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

[julezdisney]

I must have Celebration Fudge! And.....those pix are awesome- I just love all the photopass overlays this year!

 

[Native NYer]

I love the photos of Chelsea and Connor! And that celebration fudge looks delish

So funny that zebra domes were the treat of choice. I MUST try one.

I can't wait to read about Thursday at AKL. Your trip report has swayed me enough to force me to wake up before noon tomorrow to call the reservation line Disney should send you a thank you and a discount for helping fill rooms

 

[jillyb]

Love the photopass pictures! I've been reading alot about how hot it was in June this year. Glad a melt down was averted. The celebration fudge looks pretty cool! I ordered some soaps from Basin the other day as stocking stuffers for the girls. Yes...I'm doing Christmas shopping! LOL For the first time in my life I'm buying things a little bit at a time instead of waiting until November/December. It feels pretty good! Although, I was looking in my hiding place the other day and thought to myself "I could have sworn I've bought more that that!" LOL I went to the Disney Store the other day and bought two Toy Story playsets; one for Hannah and one for my granddaughter, Madison.

 

[Lynn5700]

Aww I love the pic of Chelsea with Tink in her hands!! So cute!


WOW I can not beleive Pirates was all backed up!!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Connor loves the Stitch attraction?????

I'm so, so sorry! Maybe he'll outgrow it before your next trip.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great photopass pictures!! Chelsea looks so glam in her Hollywood sunglasses!

She certainly thought so! LOL!

I was at the Death Valley reference. Florida heat is like no other!!
Oh....no Splash Mountain One of my favorites! I am really looking forward to that because I haven't been on it since August...it was closed for refurbishment in January.
Such a fun, long ride!

And when there is no shade, it is even worse! Yes, sadly, I didn't get to ride Splash -- it's one of my favorites, too!

for Mickey head soaps! I just opened my last one the other day because I will be able to replenish soon enough! Those Basin bath bomb scents really last a long time! I can smell them every time I open my linen closet!

I always wait until close to the trip to open my Mickey soaps as well!

I had the falafel pita twice on when I stayed at Jambo in August.....they are so good!!

Tracy

It was very tasty!

Melt down averted AND let the kids pick the evening activities...good job Mom!

Thanks! I felt like I redeemed myself from the morning. LOL!

Sounds like a fantastic night!! Phineas and Ferb, candy and shopping!!

Love those rocking chairs!!! Great photopass pictures also! Love Chelseas smile on the train! She is so adorable! Sorry you didn't get to ride Splash.

Yes, it was a nice evening, and a little bit different from what we had been doing.

Thank you! Chelsea is always ready to smile for the camera.

Charles' timing is impecable is it not?! That heat, that's how I felt during a KP missionGreat photopass pics and you sure got a lot done. That celebration fudge looks great.

Bless his heart, Charles thought he was doing good to come meet us at the MK. The heat gets to us on our last couple of days as well. Unfortunately, I thought the fudge looked better than it tasted.

Sounds like it was a fun, albeit HOT, MK DAY!!!! YEAH!!! So sorry you had to miss out on SM though.....never something I would want to miss!!!! What a sugarfest though!!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMM!

A great sugarfest, but I was pretty bummed about missing Splash -- it was the only ride I wanted to ride at the Magic Kingdom that we didn't ride that trip.

I am enjoying reading your TR. We were there the same week -- well, our trip was June 7-14, but so far I don't think we were ever in the same park on the same day. My DH has always been like yours and there have been several trips where we left him behind at the resort, but somehow on this last trip, he was transformed. We are going back for Thanksgiving with my extended family, and I am not sure who is more excited about our return to Disney -- him, the girls, or me! Wanna know how bad the Disney bug has bitten him? We always order some kind of plain, traditional looking checks. Imagine my surprise last week when I opened up our new shipment of checks to make sure everything was correct to find Disney checks -- ordered by him.

Thanks for reading! That's awesome that your DH has been bit by the Disney bug! Take full advantage of it!

