Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

WOOT AK! I'm amazed this really was the first time all trip you've been there. And that's awesome how you continued to stop at every Photopass photographer on the way in. I love the ones where they edited in baby Simba. So cute Love your pictures of the flamingos and the lizard guy too

Can't wait to read more!

The way I see it is that we(I) paid for the photopass cd so we may as well get as many photos on it as possible and it only takes a minute to get a picture taken!

You could tell they were annoyed at taking all the photos because they stopped making faces and just smiled nicely.

Just got back from taking some time off for the holidays. I am finally all caught up!

Sorry to hear that you had to change your plans! It's always rough when someone throws a wrench into the well designed plans!

Glad to hear you liked Medevil times. We saw the Pirates Dinner Adventure in Orlando (years ago) and it was awful! We have a Medevil Times that is local, though I have never been. But I am sure I will have to cave and take my DS one day.

I am just glad the change in plans came towards the end of trip. It would have been an absolute disaster if I had to replan the whole two weeks!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Wow, Medieval times, that really takes me back! I'll never forget going there with my grandmother and her horror over having to eat with her fingers. She never forgot about it, god bless her!

There actually is one not too far from me right now, It would be really fun to check it out!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow, Medieval times, that really takes me back! I'll never forget going there with my grandmother and her horror over having to eat with her fingers. She never forgot about it, god bless her!

There actually is one not too far from me right now, It would be really fun to check it out!

I am not a big fan of eating without cutlery either but I can deal with it for a meal in order to get the full experience.

 

[kittylady1972]

LOVED all the Animal Kingdom photos. I am the same way with our group most trips, making them all stop for a photo...with lots of BIG SIGHS from the kids. Still so worth it, esp since many times it's the only proof that I was ON the trip too...since I'm usually behind the camera!

 

[Moira222]

Medieval times looks like so much fun! There is one about an hour or so way from us but we've never gone. I never considered looking up groupons for it -- full price is a lot of $$ and travel time for us, but discounted would be fun. I think the knight that your brothers asked to pose before the show was completely entertained by their bizarre poses. funny!! (BTW That knight could ride up to my tower any day)

Hmm at least you had notice of the SWW changes. WLR was not so with it last may -- we had to ask at the front desk the night before, and they seemed to know nothing about it at all. They had only ONE copy of the program -- apparently for the front desk to reference -- and would only let us read theirs, they did not have a spare. and for the record, the opening day was CRAZY. we did not get there at opening because the desk told us there was nothing really to see (LIE) and when we did go it was very crowded, and hot that day, so animal kingdom was a great choice!


Your AKL photos are nice, this is my favorite family shot - everyone looks happy and as if you all really like each other

great animal shots around the tree of life, too. My DH tends to make me hurry past them to get to "the good stuff"

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

LOVED all the Animal Kingdom photos. I am the same way with our group most trips, making them all stop for a photo...with lots of BIG SIGHS from the kids. Still so worth it, esp since many times it's the only proof that I was ON the trip too...since I'm usually behind the camera!

Exactly! I think their problem was that I stopped at 3-4 different photographers all in front of the Tree of Life.

Medieval times looks like so much fun! There is one about an hour or so way from us but we've never gone. I never considered looking up groupons for it -- full price is a lot of $$ and travel time for us, but discounted would be fun. I think the knight that your brothers asked to pose before the show was completely entertained by their bizarre poses. funny!! (BTW That knight could ride up to my tower any day)

Definitely look for a coupon, I don't think I would shell out the money to go at the full price.

Hmm at least you had notice of the SWW changes. WLR was not so with it last may -- we had to ask at the front desk the night before, and they seemed to know nothing about it at all. They had only ONE copy of the program -- apparently for the front desk to reference -- and would only let us read theirs, they did not have a spare. and for the record, the opening day was CRAZY. we did not get there at opening because the desk told us there was nothing really to see (LIE) and when we did go it was very crowded, and hot that day, so animal kingdom was a great choice!

That is horrible! It is so strange how one resort provided the info in each room and the other knew nothing at all.

Your AKL photos are nice, this is my favorite family shot - everyone looks happy and as if you all really like each other

Thanks, those are my favourites from that morning as well.

great animal shots around the tree of life, too. My DH tends to make me hurry past them to get to "the good stuff"

Yeah, usually we hurry past as well and don't slow down to look at the animals until later in the day.

 

[marDgreen88]

You and your mom are so pretty! I definitely can't blame you for taking advantage of the photopass opportunities!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

You and your mom are so pretty! I definitely can't blame you for taking advantage of the photopass opportunities!

