Escape From Craziness to Pandora, Po Boys, and Oppressive Heat - Finished & New TR Link 12/28

[cstorm65]

Day 10 - Part 4 - Our First Nighttime Safari

We had just arrived at Animal Kingdom and were getting ready for our first time on the new nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safari, but we had another FP before we headed there. This one was in Pandora! The boys loved the drummers every time we saw them here:

This land is so photogenic as well! DS5 was just looking at the mountain and you could tell he was trying to figure out what was going on!

At 6:50 it was time for our first FP of the night at Na’vi River Journey. It was our first time on this one and we liked it, but it wasn’t out of this world.

I’m a sucker for a good story and I just for the life of me can’t figure out why they made a ride with on plot or story line. I want to have a connection to the ride and this one just doesn’t draw me in. I mean it’s a good ride and their are some cool visuals, especially the Shamen, but there is just not much to it. Anyway, we had done it and decided to grab some photopass pics on the way out of the land.

We were going to have a little dinner before our nightime safari FP at 7:50. So we arrived at Flame Tree at 7:15 for what has been a favorite meal in the past. I think Flame Tree is as good as ever, but DS1 was being a little cranky this evening. We got him a hot dog meal along with DS5, but DS1 only wanted what DW was eating so he basically ate all his food and DW does not like hot dogs. So she didn’t really get anything to eat much. She and I were sharing this:

The combo platter which had pork, ribs, and chicken. It was all good, but we do wish you could get fries with the meal instead of the beans. The beans are pretty weak. We did end up with a great seat though down by the water and with a great view of Everest. DS5 loved the view!

After dinner we headed back for our safari and got in the FP line at 7:50, but we didn’t get on a ride vehicle until 8:20. They were only running people on one loading platform, so I’m not sure if it was just less capacity because it was at night or what. Anyways, we finally got to ride and got some decent pics:

We were off the ride at 8:45 or so and were headed to use our final FP of the night.

Up Next: “That Was the Best Ride Ever!”​

 

[cstorm65]

Day 10 - Part 5 - “That Was the Best Ride Ever!”

We finished our first ever night time safari and it was not too bad. We did think it was quite as good as far as the animal experiences go as a early morning safari, but it was certainly good for a change. After we finished we headed back over towards Asia as we had our final FP of the night schedule for reserved seating at Rivers of Light. We did grab this cool shot of the tree of life on our walk towards Asia.

The check in process was very easy. The workers took our stroller and parked it for us so we could go straight in and be seated. We were seated at 8:55 for a 9:15 show.

The FP section we were in was as far to the right as you can go when facing the water which did hurt our view a little. But it wasn't’t too bad. This show is obviously designed to be seen from all parts of the very wide amphitheatre.

We enjoyed the 20 minute show and even got a few pictures of the action.

It wasn’t Fantasmic or Wishes or IllumiNations, but we enjoyed it. I thought at times the show as a little show and there wasn’t a lot of explanation as to what was going on on the barges and that was hard to see at times. So there are definitely some aspects that aren’t that great, but overall it had some really cool elements. Up next...DS5 and I had a date with one of our favorites:

And we had a great ride! It was awesome at night. I think this is the first time we’ve ever ridden it after dark and it was completely different and really great!

It was 9:50 at this point and we had one more thing on the agenda to visit Flight of Passage. This would be DS5’s first ride so we headed toward Pandora. DW and DS1 went and sat in the outdoor area at Satu’li Canteen while we rode and like an good wife of a trip reporter:

Yes she took a picture of the menu. The Pandora area is really cool at night and a very different experience than during the day.

Eventually DS5 and I made our way into the FP line.

DS5 was a little worried I guess you could say in the matching room, but he was still excited too. My only complaint for him is that there is no possible way to keep those 3D glasses on his head since his head is so small. They just kept falling off before the ride and he finally told me he didn’t want them. So, maybe a set for kids would be nice and I wouldn’t think it would be that hard to do if you did a different color of something that made them easy to separate.

Anyway, his verdict when we got out was, “Dad, that was the best ride ever!” So, Flight of Passage is great even if you don’t wear the 3D glasses! Anyways, we were done by 10:20 and headed out of the park. I tried a quick shot of DW and the boys in front of the tree, but DS5 somehow came out blurry.

I also forgot that DS5 and me took some Photopass pics leaving Everest as DW and DS1 went to find the stroller after River of Light so they were already walking towards Pandora.

Anyways, it was a great end to the evening, but a late one. Tomorrow would definitely not be a rope drop kind of day for us.

