Got Pixie Dust? A June 2009 PTR ~TR Link, Page 180

[Nicole786]

Have u ever been to AKL before for dinner or anything? I can't seem to remember from your tr

 

[nts4wdw]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I know you must all be beside yourself with excitement. I've said it all along, It's gonna be a wonderful trip!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm so happy for you, hon! I know that was your hearts desire, so this is just fantastic! You and the whole family are sure to love it.

Does this mean we'll be seeing some more ADR changes?

And DUDE! I totally need to hear every little detail about your visit to the King Tut exhibit, which I am dying to see. If there are no other Egyptology type geeks reading this trip report, feel free to PM me.

Thank you!

No more ADR changes -- I sorta kinda made the last ADR changes hoping for AKL.

I am planning on doing my next update with our trip to King Tut, so I will give you all the details (and some photos)! I am so excited I am like a kid on Christmas Eve tonight.

Wow, Charles is totally out of the closet on his Disney obsession! He's come a long way!!

Not sure I'm an Egyptology geek but would love to hear about your trip and see pictures!

He has come a long way! Thank goodness.

I will definitely write about our adventure!

ME! I'm an Egyptology nut!

Hurray! And I am hoping for some classic Connor poses.

Wow! Thats exciting about AKL! Thats my dream place to stay!! IO'm really excited to hear more about the hotel and to see the pics from your trip at the lodge! Congrats!!! =)

Thank you! I am afraid to jinx myself so I am trying not to be too excited until the trip is completely paid off -- hopefully at the end of the month.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was scrolling, very quickly, through a page on my TR in attempts of finding a particular post when I saw a black ticker fly by.

"What was that?" I wondered.

Scroll up slowly.

"JACKIE GOT AKL!" I almost yelled it! Good thing I didn't, Henry is sleeping!!

I BOLTED over here as fast as my 4 year old computer would allow and read your entry.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Creepy dancing men just for you!

I'm so stinkin' happy for you! YOUR DREAM RESORT! You will love it there, as you already know! It's just "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh".

I LOVE this. What a good man!

Thank you and thank you for my creepy dancing men! Glad you didn't wake Henry up from his nap! There are times when I just do a little happy dance when I think about all the fun we will have -- I can almost smell it (the smell of the fireplace that is)!

Jackie, you're my kind of planner!!

Kathy

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to plan these trips, doesn't it? Now if June hours would just get released I could really get down to business. The whole certain nights for Fantasmic and Spectro are creating havoc with my planning.

Have u ever been to AKL before for dinner or anything? I can't seem to remember from your tr

We have been a few times to eat breakfast and dinner at Boma. Everytime I walk into AKL, I always vow that we are staying there next time. Now it's next time!

Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I know you must all be beside yourself with excitement. I've said it all along, It's gonna be a wonderful trip!

I am beside myself with excitement and I am so happy that all of my DIS friends are happy for me, too! It's so nice to have people truly understand all of my madness.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Jackie! So glad your "next time" is here! Now it's just waiting for the days to pass to get the park hours.
What is your take on EMH, do you go or avoid those park days? Last year on our fist night MK was empty during EMH it was on June 1 I think, but some say to avoid those parks due to large crowds.....

 

[Nicole786]

you are making me want to go back to the AKL instead of the WL!! haha!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Jackie! So glad your "next time" is here! Now it's just waiting for the days to pass to get the park hours.
What is your take on EMH, do you go or avoid those park days? Last year on our fist night MK was empty during EMH it was on June 1 I think, but some say to avoid those parks due to large crowds.....

We tend to avoid EMHs -- we have done them in the past, but have found that really and truly the parks are less crowded on the days when there aren't EMH. This trip is going to be more difficult to figure out though because looking at the May hours it looks like Disney is doing EMH at MK and DHS on the days when they aren't doing Spectro and Fantasmic. So, I am left with the quandry of wondering which will be less crowded now.

you are making me want to go back to the AKL instead of the WL!! haha!!

AKL does have those great views of the animals! (And Boma).

 

[DisMomAmy]

We tend to avoid EMHs -- we have done them in the past, but have found that really and truly the parks are less crowded on the days when there aren't EMH. This trip is going to be more difficult to figure out though because looking at the May hours it looks like Disney is doing EMH at MK and DHS on the days when they aren't doing Spectro and Fantasmic. So, I am left with the quandry of wondering which will be less crowded now.

We have definitely run across this problem - that's what sealed the decision to add on park hoppers! We were on the fence, but don't want to spend a full day at MK on a Spectro day. (We always avoid EMHs if at all possible.) Same thing with F! - from what I've heard, it's preferable to skip DHS on a F! night.

 

[Charleston Princess]

We have definitely run across this problem - that's what sealed the decision to add on park hoppers! We were on the fence, but don't want to spend a full day at MK on a Spectro day. (We always avoid EMHs if at all possible.) Same thing with F! - from what I've heard, it's preferable to skip DHS on a F! night.

I may have to do that, too.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Months and months ago when I discovered the King Tut exhibit was coming to Atlanta, I did a very exuberant happy dance! My love of all things ancient Egypt is almost as great as my love of all things Disney, and King Tut is of course my favorite discovery of all time.

In September as soon as the tickets went on sale, my parents and I bought ours for a weekend in February. It seemed forever away at the time.

This weekend came surprisingly quickly and before I knew it, the kids and I were practicing our Egyptian poses last night. Charles had decided he had no interest in going back when we had bought the tickets. Our tickets were for 9:00 this morning – which seemed awfully early when I realized that meant we would have to be up by 6:00 and on the road by 8:00.

