Divas, Zebra Domes, and Pixie Dust! A Week in an African Paradise! New TR Link Pg.145

[Charleston Princess]

Tusker house looks great! We're doing breakfast there in Sept - DD(5) is a huge Daisy fan, so how could we not?? Looking forward to the next update!

She will love meeting Daisy!!! She is so cute in all her safari gear!

Just on a whim I decided to check Tusker House breakfast ADR's for our AK day in September (September 22nd) - Nothing, nada, zip!

Oh, that's a shame .

Connor's shirt is awesome, btw!!!! I heart Jungle book!

Thank you! We love The Jungle Book at our house as well -- our black cat is even named Bagheera.

Jackie, I know what your up to today. Ive been surfing the boards and I am on to you.

Shhhhh...

Now hold on here.............I don't know what you mean by AGAIN, MeMom?? As I recall, it wasn't "I" that was stirring things up before??????? When that pot got stirred I vividly recall that I was quietly sitting over in my corner, waiting for Charles to turn down the t.v. so I could focus and for Shocker to drag out something new for us "men" to entertain ourselves with, while we patiently waited for CP's next update!! So, I don't know how all the sudden I am accused of trying to stir up trouble AGAIN?????

However, I do notice that no matter where all you women are from, you do tend to hang together and are very supportive of one another!! I am sure MeMom appreciates you confirming her "accusations", Jackie. I on the other hand.........will need a little quiet time, to ponder what exactly I did wrong, before I can just move on, accepting my lot in life and pretending nothing happened!!!

Oh and my apologies for my delayed response, but my FastPost return time wasn't until 3 o'clock!!

We adore you, Blesseddaddy, even if we do support each other!!!

And just for the record, I about fell out of my chair laughing when I read your last sentence!

Jackie this has been buggin me all day. First Charles was too tired to go to MK, then he had to leave AK early. Then I remembered that your siggie has a pic of you, two of the kids, and a giraffe, but no Charles. So I have been pondering... why isn't Charles in your siggie? Please don't tell me he had to go home early or that you replaced him with the giraffe. Is he still on the savannah somewhere?

Charles was with us until the end -- just not always in the same spot as we were. I did allow him to come home with us although there may have been a time or two when I wanted to boot him out onto the savannah.

He has since redeemed himself though...

That is just awful about Charles' blood sugar - now I'm beginning to understand why he enjoyed those AKL pillows so much. At least he made it to breakfast though. The pictures of Connor and Chelsea with their mouths full are hilarious. Kinda sad to see them grow up from last years trip though...more concerned about the food! And I LOVE that Connor offered Mickey a potato.

It makes me sad to see them grow up, too! My nephew turned 13 yesterday, and I just can't seem to wrap my mind around the idea that I have a teenager for a nephew.

I am going to aim for a Tusker House breakfast in December. I don't think I could do opening and getting up at 5 am, but might do something pretty early. I love the pictures of the park that you took-so, so pretty-AK is my favorite!

It's my favorite, too!

Oh-and you made me laugh out loud at your commentary on how you speak to the fur animals! Do you speak more slowly too? I bet you aren't alone in doing that though!

I do speak more slowly as well -- I make sure to enunciate each word clearly.

That sounds cool! Hope you'll post some pictures when you're done. Although not a park CD it would be a perfect addition to your collection. You could play it while showering in your "Shades of Africa" bathroom!

The CD would be perfect and I will definitely take photos when I am done with the bathroom.

OK...I don't care who you are...that's funny right there!

I cracked up when I read it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Having successfully yielded to any elephants coming in the opposite direction (of which there were none), Chelsea, Connor, and I headed to Asia for the much-coveted Expedition Everest Fastpasses. On our way back we paused to examine the warnings:

I am sure that if this were really a hotel, I would have dithered around about staying here, too.

Chelsea and Connor indulged me with posing at the ricksaw:

We meandered over towards our next stop -- I wanted to see some big cats!

On our way, I heard, "Jackie?"

Imagine my surprise when I saw Anita (Wigdoutdismom) on her way to get Everest FPs! It was my first DIS meet! I had been keeping an eye out for her because I knew she had a breakfast ressie with her husband, Marc, and her son, Baylor.

We chatted for a couple of minutes. The whole time Connor was tugging on my arm and making strange animal noises. I was secretly mortified. For a year and a half I had been filling my PTRs and TRs with witty stories of my son, and here he was acting like a toddler or worse.

Finally, Connor got his way, we said good-bye to Anita and headed off to see the tigers and other creatures on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

Before we entered, Connor showed us what he expected to see the bats doing:

Chelsea exclaimed, "Look, Mom, the Komodo Dragon!"

To which I replied, "No, honey, this is the Komodo Dragon!"

