He Was Bitten, Bitten By The Bug! A Nov-Dec '12 TR **WRAP UP 7/26**

[captaindavidhook]

Osborne pictures look amazing. Wow they are so breath taking. Do you know exactly when they actually starting puttign up those lights? It must take a month or so lol I can't believe they made Dhs look so spectular. I have to admit that that Dhs is my least favorite park but seeing those pictures around cmas time, would defintely change my mind.

Do they play a ton of cmas with the lights flashing? Beside getting a pic with Santa Goofy, are there more characters dressed in Cmas themed outfits? When u hit Dhs, did you basically go that nite to see just the osborne lights and do no rides as well? Great pictures as well.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Osborne pictures look amazing. Wow they are so breath taking. Do you know exactly when they actually starting puttign up those lights? It must take a month or so lol I can't believe they made Dhs look so spectular. I have to admit that that Dhs is my least favorite park but seeing those pictures around cmas time, would defintely change my mind.

Do they play a ton of cmas with the lights flashing? Beside getting a pic with Santa Goofy, are there more characters dressed in Cmas themed outfits? When u hit Dhs, did you basically go that nite to see just the osborne lights and do no rides as well? Great pictures as well.

DHS has two of my favorite rides in all of WDW, ToT and RnRC. I can't say any of the parks are my favorite, or least favorite. I love them all for different reasons.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they get all of Osborne lights up in one night. I know they do all the decorations for the other three parks in one all-nighter per park, so I'd think they do for DHS too.

They have a rotation of 8-9 songs they play during the night, with breaks in between where a fake radio show talks about the lights, giving facts and history on them. Santa Goofy was the only character there, and this was the first year they had any characters at Osborne at all.

If you look to the previous updates I did I spent the whole day at DHS, doing rides all day before seeing Osborne lights at 6, when they started. But I did arrive that morning knowing I was skipping Fantasmic and seeing Osborne lights instead!

 

[Pluto0809]

All caught up!

First of all, yay for a possible trip in 19 days! Even though I just came back, i'm jealous.

So glad that you got some good news on Sweetie. As for the UTI, hopefully the new medicine will clear it up. My Eddie gets those all the time and sometimes needs two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

Your Pooh from the Animation Academy is so good. I finally tried it this time, I got to draw Pascal from Tangled. It was a lot of fun and I will definitely be doing it again.

I found the new Pirates experience to be very strange. I still haven't decided what to think of it. It's not something that I will be rushing back to see again that's for sure.

I've only stood in the Single Rider line once on RnRC. I watched people get in the standby line after me that got on the ride before I did. I think it's very hit or miss since it depends on how many single riders go through the regular line.

Love your ride photos for both RnRC and TOT.

That's funny that you went to Pizza Planet for both meals. I never made it there this time. I got extremely nauseous (to the point were I really thought I was going to lose my breakfast for a few minutes) on Star Tours and didn't think Pizza would be the best option. I ended up with Chicken Tenders from Backlot Express. I have no idea what happened with Star Tours as I had no problem last time.

The Osborne Lights are so beautiful! I found the Streets of America kind of boring this time without them.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

All caught up!

First of all, yay for a possible trip in 19 days! Even though I just came back, i'm jealous.

So glad that you got some good news on Sweetie. As for the UTI, hopefully the new medicine will clear it up. My Eddie gets those all the time and sometimes needs two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

Your Pooh from the Animation Academy is so good. I finally tried it this time, I got to draw Pascal from Tangled. It was a lot of fun and I will definitely be doing it again.

I found the new Pirates experience to be very strange. I still haven't decided what to think of it. It's not something that I will be rushing back to see again that's for sure.

I've only stood in the Single Rider line once on RnRC. I watched people get in the standby line after me that got on the ride before I did. I think it's very hit or miss since it depends on how many single riders go through the regular line.

Love your ride photos for both RnRC and TOT.

That's funny that you went to Pizza Planet for both meals. I never made it there this time. I got extremely nauseous (to the point were I really thought I was going to lose my breakfast for a few minutes) on Star Tours and didn't think Pizza would be the best option. I ended up with Chicken Tenders from Backlot Express. I have no idea what happened with Star Tours as I had no problem last time.

The Osborne Lights are so beautiful! I found the Streets of America kind of boring this time without them.

Welcome back! I hope you had a great trip.

I hope this double round of Clavamox gets rid of her UTI this time!

Isn't the Animation Academy great? It's fun and you leave with a free souvenir that you created. And I agree about the Pirates experience, it isn't something I'll rush to see again or wait in a long line for at all.

I almost always do the Single Rider line for RnRC and I've never had an issue with the line being that bad!

Too bad Star Tours made you sick and you couldn't enjoy PP.

