How to Get Married In Epcot... and Survive a 12-Day Honeymoon @ WDW!
- Thread starter lurkyloo
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mommyofthreeboys
DIS Veteran
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I think I want to try the parasailing thing in Sept for our Anniversary. What did you think of it? Was it worth it?
juliana_sd
DIS Veteran
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Ok there is a Disney Honeymoon Registry!? Where people buy you really cool things to do? How did I never hear about this!
LOL I thought grocery store sushi was bad... laundromat sushi... hmmm.
LOL I thought grocery store sushi was bad... laundromat sushi... hmmm.
SandraVB79
<font color=deeppink> I am a Jungle Cruise skipper
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PARASAILING?????
Haven't you seen Jurassic Park 3
No parasailing for me after that!!!
But I would like to know: could you see that ginormous NASA building at KSC from up there? On the tour, they claim it can be seen from a million miles away. We could sure see it a long time after our cruise ship left port, but still...
I like how your DH doesn't have any problems with pictures being taken of everything (although I still can't see them, ugh). The
I dated never liked that, so they had to go!
What do you think sounds the least bad?
- I want to change jobs because they are downsizing my car and I got so emotional over my car I don't want to work for them anymore because they want to DOWNSIZE IT! (this is basically the real reason I'm looking for another job)- I want to change jobs because during my last project they assigned me to a client that blocks most picture-hosting websites, and so I can't see Lurkyloo's pictures.
I'm not sure which of both reasons I should use...
Haven't you seen Jurassic Park 3
No parasailing for me after that!!! But I would like to know: could you see that ginormous NASA building at KSC from up there? On the tour, they claim it can be seen from a million miles away. We could sure see it a long time after our cruise ship left port, but still...
I like how your DH doesn't have any problems with pictures being taken of everything (although I still can't see them, ugh). The
I dated never liked that, so they had to go!That's fabulous - at the interview when they ask "Now do you have any questions for us?" you can say, "Yeah, will I be able to see pictures online when I'm web-surfing instead of working?"
What do you think sounds the least bad?
- I want to change jobs because they are downsizing my car and I got so emotional over my car I don't want to work for them anymore because they want to DOWNSIZE IT! (this is basically the real reason I'm looking for another job)- I want to change jobs because during my last project they assigned me to a client that blocks most picture-hosting websites, and so I can't see Lurkyloo's pictures.
I'm not sure which of both reasons I should use...
lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
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I guess I was pretty trusting going into it - I figured "Disney won't let anything happen to me!"
Plus, the whole experience felt a little unreal - like I was watching it on TV, so I had to think really hard to appreciate the fact that I was 600 feet in the air suspended by a tiny cable - so maybe you could do it if you just didn't think too hard about what you were actually doing! 
Hey, thanks! Another installment, coming up!
Mind you, I had a skewed perception of "worth" because I was on my honeymoon and I had a fat wad of Disney Honeymoon Registry cash, but I think so! 12 minutes seemed like it was an awful short time for the price, but as I said, it felt MUCH longer from up in the air. It was fun to try to spot all the parks and to figure out what other landmarks were - I kinda wish I'd had a map!
Yes! Just Google Disney Honeymoon Registry. It's a new thing - probably about a year old. People can buy you experiences like dinner, tours, recreation and even hotel nights (and some "things" like a Photopass CD or a gift basket), and the money all goes on a gift card for you to spend all over WDW. You don't have to spend it on the thing they bought you, but then it's really hard to reply when they later ask you how you liked the (fill in the blank) they bought you!
PARASAILING????? Haven't you seen Jurassic Park 3
Jurassic Park movies = SCARY!
Parasailing = Fun!! (I freaked out during JP #1, so I never made it to #3 - what, does a dinosaur go parasailing or something? 
)I think maybe you could see the KSC building, but we just didn't knwo what it was. Like I said above, I think they should give you a key or a map so you know what you're looking at!