Hoo boy, heat plus crowds is NOT fun. I can't believe the ride for PoC was out the building! Good choice to escape MK though, too bad Charles had just gotten there! Overall though, sounds like a fun day at MK - you got quite a bit done!

I was quite proud of ourselves. By the end of that day, we had done everything we wanted to do except Splash Mountain (we had done the Adventureland rides and the Haunted Mansion that Saturday night).

How was the fudge?

It was really too sweet, but the kids loved it!

I am thinking I'm going to pick up some Mickey soaps this trip. I hear so many good things about them - all the reviews make me really want to try them! I think they will be the perfect thing to unwrap in the middle of Minnesota's cold cold winter.

I have mine in the kitchen, and I always smile a little when I use it!

Love this pic! She looks like she would fit in over at DHS, all Hollywood Glamor with those big white shades!

Thank you! Chelsea is all about looking glam these days!

I'm loving the picture above of Chelsea holding Tink, what a cute expression she has! It was such a hot day that day, we didn't last nearly as long as you did! I hope you made it to splash sometime before you went home!

Thank you! We love that one, too! I would have left about 1:30, but we stayed until almost 3:00 -- it was just too hot and crowded at that point.

YAY for Speedway licenses! I just love your photopass pictures the kids look like they are having a great time!!!!

We were having a blast.

Ughh to it being so hot!! I'm glad the kids were able to do some of their favorites in the morning and even ride a couple with Charles before an afternoon break!! Although swimming at the pool sounds like a lot of fun and I'm sure was very much appreciated!!!! Sorry you didn't get to ride Splash mountain though!!!

Swimming in the pool was just what we needed after the heat of the MK!

Yes like Brook asked...how was the fudge?? Hmmm..zebra domes I'm going to have get me some of those this next trip...I have heard nothing but wonderful things about them!!

I was not a fan of the fudge -- it was just too sweet, and I didn't like the marshmallows on top at all. The kids loved it though.

Tomorrowland Speedway is a hot place to be on a hot day. Fun for the kids, but I can relate to how you felt.

Chelsea and Connor were pouring sweat by the time they got out of their car.

Did you see enough of the show to make a guess at why they closed it so quickly? We never saw it.

There didn't seem to be a lot to it -- a few futuristic go-go dancers and Stitch came out briefly at the end in his Elvis suit.

Gotta take better notes on the arguments! I can just see you in line writing on your note pad - Kids are arguing over ........ and the person beside you giving you a very strange look!

Chelsea does have the glam thing going on with her cute glasses. Does she just carry her items lose like that? No little bag for her?

She had a purse the size of her suitcase that I refused to let her carry around the parks, so she just had her phone and a map. Her pockets were too little to put her phone in, and she didn't want me to put it in my purse -- afraid she would miss a text or something.

That summer heat can zap the life out of even the heartiest of people. And I need not speak of the claustrophobia part, because you already know how I am about that!

Pirates is a nice cool ride. Too bad everyone got the same idea to cool off there. The 'common folks' are picking up on our DIS secrets!

Shame on them!

Yum on the food! In a perfect world, my refrigerator would have a special little shelf just for zebra domes.

I like that idea!

Sounds like some fun shopping! The fudge looks good, but every time I ever have gotten Disney fudge, half of it goes in the trash. It is so big and so sweet. I have kept it in the freezer before and nibbled a bite at a time here and there for months!

We ended up bringing our two hunks home -- the Celebration and the peanut butter/chocolate swirl, and it took a week to finish them off.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ah June 10th..... remember it well. That was the day we were SUPPOSED to go to MK and LJ got the rash, so we stayed at the resort and hung out in the shade near the Jambo house pool and had lunch at the Mara. We probably just missed you because we left mid afternoon to get ready to go to Epcot that night.

Yep, we must have just missed you! We probably got back to the hotel around 3:30 or so.

Your description of the heat reminds me of how I felt later in the week. Bad memories for me because I also felt overcome from that heat right near the speedway. Ughhhhh.

That was the start of really feeling the heat for me -- that Thursday and Friday were pretty miserable as well.

Sorry you didn't make it back to Splash that night, but it sounds like everyone had a nice evening. That fudge looks amazing.