Up Next: Mommy, Can I Just Lay Down?​

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

And we had a great ride! It was awesome at night. I think this is the first time we’ve ever ridden it after dark and it was completely different and really great!

We loved Everest at night! It is now a must do for us!

 

[cstorm65]

We loved Everest at night! It is now a must do for us!

No doubt! We definitely have that planned for this trip coming up!

 

[TeamDP]

I'm loving your report. We are planning our first trip next June. Our kids will be 7 and 5 so I'm especially loving hearing how your oldest is doing

 

[dianachaney77]

While I was gone I got one of my favorite pictures from the trip.

Beautiful picture! We are staying at Pop in October.

 

[dianachaney77]

Yes, we were in a tornado warning and I stopped for a Citrus Swirl! I love those so much!

I don't know that I would have done that for a Citrus Swirl, but I absolutely would have for the Dole Whip Swirl with Pineapple Upside Down Cake!!!

 

[cstorm65]

I'm loving your report. We are planning our first trip next June. Our kids will be 7 and 5 so I'm especially loving hearing how your oldest is doing

Thanks for reading along and hopefully it helps you out some!

Beautiful picture! We are staying at Pop in October.

Pop is great!

I don't know that I would have done that for a Citrus Swirl, but I absolutely would have for the Dole Whip Swirl with Pineapple Upside Down Cake!!!

I love Dole Whips, don't get me wrong, but I LOVVVVVVVE Citrus Swirls! I am just a big orange juice flavor fan so it is perfect for me.

 

[dianachaney77]

I love Dole Whips, don't get me wrong, but I LOVVVVVVVE Citrus Swirls! I am just a big orange juice flavor fan so it is perfect for me.

My husband LOVES the Citrus Swirls too! We buy this freshly squeezed orange juice from our local Farmer's Market and it is so delicious my husband says he could drink it all day, every day!

 

[dianachaney77]

I am enjoying your TR! Please tell your wife I love her Disney LulaRoe.

 

[DLo]

I like riding EE at night - different experience than during the day if you ask me .

 

[cstorm65]

My husband LOVES the Citrus Swirls too! We buy this freshly squeezed orange juice from our local Farmer's Market and it is so delicious my husband says he could drink it all day, every day!

Yes, someone else who loves them like I do!

I am enjoying your TR! Please tell your wife I love her Disney LulaRoe.

Thanks and I definitely will. She loves that stuff!

I like riding EE at night - different experience than during the day if you ask me .

Very different and super fun. We've got it planned for this trip at night just for this reason.

 

[cstorm65]

We are back from our trip! What a great time we had. We LOVED this trip. We slowed down even more than we ever had and just really enjoyed the resort and the kids just had a great time. DS6 loved some new rides and DS2 had a great time himself, especially watching fireworks! I'll get to that trip at some point. I'm really backed up, but I'm going to get this current TR finished! Hope everyone is having a great week!

Day 11 - Part 1 - MOMMY, CAN I JUST LAY DOWN?

After a late, but great night at AK last night we slept in the next day. Of course sleeping in for an 18 month old is 8:15, so that is when we got up. We were planning on heading out at about 9:15 as we had a breakfast ADR That we were looking forward to at Garden Grill, one of our favorite character meals. So we hung out in the room for a little bit before getting to the bus stop at 9:20 and a bus came about five minutes later. The boys were ready to go see Mickey and his friends this morning at breakfast!

The bus wasn’t all that crowded and we could tell DS5 was tired this morning. He finally looked over at DW and said, “Mommy, can I just lay down?” So he did!

We were at Epcot by 9:40 and I noted the bag check line was about 10 minutes to get through. It seems like the bag check at the front of this park is the slowest of any park. DS5 was certainly ready to go though!

And we were ready as well!

This was about an hour after rope drop, but still a crowd heading into The Land:

But it doesn't look that crowded here:

We checked in at 10:05 for our ADR. I think our time was 10:20, but we were seated just about five minutes after checking in. So we only had to spend a few minutes here:

We were seated on the lower level and before we could even get anything started this guy stopped for a visit:

We find at this meal the characters come fast and furious, which is a good thing. I think it may be that we usually do a 10:15-10:30 reservation here and so the main breakfast crowd is moving out so there aren’t as many tables to stop at. Love the plates in a Mickey shape when you get here. Sorry not a great picture here!

And the menu! We love breakfast here!

Before we even got our drinks another friend stopped by...Chip!!

And right behind him was Dale!

So, I’m going to stop this here because the picture limit will get me before we get done with the meal, so we’ll come back next time with the food, but I will give you a little food teaser, although some of it was already gone!