He blinked at us a couple of times, but seemed to just want to sit and sunbathe. So we left him to his rock and went to visit with the bats. I was a little apprehensive about them. I had never seen bats up close and personal and wasn't really sure I wanted to make friends with any today. I ended up fascinated by them. Their little faces were so cute, and they were just hanging there, enjoying fruit, sleeping, and airing out their wings.

A CM was there telling everyone about how the bars were spaced so the bats couldn't fit through them and how bats do not fly sideways. The kids and I just watched them for awhile.

This one was my favorite one -- he seemed so content to just hang there with his wings splayed out.

The kids spotted a blood python in the viewing room, but I kept going. I knew I didn't want to make friends with that one!

Then it was time to see the kitty cats. These guys were awake, and I was amazed at their power and gracefulness. It was just like watching our cats while they played in the water and washed themselves.

Connor wasn't too sure about this whole "Tigers in the Forest" warning:

Chelsea pretended to pet this tiger.

Connor pretended to be a tiger.

Connor found a CM and asked her a million questions about tigers: keeping them as pets ("Even tamed they retain their natural instincts") and why the tigers seemed uninterested in the birds that were also in the enclosure ("They just keep out of each other's way"). I noticed on this trip especially that Connor has no problem chatting up cast members -- I love that he feels so comfortable at Disney World.

We watched the tigers for a little bit more, but it was morning naptime.

I know I have said it before, but I just love the theming at Animal Kingdom.

We took a quick tour of the aviary where Connor chatted with another CM about a bird that looked like a peacock (only it was brown), and we headed out.

The kids wanted to ride Kali, but I was not in the mood to get wet that early in the morning, so where would we head next?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I have never been down that path in AK. I would love to see the tigers. The bats... not so much. Or not at all. You can bypass them and just see the tigers, right?

Good for Connor asking questions of the CM's!

Love the bat and the rickshaw poses - reminds me of last year!

How cool that you had an unexpected DIS meet!

Still not sure about Everest but I *might* try it this year...

So, hmm... where will you go next?

 

[cmskok]

Your pictures are so great! I love the tigers!

I am so glad that Connor is so comfortable at Disney and chats up the CM's. My DH and I are starting to think that our kids are getting too comfortable with Disney!!!!

Your TR is great...where's Charles in the pics??LOL

 

[stace208]

Great update! That is my favorite path in AK. I LOVE the bats and could stay in there for a while just watching them. I have a picture of me by that same tiger mural and my pose is very similar to Chelsea's...she's just much cuter!

 

[Lady Lallie]

THANK YOU FOR THE BAT POSE! It is just super cute. I think I need to do my own bat pose at AK in September. I love looking at those bats, they are amazing. I haven't made my way over there since 2005 though, I think it's time to go again.

How funny that you just came across Anita!

I will ride EE this next trip, I will do it!

 

[jenjolt]

Another wonderful update Jackie!! I loved it!!! Okay love the bat pose by Connor way to cute!!

YAY to a DIS Meet that is too fun

What a great trail I really enjoyed walking on it and I'm going to enjoy walking on it again YAY!!! Loved that the tigers were awake!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great update Jackie! I have yet to have a Dismeet... I've never walked that trail - Zachary checked out the animals with his Gramma in 2007 when he was too small for EE but this year we skipped it, again.

Your kids are so photogenic! I love how they ham it up for the camera.

Can't wait to hear where you guys head next.

 

[Happy Elf]

Great pictures! I love seeing the bats. I had never been real fond of them growing up, but then I taught a unit on bats in school and have been fascinated with them ever since.

 

[cjackearl]

We liked the bats also. You got some great pictures of the tigers!

EE is a no for me, but I'd love to just walk through the que once to enjoy the theming and then leave via the chicken exit.

I can just see you considering making a ressie at the Yeti Palace Hotel!

 

[punkin413]

it looks like he's doing stomach crunches!

Connor wasn't too sure about this whole "Tigers in the Forest" warning:

We watched the tigers for a little bit more, but it was morning naptime.

i think it's constantly nap time for them! i've only seen one up and walking around once....ever!

speaking of keeping tigers as pets, apparently someone in hall county decided it was a good idea to have a "large exotic cat" as a pet. read below.....

http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=221077

and it looks like it's starting to head my way. we live in jackson county (read below).

http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=221386

 

[micandminforever]

It amaze me how the tigers are so much like my cats at home. I love watching them.

I love all of Connor's different poses, he seemed to be really into animals that day.

It is great that you had your first Dis meet this trip, with wigdoutdismom. Connor I am sure was just getting ready for the bats.

 

[Megablocks]

I love the big cats -- it's hilarious how they are sometimes JUST like pet cats only many times bigger. My mother one time saw one sneak up to another and then pounce on it.

