For those of you who havent read the pre-trip report, heres the starting Cast of Characters: 
Me Joel aka The Birthday Boy
Vicki my DW
Danielle our DD-6
Mary Jo my Mom and Danielles DGM
Allan one of my younger brothers (yes he is younger than me!)
Delani Allans DD-12
Alana Allans DD-10
Well also be meeting up with my other younger brothers family and Vickis cousin a couple of days into the trip, but Ill hold off introducing them until they actually have their grand entrances.
The main purpose of this trip was ta daaa!! to celebrate my 50th (make that 13 in WDW Years ) birthday. But it would also be the first family vacation (my Mom and her boys not to mention the granddaughters ) we have had since ta daaa!! a trip to WDW way back in 1976
Speaking of which here is an old photo of my brother Jed and I from that trip:
(gotta love the black socks!!)
I dont remember too much from that 1976 trip, other than the Haunted Mansion really blew me away and that little booklet of ride tickets labeled A, B, C, D, and E and we stayed at some off-site hotel where Allan and I mastered a Death Race arcade game (which could serve as an explanation for my brothers driving skills )
And there was only the Magic Kingdom back then
My Mom, Allan and his girls have been to WDW a few times but (if you can believe it!) only to the MK so hitting Epcot (the girls choice) and Animal Kingdom (my Moms request) in addition to spending my B-day at the MK were on our list or things to do.
And this trip was also to be a surprise for Danielle we told her we were flying down to Florida to visit her cousin Nina (so we could pack without too many questions ) which we were (so we didnt have to lie to her ) - and that Grandma was taking us to the Philadelphia airport (which she was, too no so lies all around!). But we didnt tell Danielle we were meeting her cousin in WDW or that her grandmother, uncle, and New Jersey cousins were also going along for the ride.
I took Ranger to his doggie resort Wednesday evening we ate a dinner of leftovers and perishables (pretty much emptying the refrigerator in the process ) and got most of the packing done and went to bed (although I didnt get that much sleep )
And woke up about 5:00 on Thursday, September 17
Ate a quick breakfast finished packing loaded up the car and by 7:00 were on our way to Grandmas
Where we arrived on time at 8:30 only to find Grandma (and Allan and the girls) nowhere in sight!! (Did I start to panic? almost )
After about a 10 minute wait Grandma finally showed up: she had taken a drive to Wawa for coffee and a few minutes later Allan and the girls finally arrived!
My Mom went upstairs to print out our boarding passes but just like the night before, the AirTran computer system was not behaving - so we would have to check-in and get the passes at the airport. (Panic time?? almost )
Danielle was very excited to visit her cousin Nina, and told Delani and Alana they could go with us to Florida. But Uncle Allan was another matter he had to stay home!!
We loaded up my Moms van took a start of the trip picture and headed off to the airport
And ran into the morning rush hour traffic jam on Route 95 and got stuck sitting behind a garbage truck!! (OK time for the panic attack? not yet but getting there )
At the airport, Allan and I took car to the economy lot and arrived back at the terminal just as everyone else finished checking-in. So we were all set and headed off to our gate (thus there would be no panic attack ) hitting a few restrooms and gift shops (of course!!) along the way
We had lunch at the airport nothing worth writing about (were talking airport food here!)
Waiting for the plane, my Mom and I finally told Danielle all of us were going to WDW for my birthday but she was still more excited about Nina meeting us than the fact that we were actually going to WDW!
It was a nice flight, with Danielle occasionally talking and playing with two boys her age sitting behind us, coloring in her new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse activity book, or listening to music on Vickis i-Touch.
We arrived at MCO on time, jumped onto our first unofficial WDW ride (the monorail from the gate to the main terminal ), and made our way to the Magical Express buses. There was no need to check-in at ME counter (which was empty!) - they checked us in as we entered the queue to the bus. This may be the procedure they use when the airport isnt that busy ?
We had only 5 minute wait for the bus. After loading our carry-on bags, we happilly jumped on board and Danielle (with Vicki and I in tow) rushed to her favorite seats in back of the bus
where she was soon joined by her two new friends from the plane (but they were staying at POP). The rest of the crew found seats up front
We arrived at AKL right on schedule around 4:00, after short stops at POP and Caribbean Beach (which we had never seen before I took notice of the internal shuttle bus ).
Everyone was impressed by the AKL lobby (no surprise there!).
Mom and I checked-in while everyone else checked out the lobby and the Arusha Savannah (all three girls were into exploration mode )
And then I took my Mom out onto the savannah and there were animals everywhere!! a small herd of Zebra, giraffes, pelicans, Ankole cattle more animals than we had seen the entire time of our week-long trip in December 2008!!
We had requested a room on the Zebra Trail, but got Giraffe Trail, Pool View on the 3rd floor (room 3020). It turned out to be a very nice location with a great view of the pool, and very convenient to everything right down the hall from the lobby, and an elevator about 20 feet from the room that lead right to the pool. Mom and the others were just down the hall (Room 3012).
