From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition

[All7OfUs]

Ok, anxiously waiting....

 

[nodnol]

Hello!

I came over at Liesa's suggestion - love the story about the time change snafu! Oh, and Katharina, I noticed in the start of the dining review you mentioned that alcohol makes your nose stuffy - me too! Its been getting worse over the years to the point now that I will not take a drink unless I've taken a benadryl first. Do you also get flushed? I'd finally had enough and I started researching the issue. I think it is something called "Asian Flushing Syndrome," which causes all these symptoms and is due to a lack of a certain enzyme which helps to metabolize the alcohol. Anyway, just a bit of trivia for you.

Hi Rebecca, I've never heard of this syndrome! I've looked it up and I guess I don't have it. I have problems only with certain alcoholic beverages, mostly wine and cocktails. I have no problems with plain tequila for example It has something to do with the acidity...
But it is interesting to know that people in some parts of asia have problems not only digesting milk but also alcohol.

 

[Flossbolna]

Yayyyyy that's exciting! Can't wait to read more!

I hope I will be able to post something tonight! When was it that you were going to come to Berlin? Sometime this summer, wasn't it?

And I see that you might be on the College Programm! How exciting and good luck with that!

Happy to see you back! Take your time for your report.

Thanks! I hope I will get the next update up soon!

It will be posted soon hopefully!

Ok, anxiously waiting....

So, this is you begging not bugging? Actually the pressure is mostly on nodnol right now...

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Rebecca, I've never heard of this syndrome! I've looked it up and I guess I don't have it. I have problems only with certain alcoholic beverages, mostly wine and cocktails. I have no problems with plain tequila for example It has something to do with the acidity...
But it is interesting to know that people in some parts of asia have problems not only digesting milk but also alcohol.

I think I once heard about this as an explanation why Asian tourists in Munich get so horribly drunk when they visit the beer halls...

It is actually funny how my "little sister" has now taken to drinking spirits! But to be honest, there are some pretty good once, especially the fruity ones which we have a lot of here in Germany - like kirschwasser (my trusty online dictionary claims that this is an English word... )

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hi Rebecca, I've never heard of this syndrome! I've looked it up and I guess I don't have it. I have problems only with certain alcoholic beverages, mostly wine and cocktails. I have no problems with plain tequila for example It has something to do with the acidity...
But it is interesting to know that people in some parts of asia have problems not only digesting milk but also alcohol.

Yes, it is interesting - especially since you have the lactose thing too - wonder if its related?

I need to read more about it, I'm not exactly sure if I have this - I self diagnosed. But I will say that in my case too - its not with ALL alcohol. Most wine, most beer, most cocktails - but every once in a while, I'll have something that won't affect me in that way. Its just weird.

 

[All7OfUs]

Ok, I'll try it this way....


Katharina...





Please give us an update! PLease!

 

[glennbo123]

 

[Flossbolna]

Ok, I'll try it this way....


Katharina...





Please give us an update! PLease!

You two are set on getting me into trouble!! Katharina sent me her comments this morning, but I did not want to post the update from work. So now she will get angry with me for sure!!

Update coming up momentarily!!

 

[Pyrate_Pryncess]

Hey guys, Im following along!!!

I know I posted this on Liesa's thread when I saw the name but, I love the name Katharina! My daughters name is Katarina!!! It isn't a common name here in the states and I love it!!!!!!

Great report so far! I can't wait to read more!

 

[Flossbolna]

As mentioned before, the alarm was set for 7 am in order to get to AK for rope drop. Our plan for the day was to spend the morning at AK, have a late breakfast at Tusker House and return to AKL in the afternoon for a break. We wanted to head to Downtown Disney per Katharina's request to stock up on snacks from Goofy's Candy Company (I wonder how she got that idea, no one here on the DIS ever does that...). Dinner would be a counter service somewhere.

When we got up (and this time it was not so bad to get up at all!) we were rewarded with a view of a beautiful sunrise from our room. This was really an advantage of our room location: a sunrise every morning!!

