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

[MAGICFOR2]

Ackkkki! I kissed a boy who kissed like that once - just once.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm finally all caught up! I'm lovin' your AK day. The animals are always an unpredictable adventure. That giraffe is so beautiful - I love the giraffes - that's why I wanted to stay at AKL! I hope Charles found you all so he could eat!

 

[Happydog]

Okay CP --- where is that update

I know you ate a lot of popcorn on my PTR... but I am all out of snack credits

Oh!! and something else -- you have not said much about this fall surprise...

From what I know of you, I can guess you are not saying much about this October trip UNTIL the TR you are currently working on is completed... One at a time.... right? am I right???

 

[wsushocker]

Ackkkki! I kissed a boy who kissed like that once - just once.

Was this the boy?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Was this the boy?

I think so!

 

[micandminforever]

I know the Kirklands was at Town Center last Christmas, and the one at the Avenues has been there since the Avenues of West Cobb opened.

I am glad to find out it is no longer at Town Center, I guess next time I will head to the Avenues or Arbor Place.

 

[jenharring]

I love all the pics!!

 

[MeMom]

After these last couple of pictures, I'm ready for a picture of something from your African paradise that has a very small tongue, please.

Do you have a flamingo you can share with us this morning?

Or maybe even something with no tongue at all.


Like MAGICFOR2, I had a one time experience with a boy who kissed like that. I had happily put it in the deep dark recesses of my mind until she brought it up, but she hit it exactly right, it was about like that giraffe. Yuck!

So, if you have an AKL flamingo who is not sticking his tongue out an anyone this morning, or a balcony view, or a tribal mask, or even a picture of Chelsea bopping Connor over the head with his safari Eeyore....
anything to get things a little less slimy over here would be nice!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ackkkki! I kissed a boy who kissed like that once - just once.

I'm finally all caught up! I'm lovin' your AK day. The animals are always an unpredictable adventure. That giraffe is so beautiful - I love the giraffes - that's why I wanted to stay at AKL! I hope Charles found you all so he could eat!

Thank you! The giraffes at AKL were awesome -- I have a ton of pictures of them as well!

Okay CP --- where is that update

Coming soon!

I know you ate a lot of popcorn on my PTR... but I am all out of snack credits

Oh!! and something else -- you have not said much about this fall surprise...

From what I know of you, I can guess you are not saying much about this October trip UNTIL the TR you are currently working on is completed... One at a time.... right? am I right???

Exactly -- I just can't wrap my mind around doing a TR and a PTR at the same time.

Was this the boy?

I think so!

I know the Kirklands was at Town Center last Christmas, and the one at the Avenues has been there since the Avenues of West Cobb opened.

I am glad to find out it is no longer at Town Center, I guess next time I will head to the Avenues or Arbor Place.

I was surprised when I didn't see it listed on the store locations -- hasn't it been there for forever?

I love all the pics!!

Thank you!

After these last couple of pictures, I'm ready for a picture of something from your African paradise that has a very small tongue, please.

Do you have a flamingo you can share with us this morning?

Or maybe even something with no tongue at all.


Like MAGICFOR2, I had a one time experience with a boy who kissed like that. I had happily put it in the deep dark recesses of my mind until she brought it up, but she hit it exactly right, it was about like that giraffe. Yuck!

So, if you have an AKL flamingo who is not sticking his tongue out an anyone this morning, or a balcony view, or a tribal mask, or even a picture of Chelsea bopping Connor over the head with his safari Eeyore....
anything to get things a little less slimy over here would be nice!

Less slimy (with hopefully no memories of past boys) coming as soon as I get some coffee in my system and can string words together that make sense.

 

[Native NYer]

Branching out? Away from Disney???

Hopefully, there will be such an incredible deal that you just HAVE to go back next June.