I was completely lured in by that festive look and Mickey head sprinkles!

Your photopass pictures are also really, really cute. Such nice poses and the face painting makes the pictures that much better. What great memories to treasure.

Thank you!

Hey CP! We had our first week with Teachers this week so I had to catch up a little! That heat! I agree it can really knock you out! Tooo hot! But it does sound like you were able to do a few rides there in the MK, but too bad about Splash! Did you get to ride it at some point?! That tomorrowland speedway is not so speedy....

Do the students start back this week?

Nope, "Speed"way is such a misnomer.

That FUDGE looks fabulous! We only got pretzels and dipped cookies at Goofy's that fudge looks like a return visit to Goofy's is in order for me in December!! YUM! OH and very very cute photopass picks of your kids! That one with Tink is really cute! Love Chelsea's face!

Thank you! I will tell you that I wasn't thrilled with the Celebration fudge -- the marshmallows on top were just not that great.

Hey -- Phinneas and Ferb and a sugar fest? NOT a bad evening's end at Disney!!! Think we have done the same !!!!

It was a great way to end the evening.

I sat in that chair in Minnie's house and still never noticed the hands on that palm tree!!

Awesome face painting again!

Love the photopass pictures.

I can understand wanting to escape the heat and the crowds. Either of those alone is enough to make me crazy so combine them and I'd be wanting to run out of the park.

Thank you! Yes, heat and crowds are my enemies! Can't stand either one of them!

Great update, Jackie! I have so been there with the heat and the crowds! It's a motivation zapping combination. Going back to the resort was a good choice. Swimming, falafel for dinner(yummy!) and shopping make for a rejeuvenated family.

Thank you! As much as I wanted to go back to the MK, I think we had a much-neeed relaxing evening.

Your photopass pictures are super cute. I love that they captured the kids' painted faces.

Thank you! I really like those as well.

Connor's a fan of the Stitch ride, huh? What a nice mommy you are to "enjoy" that with him.

The only redeeming qualities are that there is never much of a wait, and the attraction is relatively short -- I can handle indulging my little boy if those two things are part of the equation.

I wonder who said everyone says its scary and about what?

Being the "cruel" mommy that I am, it is one of my FAVORITE stories of the trip!!! Partly because it is the ultimate, "I told you so!" story.

Jackie-I am so with you about the Indy Speedway-I personally fail to see its allure-but the kids love it!!! (In fact I'm hoping that Emily isn't reading this update-since we didn't get to ride it...we had a little "crisis" on the last day-the day I had planned for them to ride it...) but as they got their licenses already at DL-I hope they'll survive...

A "crisis"? Oh, no!

Oh lord-your description of Frontierland feeling like Death Valley......so true...I think especially when its hot...you really get that feeling-being sandwiched as it is between Liberty Square and Adventureland...

Yes, and Frontierland is always packed with people heading to the mountains (Splash and Big Thunder, that is).

Loved the Zebra Dome collection...at first 5 in a box seems manageable but they're rich and 5 x 4 (if you all got them) is 20 and after a while those "extras" start to add up...I can just imagine...

We discovered we could only eat about two at a time.

God bless Chelsea's heat tolerance...

I wish I had it!

Just read all of your TR so far,thanks for the links

Jo!!! How are you these days?

Sorry about hubbies blood sugar and that you've had to spend so much time at the parks without him, at least you and the kids sound as though you had tons of fun!

We did make the best of it and managed to have lots of fun!

I can't wait to try the new KP in December but will be careful about how many missions the girls can complete

Yes, make sure you set a limit!

I'm staying at AKL next month and after your review can't wait

What are your dates? We will be at WDW October 1st through the 4th.

So hot Jackie! But you get to knock off Tomorrowland Speedway from your list- I think at the end you need to see how many attractions you tried this trip.

Our list of never-dones will definitely be part of my final thoughts.

No Splash... I would be sad too!

Chelsea again... so pretty!

I was very sad.

Thank you!

Sorry you didn't get to do Splash I am with you -- the combination of heat and crowds would have driven me out pretty quickly.

