Blondie
~*~*~*~<br><font color=blue>This TF always enjoys
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
- Messages
- 17,306
Okay, here's another recap!
We consist of me, 40 y.o. WDW fanatic and trip planner 44 y.o. DH, and two sons, ages 10 and 11.
Staying at The Swan from April 16th to April 22nd.
Thursday, April 19th
I apologize if my trip reports are bumming you out! I didn't plan on any of us getting sick (who does?) and I wasn't too happy the way things worked out!
Today we got up the latest so far, courtesy of the flu and me! Normally I set the alarm and get up before everyone else to get everyeone ready and out the door and be at a park for rope drop. This is the first WDW trip that we didn't make a single early entry!
We had our breakfast in the room, as we've been doing, and walked to the front of the Swan for the bus to the Animal Kingdom. After doing the Epcot resort bus stop tour
, we were finally on our way!
We didn't get there until about 10:30! I was expecting an overly crowded AK. In my opinion the park was designed poorly and seems unable to handle the hoards of people that pass through it daily! But today, I was pleasantly surprised! Not only was it a bright and sunny warm day, but AK was very do-able. I was determined to make the best of the AK, flu be damned!
We immediately walked to the Kilimanjaro Safari to grab a fast pass (with a return time in only one hour!) and then headed for the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. After our trail-du-jour, we were thirsty, so we all got frozen lemonades (like a slurpee) and shared two big soft pretzels. I could make a lunch out of just that, and that alone!
From here it was time for our Safari. We walked right up and got in a jeep (thanks fast pass) and sat idle for about 5 minutes waiting for some more fast pass riders. Several jeeps headed out before us, and I spotted one with a dark haired tour guide that had the strongest African accent I've ever heard. He had is jeep cheering and laughing and I sat there wishing I was on that jeep instead of ours. While our tour guide was adequate, she didn't have any accent at all, and I think the tour guides with the accents really add some linguistic flavor to the overall experience! But we still had a good safari, saw lots of animals, especially big African Elephants, one of my favorites. We've been on several safaris at different times of the year and day, and each time you notice something you missed before.
After our safari it was over to Dinoland USA to grab some fast passes for Dinosaur, the ride previously known as Countdown To Extinction. Why was the name of this ride changed, anyone know? We hadn't been on this since AK first opened up in April 1998, so we were looking forward to it! The boys played in The Boneyard Playground for a few minutes, but not too long. We walked around a bit, and before we knew it, our fast pass was ready! We stood in line and marveled at the various fossils hanging up here and there.
After Dinosaur the boys complained of being hungry so we went into Restaurantosaurus (aka McDonalds) This place cracks me up! You'd never know it was a McD's until you saw people carrying McD's soda cups, and the happy meals! I think it's tacky to put such a fast food joint in any Disney park, but the higher ups knew exactly what they were doing when they did this! The inside is unlike any McD's you'll ever be in. It's a nice cool darkened environment with wooden tables and chairs (no plastic anywhere, like the regular hometown McD's.) I still had a very poor appetite, so I passed. What we did get was a McNugget 10 pc. basket for $5.40, 2 Fries for $3.00, 3 Cokes for $5.85 and one Sprite for $1.95, total with tax came to $17.27! Hey--nobody said it would be cheap! There is a really nice fixins bar here, with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, several different kinds of weird looking sauces, as well as lettuce, tomato, etc. Not bad for a McD's!
After the most expensive McDonald's lunch we ever had (and I didn't even get anything except a Coke!) I wanted to walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. It's one of my favorites! There's tons of great photo ops here! I remember when we were here in April 1998 there wasn't anything in Asia except bulldozers and dirt. It all came together beautifully!
As we walked through the jungle we came upon the Tigers! One adult tiger was laying in a fountain half immersed in the water. He sat there so content, looking up at the mural painted wall of a colorful scene, which included tigers. I got some great photos, I hope they all turn out. If they do, I'll post them! He got up and out of the water while we were still watching. Truely one of God's most beautiful creatures!
We walked and explored and when we came to the end, asked the boys what or where they wanted to go next. We got the reply we expected, "the pool!"