Hmmmm... how about Choice #3: "I want to change jobs so I can meet some HOT Disney-lovin' guys who let me take pictures of my food!"
lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
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My journal entry for this day starts: Another frigging magical day!
It was Saturday, and we inveterate park tourers decided to sleep in for a change. When we got up, we took the monorail from the Contemporary to the Polynesian for brunch at Kona Café our first spontaneous, non-ADR meal (gasp!). I made DH order the Tonga Toast because Id heard so much about it (but dont eat bananas myself), and I had a delicious (Polynesian) trenchermans breakfast of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, macadamia nut pancakes, French toast and home fries. Burp!
Afterward we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian to buy soaps at Basin. DH wanted to use a special one during our trip so we could sniff it later and always be reminded of our honeymoon. Awwwww! Coincidentally, the one that smelled the best had a bride and groom in it! (Imagine my dismay when I eventually had to separate them as the soap wore down and pieces began to fall out, including the grooms head!)
From there we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and spent the morning walking up and down Main Street and soaking in all the theming.
The first time we went to the MK, I remarked on how loud the music was compared to on Main Street at Disneyland.
Hey you kids, turn down that $%&@ music!!
This time we figured out that they only blast it when a train pulls in, as if to say, HOORAY! The train is here! Again! Just like it was 10 minutes ago! Lets all celebrate by going deaf!!
I can tell the trains a-comin cuz my ears are a-bleedin!
We had time to stop and listen to the Dapper Dans, who sang a lovely song to me and DH and another couple, who were celebrating their 63rd anniversary! You can bet we solicited advice from them
Then we walked back to the Contemporary and freshened up. On the way we discovered a duck nest against the window just inside the door to the Garden wing:
While we were in our room, I called about a bounce-back offer for returning guests in September. Were such suckers when we were in Walt Disney World for our planning session last September, they hooked us with a free-dining bounce-back offer for this September. So on our honeymoon we took advantage of another offer to get a screaming deal on one night at the Polynesian when we go back in September. I have to say, though, that having that September trip planned already REALLY helped ease the post-honeymoon blues
Next we caught the monorail to Epcot, where we got to sit up front with the driver. It turned out he used to live in SoCal and worked at Disneyland, so we all reminisced about it. He said he wanted to move back.
In Epcot we hit the attractions wed missed on our commando day Thursday: Maelstrom (Please stay for the 5-minute movie, PLEASE! No wait, where are you going? Did I say 5 minutes? I meant 5 seconds. Pleeeeeeease!!!), the China movie, and Ellens Universe of Energy (Did we mention this ride is 37 minutes long? Thats right. Thir-ty se-ven MINUTES. There are no potty breaks. 37 minutes. All Ellen, all the time. THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES!!!! While youre on the ride, well be enjoying the delightful film in Norway... 58 times.)
Just so you know, I was purposely sticking my belly out in this picture
We also got to try out Segways for about 30 seconds each in Innoventions.
Then we saw a turtle in the murky water between Future World and the World Showcase.
In the evening we had dinner at Bistro de Paris. The honeymoon note on the ADR worked we got a table right by the window, where we could see IllumiNations!
DH had duck (tastes like Cheetos!) and I had yet another filet. It was good, but not as good a piece of meat as the one at California Grill or Le Cellier.
For dessert, which was not free, DH had apple crisp and I had peanut butter chocolate cake Id smuggled in from Sunshine Seasons. It took forever to get our bill, so we got to watch the park clear out from our perch. Walking out of France toward the monorail was a bit like being in Epcot for our wedding because there was hardly anyone around.
But we found everyone eventually they were all trying to get on the monorail like we were! It took us an hour to get back to the Contemporary, and then we had to pack because the next day we moved to Animal Kingdom Villas!