 

[JenAusty]

ooohh my goodness- I know I haven't been on in a while and as often as I was -but I was looking through all my subscriptions and trying to catch up- I then noticed your PTR, and I thought- what the heck I know she started her trip but I'm not subscribed! I must of looked at it and forgot to comment or something idk.. soo all this time I wasn't noticing you were posting! I am soo sorry- I will try to catch up. Thanks to your contents page- it will help a lot. I actually might do that to mine to make it easier for everyone.. I just need to figure it out completely.

To make it easier- so you know what I'm commenting on- I'll add the post!
"June 6, Part Two: Pixie Dust So Soon?"

Ok first of all- you are just like me- When I see things or excited to see such things at disney its like my mind take over and I'm out of control... hehe Sometimes I feel like jumping up and down and screaming with joy- although I don't- I do have to say "look at this" and "look at that" I feel like a little kid- but I don't care.. its disney world for pete sakes!

When we went to AKL for dinner at Boma- it was our first time and even though I knew what to expect cause I seen pictures- it just doesn't do it justice.. I just walk staring wide eyed with my mouth open.. hehe and so did DH. He said- holy crap this place is sweet. He feel in love with it.. and he said I would definitely stay here.. which made me happy because some of the other resorts I like- he doesn't see the point in spending more money- cause he doesn't think there is anything special about them- but not this one!

I also didn't take pictures at first.. instead I walked around everywhere and then decided to take pictures a little before dinner. Thank goodness we got there early to sight see!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Branching out? Away from Disney???

Hopefully, there will be such an incredible deal that you just HAVE to go back next June.

I get all panicky just thinking about it!

I am secretly hoping for another great deal that will enable me to say, "We should really take advantage of this -- who knows when Disney will do something like this again."

ooohh my goodness- I know I haven't been on in a while and as often as I was -but I was looking through all my subscriptions and trying to catch up- I then noticed your PTR, and I thought- what the heck I know she started her trip but I'm not subscribed! I must of looked at it and forgot to comment or something idk.. soo all this time I wasn't noticing you were posting! I am soo sorry- I will try to catch up. Thanks to your contents page- it will help a lot. I actually might do that to mine to make it easier for everyone.. I just need to figure it out completely.

To make it easier- so you know what I'm commenting on- I'll add the post!
"June 6, Part Two: Pixie Dust So Soon?"

Ok first of all- you are just like me- When I see things or excited to see such things at disney its like my mind take over and I'm out of control... hehe Sometimes I feel like jumping up and down and screaming with joy- although I don't- I do have to say "look at this" and "look at that" I feel like a little kid- but I don't care.. its disney world for pete sakes!

When we went to AKL for dinner at Boma- it was our first time and even though I knew what to expect cause I seen pictures- it just doesn't do it justice.. I just walk staring wide eyed with my mouth open.. hehe and so did DH. He said- holy crap this place is sweet. He feel in love with it.. and he said I would definitely stay here.. which made me happy because some of the other resorts I like- he doesn't see the point in spending more money- cause he doesn't think there is anything special about them- but not this one!

I also didn't take pictures at first.. instead I walked around everywhere and then decided to take pictures a little before dinner. Thank goodness we got there early to sight see!

Hi, Jen! I am glad you are here now!!! I am so thrilled that you and DH loved AKL so much -- staying there was my favorite part of the trip.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Before I begin the first of Day 3’s updates (which will be text-heavy and picture-poor), I have to add two things that I should have included in the last update.

Sunday night when we were at the pool, Charles accidentally dropped my cell phone onto the concrete. This would have dire results because from that moment onward, my phone was on the fritz. At first I could see the screen for brief moments of time, but as time went on, the screen would only blink on for about two seconds -- I wasn’t able to access my address book or text message by the end of the week. I did get a new phone out of it when we returned so there was a happy ending eventually.

Also, as we were getting off the safari on Sunday, Connor said to us, “I would like the safari more if the animals were real. It’s such a letdown knowing they are animatronics.” We about died laughing and explained to him that they were in fact real animals on the safari. I don’t know where he got the idea that they weren’t real -- maybe because they are animatronics on the Jungle Cruise.

