How nice that you were able to meet such lovely people. It is obvious that you guys have fun no matter what you are doing as long as you are together. I just love that.
That reminds me, you ARE going to start a PRE-TRIP report soon right?????
Well done for having the guts to say what we were all thinking MouseTriper....no pressure Jay honest
Thanks!!!!! I knew there had to be more people feeling the same way. 
This next picture is of the little prince and I planning his first trip to WDW! A very important event in the life of any little one!!His first trip will be this year...in Sept/Oct!
I will update the next trip report installment momentarily.
Your trips are amazing! I am doing a Pre-TR right now, and would love to read some from experienced Disney-vets!Here is the Mickey crystal piece I got from the Arrabas Brothers store in the Mexican Pavilion at EPCOT.
What a magical time you had! Your report was wonderful, you pay so much attention to the details that reading your report actually made me feel like I was there with you. I can't wait for DH & my trip in April!
Hello, I read you great report on this Wanyama safari and really want to try it.Yet more pictures coming right up!
Of course I took a picture of the lodge. Actually this is the only one I took. Although the architecture was very impressive, I had trouble peeling my eyes from the animals!
After two savannas full of animals, wonderful animal information shared by friendly guides and many shared ahhhs with the other anniversary couple it was time for another very special part of the safari...the sundowner. We stopped right out in the savanna and they popped up a table and served us figs, nuts, jerky and some very delicious juice. As we ate we watched the sun start to set and the animals turned the tables on us and came closer to us to investigate! Here you see dh and I with a giraffe peering over our shoulder!
Here's a shot of our three amazingly friendly safari guides. They were all so sweet, informative, knowledgeable and fun!
After our sundowner we slowly drove back to the backstage area and were escorted back to Jiko where a culinary feast was about to unfold!
When we arrived at Jiko we were instantly seated right next to the windows in a prime spot. Our waiter for the evening introduced himself and got our drinks for us. We had such a nice conversation over dinner. Full of humor, laughter and smiles. Dh and I really enjoyed our dinner mates.
We also really enjoyed having Jamal (one of the Jiko chefs) bring us each course and explain it to us. He was so attentive and willing to answer questions for us. He also told us we were one of his favorite groups ever since we laughed so much and really got into enjoying the food. He called us the fun group and that's really what it was...FUN!
The meal did come with wine pairings however having a baby on board I skipped them.
Here's a run down of our meal (which was served family style):
Appetizers
-Artichoke and Peppadew Flatbread - Made with Midnight Moon goat cheese, arugula, and cilantro-yogurt drizzle.
-Kalamata Olive Flat Bread - Made with four cheeses and Laura Chenel's soft goat cheese.
-Lamb "Patis" - Pulled lamb rolled in phyllo with mint-cilantro chutney
-Maize & Sweet Potato "Tamales" - Herbed maize pudding and truffled sweet potato mash with shredded goat cheese in corn husk boat.
-Kalamata olive hummus, Durban Tikka Masala, and Malay spinach-lentil dip, with Lentil papadam, whole wheal lavosh, and Flax seed Naan bread
My favorite was the lamb and I loved the olive hummus.
Here is a picture of our main course before we all dug in:
Our main dishes were:
-Some sort of breaded fish served with tasty veggies. It was good.
-Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon - Served with Macaroni & cheese and red wine sauce. A delicious dish!
-Chermoula-Roasted, Tanglewood Chicken - Served with red skin mashed potatoes, preserved lemons, kalamata olives, roasted garlic, herbs, and harissa. This was my favorite dish. Right down to the mashed potatoes with lemons. It's a Moroccan dish. Jamal (our chef) was from Morocco. Before this meal I never would have guessed that I would like Moroccan food but now I know that I LOVE IT!!
I wish I could have taken Jamal home with us!!
To finish up we of course had dessert:
-White chocolate mousse pyramid with roasted banana and pineapple, banana-pineapple salad, and tropical fruit salad.
-Pistachio Creme Brulee - With a Chocolate Layered Bottom.
