Firsts, Fourths, and Farewells (4/28 Back to the Future!)

[boxmaster]

J and I were also decked out in our animal wear.
I’m still not sure why J was pouting but he apparently thought it was funny since he started laughing afterwards.
Here’s the before and after…

It was a forced pout, just to be contrary. Both you and Stacey always comment how I don't give full smiles including teeth in pictures, and I point out how fake they look unless I'm laughing and the sentiment is genuine. So, whatever Stacey's comment was this particular morning to try to get me to smile, I did the opposite. Then, while laughing , she snapped the "after" picture.

 

[boxmaster]

Next up were the elephants!
And we even saw the little baby elephant that was born right before our last visit.

Hey, I don't mind being the butt of a good joke or double entendre , but I did take pictures of more than just animal butts on the safari. Some of those other non-butt pics were mine, too.

Nevermind the fact that that elephant picture you pointed out as mine framed two important things fairly evenly. The elephant was only one of the items that I made sure to have in that picture. I leave it to the reader to go back and take another look at the picture if they want to see for themselves.

 

[MEK]

So much to comment on.

Stacey - I love your ears. They are adorable.

"Unca - I like you".........OMG - that is so adorable! X knows how to melt a hear.

great pictures of pop and the safari. I'm pretty impressed that you got the whole body of the cheetah!

BTW - I did the Wild African Trek and I highly recommend it, if you ever get a chance.

GReat updates guys!

 

[thecapells]

So much to comment on.

Stacey - I love your ears. They are adorable.

"Unca - I like you".........OMG - that is so adorable! X knows how to melt a hear.

great pictures of pop and the safari. I'm pretty impressed that you got the whole body of the cheetah!

BTW - I did the Wild African Trek and I highly recommend it, if you ever get a chance.

GReat updates guys!

How was the Trek?
I would love to hear about it!
Once the kids are old enough, I so wanna go!!!

 

[thecapells]

After our 2 week safari was cut short, we realized we were very hungry.
So while we were in Harambe, we decided to sample the local cuisine.
Which led us to Tusker House.

However, we realized quickly that we’d have to watch our backs.
Harambe may not be the safest of all places judging by the signs…

Sure enough, around the corner were animals.
Although, I’m not sure this one rates as very dangerous…

At first site of his favorite fowl, X lept forward and charged.
However, he lost his footing and down he went – again.
For those familiar with my trip reports, it seems poor X has very bad luck when it comes to Disney.
On his first trip on the night we arrived at the hotel he managed to literally crack his head open on the hinge of the door and was sent to the hospital for nine stitches.
This wasn’t as bad but he broke into tears nonetheless.
The other kids, not sure what to do, posed with Donald but had some concern on their face.

I joined in as Mom catered to the crying little guy.

X finally calmed down and we asked if he wanted to go eat.
But he was adamant – he wanted his Donald Duck picture!
So, with Mom carrying him, and with a big scrape across his forehead (you can see it in the picture), he finally got to meet his favorite duck.

X was back in good spirits and ready to eat despite the scrape so we headed inside.
We love Donald’s Safari Breakfast – it’s a buffet with all the normal things you might find on a breakfast buffet.
However, this one also has some African samplings like bobotie as well as items (while not African) you might not find at other Disney breakfasts like blintzes.
Another item the kids look forward to are the tater tots – this is one of the only breakfasts in Disney that has ‘em.
And then there’s the Jambo Juice (or Jungle Juice) – the nectar of the gods!
I was a bad boy and did not remember to take pictures of our plates so you are left with the buffet room and your imagination…

As we eat, we were approached by yet another Duck – Daisy!!
She was also decked out in her Safari gear ready to go exploring!

In fact, after her pictures, she took our crew on a safari around the restaurant all the while playing African instruments.
The kids had a blast!
Even the ones sitting at the table watching the fun!

Check out the detail on the noise makers.
They are really intricate and so perfectly themed for here in Harambe.

After the parade, Goofy appeared in his Safari garb.

Us Goofs have to stick together.
Don’t you think?

Our Expedition Leader was the last guest to arrive at our table.
We can’t head into the jungle without our Big Cheese you know!

But then X was presented with a cupcake for his 4th Birthday.
Check out the surprise on his sister’s face!
I think she may have been more excited that he was!

Then Mickey posed with the kids and the cupcake!

Too bad X couldn’t take his eyes off of the cupcake for a great family shot!

And then Perry had to get in on the fun!
Hey! Where's J?

And I couldn’t pass up another shot at the Head Mouse.

Before we left, Daisy surprised us with another appearance – this time she stayed a bit longer since last time the parade was starting.

And then we were off heading across the park to find prehistoric treasures!
The one problem with hitting the Safari first thing is our next stop is always a trek.
So strap on those hiking boots, grab your packs, and join our safari!

 

[boxmaster]

And then Perry had to get in on the fun!
Hey! Where's J?

