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

[Charleston Princess]

We were there in 2007 at the end of November/beginning of December..........still hotter than anywhere I have ever been!!!!! I felt bad for the CMs who had to walk around caroling in SWEATERS!!!!! I could NOT have hacked that!!!

There is no way I could do that! I would be one of those singers that suddenly collapses in the middle of a performance!

Lost on Safari looks delish!

It was!

Chelsea's necklace is beautiful. Can't wait to see pics of your purchases.

I debated posting them in this update, but decided just to do one big souvenir post at the end.

Restaurantasaurus is great. The a/c makes the food taste even better

I agree!

I agree that $2.50 a game is a bit ridiculous. They should offer a deal where the more games you play, the less you pay.

That would have been perfect -- Connor wanted to play more, but I didn't want to see him spending all his money on glorified arcade games.

Connor hallucinating is hilarious

I thought so, too!

Disney offer a "deal" that means paying less????

Now, now -- they have offered some good "deals" lately -- I am hoping for some more of those great deals in 2010!

It sounds like it was soooooooo crowded that day. Uck!

Believe it or not, I don't remember masses of people anywhere in the park -- I guess they were all standing in lines.

Agreed. That face painting was totally worth it for the great pictures you got!

Yes, and seeing as I had some of them framed and look at them everyday, I guess it was a good deal in that regard.

I don't hear too much about this place either, but one of these hot days I am going to try it because I am getting tired of Pizzafari!

If you like Disney's other counter service burger places, it is a good spot.

for Dinosaur.

I love Dinosaur! Knowing that the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland (it might be at California Adventure) is similar, really makes me want to go out there and ride it!

With that heat I'm surprised the wait for Kali wasn't longer.

Both the drink and the necklace are lovely! I'm not sure which one I like better!

Same here!

Poor Connor. That's how I felt the day I left MK in that brutal heat. And then to have to wait for the bus.....ughhhh!

Loved this installment. Can't wait to read more!

It was brutal, wasn't it? I think it was the worst of the days although Friday turned out to be pretty hot as well. I am glad you were there at the same time and can attest to how miserable it was!

Thank you! I think I am actually going to do another installment tomorrow (we are off for one of our three unpaid furlough days). I need to get this TR moving and wrapped up in the next 25 days.

What a great update, I love Chelsea's necklace. I'd like to try that drink although in that heat it's probably double the punch it backs on its own!

Thank you! I was thinking the heat probably made the drink even more potent than it normally would be.

I have issues with the carnival games at all parks, they are always overpriced, and rarely do you win. I won't pay for them either but somehow my kids seem to con grandparents out of money to play them every time...

I liked the way Disney did it -- they made sure that there was more than one person playing, and each time someone won and got the prize. Unfortunately, it wasn't Connor either time. However, I was not spending "my" money on it -- that's why the kids had their own money at Disney.

Connor is too cute...but of course he did freak you out by saying that I"m sure. Thank goodness you were headed back!

I was a little freaked out at first until I realized it was just Connor trying to drive home the point that he was hot and ready to go back to the hotel.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Good job Mom for letting the kids go do some rides by themselves while you took pictures for us.

I am really pretty excited that Chelsea and Connor are getting to the age where I can put them on a ride and not worry too much. I wasn't ready to send them into a queue where I couldn't see them, but that day is coming.

And I must say that when you were writing about how hot you all were and need to head back to the resort, I was sure that you were going to write that Charles just called to say he was walking into the park.

I can promise you, it was so hot that day, I would not have hung out with him at Animal Kingdom -- he could have toured solo.

 

[disneyfan61]

Another great update Jackie. Wow it looks soooo hot though. What is in the Lost on Safari drink? It looks good.

 

[cjackearl]

Chelsea's necklace is so pretty. She's a girl with good taste! I can't wait to see pictures of your treasures, m'am.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dinosaur, fun theming although a wee bit rough.

Good for you for letting Connor squander, I mean use, his own money to play the carnival games. Sometimes just getting to do with your own money whatever you want is such a treat.

Glad you got out of AK when you did. Poor Connor! I wonder what he was hallucinating?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Another great update Jackie. Wow it looks soooo hot though. What is in the Lost on Safari drink? It looks good.

Thanks! It was very hot there that day! The Lost on Safari had a couple of different kinds of rum and a punch of some sort -- very tasty!

Chelsea's necklace is so pretty. She's a girl with good taste! I can't wait to see pictures of your treasures, m'am.

Thank you! I think so, too!

I thoroughly enjoyed Dinosaur, fun theming although a wee bit rough.

The roughness doesn't bother me, but I may have hidden my head when the big scary dinosaur loomed over us.

Good for you for letting Connor squander, I mean use, his own money to play the carnival games. Sometimes just getting to do with your own money whatever you want is such a treat.

That's so true, but something I hadn't really thought about!

Glad you got out of AK when you did. Poor Connor! I wonder what he was hallucinating?

With Connor there is no telling!

 

[Lynn5700]

Im glad that Connor ended up like Primeveral Whirl. That drink you had looks really good. Oh and I love Chelsea's necklace. Very cute!