Okay, back to Day Three. We woke up pretty early, and everyone got ready relatively quickly. We headed down to the Mara for breakfast -- according to the receipt we paid at 7:30. Connor once again groused about the kid portions on his breakfast platter and ate Charles’ potatoes to sustain himself. Chelsea and Charles both had the adult breakfast platters, and I had a delicious cinnamon roll. After breakfast Charles stunned me by saying, “I think I will let you go ahead and will meet up with you later.” Sigh. Fine.

We reached Epcot in time for rope drop, but since we weren’t doing any of the big rides or getting Soarin’ or Test Track Fast Passes until Charles met up with us (we needed all four tickets for that), we walked leisurely over to Mission: Space to get Fast Passes for the kids and Charles for later in the day (I don’t ride that one because they like to do the Orange Mission).

Connor was anxious to procure his ticket for the Kim Possible Mission so next we headed over to Innoventions. His time was 11:00 in Norway so that would work out nicely. While we were standing at the Kim Possible station, the Cast Members at Storm Struck started talking to the kids. I don’t know much about this attraction except that when Amara’s family went in March they did it, and she said it simulates what it feels like to be in a tornado. So, here are the CMs talking to my kids and trying to entice them to come see Storm Struck, and Connor, the Chatty Child, said, “I am sorry, we can’t do it. My mom is terrified of storms, and I don’t think she could handle it.” Then he patted me on the shoulder. Thanks, honey. He was right, of course, but…

Connor somehow had assumed the mantle of Fearless Leader for the morning, so he directed us to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, a never-done attraction for us. We, and about five other families (gotta love doing all the smaller attractions first thing in the morning), donned our 3-D glasses and met mice and snakes (I did keep my eyes on the ground during the snake part).

Next, we took a quick Journey into the Imagination with Figment -- how I love that little, purple dragon -- takes me right back to my childhood -- and headed for The Seas with Nemo and Friends, another never-done for us.

We had to stop and visit the seagulls before boarding our clam mobile.

We thought the ride was cute and hung around the tanks watching the sea turtles for awhile before going to Turtle Talk with Crush (yet another never-done for us). Connor loved doing the little pop quiz on the computer while we waited, and while the kids did not want to sit up front with the other children, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Crush. He is really quite funny, and it is definitely another ingenious attraction from Disney.

Connor made sure we were keeping a close eye on the time, and soon we were headed for World Showcase to start our Kim Possible Mission. We stopped at the little fruit smoothies place on the promenade, and the kids got smoothies -- it was already getting unbearably hot at this point in the day.

I paused to snap a quick photo in Mexico.

In Norway, Connor received his Top Secret Kim Possible Mission, and we were off to thwart evil. Now, from here on out, I may not sound all that pleased with KP, but I do have to say that it is a very clever, clever, clever game -- definitely a must-do for just about everyone. I am not going to reveal much about any of the missions because I think most of the fun is in the surprise element.

Here are my little secret agents about to start.

Close on the trail of the villain.

A clue! A clue! (Oops, wrong show .

Now, this is where it all began to go downhill. After completing the Norway mission, the phone gave us the option to complete another one. Thanks, Disney, I really appreciate that. Connor had grandiose ideas of completing all six of the other missions and, without asking, chose Japan as our next stop. Um, no, I was not trekking all the way around the lagoon to do another mission! Charles had called and was on his way to meet up with us. Connor was not pleased. Really not pleased.

We met Charles, and my three intrepid space adventurers went to Mars while I went to get Soarin’ Fast Passes and browsed through Mouse Gears. It was time to start thinking about lunch, so we headed back towards World Showcase.

We stopped in Mexico and helped find Donald on his Gran Fiesta Tour. Like LL, I am always disturbed by the Donald pinata and the scene with the waiter and the tray of duck. LOL! Connor was still whining about the KP mission -- the phone was currently in my purse.