I felt like throwing my hands up and saying, "I'm done!"

That Celebration fudge from Goofy's Candy Co. looks really good -- did it taste as good as it looks?

It was very, very sweet and I didn't really like the marshmallows on top. The kids had no problem finishing it off though.

Your Photopass pictures are so cute! I didn't realize till this update how well Chelsea's face paint matches her shirt.

Thank you! Chelsea is always all about matching.

I'll bet you thought you'd never see me again! (I'm subscribing so I can come back and read all 104 pages!)

LARA!!!! back!!! I have missed you!!!

Chelsea's tink pictures are too cute!

You lasted longer than I would have. I don't do heat for long periods of time. The sun and I aren't friends.

Thank you! I love the sun, but searing heat is my nemesis!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sounds like you had fun, but I know what you mean about hitting that wall. It always happens to me in the Magic Kingdom, too.

I think it is one part sensory overload, one part crowds, and one part heat. It just becomes too much for me.

And even though it wasn't exactly you what you wanted to do, it sounds like the evening wrapped up to be fun.

It was, and it got DtD checked off the list for Chelsea.

I'm especially fond of your sugar fest in bed while watching Phineas and Ferb. I think I may need to recreate this.

It was lovely to lay in bed eating Mickey gummies and watching Phineas and Ferb (all four of us love the show).

Bless his little heart....just goes to show that there is an attraction for everyone at Disney World.

Connor just loves Stitch. I was making his bed the other morning and realized he sleeps with three different Stitches, two Eeyores, Pirate Mickey, and Baseball Bear (his number one animal). So, clearly Stitch and Eeyore are truly his favorites.

Do you remember what day of the week this day took place on??

It was a Wednesday. We have always had good luck going on Wednesdays because there are no EMHs that day -- the crowds were great until we crossed the hub around 1:30, then it was starting to get pretty crowded.

I must have Celebration Fudge! And.....those pix are awesome- I just love all the photopass overlays this year!

Thank you! I really like all the Photopass borders and graphics this year, too.

I love the photos of Chelsea and Connor! And that celebration fudge looks delish

So funny that zebra domes were the treat of choice. I MUST try one.

Thank you! The fudge was rather sweet, but the zebra domes are just right in my opinion!

I can't wait to read about Thursday at AKL. Your trip report has swayed me enough to force me to wake up before noon tomorrow to call the reservation line Disney should send you a thank you and a discount for helping fill rooms

Oh, how I wish Disney would give me a discount -- or an annual pass!

Love the photopass pictures! I've been reading alot about how hot it was in June this year. Glad a melt down was averted. The celebration fudge looks pretty cool! I ordered some soaps from Basin the other day as stocking stuffers for the girls. Yes...I'm doing Christmas shopping! LOL For the first time in my life I'm buying things a little bit at a time instead of waiting until November/December. It feels pretty good! Although, I was looking in my hiding place the other day and thought to myself "I could have sworn I've bought more that that!" LOL I went to the Disney Store the other day and bought two Toy Story playsets; one for Hannah and one for my granddaughter, Madison.

Thank you! I love Basin's soaps!!!

I always say I am going to do Christmas shopping early, but it never seems to happen -- I am envious that you are actually getting it done!

Aww I love the pic of Chelsea with Tink in her hands!! So cute!

Thank you! I love that one, too!

WOW I can not beleive Pirates was all backed up!!!

In all my years of going (since 1975), I have never seen the Pirates line extend all the way out. I guess I have been lucky to be there at relatively quiet times.

Connor loves the Stitch attraction?????

I'm so, so sorry! Maybe he'll outgrow it before your next trip.

That's always how I feel, but then I think, "You know, I will probably miss it because it will mean he has become a "too-cool" teenager.

 

[DisneyJo]

Jo!!! How are you these days?

I'm good Jackie, thanks for asking, just very busy with all the Moms Panel stuff, don't have as much TR reading time as I used too so yesterday I just sat and read all of yours and all of Laura's

What are your dates? We will be at WDW October 1st through the 4th.

