First Christmas Trip to Disney 12/07

[pjstevens]

After we stopped to see those adorable characters, it was time to walk around. I love how they have all those stuffed animals in the exhibit.

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We talked with a cm that told us all about the tracking device they put on these sea turtles to see where they are traveling (this was after they had to rescue him because of all the garbage he had eaten).

Right next to that, was the surgery section, where they do check ups and routine surgery. We happened to be there when this tiny little girl was being check out. If you look closely you’ll see she has a tuff or red hair. They dye their hair to identify them (they are so small that they can’t tell the boys from the girls). She had been sedated and due to being less than one pound she was taking a little while to wake up.

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After seeing that adorable little girl, we continued our walk. Next up, these poisonous frogs. They are so cute, it’s a shame they are dangerous.

A couple hidden mickeys.





Of course had to take a photo of another beautiful tree.

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[MeMom]

I love the Rafiki's pictures. The last two times we've been there, we've missed the times for any surgeries or work on the animals. We'll try again in March. I think the displays in the office part are cute, too. I think that would be a very neat place to work.

Nice safari pictures, too. I wish I could be in a jeep riding through Kilimanjaro right this minute!

 

[pjstevens]

This is a little out of order, but found this today in my many of photos. A video of the end of Holiday Wishes during MVMCP.

Holiday Wishes Video

 

[pjstevens]

I love the Rafiki's pictures. The last two times we've been there, we've missed the times for any surgeries or work on the animals. We'll try again in March. I think the displays in the office part are cute, too. I think that would be a very neat place to work.

Nice safari pictures, too. I wish I could be in a jeep riding through Kilimanjaro right this minute!

I know what you mean. It is so cold here right now, I'd like nothing more than to be in the heat of AK. I also agree it looks like it would be neat to work in that part of AK.

 

[pjstevens]

After spending some time at the Conservation Station, it was time for lunch. We stopped by Flame Tree Barbeque. This was our first time eating here. I honestly don’t remember what we had, but it was a lot of food (as usual on the dining plan). After lunch we went to see A Bug’s Life. This is really a cute show. It’s been a while since we had seen this, so I didn’t remember the little things that would happen. I had to take these pics though

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After this, we walked around the Tree of Life and then it was time to head out. DH and I would be back to see Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Expedition.

 

[mymainmouse]

Patricia,
Great update! We really enjoyed Rafiki's Planet Watch. We got to see some sort of wildcat that had been hit by a car and brought there for treatment. I think the girls would have rather seen a little girl monkey. We have cats so they weren't that impressed.
I was wondering what you thought of It's A Bugs Life for a 6 year old? I have gotten an okay from DH that we can go in the fall free dining or not so I am already planning a little in my head. DD was scared of POTC and Stitches Great Escape. I have heard it might be too intense for little ones. Just wondering what you thought since you were just there.

 

[pjstevens]

Patricia,
Great update! We really enjoyed Rafiki's Planet Watch. We got to see some sort of wildcat that had been hit by a car and brought there for treatment. I think the girls would have rather seen a little girl monkey. We have cats so they weren't that impressed.
I was wondering what you thought of It's A Bugs Life for a 6 year old? I have gotten an okay from DH that we can go in the fall free dining or not so I am already planning a little in my head. DD was scared of POTC and Stitches Great Escape. I have heard it might be too intense for little ones. Just wondering what you thought since you were just there.

Kelly,

Has you done Honey I Shrunk the Audience with her? If you have, I'd explain ahead of time that the effects are similar. I forgot about the 'sting' that you get (until it happened). Some little ones do get upset, but the effects are so cute (especially if they like those Bug movies).

 

[pjstevens]

DD had such a great time at the Fall College Program that she wants to take another semester off of school and go back to Disney for the fall!!!! I told her she'll never graduate at this rate, but WOW, can I go for some more of those cast member discounts and hopefully another Christmas time trip (where I will do the many things we missed this trip).

 

[mymainmouse]

Kelly,

Has you done Honey I Shrunk the Audience with her? If you have, I'd explain ahead of time that the effects are similar. I forgot about the 'sting' that you get (until it happened). Some little ones do get upset, but the effects are so cute (especially if they like those Bug movies).

Patricia,
We've never done Honey I Shrunk the Audience. We did do Mickey's Philarmagic. I don't know if it is similar or not. Maybe we will have to rent the bug movies before we go. Maybe she will just be braver by then too. It is a long way off.

DD had such a great time at the Fall College Program that she wants to take another semester off of school and go back to Disney for the fall!!!! I told her she'll never graduate at this rate, but WOW, can I go for some more of those cast member discounts and hopefully another Christmas time trip (where I will do the many things we missed this trip).

That is so awesome!

 

[pjstevens]

Patricia,
We've never done Honey I Shrunk the Audience. We did do Mickey's Philarmagic. I don't know if it is similar or not. Maybe we will have to rent the bug movies before we go. Maybe she will just be braver by then too. It is a long way off.

Kelly,

I think any of the 3d things help to make them realize that those items 'coming at them' aren't really going to get them. With the bugs, it is cute, cause it makes you 'see' like a bug. I love all those shows.

 

[mymainmouse]

Kelly,

I think any of the 3d things help to make them realize that those items 'coming at them' aren't really going to get them. With the bugs, it is cute, cause it makes you 'see' like a bug. I love all those shows.

Patricia,
Guess what was on the Travel Channel today? Shows on WDW and one specifically for AK with a whole part about It's a Bug's Life. The girls and I were watching it and Abby decided she would like to go see that. I hope she remembers this in September. I really think from what you said she will be okay. I just don't want her to have any flashbacks to Stitches Great Escape.