I like the bats too; I thought I was the only one who found them kinda cute. I was cracking up at all of Connor's pictures -- especially the bat pose and the one in front of the tiger forest.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I think I have almost that same bat picture coming up in my trip report. When Baylor saw it he accused my of taking "indecent" photographs of bats! Reading the book "Stelluluna" has caused me to love fruit bats. When I read it I always cry and the illustrations are just so cute!
I knew I was on the look-out for you that morning as I zipped over for our fast passes for EE, but I was just so shocked to actually run into you, there were so many people in the park! Connor was a hoot, he was worried that the Jungle Trek would get crowded, so he wanted to get right over there, who could blame him? Anyway it was fun to run into you guys and visit for a minute!

You really take the best pictures, you notice every detail, I don't have a clue what I must be looking at!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I am sure that if this were really a hotel, I would have dithered around about staying here, too.

You know that had me laughing out loud! That hotel is in a good location and I bet the rooms will be nice because it's a new hotel.

Chelsea exclaimed, "Look, Mom, the Komodo Dragon!"

Too cute!

I had never seen bats up close and personal and wasn't really sure I wanted to make friends with any today. I ended up fascinated by them. Their little faces were so cute, and they were just hanging there, enjoying fruit, sleeping, and airing out their wings.

I love those bats. Their wings are just the coolest looking things. I actually love that we have bats in our yard because they eat bugs...I'll thinking of putting up a couple bat houses just like Martha Stewart

 

[ladybugmom]

I love your update because I'm seeing a bunch of things we were unable to see the day we were at AK because it poured the entire day! How fun!!

 

[Blesseddaddy]

On our way, I heard, "Jackie?"

Imagine my surprise when I saw Anita (Wigdoutdismom) on her way to get Everest FPs! It was my first DIS meet! I had been keeping an eye out for her because I knew she had a breakfast ressie with her husband, Marc, and her son, Baylor.

We chatted for a couple of minutes. The whole time Connor was tugging on my arm and making strange animal noises. I was secretly mortified. For a year and a half I had been filling my PTRs and TRs with witty stories of my son, and here he was acting like a toddler or worse.

Finally, Connor got his way, we said good-bye to Anita and headed off to see the tigers and other creatures on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

I have to admit it surprised me too, Jackie..........I would have just KNOWN it would have been SHOCKER running for FP's and not Wigd.??? I am really as SURPRISED as you were Jackie!! What was Shocker thinking??? I mean he comes on here and talks about how he just wants to please Wigd. and make her trips truly Magical and then he LETS her be the FastPass Runner??? OH, were you surprised that you actually bumped into her at a crowded Animal Kingdom?? I thought you were like me and surprised at Shocker falling down on his duties!!

Now, now, don't you even get started on Connor.........he is FINALLY at a Park where he is going to get to do somethings HE WANTS to do and not just be forced to go where somebody ELSE is dictating, or gently persuading him to go and you stop to VISIT, with someone he doesn't even know???? I just love how our kids can make us feel!!!! It is never funny when it is happening, but when you look back at "those" moments, you realize how smart and innovative they really are!!! Besides you women may ROAR, but us from the "male" species are still animals!! Though I wouldn't consider "most" of us strange animals, it may be true that we can make strange noises at times!!

It should also be noted that you said "FINALLY, Connor got his way".......which means it took work on his part, he should be praised for his tenacity to stay at something until his goal is accomplished!! YEAH CONNOR!!

You do take great pictures Jackie and I am truly enjoying your trippie. I also think it's wonderful how you let your kids be kids in the pictures you take. You allow them to pose however they want too and it truly should bring many great times together looking back at them years from now!! Way too often, many of us (myself included) want to pose our children a certain way, instead of letting them be themselves..........Kudos to YOU!!

 

[eandesmom]

GREAT pictures! I have never walked that trail. Or sadly, if I did, don't recall. I want to have a non-rushed day at AK next time. We seemed to look at monkeys our whole day there. I like monkeys but I wouldn't have minded a bat.

While we had a lovely day we were dodging parades and getting there late and though we did see quite a lot...I missed the bats! What a great pic.

Love the tiger poses, all of them. Your kids are just adorable!

 

[IluvXU]

Great pics. I really want to have a day at AK when it is not hot and I can just explore... you notice so much I miss!

 

[manntra]

That is so great that you had an impromptu DISmeet!!
I too find the bats very fascinating. Last year I had my camcorder with me and took quite a long video in that little hut! They were swinging and eating and stretching out their wings. Very neat to watch and I swear their bodies are the same size as my dog (miniature pinscher!!)
Are they on the same trail as the gorillas? I can't remember. I have a lot of good pictures on facebook from January. One of the gorillas was being (well probably a gorilla!) and throwing dirt and stealing blankets from the others.