So we left for the Swan and the Grotto Pool. As we made our way to the Swan/Dolphin/Boardwalk/Yacht & Beach Club bus stand (remember-the bus is shared) we noticed how the lines for people returning to the resorts got longer and longer! There wasn't a bus to be seen! It was almost like the bus drivers went on strike! It took a good 25 minutes for a bus to finally come, and when it did, it was ours! YAY! Sorry people, you should've stayed at an Epcot Resort!
It was so warm and sunny today that I actually went down to the Grotto Pool in a bathing suit, though I didn't dare go into the water! I was still not feeling too good, and I just wanted to soak up some rays and relax!
After an hour or two at the pool, we took one of the friendship water taxis to Epcot. I wanted to return here for two reasons; 1-to get the perfume I wanted in Norway, and 2- to get some of the wonderful pastry they have in France at Boulangerie Patisserie!
We first hit France for a most healthy dinner! We split a Chocolate Eclair, a Napoleon, an Elephant Ear, and something else, I can't remember! Nothing like pastry for dinner! The Napoleon had so much powdered sugar on it that when you bit into it, powdered sugar went everywhere! Now this ladies and gents, is my idea of a happy meal!
After our nutritional nightmare of a dinner we walked to Norway to get my perfume. Laila has replaced Clinique's Happy as my favorite fragrance! We also rode Malestrom, and by now, the Tapestry Of Nations parade had started. The boys have never seen it, and it seemed to hold their interest for a few minutes!
We also wanted to show the boys Illuminations since they hadn't seen it since April 1998, and it's changed somewhat. What a brilliant show of fireworks, pyrotechnics and colorful lasers! Not to be missed. We watched from the bridge between France and the United Kingdom so that we could quickly exit and hop the first water taxi back to the Swan. That spot also proved to be an excellent location to watch.
Tomorrow MGM and RockNRoller Coaster!
We consist of me, 40 y.o. WDW fanatic and trip planner 44 y.o. DH, and two sons, ages 10 and 11.
Staying at The Swan from April 16th to April 22nd.
Thursday, April 19th
I apologize if my trip reports are bumming you out! I didn't plan on any of us getting sick (who does?) and I wasn't too happy the way things worked out!
Today we got up the latest so far, courtesy of the flu and me! Normally I set the alarm and get up before everyone else to get everyeone ready and out the door and be at a park for rope drop. This is the first WDW trip that we didn't make a single early entry!
We had our breakfast in the room, as we've been doing, and walked to the front of the Swan for the bus to the Animal Kingdom. After doing the Epcot resort bus stop tour
, we were finally on our way!We didn't get there until about 10:30! I was expecting an overly crowded AK. In my opinion the park was designed poorly and seems unable to handle the hoards of people that pass through it daily! But today, I was pleasantly surprised! Not only was it a bright and sunny warm day, but AK was very do-able. I was determined to make the best of the AK, flu be damned!
We immediately walked to the Kilimanjaro Safari to grab a fast pass (with a return time in only one hour!) and then headed for the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. After our trail-du-jour, we were thirsty, so we all got frozen lemonades (like a slurpee) and shared two big soft pretzels. I could make a lunch out of just that, and that alone!
From here it was time for our Safari. We walked right up and got in a jeep (thanks fast pass) and sat idle for about 5 minutes waiting for some more fast pass riders. Several jeeps headed out before us, and I spotted one with a dark haired tour guide that had the strongest African accent I've ever heard. He had is jeep cheering and laughing and I sat there wishing I was on that jeep instead of ours. While our tour guide was adequate, she didn't have any accent at all, and I think the tour guides with the accents really add some linguistic flavor to the overall experience! But we still had a good safari, saw lots of animals, especially big African Elephants, one of my favorites. We've been on several safaris at different times of the year and day, and each time you notice something you missed before.
After our safari it was over to Dinoland USA to grab some fast passes for Dinosaur, the ride previously known as Countdown To Extinction. Why was the name of this ride changed, anyone know? We hadn't been on this since AK first opened up in April 1998, so we were looking forward to it! The boys played in The Boneyard Playground for a few minutes, but not too long. We walked around a bit, and before we knew it, our fast pass was ready! We stood in line and marveled at the various fossils hanging up here and there.
