Hijinks & Shenanigans but not much Mayhem@The Dark Side+Disney:Link to DL/Hawaii TR

[JanetMom]

I resemble that remark.

Take your time on the trip report. We will all be ready and waiting for you when you return.

 

[natebenma]

Couldnt really find a great comic for this update, but since there are pictures of the Tree of Life, I am going to use this one. Which was originally intended for the Lorax (Seussland in Islands of Adventure) but who knows when I will get there???






After we had returned from our safari, it was getting to be time to use our Fast Pass for Expedition Everest. We skipped the trail and the always entertaining gorillas.


We were hungry, so we stopped for quick snack. Since we were not shackled to snacks only available on the dining plan, we picked a fruit and cheese plate to split ($5.49, bottle of water $2.50)





I think we actually stopped at a bench for a few minutes while we snacked.










Then we were off to explore the road to Asia:









Along the way, we stopped for a couple of Photo Pass opportunities at the Tree of Life
















And a few pictures at the Temple


















I really love the expression on Nate's face in this one. And that he is playing along with the "claw"





I think these frames are a really great prop for the Photopass pictures- they really add a fun new dimension the photos.







Getting Closer!!!





Next Up: Yeti Yet Again!

 

[natebenma]

Never Mind! I was able to weed out a few photos, so I got this all in one post.

 

[MEK]

Great PP pictures. I love the ones near the altar. I love the ones there that don't have people as well. Really cool perspective.

That frame thing? Do they just edit it in? A lot of the PP photogs I talked to in October didn't know a lot of the magic shots. It was odd.

That snack looks pretty yummy.

I love AK! Looks like you are having a great time at AK!

 

[teekathepony]

That cheese and fruit snack looks like a great one to hold you over.
Great pictures of the Tree of Life! I really like your PP pics too.
What amazing theming around Everest. I love the temples and everything. So much to look at!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dawnbu40]

I love all the photopass pictures! My favorites are the ones with the frame. So cute

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I love the babybel cheeses!! I get them at BJs. They are a yummy snack!
I could never get my boys to pose that long for pics! Lol they complain when I take 2. I'm glad Nate was a good sport. He is so tall!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[MickeyT]

Hey Dee. Don't post much but wanted to let you know I do enjoy your report. Loving the pic's.. You're a natural.....

 

[JanetMom]

Nice update!

You got some great family photos. Love the claw picture and they stick in goofy with the hand clawing too. The frames are a really nice touch.

Well done!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Those photos are great. Your sons are way more patient than mine-I'm lucky to get a picture a day (smiles are an added bonus lol). I do have to provide the sheep costume but I hit it lucky and found one on sale at the grocery store Play is on Tuesday so will let you know how my "non-talking sheep" does

 

[jenseib]

I haven't been there since they added the frames for a prop. I really want to do that one too!!!!

 

[natebenma]

Great PP pictures. I love the ones near the altar. I love the ones there that don't have people as well. Really cool perspective.

That frame thing? Do they just edit it in? A lot of the PP photogs I talked to in October didn't know a lot of the magic shots. It was odd.

That snack looks pretty yummy.

I love AK! Looks like you are having a great time at AK!

Thanks!

We had a really nice morning at AK. This is a morning park for us- we like to be there before the heat and the crowds arrive. Someday I will have to go back at night because it is so beautiful.

The frame is an actual prop that you hold. I have seen it in other peoples pictures at HS and MK, too.

The fruit and cheese plate was a great choice because we all got just enough of a taste of everything.

That cheese and fruit snack looks like a great one to hold you over.
Great pictures of the Tree of Life! I really like your PP pics too.
What amazing theming around Everest. I love the temples and everything. So much to look at!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

The snack was great! There was a really nice variety and everyone shared politely without fighting. There was no "I want the last grape" like you might expect with two hungry boys.

Thanks for your kind words about the photos.

I love all the photopass pictures! My favorites are the ones with the frame. So cute

Thank you!

The frames are my favorites, too. Nice to see something different.

I love the babybel cheeses!! I get them at BJs. They are a yummy snack!
I could never get my boys to pose that long for pics! Lol they complain when I take 2. I'm glad Nate was a good sport. He is so tall!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

We just picked up some Babybel at Sam's Club last night!

I think you have been around my trip reports long enough to know that I haven't always had cooperation from the boys with Photopass. I have endured grumbling and frowns and "The Year of the Tounge" in every photo.

The boys were really great on this trip, and Nate has turned the corner where he is no longer "too cool" to participate in stuff like this. It also helped that Mark was in my corner for this trip about the pictures.

Or maybe I have just finally worn them all down!

Nate is about half a foot taller than me now! Thankfully! He was always on the smallest size of the growth charts growing up and of course that was my fault!

Hey Dee. Don't post much but wanted to let you know I do enjoy your report. Loving the pic's.. You're a natural.....

Thank you so much!!!

I love taking pictures. I still have to take most of them "on-the-go" without stopping because the boys aren't THAT tolerant. But I am usually pretty happy with the results.

Nice update!

You got some great family photos. Love the claw picture and they stick in goofy with the hand clawing too. The frames are a really nice touch.

Well done!

Thanks!

I am so pleased that I have all of these great family pictures from our trip.