Last night I was like a little kid on Christmas Eve I was so excited, and this morning, despite not going to sleep until 11:30, I bounced right out of bed.

While we were waiting on my parents to pick us up, I tried to get the kids to practice their Egyptian poses. Connor was having one of those mornings and declared, “You can’t make me.” Those actor types! Sigh. Chelsea, on the other hand, was more than game.

Right at 8:00 we were on our way to Tutlanta (as the marketing campaign has dubbed our city). Luckily there was no traffic (one of the reasons we opted for early morning Sunday tickets) and soon we were pulling into the Atlanta Civic Center.

Upon entering the lobby we were immersed in the splendor of ancient Egypt and the spine-tingling excitement of Howard Carter’s discovery.

Connor was still adamant that he would not be posing as an Egyptian, but Chelsea and I took full advantage of the photo opportunities.

Unfortunately the exhibit galleries had large signs posted prohibiting all photography and since there were about four armed guards in each gallery, I wasn’t going to risk being wrestled to the ground trying to take photos.

Upon entering the first gallery, there were large doors reminiscent of the doors to King Tut’s tomb that Carter found at the end of the staircase in the Valley of the Kings. A short film, narrated by…are you ready for this?...Harrison Ford placed the exhibit into a historical context. Chelsea said it best when she leaned over and whispered, “It’s two of your favorite things – ancient Egypt and Harrison Ford.” I was so thrilled because who would have thought of all possible narrators it would be him??? I think I was bouncing on the tips of my toes I was so excited, and my dad had to say, “I think Jackie is the most excited one of us.”

After the film, the doors opened and we went into the galleries.

One word: AMAZING!

The first part were some superb pieces from other pharaohs including a cat sarcophagus, statues, jewelry, even a toilet seat (which caused Connor and Chelsea to giggle). It was without a doubt one of the best collections I have seen. I thought it was truly precious that my children stopped and read and examined every single artifact on display.

The second part began in a tent similar to the ones occupied by archeologists on digs in the early twentieth century, then led into another film about the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. BREATHTAKING! What a dream come true for me to see in person so many of the items belonging to the boy king including his bed, one of his chairs, and even the gold finger and toe coverings. Included were the old news reels showing the opening of the tomb.

Afterwards we headed to the gift shop. Connor found two things he wanted, so being the brilliant mom that I am, I told him he could have both if he would pose for pictures. I would have let him get them, but figured this way I could get some photos of him.

Chelsea decided they should be pharaohs.

We made our purchases and headed for refreshments at the Cairo Café.

They had very pretty light fixtures there, LL.

Even the signs for the restrooms were themed, Brookelizabeth.

One last picture as we left, my very own ancient Egyptians.

Heading out of Atlanta down Peachtree Street, I was amazed to discover a giant statue of Anubis advertising the King Tut exhibit – it really is Tutlanta until the end of May!

So, here are our souvenirs. Connor wanted these little things that you chip away – your own archaeological dig, per se, and Chelsea picked out the alabaster bowl. I got a magnet and some post cards.

My own little archaeologists searching for the next big find.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

What a fun morning! Everything looks awesome!

Harrison Ford as the narrator???

Love the egyptian poses and am so glad Connor was "convinced" to pose as a pharoah.

I'm with Connor and Chelsea... I would have giggled at the toilet seat too.

Oh and love how many Disney things I can spy in the first pic of Chelsea posing. I think I see your lanyard with pins, a pen perhaps and a family photo? It's important to keep as much Disney around you as you can, I think!

 

[Happydog]

Hey the exhibit sounds and looks very cool. Great description of it and you have two impressive Egyptians in your family It comes here to the DC area in the fall. Nov 09. I will bring my two boys for sure. Of course the interest in Egyptian history etc. began a few years ago, with an unexpected connection. "The Golden Pyramid" Little Einsteins movie... if you can believe it We'll be on the lookout to get tickets for it. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jenjolt]

WOW what a great day you had Jackie!! I'm so jealous!! I'm wondering if I can still get tickets...spring break will be here before you know and I know Phillip and I would love to see that exhibit.

I'm so glad you had a great day and some really great photos!! Thanks for sharing your trip with us!!!

 

[Happy Elf]

What a fun morning! That looks like a really neat exhibit! Glad you had a good time!

 

[DisMomAmy]

A friend of mine flew from NH to Chicago to see the Tut exhibit - now I understand why! Sounds like a blast! That's great that your kids enjoy stuff like that.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I checked out the exhibit online today (read the whole thing). I can only hope that it makes it way to Boston in the next few years.

 

[MeMom]

Very cool! I'm glad you guys got to do that together.

Chelsea is looking more like a young lady than a little girl these days. Love the mother-daughter picture.

I hope Connor had fun with his exploring. He might go out on a real archaeology dig someday!

Thanks for sharing your fun with us.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Oooh!! What a wonderful day for you. I can't believe Harrison Ford was the narrator!! It couldn't have been any more perfect, well only if he had been there in person. I am so glad you enjoyed your day!

 

[KatGarcia]

That looked like a lot of fun! Very neat! I love the pharaohs pic!

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

That sounds like so much fun! I've been begging (well, maybe not all out begging) my parents to go to Atlanta to see King Tut this spring break. Needless to say, it didn't exactly work out. Hmm... I wonder where it's headed to next.
Aren't the Terra Cotta soldiers in Atlanta this spring as well?

 

[nts4wdw]

That looked like fun! Nothing like that comes to po dunk SC!