Blizzard in July!!!! Just Back 7/7 - 7/9/09 Pic's added

[DaPanMan]

Just returned from a surprise trip to WDW. Only had a day there but when its unexpected. What can you do???

We were in Ft. Myers. I coach my daughter's AAU basketball team here in Michigan and we made it to Nationals. Went down to play. I made this a back up plan in case we didn't make it past Monday so we could have some Daddy/Daughter time.

Well, we made it to Monday and ended our season with a lose by 6. Girls played well, all disappointed. But hey, we're going to DISNEY WORLD!!!!

Cast:

Me: Coach and 40 pop of 3.

DD: 13, tired bballer

DN: 13, on our team for the tournament. Injured her ankle in a game and has a cold

D Friend: His daughter and mine are only weeks apart. His wife and mine stayed home with the other kids and activities so we could take the girls to the tournament.

ARRIVAL:

We traveled with another family who was going to stay off site to WDW. We dropped them off and headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge villas, Jambo house. I had called DVC and had gotten Old Key West. The Cast Member put me on the waiting list for AKL. Just needed one night to get it.

Not even 2 days later, had the AKL studio I wanted. BONUS!!!

I had called DVC and told them we were celebrating our trip to Nationals, hoping some fun pixie dust would come our way. We didn't have much of a plan, but who cares, right? We're in WDW!!! for goodness sakes.

We get through a brutal thunderstorm and arrive at AKL. I go to check in. Weird thing. The cast member at check was more involved with people walking by than me. She must have waved to 5 people walking by. She mumbled her "welcome home," no smile. Handed me the stuff in the packet. Rambled through the speil. I know I've heard it a few times, but still. Anyway, I was off in less than 5 minutes. Crazy!?!!?

We roll our luggage to the room. Top floor, savanna view. I couldn't over how dark it was. Must be the color scheming. But what they hey. We looked out into the Savannah and saw boars, and birds and zebras and.......................SPIDER!!!!!!!!!

Next time: Lions and Tigers and SPIDER!!!!!!!! Oh MY!!!

 

[MickeyReeds]

Sounds like you're headed for some fun! Can't wait to read more!

 

[DaPanMan]

When we had last left you, we had entered the AKL lodge and found our studio room with savannah view.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I had been threatened within an inch of my life that if any of my party was caught feeding the animals from our deck, we would be summarily evicted!!!! I did pass the word to the rest of the bandidos about doing that and what fate awaited them. The sliding glass door as well as the rail out on the deck have the same warning.

Anyway, we explore our new home for the next 2 nights. My DD goes out on the deck and comes back in pretty quickly. I'm thinking wow, 13 and already tired of looking at giraffes, no wonder we don't go to the zoo anymore.

She says, there's a spider outside. Now, she's not one who runs and screams from a lil 'ole spider. So, now the rest of us go out and look at it. I don't know how well the picture will show it but here it is.

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Now, I thought that it was a HUGE spider. It looked like it was 4" long and about 2 - 3" across. Now THATS a spider. He looked, black, orange, and brown. We all stared at him and took pictures, forget the animals on the savannah, this guy was the star of the moment. Here we are hanging over the rail with our cameras and cell phones trying to get good shots. I told my friend he better not drop his phone or we'd get the boot but GOOD!!

My DN was still sick and was afraid the spider would somehow find its way inside. So, we called to the front desk and said that there was an animal out on our savannah that we didn't quite think belonged. We explained what it looked like and if it was poisonous or not. Well, the clerk didn't know but she would contact pest control and let them deal with the little critter, who wasn't so little. We told her, that pest control could come right in and deal with it how they saw fit, cause we were heading to dinner and didn't want to come back with a spider in anyone's bed.

Grabbed what we needed and headed for the door and DTD and the green pythons.

Trying to get the darn pic to show.

 

[MickeyReeds]

EEEWWW! That is a little too close to nature for me!