Thanks! I hate how I look but I will take the compliment.

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Were your brothers feeling ok at AK??? The family pictures are really good and they actually look NORMAL!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Were your brothers feeling ok at AK??? The family pictures are really good and they actually look NORMAL!!!

What a sad statement that there must be something wrong if we manage to take a normal photo.

 

[englishrose47]

Just poppin' in to say HI will catch up by the weekend !!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

May 20th continued

We slowly made our way towards the back of the park.

I just love how colourful Discovery Island is.

Ladybug lights! So cute!

Once we arrived at the safari we grabbed fastpasses as the standby line was too long for our tastes. Fastpasses in hand we wandered over to the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.

We spent a lot of time in the little hut near the beginning of the trail that houses the small animals. The CM there was super friendly and informative. Mom made friends with her and she chatted with us about all sorts of things from the animals in the hut, to WDW in general, to other Florida theme parks. She even strongly encouraged us to visit Busch Gardens Tampa. We had her exclusive attention as barely anybody wandered in while we were there.

Dung Beetle Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTqyaVTj3MY

After a good while we left our CM friend and wandered out to the forest to see the fish and birds.

I loved this bird, it was adorable and its upside nest was very interesting. We took a zillion different pictures of it.

Love the colours on this guy

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We didn't get a good look at the hippos on this day. No showing off like when Mom and I were there in 2009 and we got the up close and personal treatment.

Next up were the meerkats and somehow this was the first time we had seen them. They were probably hiding from the rain every other time we have been to Animal Kingdom on previous trips. This day was our very first trip to Animal Kingdom where the sun was out in full force and there was not a rain drop in sight. Needless to say, they are adorable!

Just chillin

After we pried ourselves away from the absolutely adorable meerkats we moved over to the gorilla sanctuary.

There was not a whole lot of action with the gorillas. We did catch a glimpse of the baby gorilla but it was so far back and hidden by the foliage that we couldn't get a very good look. We did get to see the big guy munching away.

Gorilla video with commentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbKoBuav4rs

We spent a fair amount of time just watching the animals and not rushing through, no need to hurry. As we were leaving I noticed the mist effect that they have as you exit the trail, I like it.

[post=43706509]Click here to continue[/post]

 

[marDgreen88]

Aw, I love the ladybug lights. Everything there is just so cute.

The bird's nest was really upside down? That's so awesome.

Hahahaha the sleeping meercat. SO CUTE.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

The bird's nest was really upside down? That's so awesome.

Yep, if I remember correctly it is to help protect them against predators.

Hahahaha the sleeping meercat. SO CUTE.

I know! So stinking cute!

 

[Lidian]

We had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the meerkats, too! We were forced to keep moving when they all went into hiding. Otherwise, we may have spent the whole day there.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the meerkats, too! We were forced to keep moving when they all went into hiding. Otherwise, we may have spent the whole day there.

That is understandable, they have to be some of the cutest animals at the Animal Kingdom! Now, if only they had Red Panadas! (Erich's favourite)

 

[kittylady1972]

You have me convinced now we need to spend a little more time at AK in the future. We haven't done the trails in year but I just might spend a little more time there in March and when we go back in November with the kids!


How funny that the CM recommended BG Tampa. I'd love to go there one day too!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Those meerkats are so flippin' cute! I probably have about a zillion pictures of them from all our trips (but that doesn't stop me from taking more each time we go ).

The gorillas actually creep me out a little. They are so human, I really don't like seeing them in enclosures. I have similar feelings towards chimpanzees.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

You have me convinced now we need to spend a little more time at AK in the future. We haven't done the trails in year but I just might spend a little more time there in March and when we go back in November with the kids!


How funny that the CM recommended BG Tampa. I'd love to go there one day too!

I really like AK, there is lots to see and I find it to be a very relaxing park. I never feel the need to rush rush rush.

One of these days we will get to BG Tampa, we love BG Williamsburg and I am curious to see how they compare.

Those meerkats are so flippin' cute! I probably have about a zillion pictures of them from all our trips (but that doesn't stop me from taking more each time we go ).

The gorillas actually creep me out a little. They are so human, I really don't like seeing them in enclosures. I have similar feelings towards chimpanzees.

Yeah, it is like taking pictures of the castle, just can't get enough.

You are right, they are very human like, I think it would be amazing to see them out in the wild but also probably really scary! I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to wildlife encounters!