Oh that Sticky Bun! It is soooooo goooood! Let’s just say the boys tore it up!

Up Next: What do you Buy at Disney for an Anniversary Gift?​

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Well, I am not sure what happened to your pictures! When the email came in there were pics but now I can't see them.


Can't wait toes what you bought as an anniversary gift!

 

[cstorm65]

Well, I am not sure what happened to your pictures! When the email came in there were pics but now I can't see them.

Uh-oh...google photos don't fail me now. I thought I had all this figured out after photobucket betrayed me and I moved everything!

Can't wait toes what you bought as an anniversary gift!

Going to try an get it posted today!!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Just found your report and read it all! Love it!

 

[cstorm65]

Just found your report and read it all! Love it!

Thanks for reading along!!

 

[cstorm65]

Well, I am not sure what happened to your pictures! When the email came in there were pics but now I can't see them.

Well, I think that may have been my fault. I copied from the wrong place in google photos. It's a little bit of a long copying process in google photos and if you don't pull the link from the shared album people can't view unless I've shared my entire album with them on google. I think it should work now as I went through and got the correct links.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

That seemed to do the trick! And I must say the post makes way more sense now!

He finally looked over at DW and said, “Mommy, can I just lay down?” So he did!

An empty bus is always a good time!

Pinkies up while drinkng out of a sippy cup!

 

[cstorm65]

Day 11 - Part 2 - WHAT DO YOU BUY AT DISNEY FOR AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT?

I just finished teasing you with a picture of the absolutely delicious Sticky Bun from Garden Grill, so next……..I’ll just tease you again!

We ate here on our trip a few weeks ago as well and it was as good as ever!! The cinnamon roll also came with fruit, which was actually a favorite of DS1.

The rest of us just kept on demolishing the cinnamon roll, but DS1 loved the fruit, especially the grapes. At some point in here Pluto made a stop. Not sure what he’s doing in this first picture!!

And the boys got their picture:

The characters are always great here and seem to spend a lot of time with the kids, which is awesome that you don’t feel rushed with them. After Pluto headed out our server came by with the main plate of food which included Sausage, Bacon, Tater Tots, and Mickey Waffles. DS1 had a reaction to eggs when he was little and we’ve never given him eggs again. We’ve never really had him tested, but we usually ask for the eggs on a separate plate just to be safe. I guess at some point we should ask the doctor to check it out so we actually know for sure! Anyways, on to the food pictures:

The food was awesome as it usually is. The bacon and sausage at these meals is always so good. I love the sausage flavor and we all love the bacon. The tater tots are always really good here and I love it with the delicious homemade salsa. DW really enjoyed the chocolate sauce that came to go on the Mickey Waffles. Her family has the tradition of doing chocolate gravy to go on biscuits and so she loved this sauce on her waffles. We put away some serious food this morning and again we were a little late in the breakfast rotation and so the characters made it all the way back around again.

Of course we have to get one obligatory photo of the scenery around the moving restaurant, which of course helps keep the kids entertained.

DS1 also decided it would be a great time to crawl and lay all over DW, she is not real happy about it though!

After breakfast we headed downstairs as we had the plan to ride Soarin’. DW and DS5 went first, while DS1 and I went over to find a seat and play a little bit.

DW took a couple of pics on the ride:

We headed out of the Land after they rode and were headed over to Test Track as we had a child swap pass from a previous day to use. Of course we were there in July and you all know what that means:

TOUR GROUPS!! Yes, they were out in full force! We walked through the hub towards Test Track, but DS1 and I stopped in MouseGear for me to find DW a present for our anniversary.

We had come up with a deal that we would just buy one reasonably priced thing for each other in the parks for our anniversary, so DS1 and I looked around. Not sure why I snapped a picture of this “Mine” stuff, but definitely not an anniversary gift. This actually would fit DS1 right now, it is one of his favorite words.

Somewhere in here DW snapped a picture of DS5 by this engine as he wanted her to take a picture of hime here.

After looking around for a while I couldn’t decide between things for a gift so I just ended up getting two things and figured DW wouldn’t care if I went over the one item limit. I ended up with this picture frame and a coffee mug I had noticed her looking at in a few gift shops already.

She loved both of these. The frame is in her office at school and she uses that cup at school on a daily basis! Not sure why, but I snapped a picture of these socks, they were also not an anniversary gift! Well, for DW at least!!

Also, at some point I looked down and saw this:

Guess he's tired so I'll stop there and be back later with another update. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Up Next: That Costs How Much?​