Can't wait to hear about the friends you made at AKL.

 

[punkin413]

I saw quite a few things I liked, but decided we could come back on our way out -- I didn’t want to carry stuff all day long.

i'm sure you know this but you can have any merchandise you buy sent either back to your resort or to the front of the park to pick up on the way out. it's a lifesaver!

I am the only one in our family not terrified of bugs.

When I say “terrified,” I don’t mean, “Eek! There’s a bug.” I mean “MOM!!! COME QUICK!!! IF YOU DON’T, I COULD DIE!!!” kind of terrified -- to which I go running in to discover there is a gnat in Connor’s room.

I have successfully saved all three members of my family from:
Gigantic bugs.
Really big bugs.
Big bugs.
Medium bugs.
Small bugs.
Tiny bugs.
Teeny tiny bugs.
Dust mites.
Bugs you need an electron microscope to see.
Bugs they claim are there and which I eradicate even though I can’t see them AT ALL.

too funny! ray is DEATHLY afraid of spiders so when there's one around i have to kill it. and usually i don't even kill it but put it on a paper towel and take it outside. he thinks i'm crazy but i hate killing anything. oh, except fire ants. i'll kill those things in a heartbeat because they're EVIL!

Meanwhile, Connor had his head buried in my lap.

Over on the other side of Connor, Chelsea had pulled her knees up and had her head down between them.

i don't mean to laugh at your kids but that's hilarious. i hope you said, "i told you so!"

 

[punkin413]

Before we departed from Harambe, I had to stop and get a Lost on Safari from the Dawa Bar.

It’s my favorite drink from the trip, but it packs a punch and a half. I totally understand how it got its name -- too many of these babies, and you would be aimlessly stumbling about the African Serengeti until a lion ate you for lunch.

i'll have to remember that one!

Chelsea modeled her gorgeous necklace from Mombasa while we rested.

very pretty!

Walking back to the buses, Connor said, “Mom, I don’t mean to freak you out, but I think I am hallucinating.”

i don't know why but this made me laugh out loud. too cute!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Your post made me realize, how little I've actually spent looking in stores in the AK. Seriously I don't think I could put one store on the map for that park other than the dump shops at the end of Everest and Dinosaur. I may have to rectify that after seeing Chelsea's necklace. Very cute!

I've also completely missed Restaurantasaurus too. You'd think I've never been to that park or something!

 

[purplepeg]

Great update! We love Restaurantasaurus. I obviously need to scope out the alcohol bevvies next time we're there
I also need to spend more time in the shops, the necklace is beautiful!
It is always sooo hot there isn't it?

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Ohhhh! I love that necklace! It's really nice! And, the drink...looks great! What is in that one?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Im glad that Connor ended up like Primeveral Whirl. That drink you had looks really good. Oh and I love Chelsea's necklace. Very cute!

Can't wait to hear about the friends you made at AKL.

I really didn't know what Connor would think about Primeval Whirl since he is not big on roller coasters, but he really liked it!

The drink was really good -- I will definitely be getting it again.

Thanks! I really like Chelsea's necklace, too! LOL!

I have about 30 pictures of the friends we made at AKL.

i'm sure you know this but you can have any merchandise you buy sent either back to your resort or to the front of the park to pick up on the way out. it's a lifesaver!

I know -- I am such a dork though and am always afraid it is going to get lost in transit.

too funny! ray is DEATHLY afraid of spiders so when there's one around i have to kill it. and usually i don't even kill it but put it on a paper towel and take it outside. he thinks i'm crazy but i hate killing anything. oh, except fire ants. i'll kill those things in a heartbeat because they're EVIL!

Poor Ray! I am right there with you about fire ants -- the kids and I are highly allergic to them so when we get bitten, the bite swells up to about the size of a baseball. I have no problem killing most bugs -- especially because it means an end to the high-pitched shrieking from Charles and the kids.

i don't mean to laugh at your kids but that's hilarious. i hope you said, "i told you so!"

Laugh away -- I certainly was at the time (and still am when I think about them all huddled up on the seats).

i'll have to remember that one!

Yes, make a note of it now -- Lost on Safari at the Dawa Bar in Africa!

very pretty!

I thought so, too.

i don't know why but this made me laugh out loud. too cute!

It made me laugh, too -- Connor has such a way of phrasing things sometimes.

Your post made me realize, how little I've actually spent looking in stores in the AK. Seriously I don't think I could put one store on the map for that park other than the dump shops at the end of Everest and Dinosaur. I may have to rectify that after seeing Chelsea's necklace. Very cute!

I've also completely missed Restaurantasaurus too. You'd think I've never been to that park or something!

You are too funny! Yes, next time you head to Animal Kingdom, take time to look in the shops on Discovery Island and Mombasa Marketplace in Africa -- they have some really neat things.

If you are in the mood for a burger and air-conditioning, Restaurantosaurus is a great place to duck into.

Great update! We love Restaurantasaurus. I obviously need to scope out the alcohol bevvies next time we're there
I also need to spend more time in the shops, the necklace is beautiful!
It is always sooo hot there isn't it?