-a chocolate cheesecake *dh loved this one*
*all descriptions were taken directly from a copy of the menu unless the food was unlisted and then I tried my best*
And then sadly, it was over. It was a wonderful meal full of laughter with newly found friends, wonderful food, great service and amazing new tastes!
Just the safari and meal would have been a dream night...but dh and I had one more stop before heading back to Simba's Clubhouse to pick up the kids. We were off to DTD to see Cirque de Soilel's La Nouba!
The show was beyond words. It was funny, it made you think and it left your mouth hanging open in awe. I don't really know how to describe it any better then that. If you have the chance to go and see La Nouba, go! The music, the sights. The show is just amazing. I think I will leave it at that. With one final word...GO!
We hopped in a cab after the show and hurried back to pick up the boys. All three of them were very happy when we picked them up and I think they would have happily stayed even longer. However, it was late and time for all of us to hit the sack in preparation for another wonderful Disney day. As I drifted off to sleep the animals, tastes of Jiko, amazing husband, laughter, the excited smiles as our boys told us about Bush Camp and Simba's Clubhouse and the sights of La Nouba blended together to make my last thoughts of the night some of my happiest ever!
I wouldn't change a minute of this amazing evening!!
TO BE CONTINUED...
He does! We have trouble pin pointing just which one he looks most like. It changes from hour to hour.
And thanks for the congratulations. He is such a good little prince. We just got back from an eight hour (each way
) road trip to see my family and he did so well! We only had to make one extra stop on his account (although we did tend to him on our gas/bathroom breaks and our meal stops too). Thanks for the congrats. I am glad you stumbled in! It's great to "see" you again! I am not sure if our trips are amazing...but they are my favorite time of the year!!
Yep, both phones. Camera mishap. Rained out. It was certainly a night where Murphy's Law was the law! HA HA. But it was still a load of fun and I learned a valuable lesson, don't try and charge a phone that fell into standing water...it will short outWELCOME BACK!!!! I missed you!
Great installment, of course. Can't believe you BOTH dropped your phones in the water. Seems like something DH & I would do.
Wonderful photos of your boys. "Child abuse in 28 states."
Barb
. Dh on the other hand had the sense to wait to plug his in for a few days and he had no problems. I guess I could learn a thing or two from him
every once in a GREAT while (remember, he doesn't admit to liking WDW *gasp*).Michelle...THANK YOU!!! I don't think that is radiance...more like the "I haven't showered in 26 hours" glow.Jay! You did it! I am so happy for you! Congratulations on your new son. He's beautiful, and so are you!
Take care,
Michelle
Don't be a stranger and I promise, soon I will find the time to sit down and catch up on your trip report. New mom's honor! I will be updating with the last morning installment today.
You always say the sweetest things... *SNIFF and SIGH*
Close yes, wonderful...most of the time. Today "Stitch" and "Goofy" thought it would be fun to fill up their bathroom sink and see which toys would float and which would not.What a gorgeous photo, so sweet
I absolutely love the way you describe your family moments you sound like such a wonderful close family
That was a not so wonderful mess! 
But I guess that boys will be boys! HA HA HA HA HA! I laughed out loud when I read this post. For now I am sticking with Prince. As soon as his character comes shining through I will be sure to let everyone know what the new name of the family member formerly known as Prince is. We may just go with a symbol. I was thinking "&" maybe.
*Hey, I crack myself up and that counts for something!!* I would very much miss the special "not doing anything" moments if we skipped those. It always seems that the magic finds you when you are purposefully NOT looking for it, but instead trying to make some of your own by just enjoying being there. I may have mentioned this a time or two...but I LOVE WDW!
I am already planning it! We plan on 8 days at the Contemporary followed by a week aboard the Magic for his first Disney trip. Gotta love what you can talk your husband into with the line "But I just had your son".
Thank you so very much!!
Do you promise to read it?! I am addicted, when I have the chance to "talk Disney" or do something else, my preference is always of the talk Disney variety!
So get busy Jay...you know you already have some of the plans figured out...share 'um with us!!! LOL..
I figured you would understand about the whole Harry Potter thing. I am really hoping Universal does it up right!! Pre trip coming up as soon as I get with it enough to finish this one up (hopefully within the next week or so).