It was Saturday, and we inveterate park tourers decided to sleep in for a change. When we got up, we took the monorail from the Contemporary to the Polynesian for brunch at Kona Café our first spontaneous, non-ADR meal (gasp!). I made DH order the Tonga Toast because Id heard so much about it (but dont eat bananas myself), and I had a delicious (Polynesian) trenchermans breakfast of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, macadamia nut pancakes, French toast and home fries. Burp!
Afterward we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian to buy soaps at Basin. DH wanted to use a special one during our trip so we could sniff it later and always be reminded of our honeymoon. Awwwww! Coincidentally, the one that smelled the best had a bride and groom in it! (Imagine my dismay when I eventually had to separate them as the soap wore down and pieces began to fall out, including the grooms head!)
From there we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and spent the morning walking up and down Main Street and soaking in all the theming.
The first time we went to the MK, I remarked on how loud the music was compared to on Main Street at Disneyland.
Hey you kids, turn down that $%&@ music!!
This time we figured out that they only blast it when a train pulls in, as if to say, HOORAY! The train is here! Again! Just like it was 10 minutes ago! Lets all celebrate by going deaf!!
I can tell the trains a-comin cuz my ears are a-bleedin!
We had time to stop and listen to the Dapper Dans, who sang a lovely song to me and DH and another couple, who were celebrating their 63rd anniversary! You can bet we solicited advice from them
Then we walked back to the Contemporary and freshened up. On the way we discovered a duck nest against the window just inside the door to the Garden wing:
While we were in our room, I called about a bounce-back offer for returning guests in September. Were such suckers when we were in Walt Disney World for our planning session last September, they hooked us with a free-dining bounce-back offer for this September. So on our honeymoon we took advantage of another offer to get a screaming deal on one night at the Polynesian when we go back in September. I have to say, though, that having that September trip planned already REALLY helped ease the post-honeymoon blues
Next we caught the monorail to Epcot, where we got to sit up front with the driver. It turned out he used to live in SoCal and worked at Disneyland, so we all reminisced about it. He said he wanted to move back.
In Epcot we hit the attractions wed missed on our commando day Thursday: Maelstrom (Please stay for the 5-minute movie, PLEASE! No wait, where are you going? Did I say 5 minutes? I meant 5 seconds. Pleeeeeeease!!!), the China movie, and Ellens Universe of Energy (Did we mention this ride is 37 minutes long? Thats right. Thir-ty se-ven MINUTES. There are no potty breaks. 37 minutes. All Ellen, all the time. THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES!!!! While youre on the ride, well be enjoying the delightful film in Norway... 58 times.)
Just so you know, I was purposely sticking my belly out in this picture
We also got to try out Segways for about 30 seconds each in Innoventions.
Then we saw a turtle in the murky water between Future World and the World Showcase.
In the evening we had dinner at Bistro de Paris. The honeymoon note on the ADR worked we got a table right by the window, where we could see IllumiNations!
DH had duck (tastes like Cheetos!) and I had yet another filet. It was good, but not as good a piece of meat as the one at California Grill or Le Cellier.
For dessert, which was not free, DH had apple crisp and I had peanut butter chocolate cake Id smuggled in from Sunshine Seasons. It took forever to get our bill, so we got to watch the park clear out from our perch. Walking out of France toward the monorail was a bit like being in Epcot for our wedding because there was hardly anyone around.
But we found everyone eventually they were all trying to get on the monorail like we were! It took us an hour to get back to the Contemporary, and then we had to pack because the next day we moved to Animal Kingdom Villas!
SandraVB79
<font color=deeppink> I am a Jungle Cruise skipper
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I finally got to see your MK pictures.
OMG! and that's all I'm going to say!
The third movie starts with two people parasailing, and then something happens, and next thing you know, they have to go rescue them and try to avoid being eaten by dinosaurs.
I saw this one on opening day, at DFW!!!! Cool uh!
I like your reason nr 3.
Now I can only hope IBM will hire me and they have some hot guys working there (CV sent in today!!!!)