We'll just miss each other, I'm going 24th to 28th as all 16 of the 2009 panel are going to meet for the EE5K challenge, it's going to be so much fun. My girls aren't quite as happy as me and I've had to promise to get them tons of candy from the MNSSHP

 

[Sarilas]

1. Road Trip Diva... PERFECT!

2. What a gorgeous room! I'm so excited for your dream to have come true!

3. What cute hats! I can't remember why we didn't make ears when we went... I wish we had!

4. A fear of the Haunted Mansion? Say it isn't so, Chelsea!

5. Poor Charles and his blood sugar. And I really would like to try Tusker House one of these eons.

6. The pic of Connor looking apprehensive about the tigers is classic.

7. I think Disney needs a rudeness detector; anyone not in the right spirit of Walt Disney cannot come through the gates, or they are locked in cages with cockroaches for the remainder of the day.

8. Night vision goggles? Worth the price of staying at AKL for sure!

9. Oh yes. The snapping moment. Guess how many of those I had over a matter of ten days? Go on!

10. Rose and Crown sounds amazing! Welsh Dragon? Yes please.

11. What a fantastic way to enjoy Illuminations, with friends who 'get you'! (You Disney freak, you.)

12. I may have to cave and take the fam. to DHS for a Star Wars weekend. My son would flip OUT.

13. I love Chelsea's pictures with Bo. I'd wager you could see her growing before your very eyes with those pics alone!

14. Craft time at AKL? So cute! What an awesome souvenir.

15. Brown Derby looks amazing! And I can NOT handle snakes. At all. Even little baby ones. "Why did it have to be SNAKES?" indeed!

16. I still can't bring myself to ride in the honey pots. It's a silent protest for Mr. Toad.

17. Cute face paintings! And yeah, I had a heck of a time trying to catch the dormouse too!

18. Oh, Basin... you so did not steer me wrong on that store! I loved it!

And I'm caught up! Only 7,839 more TR's and PTR's to catch up on too...

 

[Disneyvirg]

The three of you managed to accomplish a lot given the crowds. I felt like we were practically standing still at MK that morning.

The photopass pics of Chelsea and Connor turned out great!

The celebration fudge looks pretty yummy - and very festive!

Uh, oh...what is scary?

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm good Jackie, thanks for asking, just very busy with all the Moms Panel stuff, don't have as much TR reading time as I used too so yesterday I just sat and read all of yours and all of Laura's

Has the Mom's Panel been lots of fun? I think that would be such a neat experience!

We'll just miss each other, I'm going 24th to 28th as all 16 of the 2009 panel are going to meet for the EE5K challenge, it's going to be so much fun. My girls aren't quite as happy as me and I've had to promise to get them tons of candy from the MNSSHP

Oh, that's going to be a blast! Are you doing the Adventurer's Club dinner as well? I could see my two being like that, too!

1. Road Trip Diva... PERFECT!

2. What a gorgeous room! I'm so excited for your dream to have come true!

3. What cute hats! I can't remember why we didn't make ears when we went... I wish we had!

4. A fear of the Haunted Mansion? Say it isn't so, Chelsea!

5. Poor Charles and his blood sugar. And I really would like to try Tusker House one of these eons.

6. The pic of Connor looking apprehensive about the tigers is classic.

7. I think Disney needs a rudeness detector; anyone not in the right spirit of Walt Disney cannot come through the gates, or they are locked in cages with cockroaches for the remainder of the day.

8. Night vision goggles? Worth the price of staying at AKL for sure!

9. Oh yes. The snapping moment. Guess how many of those I had over a matter of ten days? Go on!

10. Rose and Crown sounds amazing! Welsh Dragon? Yes please.

11. What a fantastic way to enjoy Illuminations, with friends who 'get you'! (You Disney freak, you.)

12. I may have to cave and take the fam. to DHS for a Star Wars weekend. My son would flip OUT.

13. I love Chelsea's pictures with Bo. I'd wager you could see her growing before your very eyes with those pics alone!

14. Craft time at AKL? So cute! What an awesome souvenir.

15. Brown Derby looks amazing! And I can NOT handle snakes. At all. Even little baby ones. "Why did it have to be SNAKES?" indeed!

