Heat, humidity and a great Mother/Daughter trip! A May TR **TR Update 12/10**

[KatMark]

Don't mind me, just doing the double digit dance

for double digits.

 

[Pluto0809]

Don't mind me, just doing the double digit dance

I'll dance with you!

 

[debsters41]

Don't mind me, just doing the double digit dance

 

[mickeystoontown]

Woo hoo for the double digit dance! I know that you have to be super excited about being at WDW with your sweetie!

 

[Valgoof]

Yay for double digits!!!!
Is George getting excited? I forget, has he been there before?

 

[PhoenixStrength]

for double digits.

Thanks!

I'll dance with you!

You'll be there even sooner!

Thank you!

Woo hoo for the double digit dance! I know that you have to be super excited about being at WDW with your sweetie!

Yes I am Lisa! We cannot wait for this trip and are so enjoying planning it and preparing

Yay for double digits!!!!
Is George getting excited? I forget, has he been there before?

George is very excited Val! He has been once, but he was 4 years old. He does remember a lot from that trip, but most of it is things that have changed since then. And last time he went Animal Kingdom didn't even exist!

 

[afwdwfan]

Great animal pictures! I'm glad that you were able to spot the komodo dragon and get a little extra special CM interaction since nobody else was stopping there.

Don't mind me, just doing the double digit dance

Awesome! Congratulations!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY 3, THURSDAY MAY 22ND, PART 5​

After our extra long photo session with the oh-so-nice photopass photographer Mom and I continued along the bridge and into Dinoland. I don't know why I didn't take any pictures as we walked, but the first picture I have isn't until we started to walk up to Dinosaur to get in line






As we got closer though we realized everyone was walking out of the building. The CM said it was temporarily closed, so we talked about and decided to head toward Discovery Island instead. On the way we stopped to check out the animal exhibits as we passed them!






The crocodile. I have missed seeing this every trip before, so I was excited to finally find the exhibit!






A random crane on our walk






Then once we made it to Discover Island we found the Brown Lemur exhibit, which was another one I've never seen before!









The rare female mallard






And white storks






Flamingos!






And then the cotton top tamarin at the Tree of Life Garden!












Since we were there and so was a photographer we got some pictures in front of the ToL this time
























That butterfly one was another new Magic Shot for me!

We were getting very hot and the humidity was getting to where we felt like we were swimming versus walking so we had to get inside! One quick shot of the ToL...






...then we headed to the nearest indoor attraction.






It's Tough to be a Bug! Mom doesn't particularly like this one, but we were so hot we didn't care, we just wanted AC. Despite that though we still took pictures of the Tree of Life carvings as we walked through the line.












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[PhoenixStrength]

More ToL carvings in the ITTBAB line!



























Once we were in the theater I took a couple of pictures before the show started!









We enjoyed the AC, oh and the show! It's a cute attraction and we were glad we did it, even without the AC bonus.

On the way along the exit line I once again got more pictures of the carvings in the tree.












A waterfall during the exit as well






It was getting to be around 3pm then, and we wanted to watch the Jungle Parade since it was ending soon. We started to walk to find a good spot, stopping to see the otters along the way!









We first headed into Africa to see if there were any good spots there, and saw the cranes












There was nothing good there, so we went right back out by the "gate" for Africa and there was a good spot beside the ice cream stand there, so we stopped there. We also grabbed ice creams and waters from the stand to help us stay cool while we waited. Thankfully the spot where we stood was in the shade. Unfortunately it was a small space and everyone else kept trying to inch in and push us out but the CM in the area kept spotting and making the others move. We did wind up with one family beside us but they pretty much behaved.

Before too long the parade started. I took a ton of pictures, so here they are for you to enjoy!





















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[PhoenixStrength]

More Jungle Parade pictures!














































































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[PhoenixStrength]

Even more parade pictures!










































I really loved that parade, and I hate that I won't get to see it again. But I'm really glad we got to see it this trip.


NEXT TIME: WHAT NEXT?? HOW ABOUT MORE ANIMALS!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Great animal pictures! I'm glad that you were able to spot the komodo dragon and get a little extra special CM interaction since nobody else was stopping there.



Awesome! Congratulations!

Thanks, I was happy we saw the Komodo Dragon too!

Thank you, we are excited!

 

[Valgoof]

Great parade pics!! I feel like I was able to see the whole parade without the heat or people crowding me.

Love your tree carving pics. ITTBAB is one of my husband's favorites, but there is never a line and it is so hard to get him to slow down to look at the carvings. Every time I tell him I hope there is a 20 minute wait.

 

[debsters41]

Your parade pictures are amazing! I wish I knew what music to play, and it would be like I was there! I noted down your 'spot' in case there is some sort of parade next summer! Thanks again for the great update!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Great parade pics!! I feel like I was able to see the whole parade without the heat or people crowding me.

Love your tree carving pics. ITTBAB is one of my husband's favorites, but there is never a line and it is so hard to get him to slow down to look at the carvings. Every time I tell him I hope there is a 20 minute wait.

Thanks! Glad I could deal with the heat and crowds for you

Fake a sore ankle just before you get in line so you can walk slowly, Then once the show is over you can pretend that sitting for a while helped, and walk normally again!

Your parade pictures are amazing! I wish I knew what music to play, and it would be like I was there! I noted down your 'spot' in case there is some sort of parade next summer! Thanks again for the great update!

It was actually a very good spot! I hope they bring back an AK parade, I really liked this one!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY THREE, THURSDAY MAY 22ND, PART 6​

After the parade finished going by we let most of the people who had been watching it walk by too. Once the crowd thinned out we headed back into Africa, stopping on the bridge to take another picture of the saddle-backed cranes in the moat.






