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

[MeMom]

I think me and MeMom can attest it wasn't "Bright and Early"!! However, I am sure she is like me and just patiently waiting for the night owls to get up LATER this morning and START their day!!

I was totally thinking that! They stayed up late, like they were at a slumber party or something, and now they can't get up and play this morning!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You stinker!!!!!

Looking forward to the update though!

Just what I was thinking

I'm not trying to be a stinker.

Woo hoo!! Finally all caught up!! Love your bat and tiger pics!! Animal Kingdom is so much fun as there is SO much to see no matter where in the park you are!
I feel for your hubby since I am diabetic also. High blood sugar you normally don't feel. Low blood sugar whips your behind! Ick!!

Hope he got to feeling better quickly!!

That's exactly how Charles would explain it, I am sure. He felt better by afternoon.

I think me and MeMom can attest it wasn't "Bright and Early"!! However, I am sure she is like me and just patiently waiting for the night owls to get up LATER this morning and START their day!!

I meant to be up much earlier than this. It's all cloudy today (again) so my body didn't realize the sun was up until 8:30. Oops.

Here with my coffee waiting for an update! I am back to work today from our Maine vacation. I work from home so I count my DIS time as like when you work in a real office and spend time chit chatting with the people at the next desk. Have to justify it somehow! So come on, give me an update! My coffee break is almost done!

Allyson

DIS coffee breaks sound wonderful -- too bad I wasn't able to post before yours was done. I will soon, though!

I was totally thinking that! They stayed up late, like they were at a slumber party or something, and now they can't get up and play this morning!!!

The joys of having the summer off.

 

[jenjolt]

Unless you have arachnophobia, Jen -- then, it might not be a very good idea.

LOL...nah long slithery things scare me...furry things with 8 legs that belong to the arthropod family...nah LOL!!! However what does scare me is the one time a student decides to be funny and take "Rosie Jr." out of its cage LOL...actually my high schoolers are amazing I think they would enjoy the responsibility LOL!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

After making friends with the bats and tigers, it was about 10:30 and we were very hot and thirsty, so before leaving Asia we stopped and used a snack credit to get a Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade from the Yak and Yeti counter service. Sadly, we were not impressed. The lemonade left a weird aftertaste. None of us would recommend it. However, it did its job of cooling us down and keeping us hydrated.

We headed back towards Africa and got Fast Passes for the Safari. I couldn't resist snapping another photo.

Our return time was still a couple of hours away, so we decided we wanted to go to Conservation Station and explore. This was another attraction we had never done and were looking forward to it.

We waited for a train just long enough for me to snap yet more photos in the waiting area.

Soon the train arrived to whisk us towards Conservation Station.

We made sure to follow the instructions to not do any cooking while traveling.

I really liked how the train benches face outward so that we weren't looking back and forth the whole time. If you haven't done the train ride, I highly recommend it -- we saw the sheds where many of the safari animals spend the night -- the giraffes, of course, have the biggest building.

At Conservation Station, we had a great time exploring the area. There was a bird of some sort getting x-rays on a broken leg that had mended, so we sat and watched the proceedings for awhile. I was surprised to see that they tape down the bird while doing the x-rays (it was put under during it). Chelsea and Connor wandered around for awhile checking out everything and watched a CM doing a presentation with a real snake. I found a bench and just sat for a little bit, and I had to check out the bathroom since MRYPPNS had told me to do so. It is a hoot in there! Then, we headed outside to the Affection Station.

The kids had fun petting the goats, and we did a little shopping at the gift shop. Connor bought a Safari Eeyore with his gift card from Jenjolt and Lady Lallie; I bought a postcard and an Animal Kingdom magnet.

Then, it was time to head back to Africa. As we were boarding the train, there were two women sitting on the far end of the front bench. There was probably enough space for five more people, so the kids and I sat down. All of a sudden one of the women pipes up, "Excuse me! There are more people in our party that will be sitting there." I think it was her tone of voice that got me -- it was downright snotty as if I should have known there were others. I gave her one of my scathing looks (okay, I glared at her), and moved the kids and myself to another spot. Ironically, the "rest of her party" were three other grown-ups. Really? They couldn't have sat behind them??? They couldn't be separated for five minutes? I was hot, tired, and choosing to channel my inner diva. I was downright seething about this, and not because of anything more than that woman's attitude. If she had been the least bit cordial, I would have felt differently, I am sure.

Soon we were back in Africa.

As we were leaving the train station, one of the younger men with the group fell back a bit and said to me, "I am sorry you had to move. We could have sat behind them." Then, I felt bad for making him feel bad. At least one of the group had manners.

Not having had enough animals for one day yet, next we went through the Pangani Walking Trail. We were very excited about seeing the meerkats. Unfortunately they were all sleeping or hiding in their burrows. Not a one peeked his head out. No meerkats for our family. Also on the walking trail is a little building filled with bugs of various sorts. Connor made sure to point out the hissing cockroaches to us. Yick! The gorillas were also sleeping. All sprawled out on their backs and snoozing away. Sigh. No great gorilla pics for us, and I had braved the suspension bridge for naught.

At this point in the day, it was about 12:30 and there was something I really wanted to do: Festival of the Lion King! We hightailed it over to Camp Minnie Mickey and got seats in the Warthog section for the 1:00 show. Since this was my first time seeing the show, I didn't take pictures and just enjoyed it. No words I have can convey the uniqueness of this show. It was wonderful! I had goosebumps on my arms and tears prickling my eyes. We loved it all, but I have to say, we were especially awed by the tumble monkeys! We could have watched them all day!

After the show, Charles called to say he was feeling better, would like something to eat, and would be heading over to meet up with us. I figured we had enough time to use our Safari Fastpasses since Charles does not move very fast.