OMG! and that's all I'm going to say!
Jurassic Park movies = SCARY!
I think maybe you could see the KSC building, but we just didn't knwo what it was. Like I said above, I think they should give you a key or a map so you know what you're looking at!
Hmmmm... how about Choice #3: "I want to change jobs so I can meet some HOT Disney-lovin' guys who let me take pictures of my food!"
The third movie starts with two people parasailing, and then something happens, and next thing you know, they have to go rescue them and try to avoid being eaten by dinosaurs.
I saw this one on opening day, at DFW!!!! Cool uh!
I like your reason nr 3.
Now I can only hope IBM will hire me and they have some hot guys working there (CV sent in today!!!!)
Sleeping*Beauty
Waiting For My Prince
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Sounds like things are going great so far. And you keep getting really good tables.
tink1957
Proud Redhead
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Just stumbled upon your wonderful report today & I can't wait to read more
You have a great writing style & I have been getting absolutely nothing done today except reading about your adventures. The duck tasting like cheetos had me in stitches
You almost make me want to get hitched again so I can get married in Epcot
(been divorced for 10 years, no way Jose) I guess I'll just have to get my DD(22) to read your report so she will want to when she finds her Prince Charming
You have a great writing style & I have been getting absolutely nothing done today except reading about your adventures. The duck tasting like cheetos had me in stitches
You almost make me want to get hitched again so I can get married in Epcot
(been divorced for 10 years, no way Jose) I guess I'll just have to get my DD(22) to read your report so she will want to when she finds her Prince Charming
ProudMommyof2
DIS Veteran
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Another great post. You look adorable in braids!
stagemomx3
DIS Veteran
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More great pictures. I love the one of your DH with the troll!
olydizknee
Are we there yet?
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I love the update! The picture of your husband and the troll is hilarious. The Illuminations pic came out wonderful too-what a nice table. If I marked "Honeymoon" on my reservations, do you think they will notice I'm alone? I just want the perks!
I just want the perks!
Starwater
Mouseketeer
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- Jan 23, 2007
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Wow! What a fantastic, creative, interesting wedding. And great writing style in your PJ & TRs, too. So refreshing to read a more thoughtful (and, um, grammatical?) write-up!
On the side, when I'm not being a university student, I'm a wedding photographer (www.freshphotography.ca) and I've been shooting with film up until now, but seriously - looking at your Roots photos was definitely a contributing factor in my switching us over to digital (as in, next week - the cameras are sitting on my desk right now). There's no way you can get those colors with film!! (Or at least, not without using slide film or a lot of tweaking.) They're so beautiful! One of the best (possibly the best) wedding shoots I've ever seen. But though Roots is amazing (based on their site) and definitely have me beat, I think the pictures are as stylish and unique as they are because of all of the innovative ideas you had. Reminds me of what I'd want if I ever got married. (Muppets and Morocco included!) Or of the couple we're shooting this weekend who plan to bring comic books and fairy wings along for props!
Anyways, I'll go back to my regularly scheduled reading now...
And great writing style in your PJ & TRs, too. So refreshing to read a more thoughtful (and, um, grammatical?) write-up! On the side, when I'm not being a university student, I'm a wedding photographer (www.freshphotography.ca) and I've been shooting with film up until now, but seriously - looking at your Roots photos was definitely a contributing factor in my switching us over to digital (as in, next week - the cameras are sitting on my desk right now). There's no way you can get those colors with film!! (Or at least, not without using slide film or a lot of tweaking.) They're so beautiful! One of the best (possibly the best) wedding shoots I've ever seen. But though Roots is amazing (based on their site) and definitely have me beat, I think the pictures are as stylish and unique as they are because of all of the innovative ideas you had. Reminds me of what I'd want if I ever got married. (Muppets and Morocco included!) Or of the couple we're shooting this weekend who plan to bring comic books and fairy wings along for props!