... dooby dooby doo bah, dooby dooby doo bah, dooby dooby doo bah...

http://www.televisiontunes.com/Phineas_and_Ferb_-_Perrys_Theme.html

 

[dawnbu40]

I'm all caught back up

Poor X! I'm glad he was still able to see Donald.

I love the look on the princess' face in the picture where she is behind Daisy in the parade So often children get jealous when their siblings get special attention, her excitement for X's cupcake is adorable.

Nice update and great pictures! We love the Tusker House breakfast too

 

[thecapells]

I'm all caught back up

Poor X! I'm glad he was still able to see Donald.

I love the look on the princess' face in the picture where she is behind Daisy in the parade So often children get jealous when their siblings get special attention, her excitement for X's cupcake is adorable.

Nice update and great pictures! We love the Tusker House breakfast too

Glad you are back!
It think the Princess likes to "ham it up" for X to get him more excited.
She still likes to play "mom" with her little brother.

 

[Curoly06]

You guys always take the best pictures! J's animal butt pics reminded me... I had an art history professor that would take pics of sculptures' butts instead of the "normal" pictures everyone else was taking. It was always fun trying to identify those on the exams!

 

[thecapells]

You guys always take the best pictures! J's animal butt pics reminded me... I had an art history professor that would take pics of sculptures' butts instead of the "normal" pictures everyone else was taking. It was always fun trying to identify those on the exams!

Thanks so much!
As for the butts, that must've been one interesting exam!
More segments to come this weekend!!

 

[MEK]

How was the Trek?
I would love to hear about it!
Once the kids are old enough, I so wanna go!!!

The trek was awesome! It was a great experience. I wrote about and posted tons of pictures in the "How do you think we stay so happy?" TR. You wear a harness for the first part of the trek so you are strapped in when you view the hippos feeding and you cross a couple bridges then view the alligators. They really do a nice job with the entire experience. There was one child on the tour. I think she was about 12.

Great update! Love the pics from the TH breakfast. Love that X got a cupcake, but your daughter's response is priceless. Wonderful update!

 

[thecapells]

The trek was awesome! It was a great experience. I wrote about and posted tons of pictures in the "How do you think we stay so happy?" TR. You wear a harness for the first part of the trek so you are strapped in when you view the hippos feeding and you cross a couple bridges then view the alligators. They really do a nice job with the entire experience. There was one child on the tour. I think she was about 12.

Great update! Love the pics from the TH breakfast. Love that X got a cupcake, but your daughter's response is priceless. Wonderful update!

I thought I was up to date on your TR's.
I'll have to check that one out!

 

[thecapells]

Now that our adventurers were well fed, we were off to explore the wonders of prehistoric times.
So we trekked across the Kingdom to Dinoland U.S.A.
And as always, when I pass this arch, I think to myself:
“Welcome to Jurassic Park”
If only Disney had the rights to that instead of Universal.
But I digress…

Our first stop in this ancient world was the Theatre in the Wild.
We had established some time ago that the best time to see Finding Nemo: The Musical was first thing in the morning.
The first showing of this great show allows you to enjoy it without lining up 30 minutes ahead of time while still getting your choice of seat.
So we headed straight into the theatre and sat dead center in the second or third row above the middle walkway.
These are our favorite seats as we like to watch the performers that come out throughout the show.

As usual, it was a great show and we were in great spirits afterwards.
I was even able to get some fun shots of X while everyone else had a pitstop.

And then it was time for a new adventure for the little Capells.
J and I took DS and DD for their first trip to the Dino Institute.

In the queue, we had lots of fun waiting and hanging out with all the dinosaur statues.
And I went over the basics of the ride with the kids as well as they were a bit nervous.

I love this one…

And, of course, I found a trashcan with a great logo on it…

After exploring the main level of the institute, we progressed into the pre-show and then on to the sub-basement.
It was much darker down here with exposed pipes scattered all around.

Specifically, take a look at these and notice the colors.
Can anyone guess what flows through three enticing pipes?

It’s a nod back to the days when McDonald’s sponsored this entire land (and even had their golden arches logo on the Dinoland sign).
Organized by color, these are the chemical equations for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise!

Then, it was on to the jeeps themselves.
You can see the nerves setting in on the kids as they strapped themselves in.
They were not sure what to expect on this ride…

Unfortunately I got a bad pic so you can’t really see the kids.
But while DD cuddled up close, DS had his head down in his knees.
Yes, this attraction was “freaky” according to both of them.
They didn’t cry (like a friend of DD’s did when she first rode), but they they were very scared.
Me? I loved it. This is actually one of my favorite rides.
I don’t mind being thrown back and forth and I love the animatronic dinosaurs – they are so lifelike!

And we even got to bring good ol’ Aladar home!

 

[thecapells]

Meanwhile, Mom and X were busy outside.
Or at least X was.
He found a nice spot on the curb and began digging in the dirt.

The little things that make the little ones happy.
But then, a present of sorts.
J volunteered to take the trio of kids to Dinorama while Mom and I got to ride Dinosaur! together!
Date Night here we come!