Everyone changed into bathing suits (which we had packed into our carry-ons for just such an occasion ) and jumped into the pool the water was warmer than the air (and it was 90 degrees outside!!).
Around 6:00 we headed back to the rooms for showers (our luggage had arrived while we were busy swimming ).
The kids then took part in the Wildlife Games at the Sunset Lounge, while us adults sat back and relaxed. We then hung out and talked with a CM from South Africa for a bit, checked out the Sunset Savannah and the artwork in the lounge and then it was that time for our dinner ADR at Boma! Boma! Boma!
We were told we had about a 15 minute wait, so Alana was put in charge of the buzzer and stayed with the other adults while Danielle, Delani, and I went out to Arusha Rock for the African Storytelling around the fire pit. The storyteller was the same CM we had been talking with in the Sunset Lounge It was a nice story with the moral: Dont make promises you cant keep. and Danielle ended up sitting on Delanis lap as they both listened.
We headed back to Boma and met Alana on the way our table was ready!! (after about a 20 minute wait )
It was a very nice and fun dinner and my favorite: Palaver stew, was on the nights menu!! I LOVE Palaver stew!! Love it! Love it! Love it! Unfortunately, it wasnt on the Boma menu the two nights we ate there in December 2008 but it was on the menu tonight and I was in Palaver stew heaven!!
Our waitress was a lot of fun, and thoroughly encouraged Allan to order the mai-tai specialty drink (which he did ). The kids went crazy over the mini-chocolate mousse dessert cups, but were otherwise un-adventurous in their food selection (no surprise there ). And I forget how many trips I made to the buffet, trying something different just about every time (and using watermelon to cleanse my palette ) but having at least three bowls of Palaver stew!! (I lost count I was on a Palaver stew high )
I distributed the pins I had bought on e-bay and the Tink t-shirts to the girls (with instructions that the shirts were to be worn on Saturday my birthday! when would also visit Pixie Hollow )
After dinner Danielle, her two cousins, my Mom and I went over to Uzima Savannah to check out the night viewing goggles it was very cool!! but kind hard to see anything.
And we were in bed by 10 tired but ready to hit our first park the next morning Epcot!
And it was a great first day of our WDW vacation!!
Me Joel aka The Birthday Boy
Vicki my DW
Danielle our DD-6
Mary Jo my Mom and Danielles DGM
Allan one of my younger brothers (yes he is younger than me!)
Delani Allans DD-12
Alana Allans DD-10
Well also be meeting up with my other younger brothers family and Vickis cousin a couple of days into the trip, but Ill hold off introducing them until they actually have their grand entrances.
The main purpose of this trip was ta daaa!! to celebrate my 50th (make that 13 in WDW Years ) birthday. But it would also be the first family vacation (my Mom and her boys not to mention the granddaughters ) we have had since ta daaa!! a trip to WDW way back in 1976
Speaking of which here is an old photo of my brother Jed and I from that trip:
(gotta love the black socks!!)
I dont remember too much from that 1976 trip, other than the Haunted Mansion really blew me away and that little booklet of ride tickets labeled A, B, C, D, and E and we stayed at some off-site hotel where Allan and I mastered a Death Race arcade game (which could serve as an explanation for my brothers driving skills )
And there was only the Magic Kingdom back then
My Mom, Allan and his girls have been to WDW a few times but (if you can believe it!) only to the MK so hitting Epcot (the girls choice) and Animal Kingdom (my Moms request) in addition to spending my B-day at the MK were on our list or things to do.
And this trip was also to be a surprise for Danielle we told her we were flying down to Florida to visit her cousin Nina (so we could pack without too many questions ) which we were (so we didnt have to lie to her ) - and that Grandma was taking us to the Philadelphia airport (which she was, too no so lies all around!). But we didnt tell Danielle we were meeting her cousin in WDW or that her grandmother, uncle, and New Jersey cousins were also going along for the ride.
I took Ranger to his doggie resort Wednesday evening we ate a dinner of leftovers and perishables (pretty much emptying the refrigerator in the process ) and got most of the packing done and went to bed (although I didnt get that much sleep )
And woke up about 5:00 on Thursday, September 17
Ate a quick breakfast finished packing loaded up the car and by 7:00 were on our way to Grandmas
Where we arrived on time at 8:30 only to find Grandma (and Allan and the girls) nowhere in sight!! (Did I start to panic? almost )
After about a 10 minute wait Grandma finally showed up: she had taken a drive to Wawa for coffee and a few minutes later Allan and the girls finally arrived!
My Mom went upstairs to print out our boarding passes but just like the night before, the AirTran computer system was not behaving - so we would have to check-in and get the passes at the airport. (Panic time?? almost )
Danielle was very excited to visit her cousin Nina, and told Delani and Alana they could go with us to Florida. But Uncle Allan was another matter he had to stay home!!