For some reason my camera refused to take such good pictures of the sunrise as Katharina's:

Getting up at 7 am was no problem at all! We quickly got ready and went off to the Mara to get a cinnamon roll to share as well as hot tea:

This was nice, but very sweet (a recurring theme with regard to all sweets, I think the Americans likes their food much sweeter than Europeans). I was expecting more cinnamon taste as well.


I completely agree!


I also got the issue with our room keys cleared up. The CM at the font desk was very helpful and nice and this was just the right interaction to get me into a Disney mood!

We were off to the bus stop where we arrived at 8:05 am and immediately hopped on a bus which was already there.

After the short drive (5 minutes) we arrived at the AK:

And then proceeded to the turnstiles, where I was really excited to see that there wasn't any line yet. We were the first at the turnstiles!!

You see, it was actually me, who was first
I liked the whole entrance area of AK a lot, especially the fact that you can’t see into the park. It makes for a lot of suspense for a first timer like me.


I was so envious when I had read Leslie's and Jen's TR that they managed to get to the turnstiles so early that they were the first. My previous travel companion was never one to get up early. It was really exciting to be there with no one ahead of us!! Of course this meant a rather lengthy wait! We amused us by taking the above picture and we stocked up on guide maps. I did not want to just drag Katharina along so she should know where we were going and why...

There was no convincing needed, I like to know where I am, we both inherited a love for maps from our dad


We had also noticed some cast members standing a bit before the turnstiles area with name tags and such and assumed that this would be where we would check in next morning for our Wild by Design tour. That was good to see, we could feel much more relaxed about arriving the next morning.

We also watched some cast members setting up ropes just behind the turnstiles. I found that a bit strange. If anyone of you has seen the AK opening show before 2010, you would be let in all the way to the area in front of the Tree of Life. The there was a show involving the tree of life before the crowd could either go left towards the Kilimanjaro Safari or rights towards Expedition Everest. But this looked like rope drop would be here in the Oasis (that's the name of the area between the turnstiles and the Tree of Life). My suspicions where confirmed when I saw the CM from EE and KS arrive with the rope with which they would walk the crowds towards the attractions. Very strange!!

At 8:45 am we were let through the turnstiles and I was a bit at a loss, where I wanted us to be. Of course we could pick anywhere being among the first through the turnstiles... But I wanted Katharina to have a good view, so that would be towards the middle of the open area, but this would get us behind the crowds who would stand to the right of us and who get a head start on us walking towards EE. After a quick inspection of the “huge crowds” which had gathered behind us so far - not really, it was still fairly empty - I decided to take the chance and sacrifice a few minutes of wait time for the sake of better show for Katharina's very first WDW rope drop! We enjoyed the abbreviated show, no search for our adventure guide anymore...

I liked the show, it was funny, nice music and not too long. At that time I couldn’t really understand why Magdalene debated so long and intensively about where to watch the show from. I hadn’t witnessed the stampede yet and I’m glad we were there during low crowd levels.


Me too, I can't imagine what WDW feels like in the summer!

Then off we went. We were following the Unofficial Guide touring plan for the AK – at least for the morning – and thus had to get to EE. The plan was to get a Fast Pass before riding. I think most of you already know this strategy, but it is important to get the FP as early as possible, because it will mean that you will be able to get the next FP sooner. The few people who enter the line ahead of you really don't matter. The Unofficial Guide lists for every attraction how long you wait for every 100 people ahead of you in line. For EE for example this is just under 4 minutes. So even if 50 people walk past you while you get your fast passes (and I think this is a lot), you would be just 2 minutes later on the ride.

So I tried to follow the rope as far ahead as I could and since it really wasn't that crowded, I ended up all the way to the front. Katharina was following a bit further behind – taking in the sights of the park while she rushed through.

I’m really grateful that most mornings Magdalene let me kind of stroll while she secured our FP!!!



Well, kind off! Not really a comfortable stroll...