We decided to go to China for lunch. Once at the Lotus Blossom Café, Charles looked at the menu and declared there wasn’t anything that they would like there. Now remember my family does not like tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, green peppers -- I am the only non-picky person in the whole group.

Now, this is where I had my own diva moment.

It was hot.

It was crowded.

I was hungry.

I was tired.

My purse was getting progressively heavier with the addition of the KP phone and Charles’ blood sugar meter.

My family had just declared that they didn’t want to eat where we had chosen.

Connor was still whining about KP.

I snapped.

Thrusting the map at Charles, I hissed (I never yell at Disney ), “You know what? I spend a year planning our vacations here, and in the space of five minutes, you manage to turn all those plans on their ears. Well, I quit. You decide where we are going to eat. You decide what we are going to do. You are the official planner for the rest of the afternoon. But we need to eat soon because we are hungry and if we wait much longer we won‘t be hungry for Rose and Crown at dinner.”

To Charles’ credit, he took it all in stride. He looked at the map and decided we would eat at the Electric Umbrella. On our way past the Norway KP kiosk, we dropped off the KP phone and told Connor we would do another mission at some other point in our week. He was not pleased with us. At all. And it was something that would come back to haunt us later (more than once).

It was a madhouse at the Electric Umbrella. Apparently, everyone decided to eat there at a quarter to two on Monday afternoon. I got everyone’s orders and stood in line. It was sooo loud in there, I could barely hear myself think. I ordered and moved up to the pick-up area and waited. And waited and waited and waited and waited. I have never been anywhere where it was so slow in my entire life. I really thought I was going to lose my mind. To add insult to injury, it was so loud in there that I missed Wigd’s phone call to see if we wanted to meet them for the Visa Meet and Greet. I was so disappointed I had missed Anita when I heard the message later.

Finally, we got our food, and I was able to sit down. Chelsea and I had ordered burgers and fries; Charles had ordered the Chicken Ceasar Salad; and Connor had the chicken nuggets. The food was good and helped restore some of my equilibrium. I can’t cope when I am hungry. Over lunch, we decided to grab our Test Track FPs and head back to the hotel for a little bit.

We did just that. While the kids and Charles watched a Phineas and Ferb episode, I promptly fell asleep. Like a small child, I was obviously overly tired and over stimulated from our morning at Epcot.

UP NEXT: More Connor Impossible, a Dragon, and a DIS Meet!

 

[MeMom]

Here are my little secret agents about to start.

That is the way Brooklynn puts on her glasses - upside down!

I like the secret agents disguised as such sweet, innocent children.

Sorry to hear it wasn't an all that great morning. I can picture the madhouse at Electric Umbrella. We've been in that before, too. Hopefully, after food and naps everybody gets a little happier.

 

[Charleston Princess]

That is the way Brooklynn puts on her glasses - upside down!

I thought of Brooklyn this morning as I posted that picture.

I like the secret agents disguised as such sweet, innocent children.

It's like the line from the song "Secret Agent Man": "A pretty face can hide an evil mind." Which does happen to be Connor's favorite line in that song.

Sorry to hear it wasn't an all that great morning. I can picture the madhouse at Electric Umbrella. We've been in that before, too. Hopefully, after food and naps everybody gets a little happier.

It was actually a really good morning until the KP mission was over, and then it just slid right down into the pits of Disney Crankiness for Connor and me. Charles and Chelsea were still having fun.

 

[TarzansKat]

You know what? I know this really goes against everything we know and love about you, but hon, you're entitled to a diva moment every now and then. For pete's sake, you were being super mom. You had the kids all morning, and you were having a good time, but it does get hot, and you do get tired, and you do get hungry. It happens.

I'm glad the fam was able to take it in stride, and that you got some much needed food and rest. I know exactly how you feel.