We loaded up my Moms van took a start of the trip picture and headed off to the airport
And ran into the morning rush hour traffic jam on Route 95 and got stuck sitting behind a garbage truck!! (OK time for the panic attack? not yet but getting there )
At the airport, Allan and I took car to the economy lot and arrived back at the terminal just as everyone else finished checking-in. So we were all set and headed off to our gate (thus there would be no panic attack ) hitting a few restrooms and gift shops (of course!!) along the way
We had lunch at the airport nothing worth writing about (were talking airport food here!)
Waiting for the plane, my Mom and I finally told Danielle all of us were going to WDW for my birthday but she was still more excited about Nina meeting us than the fact that we were actually going to WDW!
It was a nice flight, with Danielle occasionally talking and playing with two boys her age sitting behind us, coloring in her new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse activity book, or listening to music on Vickis i-Touch.
We arrived at MCO on time, jumped onto our first unofficial WDW ride (the monorail from the gate to the main terminal ), and made our way to the Magical Express buses. There was no need to check-in at ME counter (which was empty!) - they checked us in as we entered the queue to the bus. This may be the procedure they use when the airport isnt that busy ?
We had only 5 minute wait for the bus. After loading our carry-on bags, we happilly jumped on board and Danielle (with Vicki and I in tow) rushed to her favorite seats in back of the bus
where she was soon joined by her two new friends from the plane (but they were staying at POP). The rest of the crew found seats up front
We arrived at AKL right on schedule around 4:00, after short stops at POP and Caribbean Beach (which we had never seen before I took notice of the internal shuttle bus ).
Everyone was impressed by the AKL lobby (no surprise there!).
Mom and I checked-in while everyone else checked out the lobby and the Arusha Savannah (all three girls were into exploration mode )
And then I took my Mom out onto the savannah and there were animals everywhere!! a small herd of Zebra, giraffes, pelicans, Ankole cattle more animals than we had seen the entire time of our week-long trip in December 2008!!
We had requested a room on the Zebra Trail, but got Giraffe Trail, Pool View on the 3rd floor (room 3020). It turned out to be a very nice location with a great view of the pool, and very convenient to everything right down the hall from the lobby, and an elevator about 20 feet from the room that lead right to the pool. Mom and the others were just down the hall (Room 3012).
Everyone changed into bathing suits (which we had packed into our carry-ons for just such an occasion ) and jumped into the pool the water was warmer than the air (and it was 90 degrees outside!!).
Around 6:00 we headed back to the rooms for showers (our luggage had arrived while we were busy swimming ).
The kids then took part in the Wildlife Games at the Sunset Lounge, while us adults sat back and relaxed. We then hung out and talked with a CM from South Africa for a bit, checked out the Sunset Savannah and the artwork in the lounge and then it was that time for our dinner ADR at Boma! Boma! Boma!
We were told we had about a 15 minute wait, so Alana was put in charge of the buzzer and stayed with the other adults while Danielle, Delani, and I went out to Arusha Rock for the African Storytelling around the fire pit. The storyteller was the same CM we had been talking with in the Sunset Lounge It was a nice story with the moral: Dont make promises you cant keep. and Danielle ended up sitting on Delanis lap as they both listened.
We headed back to Boma and met Alana on the way our table was ready!! (after about a 20 minute wait )
It was a very nice and fun dinner and my favorite: Palaver stew, was on the nights menu!! I LOVE Palaver stew!! Love it! Love it! Love it! Unfortunately, it wasnt on the Boma menu the two nights we ate there in December 2008 but it was on the menu tonight and I was in Palaver stew heaven!!
Our waitress was a lot of fun, and thoroughly encouraged Allan to order the mai-tai specialty drink (which he did ). The kids went crazy over the mini-chocolate mousse dessert cups, but were otherwise un-adventurous in their food selection (no surprise there ). And I forget how many trips I made to the buffet, trying something different just about every time (and using watermelon to cleanse my palette ) but having at least three bowls of Palaver stew!! (I lost count I was on a Palaver stew high )
I distributed the pins I had bought on e-bay and the Tink t-shirts to the girls (with instructions that the shirts were to be worn on Saturday my birthday! when would also visit Pixie Hollow )
After dinner Danielle, her two cousins, my Mom and I went over to Uzima Savannah to check out the night viewing goggles it was very cool!! but kind hard to see anything.
And we were in bed by 10 tired but ready to hit our first park the next morning Epcot!
And it was a great first day of our WDW vacation!!
Going back to read now!!!! Woohoo!!
Hope you guy had a great Halloween!!!!
The lodge is beautiful, hope to stay there some day!!! Can't beleive the tweenagers were getting bored!! Argh...kids!!!