 

[DaPanMan]

Mickey thanks for reading, hope you are enjoying the shorts I've been posting. More to come soon. Getting the pics off my camera.

I believe I've identified the 8 legged creature as a Golden Silk spider. Not poisonous, but does bite.

Anyway you cut it, stay away.....FAR FAR............AWAY!!!!!

Post more soon.

 

[goofy's_gurl]

great start!! i woulda screamed if i saw the spider!

 

[DaPanMan]

We headed to DTD for dinner. We met another family there. All the while on the drive, wondering if our new pet was going to be there when we got back.

My DD was dying to go to Rainforest Cafe for dinner. I went over to the Rainforest Cafe to put our names in. It was around 7:45 pm and the rush as usual was on there. The rest of the crew went to find the other family.

I walked up to the podium to give my name. Luckily, I had my Safari card handy. My wife had come down on business a few times and told me stories of how the Safari card saved her. Well, I was about to find out for myself. There was a couple in front of me and they put their name in and was told it would be 9 pm before they were seated. I'm thinking, great, 2 people and its over and hour wait, what's it going to be for a group of 6?!?!?

I stepped up to the podium and prayed for some help from the Safari Card gods. I told her my name, no kids under 10, and we were not on the dining plan. I handed her the Safari card, and she, literally, put her hand over her mouth and whispered loud enough for me to hear, you'll be seated by 8:30. I just smiled, took the slip and walked away. I was trying to wrangle the crew together and tell them to deal. My DD and DN went into the shopping area. I went to call home.

I was talking to my DS6 about where I was. He was not a happy camper I was in WDW without him. While I was talking, my DD came up to me and said they'd called our name. I was like, huh? It had only taken 15 minutes. I really had to rally the troops. I took the girls to get in line, while my buddy went to find the other family. We were seated, before they got there, but all was good.

Sorry, no pics of the food. I did order one of the signature drinks, the Green Python, in the souvie cup that lights up on the bottom. Very tastey in deed. I also had the grilled seafood platter. The lobster was very good, mahi mahi - was out of this world. The scallops were good, but the shrimp were a disappointment. Only cause I couldn't get all the shrimp out of the shell. While chowing down, I was asked if I needed a refill on my Green Python, well...........of course I did.

One of my favorite things to do at Rainforest, is to immitate the servers when they call out VVOOLLLCCCAANNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! So, I was doing that the whole time we were at dinner. My DD loves doing this too. We had the entire table doing too before we were done. But filled up on the good stuff and didn't have enough room for a VVVVVOLLLLLCCCAAANNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

We finished up and headed out shopping. Headed over to pin trading. My DN had their Goofy mugs filled. We split up and headed our own ways to get our shopping done quicker. My DD was looking for things for my DW and I was off to World of Dis for the boys.

My DW suggested something piratey for the DS6 since he was all about Capt'n. Jack Sparrow. I saw a pirate hat on display but could not find one to purchase. My DN found a Jack Sparrow hat with the hair, but it was $35. AHH, no ah ah. I found the lone pirate had I'd seen on display on the floor in the pirate area. It was $10, SOLD!!!! I also got him a Mickey pirate Tshirt.

My DS10 is huge into golf and baseball, so I went looking for a cap. I didn't want any ole hat. We are both picky about are ball caps, gotta be cool. Seems that Disney has the same old caps every time we've been down and nothing changes. So, no luck on that front this time.

My DD went with the DN to Basin's. Never been there before. She came out all smiles and said we were going to the other shop at Grand Floridian and we could get the DW something at that one. They had massage stuff and soaps that she would like. I didn't go in this store at DTD, but did venture in the one at the Grand Floridian. If you've never been in, like me, go in. Very worth it.

We headed back to the room and the Savannah to see if our new buddy was still there. We all walked out to discover that pest control had been there and no more spider. WHEW!!! Off to dream land to get up for our water park day in the morning.

 

[goofy's_gurl]

great update. Cant wait to hear more.