I added Goofy in there because he fit right in!

I love the frames, too!

Those photos are great. Your sons are way more patient than mine-I'm lucky to get a picture a day (smiles are an added bonus lol). I do have to provide the sheep costume but I hit it lucky and found one on sale at the grocery store Play is on Tuesday so will let you know how my "non-talking sheep" does

As I mentioned above, I haven't always received such a cooperative attitude from my boys! Hopefully for your family, this too shall pass.

Nothing better than getting a "cheap sheep" on sale.

Can't wait to hear about the play!

I haven't been there since they added the frames for a prop. I really want to do that one too!!!!

Aren't the frames really cool!!! I'm not surprised you like them since you do such a great job framing all your photos and you know how much it improves them.

 

[KatMark]

Dee, I am slowing catching up on all my threads so I can start my TR.

I LOVE your photopass pictures...they are great! I saw one photopass photographer with a frame this trip and he never even used it. I was a little disappointed...we enjoyed those in June and September.

 

[natebenma]

Dee, I am slowing catching up on all my threads so I can start my TR.

I LOVE your photopass pictures...they are great! I saw one photopass photographer with a frame this trip and he never even used it. I was a little disappointed...we enjoyed those in June and September.

Thanks for catching up! I hope you are getting current on your other subscriptions because I want to start reading about your trip.

Bummer that you didn't get any pictures with the frames. They are an interesting, and different prop.

 

[mickeystoontown]

You skipped the gorillas? Dee how could you? Just kiddin'. Gotta keep the family fed. Speaking of grub, the cheese and fruit looked very appetizing.

Oh the wonderful smiling face of a teenage boy. At least he was halfway smiling even if he wasn't playing along and giving the claw.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I approve. Gorillas are cool, but Everest takes priority!

Ah yes I so agree. I love the frames the PP are using. So much fun.

 

[natebenma]

You skipped the gorillas? Dee how could you? Just kiddin'. Gotta keep the family fed. Speaking of grub, the cheese and fruit looked very appetizing.

Oh the wonderful smiling face of a teenage boy. At least he was halfway smiling even if he wasn't playing along and giving the claw.

I know, we skipped the gorillas!

Sometimes I wish my family would spend more time stopping to smell the, um, roses, but right now it is ride, ride, ride!

The fruit and cheese plate was a perfect hunger-quencher to get us through until lunchtime.

I like the smiling face much more than the scowling one we used to see. And yes, he actually does have his claw extended.

I approve. Gorillas are cool, but Everest takes priority!

Ah yes I so agree. I love the frames the PP are using. So much fun.

Good to have you on my side. Never too much Everest!

You are the first person I saw with the frame photos and I was so jealous! I was really happy when the PP at the temple had one.



.

 

[natebenma]

The prototype of Expedition Everest:





In the last update, we were making our way from Africa to Asia so we could use our Expedition Everest Fast Passes.

We checked out the Kali River Rapids line and FP time. The line was 25 minutes or so, which was too long given our EE FP deadline. The FP return time window was around 1 pm, I believe, which would not work with our lunch reservation at Hollywood Studios. I sat out KRR on my last Disney trip, to wait with a student who didnt want to ride. I missed the ride again on this trip. It is not one of Marks favorites- he doesnt like getting soaked and dealing with that for a couple of hours, so that issue was solved.

So on to the featured attraction.







But first, a non-Disney, but related story. Bens social studies class has been recently talking about expeditions to the real Everest. This has really sparked Bens interest and he is now reading Into Thin Air. Bens teacher is trying to get a local climber who has made it to the summit of Everest to come to the school to talk about his experiences. Ben, on his own, not as an assignment, prepared a 17 page Power Point presentation about Mount Everest and recently presented it to his class.

Here is the wording from a note that Ben left for me a couple of weeks ago

Hi Mom, this is Ben writing to you late before bed. Someday would you be worried if I was a manager of an expedition to Everest, but stayed at base camp at 17,700 feet above sea level. I promise I would ascend slowly and wouldnt get altitude sickness

Man, I love that kid!


Back at Animal Kingdom, in the EE queue:













Lets Ride!











I love seeing this view of EPCOT, the Yacht & Beach, Swalphin and HS from up at the top.








Look who we found:









Once again, we survived our expedition to Everest and dodged the monster within.


Next Up: Here Kitty, Kitty!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh Everest how I love thee.

Haha, that's seriously a cute story with Ben.

And what wonderful photos Dee. Makes me feel like I was just there. Oh wait... I was!! But they do make me wish I was there NOW!!

 

[MEK]

I have to admit. I love looking at the ride from the back of the train. Definitely a new perspective. Very cool!

I understand Ben's fascination with the real Everest. I think it is remarkable that people can ascend to the top of Everest, especially those that can ascend without oxygen. It's remarkable. I would implode.

On one of our ski trips to Colorado we spent our last day in Denver. We went to a museum that had an IMAX and watched the most absolutely fascinating movie on Everest. It included footage from the Australian climber who died on the mountain but was able to get patched through to call his pregnant wife at home. It was so moving and so sad. I think it was a freak storm that came on during the descent. Such a fascinating topic - getting acclimatized, the different zones, getting up and down in the allotted time. Crazy stuff.