UP NEXT: The BEST animal encounter on the Safari EVER!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Yeah an installment!

Rudeness on the train. Hope karma came back and gave that woman a bite. Grouchy people stink.

And my kids loved the petting zoo as well which made me laugh because we live in the country and at their weekly riding lessons they can pet all the animals they want. Yet we went all the way to Disney and they were pumped to pet goats.

So glad Charles will be making an appearance! Not getting your money's worth so far on his ticket!

Allyson

 

[wigdoutdismom]

LOL...nah long slithery things scare me...furry things with 8 legs that belong to the arthropod family...nah LOL!!! However what does scare me is the one time a student decides to be funny and take "Rosie Jr." out of its cage LOL...actually my high schoolers are amazing I think they would enjoy the responsibility LOL!!!

Jackie, Sorry to come over here and hijack but I'm going to have to post a picture of Rosie's home. I was a little nervous that she would temp one of my 4th graders to open her cage, not necessarily to hold her but just to let her out! Let me tell you this was never the case because they could have opened the top but I think the lock on the front sent a message. Those kids just loved having her in the classroom... Jen I think you can do this, you too MeMom!

Here's Rosie!

Sorry again Jackie, please resume.....

 

[If U Had Wings]

Wonderful update! I've taken the train out to the conservation station, but never really looked around. We basically took the train for a little down time. I can't believe that that woman was so rude! Seriously, is it that difficult to be courteous? Unbelievable!

 

[andrews1ma]

FotLK is my all time fave!! I got goosebumps reading your review on it! It is just fabulous! the first time my DS saw it he was only 1 1/2 and cried the entire time ( he used to be scared of everything!) - but thank goodness it was sooo loud in there that no one noticed- I have video of it and show it to my DS now 10 and he cracks up at the silliness! We see it every year - and almost every time we have gone since then he has been able to participate in the dancing part of the show with the CM's who are just fantastic!!! now he is older and wants no part of that but will still go and see it with me because he knows it is a "must do" for me

glad you loved it and got to cross off another "first" from the list which I am sure will be transferred over to your "must do" list.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Do we get to see a picture of the Safari Eeyore?

I think Conservation Station sounds like time well spent! I need to make it over there.

How rude of that lady! I hate stuff like that. Don't people know that kindness gets them further in life than being snooty!?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

The rudeness of people at Disney amazes me. Occasionally there are some kind encounters as well, and I'm glad that the young man with them recognized the fact that someone in his group had been nasty to you! It makes me feel better that he apologized.
I'm glad that Charles was feeling better and on his way to the park! Can't wait to see your best animal encounter yet!

 

[jenjolt]

Awwww...see now you have me all types of curious about the bathrooms at the Conservation Station..so now I'm going to have to go just to check out the bathrooms!!!

I would love to see a picture of the Eeyore Connor chose to buy...I'm glad he was able to find something he liked!!!

Boo...to rude people! I'm glad the younger gentleman did apologize and you shouldn't feel bad, somepeople need to learn how to talk to others...please and thank yous get you far in this world.

No meerkats...that is just horrible!! LOL..to Connor finding the hissing cockroach I would have been looking for that one too!!!

FOTLK is one show I have never been too...I loved Nemo so I bet I would really enjoy FOTLK also!!!

 

[troobabiee7]

I love all the animal pictures! I'm glad Charles started to feel better and that you all loved the Festival of the Lion King. That's my favorite show in all of Disney, isn't it amazing?! :

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I absolutely *heart* FOTLK. Isn't it just perfect? I had tears in my eyes and chills up my spine. Disney certainly outdid themselves with that show. I'm sorry you had to deal with a rude witch. Why are people rude while they are in The Happiest Place on Earth? How can you be? Ick.

 

[stace208]

Yea! Another great update!! We, too, love the train ride out to Conservation Station. We didn't do it this trip though because the kids didn't really like it too much once we got out there

I say *pish posh* to the rude lady on the train. She'll get her just desserts one day. I'm glad the younger man apologized.

I"m glad you got to see FOTLK and really enjoyed it.

Looking forward to the best animal encounter ever!

 

[pooh'smate]

I am all caught up. I hate it when life gets in the way of my DIS time. I don't know why some people feel they have to rude. Didn't they learn any manners growing up? Any way I am glad that Charles is feeling betterand I am looking forward to your next up date.

 

[PookieB]

All caught up! Beautiful pics CP! Especially of HM. I still have never got to ride the riverboat. Sorry to hear your DH didn't feel well. Insulin is a pain. Is he a candidate for the pump? Off to book our Oct trip to chase the blues away. Great TR so far!

 

[Megablocks]

We haven't done the Pangani Walking Trail or the Conservation Station in a long time so it's definitely something I want to do next time. So is checking out the bathrooms at the Conservation Station because I'm really curious now.

Hissing cockroaches, no thank you. I'm completely terrified of beetles or anything resembling a beetle -- I get it from my dad. I've never seen a cockroach and I never want to, let alone one that will hiss at me.

 

[jillyb]

We didn't do the Conservation Station on our trip but from all I've read I wish we had. I know Hannah would thouroughly enjoy it. Pfffttt to rudey poo lady. Thank goodness someone in her party had good manners.

The tumble monkeys are awesome! Hannah and I loved FotLK. Clay and Alison...not so much. Maybe for our next trip they can go ride EE while Hannah and I watch FotLK.

 

[LuvnDizney]

Great update! Don't you just love the AKL? We stayed there in the past and will stay again in Feb. Can't wait to read more. BTW you children are adorable and Connor is so cute is his glasses.


Melissa

 

[eandesmom]

yeah an update! looking forward to more and the appearance of Charles