I'm sure Streets of America are pretty boring to walk down without all those beautiful lights up

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY FOUR, SUNDAY DECEMBER 2ND, PART ONE

*** Before I start this day I realized I forgot something important at the end of the previous day. As I was walking out of DHS I text Steve to ask him if he had gotten everything done that day, and was going to be able to join me the next day. He text me back that some buddies of his had taken him out (his birthday was that Monday) and he would text me a little later about it. He never text me. ***

I “woke up” around 7am on Sunday. I put that in quotations as I barely slept all night and finally got up when the wake-up call came thru at 7. I was really dragging that morning and finally finished my shower and ate a granola bar then made it to the bus stop at 8:24am. I was going here today:

I had just missed the bus and another one didn’t come until 8:44am. But at least the weather was nice while I waited!

The bus was full but not packed, and we pulled up to AK at 8:59am. I walked quickly to the entrance, though I did take a couple pictures on the way in.

I made it right thru the gates and headed to Discovery Island. I took a quick picture of the Tree of Life and some birds hanging out on the structures. No stopping though as I wanted to get to my first destination quickly!

Anyone who has read my previous PTR/TR can probably guess where I headed first. But if you don’t know I’ll show you my route!

I was headed to Kilimanjaro Safari! I got a Fastpass for later and then got in line. The sign said this:

But it was wrong as I walked right on. My guide was Carl and he was very good. Funny and full of knowledge on the attraction and species of animals. This next part will be mostly pictures so enjoy, and if you have any questions about the animals in them, ask! I’m pretty darn knowledgeable about them too!

This next picture is hilarious, in that it turned out like this. I took four pictures of this particular Patterson’s Eland on this ride, and every single one turned out with these streaks of light across them. They looked fine on my display before I hit the button to actually take it, but turned out with the streaks each time. But I’m posting it anyway!

The giraffes were very close to the trail so we got lots of great pictures.

And more animal pictures!

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

And more animal pictures!

Uh Oh, time to cross the rickety bridge, only held together with some ropes!

Thank goodness we made it across in one piece, even though it got a bit shaky for a second. And on the other side were some elephants, including babies!

And then some flamingos. The second picture was me trying to be artsy with their reflections!

Then the big cats that are on the safari. They were all feeling very sleepy still!

The warthog with her babies.

Ibex

And the new ending with the zebras.

Do you know how to tell if a zebra is black with white stripes, or white with black stripes? Look at theie muzzle/nose area! What color that is shows what color they are. This breed of zebra is black with white stripes!

I exited the safari and walked thru the exit line. Where to go to next??


NEXT TIME: SHE HAS A BUCKET ON HER HEAD!!



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[Pluto0809]

Awesome pictures of the animals as usual! I particularly like the one that's a little blurry with the deer creature rotfl2: yeah, still don't know the names) looking right at you.

Also the one with the Lion and his leg in the air is too funny. My dog Alex sleeps like that sometimes.

 

[SAT887]

Great photos!! Both my daughter and I enjoyed them Zoey liked your zebra pictures best.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Awesome pictures of the animals as usual! I particularly like the one that's a little blurry with the deer creature rotfl2: yeah, still don't know the names) looking right at you.

Also the one with the Lion and his leg in the air is too funny. My dog Alex sleeps like that sometimes.

Thanks, and that's a Greater Kudu.

When I was a kid we had a Lab that slept on his back with all four feet in the air. Ironically his name was Simba.

Great photos!! Both my daughter and I enjoyed them Zoey liked your zebra pictures best.

Thanks! I'm glad Zoey enjoyed them too

 

[ronnmel]

Those birds you saw close to the Tree of Life must be the birds we saw sleeping in the trees. There are so many of them!!!

The lion sure looks comfortable. At least his leg is hiding the part that would not be suitable for yound children to see.

You did a really good job with your artsy photo of the flamingos' reflection.

That's great that you had a good guide. I love learning more about animals, but I would never know what questions to ask.

 

[KatMark]

Stephanie, you got some great photos on the safari...especially of my favorite -- the giraffes.

Love your picture of the Tree of Life too. I always see those birds when we eat at Flame Tree begging for food.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Those birds you saw close to the Tree of Life must be the birds we saw sleeping in the trees. There are so many of them!!!

The lion sure looks comfortable. At least his leg is hiding the part that would not be suitable for yound children to see.

You did a really good job with your artsy photo of the flamingos' reflection.

That's great that you had a good guide. I love learning more about animals, but I would never know what questions to ask.

The birds are Ibis, and are pretty common in Florida. There are a lot of them in the parks!

The lion did look like he was quite comfy, and he kept my picture rated "G"!

Thanks! I think we had to stop there for a few seconds due to the truck in front of us stopping, so it made getting the reflection picture easier!

He was answering a lot of the questions that everyone asked. I don't think I actually asked him anything, but I know one family asked several questions and he answered them all.

Stephanie, you got some great photos on the safari...especially of my favorite -- the giraffes.

Love your picture of the Tree of Life too. I always see those birds when we eat at Flame Tree begging for food.

I got more giraffes coming up later!