That and planning our next WDW outing. I am sure they have a twelve step program and that I am in need of it, but I sort of like my Disney addiction!
I think it was about $50. Pricey but worth it when I saw their faces and the cost of the chocolate covered strawberries alone was going to be "up there". So I figured I would treat the kids and dh/myself...we just didn't happen to really be fast enough to enjoy the chocolate covered strawberries before the kids packed them away! They do have other ADORABLE offerings that are a bit less (but I have a giraffe crazy son so I went with the giraffes).
Awww...flattery will get you everywhere!Your new little one is ADORABLE! So, so sweet. And yes, I agree with others, you look radiant!!
And please, please start a Pre-TR if you have the time!
I will be sure to stop by your pre trip report (I am just as addicted to pre-trip reports and trip reports on the reading side as I am the writing one). I think that was about $50. I didn't see any others like it BUT they are creating new things all of the time and I bet they have another one or something similar sitting on the shelves right about now. I always end up coming home with something that really "feels" like the trip to me. This trip it was the crystal Mickey. Well, that and the wonderful African animals and the Christmas decorations and the bath products and the....OOPS, I think dh told me to pick only one!
HA HA HA I Thank you for the kind words! I cannot wait for that either...it means I will have gotten to take my trips already! **Getting antsy already just might be a bad sign!*
Drum roll please, the reason I have been MIA was I got to spend a week and a half with my dad. I was so happy to see him and see him HOLD the little prince! He couldn't do it for long, but to see our son in my dad's arms...after all that went on with both of them health wise over the past few months, well, it was one of the most magical of all moments. What a lucky duck I am!! I am so very blessed!! AND, I was able to see my dad take a few steps with a walker which was a big improvement over the last time I saw him (he was in a coma when I saw him last). Life is sometimes to good to even put into words!
It's a fixed menu BUT you get almost every single thing on the menu (and a few special treats that aren't even on it). They serve the meal family style with the entire safari party. I think the filet was about medium well when we had it at Jiko. If you are looking for a normal sized portion of the filet you might want to schedule a second Jiko meal. It's more a sampling of everything (but a VERY generous portion of each, you technically could make a meal out of each one on it's own) then a pick one entrée type of thing. To be honest, I wasn't so sure about how much I would like a lot of the food we were going to be served but I am so very happily surprised, I really enjoyed it all and found out that I have a real love of Moroccan food! Who would have guessed?!
OF COURSE I promise to read it!!! If you don't write one I may just go into withdrawls. You wouldn't want that now, would ya??? I love all your tips and Diseny ideas so I'm really looking forward to your next pre-trippie!!!
to come up with great ideas to spend your vacation dollars on... 
It is a mixture of sad and scary when you see that little envelope. For me, it is the first real step back to reality. But, that little envelope is not all bad. It also usually spurs memories of the wonderful times we have just had. As I double check the charges (I love Disney but I am not silly enough to believe that Mickey has never made an accounting mistake ), I find myself remembering where we were and what we were doing when each charge took place. Those recollections lead me to a bittersweet place. I know I have to leave, but it's still so fresh and real and at least for a few more hours, I know I am still "living the magic". 
Mix this with a hormonal pregnant woman and you pretty much have a recipe for a meltdown. In order to try and avoid that meltdown I quickly got ready to face the day and then made my way down to the concierge lounge. After loading my plate/cup with tea, pastries and fruit, I made my way back up to our room and out on to our balcony. It was there I spent a quiet hour jotting down notes in the now very well thumbed trip notebook. I highly recommend that everyone keep a travel journal. Of course it REALLY HELPS when/if you sit down to type out a trip report or to scrapbook your trip but it also makes the trip memories more easily accessible whenever you want to call upon them. Not to mention what great reading it makes for a rainy day. HOLY LINES BATMAN!!! I felt so sorry for anyone checking out (or in). 
This was the second package we had trouble with at a WDW resort. The first was left for us at AKL days before departure yet barely made it into our hands before we walked out of the resort. The second was the above package left for someone else which mysteriously disappeared for days before making it's reappearance.