I got our FP and off we went into the line. I think we were (even with FP) the tenth people in line or so. At the entrance to EE we had to stop because it wasn't open yet. It turns out that we walked so fast from the Oasis that we arrived before it was 9 am! We soon walked through the long line and were put on the first train of the day!!

I really love this ride, I think the coaster is so smooth and thrilling and the scenery is so beautiful! And first thing in the morning it is better than three cups of coffee. Katharina was not so sure about it at first...

But since there wasn't any line at all (nor people around) when we got off, we immediately went on a second time. When we got off, the park was still very empty after our second trip to the Himalayas, it was 9:15 am now:


For the second time we rode I decided to close my eyes for the big drop and that does the trick for me! So now I can ride EE endlessly!

To be continued here!

 

[nodnol]

You two are set on getting me into trouble!! Katharina sent me her comments this morning, but I did not want to post the update from work. So now she will get angry with me for sure!!

I actually thought about posting here that it is up to you again, will do next time

Hey guys, Im following along!!!

I know I posted this on Liesa's thread when I saw the name but, I love the name Katharina! My daughters name is Katarina!!! It isn't a common name here in the states and I love it!!!!!!

Great report so far! I can't wait to read more!

I remember you posting that and wanting to comment on that but I got distracted somehow... I love my name a lot And I am very grateful to my parents for letting Magdalene choose the name of her little sister! My parents choice would have been Margarethe
Katharina was quite unusual name when I was born, I think Magdalene knew it because the daughter of Greek friends was called Katherina. When I was a child most people wouldn't remember my name correctly and would call me Kathrin, which was very popular at that time. That was even worse for me than being called Magdalene by teachers, which happened quite often as well

 

[Flossbolna]

We then were supposed to head over to Dinoland to ride Primeval Whirl. I had only been on it once and then I did not really like the spinning coaster feeling. This time it felt very lame after the two trips on EE immediately before. But I was shrieking nevertheless at every unexpected turn. I think it is pretty funny how it tells you all the time: the end is near – but then nothing really horrible happens!

I enjoyed it as fun ride, not as a thrill ride, but I wouldn’t stand in a long line for it!

Dinoland was deserted, but we rather enjoyed the cheesy theming.

More on that tomorrow, when we are on our AK tour.

The next ride was Dinosaur. Walking there I think Katharina was a bit confused why we were heading there early in the morning. It wasn't a ride I had talked a lot about. I think she asked whether it was a good ride. And I had difficulty answering that question. I think she became a bit suspicious that I would drag her onto something really horrible... or boring... (I have no idea why she would think that...). But my explanation that this was a very well done ride, but just not my taste, seemed to satisfy her.

We more or less walked into the pre-show where I spotted the first ever lime green Mickey head in the parks. For those of you who don't know: lime green Mickey heads are the symbol by which DISers recognize each other.

Of course I had to take all my courage and say something to the lady carrying it when we ended up in line behind her. But just after I started speaking to her, the CM who was loading people onto the ride was looking for a party of two and that was us. So off we went and in the end, we got this wonderful picture taken of us:

We are in the last row in case you have trouble spotting us. I think the picture captures very well my attitude towards Dinosaur.


I was really glad when the ride ended!


Pluto was out in Dinoland and nobody was playing with him. So I convince Katharina that we should get our first photopass picture of that trip taken:

Our ADR for Tusker House was for 10:20 am and it was now time for a leisurely stroll over to Africa. Katharina got the duty of finding the way there with the map while I documented the walk with pictures:

Next: Chapter 8: Breakfast at Tusker House - Part 1

 

[Flossbolna]

I actually thought about posting here that it is up to you again, will do next time

My own sister ninja posting on our thread....

I remember you posting that and wanting to comment on that but I got distracted somehow... I love my name a lot And I am very grateful to my parents for letting Magdalene choose the name of her little sister! My parents choice would have been Margarethe
Katharina was quite unusual name when I was born, I think Magdalene knew it because the daughter of Greek friends was called Katherina. When I was a child most people wouldn't remember my name correctly and would call me Kathrin, which was very popular at that time. That was even worse for me than being called Magdalene by teachers, which happened quite often as well

Yes, I do have great taste!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hey guys, Im following along!!!