After Dinosaur the boys complained of being hungry so we went into Restaurantosaurus (aka McDonalds) This place cracks me up! You'd never know it was a McD's until you saw people carrying McD's soda cups, and the happy meals! I think it's tacky to put such a fast food joint in any Disney park, but the higher ups knew exactly what they were doing when they did this! The inside is unlike any McD's you'll ever be in. It's a nice cool darkened environment with wooden tables and chairs (no plastic anywhere, like the regular hometown McD's.) I still had a very poor appetite, so I passed. What we did get was a McNugget 10 pc. basket for $5.40, 2 Fries for $3.00, 3 Cokes for $5.85 and one Sprite for $1.95, total with tax came to $17.27! Hey--nobody said it would be cheap! There is a really nice fixins bar here, with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, several different kinds of weird looking sauces, as well as lettuce, tomato, etc. Not bad for a McD's!
After the most expensive McDonald's lunch we ever had (and I didn't even get anything except a Coke!) I wanted to walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. It's one of my favorites! There's tons of great photo ops here! I remember when we were here in April 1998 there wasn't anything in Asia except bulldozers and dirt. It all came together beautifully!
As we walked through the jungle we came upon the Tigers! One adult tiger was laying in a fountain half immersed in the water. He sat there so content, looking up at the mural painted wall of a colorful scene, which included tigers. I got some great photos, I hope they all turn out. If they do, I'll post them! He got up and out of the water while we were still watching. Truely one of God's most beautiful creatures!
We walked and explored and when we came to the end, asked the boys what or where they wanted to go next. We got the reply we expected, "the pool!"
So we left for the Swan and the Grotto Pool. As we made our way to the Swan/Dolphin/Boardwalk/Yacht & Beach Club bus stand (remember-the bus is shared) we noticed how the lines for people returning to the resorts got longer and longer! There wasn't a bus to be seen! It was almost like the bus drivers went on strike! It took a good 25 minutes for a bus to finally come, and when it did, it was ours! YAY! Sorry people, you should've stayed at an Epcot Resort!
It was so warm and sunny today that I actually went down to the Grotto Pool in a bathing suit, though I didn't dare go into the water! I was still not feeling too good, and I just wanted to soak up some rays and relax!
After an hour or two at the pool, we took one of the friendship water taxis to Epcot. I wanted to return here for two reasons; 1-to get the perfume I wanted in Norway, and 2- to get some of the wonderful pastry they have in France at Boulangerie Patisserie!
We first hit France for a most healthy dinner! We split a Chocolate Eclair, a Napoleon, an Elephant Ear, and something else, I can't remember! Nothing like pastry for dinner!
The Napoleon had so much powdered sugar on it that when you bit into it, powdered sugar went everywhere! Now this ladies and gents, is my idea of a happy meal!After our nutritional nightmare of a dinner we walked to Norway to get my perfume. Laila has replaced Clinique's Happy as my favorite fragrance! We also rode Malestrom, and by now, the Tapestry Of Nations parade had started. The boys have never seen it, and it seemed to hold their interest for a few minutes!
We also wanted to show the boys Illuminations since they hadn't seen it since April 1998, and it's changed somewhat. What a brilliant show of fireworks, pyrotechnics and colorful lasers! Not to be missed. We watched from the bridge between France and the United Kingdom so that we could quickly exit and hop the first water taxi back to the Swan. That spot also proved to be an excellent location to watch.
Tomorrow MGM and RockNRoller Coaster!
I imagine it gave you a shot of energy for the rest of the evening! 
We also ate at the McD's in AK and I made a nice little side dish of the sauteed mushrooms and onions they have at the side bar, to go with my meal. I think it would be a great addition at all McD's. We have also watched Illuminations from that bridge and found it to be a good location. You just reminded me that since we will be staying at CSR next, I think we'll stand there again so we can exit quickly at the International Gateway to catch the bus from the Boardwalk. I'm looking forward to your next day! 