Thank you! Would you believe that I keep a list of drinks I want to try at WDW so I don't forget them.

I have never been to Animal Kingdom when I wasn't pouring sweat.

Ohhhh! I love that necklace! It's really nice! And, the drink...looks great! What is in that one?

Thank you! The drink had several kinds of rum and punch in it. Quite tasty!

 

[If U Had Wings]

If you are in the mood for a burger and air-conditioning, Restaurantosaurus is a great place to duck into.

I was always baffled that I couldn't find a burger place in there anywhere. Back in 2007 when I went with my friend all I was finding was pizza and BBQ. It was driving me nuts.

Obviously, I wasn't looking hard enough.

 

[aprilisis]

I love Chelsea's necklace! What's in the Lost in Safari drink?

 

[DisneyJo]

What a pretty necklace and how fantastic that Connor rode Primeval Whirl for the first time! Pity he didn't win a prize, I never let my girls play those as they're too expensive

 

[manntra]

Great updates....I am getting caught up after being gone for the weekend....
Empty pool in the am...how I can't wait to be there!
Loved the Simba photopass! Too cute!
ITTBAB Last year when I took my nephews 17/15 and they flew out of their seats at the end! I was cracking up
Chelsea's necklace is beautiful!
Can't wait to hear all about your new friends!

Tracy

 

[MaryAz]

Love all the souvies-anything giraffe is for me! Chelsea's necklace was very pretty. Can't wait until I can put my kids on the rides-alas I have a few years....

 

[Charleston Princess]

I was always baffled that I couldn't find a burger place in there anywhere. Back in 2007 when I went with my friend all I was finding was pizza and BBQ. It was driving me nuts.

Obviously, I wasn't looking hard enough.

In your defense, it is tucked in a corner between Dinoland and Dinosaur -- kind of across from the Boneyard.

I love Chelsea's necklace! What's in the Lost in Safari drink?

Thank you! Lots of rum and Pretoria Punch (not sure what fruits are in that).

What a pretty necklace and how fantastic that Connor rode Primeval Whirl for the first time! Pity he didn't win a prize, I never let my girls play those as they're too expensive

Thank you! I would never spend the money for Connor to play those games, but his souvenir money was burning a whole in his pocket!

Great updates....I am getting caught up after being gone for the weekend....
Empty pool in the am...how I can't wait to be there!
Loved the Simba photopass! Too cute!
ITTBAB Last year when I took my nephews 17/15 and they flew out of their seats at the end! I was cracking up
Chelsea's necklace is beautiful!
Can't wait to hear all about your new friends!

Tracy

Thank you! You are definitely going to be ready for your October trip when you read today's update!

Love all the souvies-anything giraffe is for me! Chelsea's necklace was very pretty. Can't wait until I can put my kids on the rides-alas I have a few years....

Thank you! I absolutely fell in love with giraffes on this trip -- I could not get enough of them!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Back in the air-conditioned sanctuary of our Animal Kingdom Lodge, we spent a little bit of time in the room cooling down. I wrote several postcards and then at 3:00 we headed down to Zawadi -- the gift shop -- to trade pins with King Pin.

King Pin was delightful and tons of fun. When he noticed that Connor had two lanyards full of pins like Chelsea, he commented on it. This was the conversation that ensued:

Connor: Yes, she’s my sister. It’s very embarrassing. She’s evil. (He had dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper for the last sentence.)

King Pin: She’s evil??? Have you seen the walking sticks with the skulls on them at the front of the store? (Boy, had Connor ever -- all week he had been gazing longingly at them.) They’re supposed to ward off evil. You might want to buy one of those and carry it around your sister.

Connor thought this was an excellent idea.

After pin trading with King Pin, Chelsea decided to buy the special limited edition King Pin pin for her collection.

Despite our Fast Passes for Kali, I had no desire to rush back to Animal Kingdom for one ride and then rush back to the Lodge to make our Boma dinner in time. Chelsea was less than pleased with me, but nevertheless, we stayed at AKL for the remainder of the afternoon and evening.

I wanted to go see the giraffes. Chelsea went with me -- I think in part to simply remind me how disgruntled she was -- and sat on various benches all frumped up.

The first group of giraffes we found were near the Arusha overlook. There was one giraffe, in particular, that I fell in love with -- he watched me taking pictures almost the entire time.

Hope you like giraffe pictures because I have a lot of them.

After watching the Arusha giraffes, we went and found another group near the Uzima Pool and snapped tons of pictures there as well.

We stopped to say hello to the flamingos, headed back to the room to finish postcards, and got ready to gorge ourselves at Boma.

UP NEXT: A Mail-Eating Hippo, Boma, and Another New Friend.

 

[jenjolt]

Love the picture of the giraffes Jackie!!! Beautiful shots!!!

Okay I laughed out loud at Connor's conversation with King Pin...how cute!! My sister is "evil" LOL and then King Pin suggesting buying the stick!! LOL!! Priceless!!

Love Chelsea's pin how much fun is that!!!!

Can't wait to hear more about your dinner at Boma...I would so love to eat there sometime!