Anyways, I'll go back to my regularly scheduled reading now...
honkytonkmama
Mouseketeer
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- May 24, 2008
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Ohhh I just found this post. Keep it comeing, you guys are such a great couple!!
lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2006
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I think the atmosphere of the Bistro alone is worth the splurge!
Oooh! Keep us posted...
It's all about the "honeymoon" note in the ADR!
Just stumbled upon your wonderful report today & I can't wait to read more. You have a great writing style & I have been getting absolutely nothing done today except reading about your adventures. The duck tasting like cheetos had me in stitches. You almost make me want to get hitched again so I can get married in Epcot
Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying the trippie! Be careful what you wish for - not every Disney wedding is as cheap as mine!
Another great post. You look adorable in braids!
Well then I'm glad I broke my promise to myself to ditch the braids when I hit 30!
More great pictures. I love the one of your DH with the troll!
Yeah, I'm not the only one who looks good in braids!
I love the update! The picture of your husband and the troll is hilarious. The Illuminations pic came out wonderful too-what a nice table. If I marked "Honeymoon" on my reservations, do you think they will notice I'm alone?
When they ask, just keep telling them your significant other is in the restroom. A well placed "He had lunch at San Angel Inn" will have them nodding knowingly...
Wow! What a fantastic, creative, interesting wedding.
Oh wow - thanks for the compliment! And how exciting to be jumping into the world of digital photography. I like your website - you definitely have a lot of fresh new ideas
(When I told the Roots I didn't want old chestnuts like the "bride peering over the bouquet" shot or the "bride and groom kissing under the veil" shot they were like "AWEsome!")Ohhh I just found this post. Keep it comeing, you guys are such a great couple!!
Aw, thanks!
lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
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Today was an on day of park touring but felt like an off day because Animal Kingdom is easy to see in one day. Everyone tells you this but I didnt believe it because we like to explore every nook and cranny of every park. But they are right! We had to get up heck-of early to check out of the Contemporary, check into Animal Kingdom Villas, and make it to AK in time for rope drop. Not only did we make it, but we were first in line at the turnstiles!
When we checked out of the Contemporary we discovered some people had added more money to our Disney Honeymoon Registry in the last few days very cool! Checking into AKV was pretty painless, but I was white-knuckling it for a bit because non-members cant talk to Member Services to confirm their room reservations on rented points. So at the back of my mind I had these what if the reservation didnt go through and we dont have anywhere to stay for 5 nights? thoughts until we actually got our room keys. Of course, the fact that we had a printed confirmation directly from the Disney Vacation Club should have reassured me...
We left our bags with Bell Services and left the O Mobile in the lot, grabbing a bus to AK. When they opened the turnstiles, we hustled past the row of animal wranglers they station just beyond the gates to distract you as you hotfoot it for Everestor at least the rope to the area closest to Everest. We did the patented Disney Im not running walk-run just so we could all go wait at another rope for the interminable park-opening ceremony with a truckload of characters. FINALLY we got to walk-run behind the cast members to Everest. We grabbed FPs, zipped through the line, and then waited a minute or two to ride up front.
Sweet merciful crap, is that ride fun! I know most of the other roller coasters inside and out, so it was great not to know what was going to happen next. The theming is, of course, amazing, and the ride itself is scary but smooth and it doesnt feel too short. Anyway you guys all know this already, but now Ive caught up! After Everest we hoofed it over to Africa to ride the safari probably the longest line we waited in on our entire trip at about half an hour. There were a decent number of animals out, but I dont know how anyone gets good pictures from those jouncy safari vehicles. I liked how long the ride was, and DH liked all the details, like fake tire tracks in the fake mud.
When we got off the ride we grabbed FPs for later. I cant remember when we rode Dinosaur I think it was next. I was all ready for a fun excursion to see dinosaurs with Claire Huxtable but then some jerky employee of hers sent us to right before the meteor wiped out the dinos so we could bring back a dinosaur for him to profit from. (Why an entire dinosaur? Why not just an egg? Wouldnt that have been a little easier to carry?).