I had one at Flame Tree in February, but it was being beaten out for attention but a duck who was standing next to me the whole time! She was cute.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

A little bummed! Just saw a thread on the TPaS board that the UK phone booths numbers were disconnected. Several people had called lately and gotten an error message. Someone else reported seeing a photo on FB of them actually being removed and on a truck, though that wasn't confirmed.

Does seem the ones in Canada are still working though. But sad if the UK ones are gone, as it was fun to call them and tak to people.

 

[Pluto0809]

A little bummed! Just saw a thread on the TPaS board that the UK phone booths numbers were disconnected. Several people had called lately and gotten an error message. Someone else reported seeing a photo on FB of them actually being removed and on a truck, though that wasn't confirmed.

Does seem the ones in Canada are still working though. But sad if the UK ones are gone, as it was fun to call them and tak to people.

It must have been fairly recent. They were definitely there on 2/28. There was a young kid in the booths and I stood there for a minute wishing I knew the number so I could call.

 

[mickeystoontown]

A little bummed! Just saw a thread on the TPaS board that the UK phone booths numbers were disconnected. Several people had called lately and gotten an error message. Someone else reported seeing a photo on FB of them actually being removed and on a truck, though that wasn't confirmed.

Does seem the ones in Canada are still working though. But sad if the UK ones are gone, as it was fun to call them and tak to people.

Jesse is going to be so disappointed! He got such a kick out of trying to get someone to answer.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

It must have been fairly recent. They were definitely there on 2/28. There was a young kid in the booths and I stood there for a minute wishing I knew the number so I could call.

I think the first post was 3/6 saying they weren't receiving calls. You could still make calls from them, but they weren't allowing incoming calls anymore. I think the FB post of them being removed completely was yesterday.

Jesse is going to be so disappointed! He got such a kick out of trying to get someone to answer.

Maybe they are just being replaced with newer ones or repairing those ones??? I hope that's the case.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY FOUR, SUNDAY DECEMBER 2ND, PART TWO

When I got done with Kilimanjaro Safari I headed next door to the Pagani Forest Exploration Trail.

The Black and White Colobus Monkeys were huddled in the top corner, but I managed to get one good picture of them.

Then the backside of the Okapi habitat you see while on KS.

I headed into the bird sanctuary next, and took a bunch of pictures. I’ll just post them all for you to see.

The pretty fish in the Hippo enclosure

Then my favorite part of this trail, the Gorillas! There were several against the window, including the baby. This also meant there were a ton of people there, so the pictures didn’t turn out great.

The baby was having a blast running around and playing.

At one point she put that green bucket over her head and was running all around. Of course she couldn’t see so she ran head first into the glass and it fell off. She decided then that it was a good idea to leave it off. I didn’t get a picture as everyone crowded even closer the glass when she did it and I couldn’t get a shot of her.

I went around the corner next to the outside portion of the Gorilla exhibit and there were a few males out.

Once I finished walking thru Pagani it was within the time window for my Fastpass for Kilimanjaro Safari, so I headed back over there.

I made it right to the merge of the FP and stand-by line and then it was a line. Not far at all, I could see the vehicles from there but it took about 5 minutes to get on. But during those 5 minutes I got a text from Steve. He apologized for not texting me the previous night (he fell asleep as soon as he got home, and I believe that as he can fall asleep in 2 seconds) and asking what I was doing that day. I told him I was at Animal Kingdom at the moment and he said he could leave his place in about 2 hours (it was 10am then) and stay until about 7pm if that was okay with me. I knew he wouldn’t get to WDW until 1:45ish and figured a park wouldn’t make much sense with only having 5 hours, so I told him I’d meet him at POP Century and we’d figure out something to do from there. He said that was fine so I sent him the address for POP, instructions where to park and told him I’d see him soon.

Since I still had a few hours before I needed to be at POP Century to meet him I got on KS. My guide for the second ride was a female, whose name I can’t remember, and was very good too. I was sitting in the front row with a nice couple who had never done it before.

Once again I will just post a bunch of the pictures I took with very little “talking” in between!

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

More animals!

The Patterson’s Eland was in the same exact spot and I FINALLY managed to get a picture of him without all the sunlight streaking it!

More savannah animals.

We got stopped for a minute in this area, as two of the giraffes walked right in front of our truck and SLOWLY crossed over. But I was able to get a bunch more pictures while we waited.

The baboons were next, and the baby was out this time

Then the elephants. One of the teenagers and one of the babies (there are two of each now) were right up at the water, but they weren’t drinking it, they were taking the sand around it and throwing it on their backs. A sand bath!

The flamingos were up next

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

The Cheetahs and Lions were still lying around.

Two types of antelopes (with Ostriches in the background of the second picture) and the warthog with her babies

And then back to the Zebras. Some were out eating, while some of them were hiding just inside the tree line, where I could still get pictures of them.

NEXT TIME: ASIA AND PICTURES!





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[mickeystoontown]

Love love love the latest updates! I could wander around looking at the animals all day long. I especially like the gorilla viewing areas.

I'm happy to hear that you'll get to spend some time with your friend finally.