Then we stopped to watch these guys perform for a while. They are a pretty good band, and I recommend watching them for at least a bit when you go!






We couldn't watch them for too long though, because we had a Fastpass+ time scheduled and we were getting near the end of our window! What was our FP+ for? Kilimanjaro Safari of course!






We scanned our Magic Bands then quickly walked up past the not-very-long standby line and were on a truck quite quickly. We only waited a minute for the warden to clear us...






...then we entered the park! First up, the Okapi






We got a treat next as a truck with a CM was there to put out some food for the Kudu and Bongo. They can be hard to see in the trees, or at least hard to get pictures of! The Kudu must have known that CM though as they came down to greet them.












Next up were the hippos, pelicans and Nile Crocodiles!












...then a couple of pretty scenery pictures!









Once in the savannah I saw Water Buck, Ankole Cattle and Wildebeest


















And some pictures of the giraffes for Kathy, including an amazing headless giraffe!












Okay, maybe it isn't actually headless, but there is no visible head in that picture at least!

The last animal I got to see on the savannah was a lounging Patterson's Eland






There was a bull elephant in the first elephant field we came to









And we went over the oh-so-safe bridge to try to find more. The bridge didn't move this time, and I've found it is moving less and less often each trip!






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[PhoenixStrength]

There were signs of more elephants after we crossed the bridge






But sadly they were all in the back of the yard so I only got one decent picture






As we continued on our safari ride we got to see lots of flamingos then white rhinos















There was a Bontebok and some zebras ahead









And a picture illustrating how close to the roadway the zebras were, with my Mom's hands and camera as a bonus






This ostrich really was charging the truck, which was a bit scary, but stopped a few feet away from us






And then we came across some more White Rhino!









And then the newest area of Addax and yellow-billed storks












And a couple last pretty water spout and waterfall shots before our safari was over









Oh, and when you got off KS there was a construction wall up. Don't know why but you couldn't walk that way at all






We talked about it for a bit and decided that we wanted one more time on KS, so we got into the standby line. I think the posted wait was 20 minutes, but our actual wait was only about 10. Soon we were getting back on this:






Once in our truck we pulled up to the entrance and waited for the all clear from the warden. And waited. And waited. Our driver told us that there was a rhino blocking the road so everyone was on hold for a bit until it moved and they cleared out the blocked trucks. While we waited she talked to us for a bit and told us some cool facts that I knew, but most people on our truck didn't. I did get to answer a few of her quiz questions too. After about 8-10 minutes of waiting we were finally given the all clear and we drove in to start our 2 week tour of Africa!

The okapi, kudu and bongo were all in hiding again, so we zipped past them. No sign of the Black Rhino either. But we did see some hippos and crocs again!












Back to the savannah, and you can see the number of safari vehicles was still high due to the earlier delay









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[PhoenixStrength]

Some more Water Buck and Wildebeest shots















The Sable Antelope had come into view since our earlier ride









And a couple more Giraffes and the lounging Eland once again












And the newly added Spring Bok were close enough for a picture as well!






The bull elephant had turned around so we could see his handsome head!








The female and baby herd were all closer, but heading in the other direction






More flamingo pictures!









When we came around the flamingo island we could see the elephant herd better, so the driver briefly stopped so everyone could get some pictures









When we came up to the cheetah enclosure we didn't see them at first. But we were stopped due to some delay further up, so after some searching we found the 2 sisters in the top, back corner of the enclosure. Good thing I have a nice zoom!






The lioness was out, but we were moving quickly and hit a bump just as I took this single picture of her:






I saw my friends the White Rhinos and a warthog...











...then an ostrich, bontebok and zebras!









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[PhoenixStrength]

And when we got to the Addax section our driver was surprised they were down next to the road since they are normally shy















Another waterfall picture and one of the shack to the left as you exit the vehicle









We exited and realized the heat and high humidity were just too much for us to continue walking around in, so we started to walk toward here






We didn't leave yet though, as there were the Oasis exhibits still for us to explore, and since they were shaded we could tough it out to see them!


First up were some scarlet and military macaws (perhaps the same ones from that morning?)


















Some swans and a big rhinoceros iguana were up next on the trail









Then the Sulawesi Babirusa, which is a creature I'm sure everyone has heard of!






And some Reeve's Muntjac hiding in the bushes!









Okay, so I had to look up the name of those but I did know the Babirusa already!

Last up for the day were an African Spoonbill and Black Swan












One last waterfall shot at the Oasis, and we walked out. We would be back soon though!






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[PhoenixStrength]

On the way out we stopped at the photographer taking pictures in front of the entrance sign









We walked over to the Caribbean Beach Resort bus stop and didn't have to wait long before our bus pulled up and we were back at CBR. We went to our room to start, but were quickly getting hungry. We didn't have a dinner ADR since we did breakfast that day, so heading over to OPR sounded like a good plan to us!

A flower bed near our building





And a shot of me on the bridge to Caribbean Cay






There were several turtles in the lake as we walked around it












And I took a picture of the fountain outside the doors to head in






I am pretty sure Mom and I both got the same thing, the roasted turkey. I got double mashed potatoes while she got mashed potatoes and broccoli. I also got a M&M cookie for dessert while I have no clue what she chose.






It was very delicious and we move really enjoyed it. I can't remember what we did after dinner, but I'm pretty sure we looked around the shop without buying anything. I know we then went back to our room and watched TV for a bit before going to sleep early, as we had a big day tomorrow!



UP NEXT: ANNA, ELSA, AURORA AND THE SEVEN DWARFS!!