (and check out all the 'stuff' in the line)....

and by the way, you are NOT fat....you're starting to sound like a girl...cut that out!!!!...you look great!!...granted you're not as beautiful as your wife, but then, who is??????

can't wait for more more more more more....

 

[tokyodisneydad]

great job and I cant wait for more!!!!!!!

Thanks for continuing to read my report...Hang on later in the day the Gorillas got loose at the AK and one decided to take in the NEMO show

we LOVE animal kingdom too.....so many people say they don't and i can't understand it...yes it's hot and gets crowded, but it's such a beautiful park!!!

it's DD's favorite after MK...

so EE was fun? that first hill climb looks pretty scary, but we can't wait to ride it (and check out all the 'stuff' in the line)....

and by the way, you are NOT fat....you're starting to sound like a girl...cut that out!!!!...you look great!!...granted you're not as beautiful as your wife, but then, who is??????

can't wait for more more more more more....

Thanks for trying to boost my confidence, but I have mirrors and can see Although you are right about my wife. Atleast in my eyes she is the most beautiful woman in the world

 

[pjstevens]

Can't wait to read this part.... don't leave us hanging too long.

Thanks for continuing to read my report...Hang on later in the day the Gorillas got loose at the AK and one decided to take in the NEMO show

 

[disneyholic family]

gorillas cut loose?????????????????? you mean the real live gorilla gorillas????

you can't mean that.....can you???

that was my greatest fear as a child....

i grew up right next to the detroit zoo...
they had gorillas living there...
i had this recurring nightmare...i used to dream about the gorillas getting out and coming into my house...i would hide in the closet to try to escape them....i had this dream/nightmare OFTEN
don't tell me i'm going to start having this dream about AK too????

 

[CriminyCrafft]

I just found your trip report - YAY! Your family is lovely. I got the same Stitch ears as your DD in Tokyo Disneyland! Can't wait to read more. And I REALLY can't wait to read your Tokyo Disney Halloween report!!! I'm DYING to go there in October next year!!!!

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

for the tough love-hope it pays off. I wish we would've been able to stay longer. Between the heat and the jarring roads, we get exhausted.

Ready for more

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Time to move this trip report along a little although we will no get to the gorilla episode just yet.

After riding EE the first time via standby we were able to basically able to jump right back on using our fastpass. This trip the fastpass system worked really well for our family. riding Everest the second time I was able to enjoy the view of the first climb. I also was able to watch how the track system worked. Really Cool!!

Anyway after EE we decided to go to Kali River rapids. This was DDJs one request and I figured if we were going to get wet the earlier the better. Last time we rode this was in January 2005 and we rode it in the evening. We were all freezing after. Lesson learned.
On the way back to Kali River rapids I spotted Junna the sleeping monkey again and said HI. I got punched in the shoulder for my trouble. I just don't understand why?
Kali River Rapids was closed but the CM said it should be open again soon. So we waited....and waited...and waited.. DDJ wanted to wait longer but I said fastpass it and come back later. DDJ gave me this look but I gave her this look and it was the end of the discussion.
We then took off to Dinoland USA and I wish Kali River had been open because then what happened next might not have happened.
Walking over to Dinoland USA it was HOTTTTTT!!! We got there and everyone wanted to go on Primeval Whirl which I love, but I was feeling a bit dizzy knowing it would turn into Primeval Hurl if I rode. DDM asked if I was ok and made the comment that I was a bit green I told her I was fine and to have fun. They got in the 20 minute line and I went to buy water. I traded for a pin that I was looking to buy but found it on the CMs lanyard at the drink stand. I was I had found my Darth Goofy pin. I traded a nice pin from Japan and then went and found some shade. I waved at the girls as their car flew by. They didn't see me. We then headed over to Dinosaur. I felt a little better and seeing that there was 0 wait to ride I rode.
This ride is too rough for my old bones I actually like the Indiana Jones ride in DisneySEA that uses the same cars but once was enough for me. I must have still looked green when I got off because a cM asked if I was ok.
The girls wanted to go again and again and again and again. They rode 4more times in a row with no wait. DDM was happy to shop and I was mor than happy to sit in the AC watching the ride pictures.
By the time the girls had ridden the 5th time they had posing for the camera down to an art. Well it was 11:30 about this time and I wanted to make sure DDM got to do her favorite attraction so off to Kilamanjari Safaris.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

gorillas cut loose?????????????????? you mean the real live gorilla gorillas????

you can't mean that.....can you???

that was my greatest fear as a child....

i grew up right next to the detroit zoo...
they had gorillas living there...
i had this recurring nightmare...i used to dream about the gorillas getting out and coming into my house...i would hide in the closet to try to escape them....i had this dream/nightmare OFTEN
don't tell me i'm going to start having this dream about AK too????