I've told my family many times, "You have to feed me." But it's true. Once I get hungry, I get completely irrational, and I can't help it. It's genetic.

Anyway, I love how Connor told the CM that he didn't think you could handle the storm thing. That is so cute!

And I'm worried about the not doing the next KP mission. Does this turn into this year's TSM???

 

[Charleston Princess]

You know what? I know this really goes against everything we know and love about you, but hon, you're entitled to a diva moment every now and then. For pete's sake, you were being super mom. You had the kids all morning, and you were having a good time, but it does get hot, and you do get tired, and you do get hungry. It happens.

I'm glad the fam was able to take it in stride, and that you got some much needed food and rest. I know exactly how you feel.

I've told my family many times, "You have to feed me." But it's true. Once I get hungry, I get completely irrational, and I can't help it. It's genetic.

Oh, you might be surprised -- my diva nature has a way of rearing its ugly head every now and then.

I know I am the same way about food -- I think that was part of my problem -- not having had anything except a cinnamon roll up to that point. I felt so much better once I had inhaled my Bacon Double Cheeseburger and took a nap.

Anyway, I love how Connor told the CM that he didn't think you could handle the storm thing. That is so cute!

He cracked me up with that -- he was looking out for me and my well-being -- Chelsea was all ready to put me through the torture of experiencing tornadic conditions (which was probably payback in her eyes for the Haunted Mansion).

And I'm worried about the not doing the next KP mission. Does this turn into this year's TSM???

I hadn't thought of it, but the whole Kim Possible thing over the course of the rest of the vacation does indeed become very much this year's TSM -- only a little bit different.

 

[Lady Lallie]

to Connor thinking the animals were animatronics. It's too funny! I also overheard a family on my trip and the little girl would be asking, is that a real person or a robot? Over and over again, it was cracking me up.

We all have our Diva moments and I don't blame you one bit for yours. I know how much you plan out these trips and for your plans to be disrupted, especially when you are hungry, hot and tired....well that just isn't going to be pretty. I can't believe Charles stayed back at the resort at Epcot too. Wow.

Wow....Kim Possible. You would think that they would warn parents about it offering another mission so you could have just nipped that right in the beginning!

 

[cjackearl]

Your morning sounds nice and relaxed, with a lot accomplished until the KP fiasco. Figment and clam shells and a 3D show, oh my!

Ugh, I hate it when my family gets in the way of my plans. You were justified in being irritated, and I'm glad Charles stepped up to take the reigns for a while.

Food and rest=good!

I can't wait to read about your Dis meet!

 

[Charleston Princess]

to Connor thinking the animals were animatronics. It's too funny! I also overheard a family on my trip and the little girl would be asking, is that a real person or a robot? Over and over again, it was cracking me up.

Isn't that hysterical??? And he has probably been under that impression for YEARS! When I think of all the times we have ridden the safari, and my child had no clue he was looking at live animals!

We all have our Diva moments and I don't blame you one bit for yours. I know how much you plan out these trips and for your plans to be disrupted, especially when you are hungry, hot and tired....well that just isn't going to be pretty. I can't believe Charles stayed back at the resort at Epcot too. Wow.

It wasn't pretty. Charles is so not a morning person when it comes to being out and about, but he did last the rest of the day though.

Wow....Kim Possible. You would think that they would warn parents about it offering another mission so you could have just nipped that right in the beginning!

If I had only known, I would have set some parameters months ago. I may have read it, and it just didn't register in my mind.

Your morning sounds nice and relaxed, with a lot accomplished until the KP fiasco. Figment and clam shells and a 3D show, oh my!

I was pleased with how much we got done and three of them (four if you count KP) were things we had never done before.

Ugh, I hate it when my family gets in the way of my plans. You were justified in being irritated, and I'm glad Charles stepped up to take the reigns for a while.

Food and rest=good!

Yes, I needed Charles to make some decisions, and I needed food and a nap.

I can't wait to read about your Dis meet!

It was lots of fun!