16. I still can't bring myself to ride in the honey pots. It's a silent protest for Mr. Toad.

17. Cute face paintings! And yeah, I had a heck of a time trying to catch the dormouse too!

18. Oh, Basin... you so did not steer me wrong on that store! I loved it!

And I'm caught up! Only 7,839 more TR's and PTR's to catch up on too...

Wow! I am so impressed that you have caught up! I totally agree with you about the cages! By the way, all of your food pictures over on the food thread are AMAZING! That new camera is fabulous!

The three of you managed to accomplish a lot given the crowds. I felt like we were practically standing still at MK that morning.

That's how I felt from about 1:30 onward!

The photopass pics of Chelsea and Connor turned out great!

Thank you!

The celebration fudge looks pretty yummy - and very festive!

The kids thought the fudge was very yummy!

Uh, oh...what is scary?

You'll see... Here's a hint -- we headed back to Animal Kingdom on Thursday...

 

[disneyfan61]

Hey CP I'm all caught up again!! Great update. Looks like it was really hot at MK. We were there during Memorial weekend & that next week & I have a hard time with the heat. (of course I'm from NH so that explains a little) but I really get nauseous when it gets too hot. I love the face painting!! So cute! So sorry you missed Splash this trip. It is my favorite. Hopefully you will get to ride it next trip. Love those Zebra Domes!! I don't know how long they would last in my fridge..probably not very long Cannot wait for the next update!

 

[dddisrunner]

Great update Jackie! How frustrating that Charles was on his way when you were wanting to leave! You are SO LUCKY that your kids could do the speedway by themselves...i am JEALOUS!! Glad you were able to stick it out in the heat for a little longer at the MK! Sorry you never got to go back and ride Splash!

 

[Sarilas]

Wow! I am so impressed that you have caught up! I totally agree with you about the cages! By the way, all of your food pictures over on the food thread are AMAZING! That new camera is fabulous!

You know I couldn't come back without completely catching up! I love love love the camera; it's funny but now that I've had it longer I look back at the pics from January and think what I could've done differently to make them better. The grass is always greener!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Now I'm wondering if you all met up with a YETI!

 

[Native NYer]

I think Disney should definitely should send you APs

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hey CP I'm all caught up again!! Great update. Looks like it was really hot at MK. We were there during Memorial weekend & that next week & I have a hard time with the heat. (of course I'm from NH so that explains a little) but I really get nauseous when it gets too hot. I love the face painting!! So cute! So sorry you missed Splash this trip. It is my favorite. Hopefully you will get to ride it next trip. Love those Zebra Domes!! I don't know how long they would last in my fridge..probably not very long Cannot wait for the next update!

Thank you! I have lived in the south most of my life, and the heat still gets to me.

Zebra domes wouldn't last long in our fridge either.

Great update Jackie! How frustrating that Charles was on his way when you were wanting to leave! You are SO LUCKY that your kids could do the speedway by themselves...i am JEALOUS!! Glad you were able to stick it out in the heat for a little longer at the MK! Sorry you never got to go back and ride Splash!

Thank you! Soon, your boys will be old enough/tall enough to ride the Speedway by themselves, and you can relax in the Grandstands! I really don't know how you all managed at the end of June with the heat!

You know I couldn't come back without completely catching up! I love love love the camera; it's funny but now that I've had it longer I look back at the pics from January and think what I could've done differently to make them better. The grass is always greener!

Make sure you let me know when you start your TR back up so I can come over and read all about your trip!

Now I'm wondering if you all met up with a YETI!

We had all met the Yeti before...

I think Disney should definitely should send you APs

They would certainly make more money off of me because everytime I was off from school, I would be headed down there.

 

[Sarilas]

Make sure you let me know when you start your TR back up so I can come over and read all about your trip!

I wrote a 'where have I been' post, and hope to get an actual TR related post started tomorrow!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I wrote a 'where have I been' post, and hope to get an actual TR related post started tomorrow!

I hopped over there as soon as I read this!