Mom wasn’t as happy with this ride.
She’s not fond of being thrown back and forth.
Which was frustrating as she enjoyed the special effects and audio-animatronics.
She just wished she could enjoy them sitting still.

But it was really nice being able to enjoy a ride with Mom and not worry about the kids.
Thanks J!

Unfortunately, our "alone time" was short-lived.
We returned back to the present and went to track down J and the kids.

 

[boxmaster]

I'm more than willing and happy to take care of the trio. While they individually have their moments (don't we all? ), they're really great kids. Giving Mike & Stacey a respite from the kids and time alone , especially in the magical world of Disney, is one of the best things I can ever give them.

So, this was my first opportunity to do so this vacation. As this was my first time in Animal Kingdom, once I got my bearings of where I was going, we were off. Along the way, I took a few pics.

First up, though, a few pictures from when we were walking to the Finding Nemo show. (Given that my camera's clock was so out of sync, sometimes the precise timing of what was happening in the sequence gets a bit confusing. But I remember hanging back from the troupe while I took these three pics.)
My view of a fun attraction I get to later – Everest:

Love the tiny dino, who's so easy to miss if you're rushing too fast:

Ditto with this little fella:

So, having found our way to where we were going, and all pit stops being finished, we spied what seemed to be the main attraction for this land:

And who could possibly resist a ride topped by this cutie?

So, we got on line (maybe 5 minutes' worth) and were raring to go. Alas, on this trip through, I couldn't take any pictures of them on the ride. The timing of getting on was such that I couldn't grab of pic of DS and DD in the back of the dinosaur. I don't remember which part of the dinosaur had control over the angle of the dino and which had it over the height, but the kids were all loving having some control over their experience of the ride. (Kind of like Aladdin's flying carpet.)

Everyone liked Triceratop Spin so much, we immediately went back on line for yet another spin. (There's really nothing else in Dinoland to ride.) Soon after we started back up, Mike and Stacey arrived and took up differing spots to get different angles for photos.

As none in the troupe was about to go on a roller coaster , it was now time for me to hand back the trio so that I could make my solo journey to the top of the world, relatively close to where we would all meet back up for lunch. So, where did everyone else go? You'll just have to wait and see.

 

[thecapells]

Actually - that was insane daddy running back and forth to get all those pics.
But the kids had a blast so it was worth it.
And we loved the fact that Unca J let us ride together alone for the first time since we've had kids!
Awesome "Uncas" definitely come in handy in Disney!

 

[dawnbu40]

What fun updates! Nemo and Dinosaur make for a good time. The pictures all came out great! How nice of Uncle J to take the kiddos so you could have some mom and dad time

 

[Curoly06]

I think Dinosaur is my favorite ride in all of Animal Kingdom! I had no idea about the pipes of Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayo! I'll have to look for those next time I'm there

 

[thecapells]

What fun updates! Nemo and Dinosaur make for a good time. The pictures all came out great! How nice of Uncle J to take the kiddos so you could have some mom and dad time

That's why we keep him around.
Seriously though, one adult per child makes life SOOO much easier...

I think Dinosaur is my favorite ride in all of Animal Kingdom! I had no idea about the pipes of Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayo! I'll have to look for those next time I'm there

It's definitely my favorite in Animal Kingdom.
Although the kids aren't too sure they want to do it again.
I might have to incentivize them next time.

The pipes are a fun added touch from the "McDonald's Era."
They are right when you descent the stairs into the sub-basement.
If you look back at the catwalk next to the stairs, you'll see them.

 

[thecapells]

After a long show, the kids needed some snack and a place to get their wiggles out.
In fact, Unca needed to get his wiggles out as well so he split from our expedition and headed off on his own.
With a map in hand, we wished him well (and hoped he wouldn’t get lost as he’s still a newbie).

Which brings us to one of the Capell’s Animal Kingdom Traditions.
On DS’ first trip when he was four, he was treated to his first taste of popcorn.
And since then, it’s become a family tradition.
So I headed off to the snack cart in Dinorama and loaded up on popcorn, a frozen coke, and a frozen lemonade.
And yes, popcorn does taste better in Walt Disney World.

Then it was off to the kids’ favorite place to unwind – The Boneyard.
Full of slides, sounds, and running, we usually have to drag them out of this play place.

X finally got bored of slides and headed across the Olden Gate Bridge to the Dig Site.
He could spend hours here if we left him.
Take a look at the pics and you’ll see what I mean.

Of course, his sister couldn’t let X have all the fun!

Finally, we coaxed them back out of the pebbles (and emptied their shoes) and headed back to the slides.
We were running out of time as our lunch ADR was rapidly approaching.
And we knew the kids would not leave without one more slide…

Across the bridge, our little explorer spied three rocks laid in a certain pattern.
A mouse-like pattern one might say…
It’s close – not a perfect one by any means but we gave her credit nonetheless.

Then we gathered the troops as we were late and Unca would be waiting for us somewhere deep within the jungles of Asia…