Don't worry. I promise the gorillas won't get you, but this was a very SCARY situation for me and my family.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

That Primevel Whirl doesn't look as bad as it is! I took my mom (who doesn't like rollercoasters/fast/scary rides) on it last year. She had watched it for a while and didn't think it looked too bad. She screamed the entire time!
I loved it though! But, I can definately feel these rides more the older I get.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

That Primevel Whirl doesn't look as bad as it is! I took my mom (who doesn't like rollercoasters/fast/scary rides) on it last year. She had watched it for a while and didn't think it looked too bad. She screamed the entire time!
I loved it though! But, I can definately feel these rides more the older I get.

The Primeval Whirl is great fun. I rode it last time

 

[disneyholic family]

it's like kermit's song - it's not easy being green..
were you dehydrated?

i love dinosaur, but indiana jones (in disneyland in california) is far superior......

i'm still not sure about that EE first hill....it looks really really really scary.....especially with nothing on the sides as you go up that hill...

 

[tokyodisneydad]

I think dehydration is a strong possibility. When you ar having fun you sometimes forget to drink. Don't be scared of EE, but I guess that's easy for me to say. Japan has some of the world's highest coasters.

it's like kermit's song - it's not easy being green..
were you dehydrated?

i love dinosaur, but indiana jones (in disneyland in california) is far superior......

i'm still not sure about that EE first hill....it looks really really really scary.....especially with nothing on the sides as you go up that hill...

Hang on everyone--AK continues now and I promise we will get to the gorillas before the day is over

 

[tokyodisneydad]

When we reach the Kilamanjari Safari we see that there is a 2 hour wait so we get a fast pass. DDJ looks at the FP and notices that the Kali FP and Safari FP are at the same time. She goes I go -End of story. Unlike my wife who is wonderful, but not so worried about my feelings (EX. EPCOT fiasco) Kiyomi is #! in my life and even if I have to bend over backwards she comes first.
I then check out the Lion King show times and see we have time to get a quick bite as long as it's near the show. We go over to pizzafari and get lunch. The food here was pretty good. They will let you substitute a frozen lemonade for your desert on the dining plan if you want.
After lunch we go over to see the Lion King show. This show was VERY important to see....

FLASHBACK Both Akane and Junna take dance lessons. Akane takes them very seriously, Junna takes nothing serious. The last time we came to the AK (their first time) the Lion King show played a MAJOR role in Akane's choice of where to go to highschool. She chose a school with a dance team and an advanced English program. When she saw the show last time she wanted to go to the USA in the future to study dance, so she was working hard.
That is until THE BOY. She started thinking more and more about THE BOY and less and less about her dreams. This was very evident by some choices she made just before our trip and I lost it as a father. I came within an inch of throwing THE BOY off our balcony and we live on the 5th floor.

Back to the show. The Lion King show is a must see at AK. We enjoyed it just as much this time as last. I missed most of it because I was watching Akane's reaction closely. The fascination, joy and expression on her face said it all. The Lion King had the desired effect. Seeing this tears of joy started to flow.

I forgot to tell you that tears had also flowed when arriving at WDW, on the people mover, in the parade, at the hotel when they were fighting and a few other times for no reason. My wife is the stronger person when it comes to emotions. I cry at movies...I admit it...am I a weaker man... I say no...I'm just a helpless romantic.

After the show we had a little time to explore the Gorilla trails and see the other animals. All the gorilla's were safely in their areas....for now

Next the safari, everyone's happy and then the NEMO show

 

[tokyodisneydad]

We saw the gorillas and it was time for Junna to pay me back for the monkey comment. She pointed out that one of the gorillas looked like me. I just smiled. Anyway it was decision time--Which fast pass to use. It was easy--the Safari. Even with the FP it was still about a 25 minute wait, but well worth it.
I didn't take any pictures because we have lots of pictures from the last trip. I was surprised to see so many animals out and about. It was VERY hot. i pointed this out to DDM and she in turned pointed out that in Africa it was hotter. Point well taken. The Safari was as wonderful as usual. By the time we got off the Kali FP had expired but we decided to go over and see if 1)it was open and 2) how long the wait was. It was open and even though our FP was expired they said no problem and let us in anyway. DDJ was
I really didn't want to get wet, but the smile on DDJs face made me so I got on. I'm happy to say that I stayed almost dry this ride DDJ,DDM and DDA were wet wet wet I don't know why I had chosen to sit by myself on the other side of the boat, but in the end I was dry.

The towels we had bought at DTD the night before came in handy. I had been carrying them around all day.

After the Kali river rapids we walked the Tiger trail. Of all the exotic animals in the whole park the girls were most fascinated by some baby ducks that we saw along the way.

It was getting close to time for the last show of NEMO so we headed over to the theater. If I had known what would happen next we would have skipped it.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

You're scaring me with all of you scary guy smilies!

Looking forward to the next part of your adventure.