I know I posted this on Liesa's thread when I saw the name but, I love the name Katharina! My daughters name is Katarina!!! It isn't a common name here in the states and I love it!!!!!!

Great report so far! I can't wait to read more!

Hi and to our TR! It's great to have you along and I really hope that there will be more regular updates in the future!

 

[Pyrate_Pryncess]

I actually thought about posting here that it is up to you again, will do next time



I remember you posting that and wanting to comment on that but I got distracted somehow... I love my name a lot And I am very grateful to my parents for letting Magdalene choose the name of her little sister! My parents choice would have been Margarethe
Katharina was quite unusual name when I was born, I think Magdalene knew it because the daughter of Greek friends was called Katherina. When I was a child most people wouldn't remember my name correctly and would call me Kathrin, which was very popular at that time. That was even worse for me than being called Magdalene by teachers, which happened quite often as well

People say DD's name wrong all the time! We just call her Kat or Kata but sometimes people call her Kate or Katie! There was a brief few months when she wanted her name changed because it wasn't common but, she outgrew it and now she loves her name!

 

[eandesmom]

an update!

That Dinosaur picture completely cracks me up!

I am with you on the sweet pastries, I actually rarely get them anywhere and they are generally slathered in icing of some sort. Bleh. I don't think I'd generalize it to say it's an American thing but it is a mass produced quick service style for sure so certainly more readily available. At a good bakery, not so much.

Cinnabon does a decent job for a volume produced roll, the quality and quantity of the cinnamon is much greater and it's a cream cheese frosting versus the very sweet icing on some.

I digress.

fun AK morning and update!

 

[manntra]

What a fun and deserted park you had!!
I agree about PW.....it is definitely not worth standing in a long line but EE on the other hand
Love the picture on Dinosaur....you did a good job of not explaining it....for some reason I laugh the whole time we are on it
Hope you had a nice breakfast and enjoyed some juice...the same juice that is served at Boma

Tracy

p.s. Thanks for the update

 

[PNO4TE]

I am enjoying the return of your TR, ladies!

But I had to comment on this, specifically...

When I was a child most people wouldn't remember my name correctly and would call me Kathrin, which was very popular at that time. That was even worse for me than being called Magdalene by teachers, which happened quite often as well

Kathrin is our older daughter's name. It is not ever found here in the US and she was often called Katarina in school!

 

[glennbo123]

As mentioned before, the alarm was set for 7 am in order to get to AK for rope drop.

The second time you got up on this particular day, correct?

When we got up (and this time it was not so bad to get up at all!) we were rewarded with a view of a beautiful sunrise from our room. This was really an advantage of our room location: a sunrise every morning!!

Do I see a lion in the distance, holding his newborn cub skyward?

We also watched some cast members setting up ropes just behind the turnstiles. I found that a bit strange. If anyone of you has seen the AK opening show before 2010, you would be let in all the way to the area in front of the Tree of Life. The there was a show involving the tree of life before the crowd could either go left towards the Kilimanjaro Safari or rights towards Expedition Everest. But this looked like rope drop would be here in the Oasis (that's the name of the area between the turnstiles and the Tree of Life). My suspicions where confirmed when I saw the CM from EE and KS arrive with the rope with which they would walk the crowds towards the attractions. Very strange!!

Yes, that's odd. That's not where they did rope drop last year.

So off we went and in the end, we got this wonderful picture taken of us:

Hilarious! Did you get to see anything on the ride?

Hope you had a nice breakfast and enjoyed some juice...the same juice that is served at Boma

Tracy

Ooooo, thanks for posting this. I've heard a lot about that juice at Boma, but did not realize that it is also served at the Mara. Looks like I'll be taking a little morning stroll over that way in a couple of weeks.

 

[John's Mom]

Glad you girls are posting again.

Great update and pictures!

Kathy