 

[pjstevens]

Patricia,
Guess what was on the Travel Channel today? Shows on WDW and one specifically for AK with a whole part about It's a Bug's Life. The girls and I were watching it and Abby decided she would like to go see that. I hope she remembers this in September. I really think from what you said she will be okay. I just don't want her to have any flashbacks to Stitches Great Escape.

Kelly,

I am so glad you were able to see this. I hope it helps Abby enjoy the show come September. I've never done Stitches Great Escape, (have heard all kinds of bad reviews about that) so i can't say about that.

 

[pjstevens]

We took the kids back to ASMu. Something about AK just wears you out. Some of us layed down for a rest, others went for a swim and then soon, DH and I were heading back to AK to see the parade. In all the times we’ve been here, we had not seen a parade at AK. I was really excited about this.

We got back to AK and got an even better parking spot than we had in the morning. YEA!!! Another good thing! We walked to the park and quickly found they were already setting up for the parade. We walked towards the tree and found a spot on right along the route. There was a dad and his kids already staking out their spot, so we stood next to them. A short time later, his wife came back and they sat and waited. (We were right in front of some trees) and in a slightly shaded area, which was great since it was pretty warm out. They started putting the ropes up, so there was only a short space to walk through. Of course, as it would be when ever we got a good spot to see the parade, someone would come along and try to stand in front of us!!!! Fortunately, the people did move, but it’s just a shame that some people have NO manners!!! DH had gone to get a soft pretzel (actually before the above started) while I kept our spots. When he came back, we shared his YUMMY pretzel, pretty sure it was a cheese filled pretzel!! Well, I haven’t shared this in my report before, but I have a problem eating certain items and breads are one of those things (unfortunately), so remember that for later!

Soon we saw these guys coming along!!!

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More photos to come (things are running very slow today)

 

[pjstevens]

duplicate post

 

[mymainmouse]

You took some really great pictures of the parade. I love how they had the floats decorated for Christmas. We haven't got to see the parade at AK yet. I am hoping that we will when we go again which will hopefully be in Sept. for free dining. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I know what you mean about people without manners. Our first time at MK in 2006 we didn't realize that the Spectromagic Parade had started until it was too late to get a spot so my mom and I found a spot and stood and held the girls up so that at least they could see it. We were just standing there and these 2 young couples ,without children, started pushing us. They kept asking us to move over so they could see. Unfortunatley there wasn't anywhere to move to. They got kind of snotty with us. It really irritated me but I didn't say anything. Finally my mom said, Listen I don't have any where to move to! So then they pushed their way on through the crowd. It made me so mad. Sorry to go on and on there. That's my rude parade people story.

Great update!

 

[pjstevens]

You took some really great pictures of the parade. I love how they had the floats decorated for Christmas. We haven't got to see the parade at AK yet. I am hoping that we will when we go again which will hopefully be in Sept. for free dining. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that. Great update!

Kelly,

Thanks for hanging in there. I was so frustrated with how slow the board was loading I never got back to finish my day. I am working on the rest of the parade right now, so hope to have that up in no time.

 

[pjstevens]

Finally I am going to finish the Jingle Jungle Parade.

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As I mentioned earlier, I have a problem eating some foods. So, as we are standing here watching the wonderful floats and characters come by, I can feel IT!!!! IT, is that feeling when I am going to be sick. I cannot believe I made it this far into the parade and NOW I am going to be sick. This is the last thing we saw and I knew it was almost over, and wanted so desperately to watch the rest, but my body would not let me.

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Without giving too much info, a quick stop by the restroom and I am feeling SO much better. Needless to say, I know better than to enjoy the pretzel, but it was so yummy, I had to pay the price. It was time to make a mad dash out of AK as the parade would be ending any minute and every body else will come out. On our way out of the park though, we did see something that I HAD to stop off to see!!!

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Unfortunately, there was no photopass photographer, so the cm that was with Mickey offered to take our photos (she just about chopped of DH head though).

Up next a visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge.​

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[pjstevens]

After we left Mickey at Animal Kingdom, it was time to head back to All Star, but on the way out, I suggested we drive by Animal Kingdom Lodge as we have NEVER been there at all. I’ve heard so much about it. (Our son and DIL stayed there on their honeymoon). Of course as we entered the hotel, what do we see but another amazing Christmas tree.

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It is dark in there (which I was already aware of) so my photos weren’t the greatest. We stumbled across this odd item, not sure what it is, but it was neat looking.

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We walked out the back to see the animals on the savannah. Oh, my goodness it was so nice. I could be very comfortable sitting here sipping my coffee watching the animals in the morning.

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Up next, a trip to the Boardwalk and Dinner at ESPN.

 

[MeMom]

I love that parade. (Okay, I love them all.) It was especially cute and colorful with all the Christmas stuff, too. The boys and I saw it in November, but the girls and I didn't see it in December. They were already doing the Christmas version in Nov., though, so I was happy.

The first day of our March trip, we have AK planned for the first half of the day, so we'll be seeing the normal version then. Our friend that is going with us has never been to Animal Kingdom, so we're excited about showing it all to her.

Thanks for sharing the good pictures.

 

[mymainmouse]

Great pictures! I can't believe how sharp your pictures are. I would also love to enjoy my coffee in the morning while watching the animals but it probably won't happen for a long time. Especially since I don't drink coffee. I guess if the opportunity ever came up I could drink some O.J. Emily is sure that we should stay there some time. I don't think she quite gets the price difference between there and one of the All stars. I am hoping that in September (if there is free dining) we can go there to eat at Boma and then look around.

Sorry you weren't feeling well during the parade. Sometimes some things are just too yummy and you have to enjoy it even if there is a price.

Great update!