As we were walking back through DinoLand U.S.A. we ran into a couple with anniversary pins on who congratulated us on being newlyweds, and the husband said This is what you get to look forward to in 14 years! I thought that was sweet and encouraging!
[Can someone tell me why they dont have boats going around the river at Animal Kingdom anymore? We couldnt get over what a wasted opportunity it was...]
We got to Yak & Yeti a little before they opened. I guess they were still working the kinks out b/c it took them a while to open the doors and a lot of the people ahead of us in line seemed disgruntled about it. We, however, were perfectly gruntled! While we were waiting to be seated we met another DISer in line, which was really neat. Its a small world after all...
We got to sit upstairs by a window overlooking the front of the restaurant.
The theming is really neat. The food is... well it isnt typical Landrysits better than Rain Forest foodbut its way overpriced and not particularly authentic. Plus they dont have a DDE discount, and their AP discount is a measly 10% off up to 4 entrees. Boo!
Overpriced Potstickers
Overpriced Fishsticks in Sweet Ketchup
At least they had another stick the mouse ears on a [fill in the blank] photo op! And well totally eat there again just cuz its air conditioned.
After lunch we hit the days most popular, most crowded showing of the Flights of Wonder bird show. They had a neat pre-show Q & A with a handler and this owl.
We got seats down toward the front of the stadium on the left. Whenever they asked for volunteers, we were shameless in our grandstanding (Looky! Lookit us! We just got married!) and DH got to be in the show!
Heres what it looks like when youre sitting on stage and a gianormous bird comes swooping down at you from the back row of the audience and nearly whacks you in the face with its talons:
Stoopid slow camera....
I guess some of the birds didnt do what they were supposed to at this show, but we didnt care it was cute! Afterward we got to meet some of the birds. They are too-cool-for-school and wont sign autographs.
After the show we walked all the trails in Africa and rode the train to Rafikis Planet Watch. I thought it was going to have lots of places to meet and pet animals. I like to pet animals! But all they had was a typical kiddie petting zoo with nothing but goats and donkeys. Boooooooo-ring!
So back to Asia we went to use our Everest FPs and collect some more. Even on our second go-round we couldnt figure out if wed actually gone upside down or not, so we had to embarrass ourselves by asking a CM. Hee hee!
By then our Safari FPs had opened up, so we went trekking back to Africa (we wore a path between Asia and Africa that day) only to find that the ride was shut down due to animal difficulties. When we got back from our honeymoon we learned that one of the safari vehicles caught fire! Luckily no one was seriously injured.
We got some frosty chocolate milkshakes and watched the acrobats outside Tusker House. We poked around Tusker House cuz well never eat there now that its a buffet, and then we went to check out the animal trails in Asia. They were GREAT! We loved the theming of the tiger area especially.
After our third ride on Everest we poked around the trails at the base of the Tree of Life looking at all the animals carved in it and trying to find the otter exhibit. This turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the day because there were lots of secluded spots for necking!
The last thing we did was go over to Camp Minnie Mickey so DH could look for dragons. He is a fan of the idea that Animal Kingdom should have a land devoted to fantasy animals, and he heard about how they originally used dragons in some of the signage for the park, so he wanted to look for more dragon clues in what became Camp Minnie Mickey instead of Beastly Kingdom, or whatever it would have been called. I sat on a bench.
As we walked to catch our bus to AKV, we tried to call and have Bell Services send our luggage up to whatever room wed been assigned, but they wont do it unless youre in the room. Duly noted. Heres what our room looked like, only darker:
I was disappointed to see that we faced the construction of the new DVC wingit wasnt much to look at, and I thought the noise had scared all the animals away from our savannah because we hardly ever saw any (finally, on our last day in the room, we came back in the middle of the day and discovered thats when all the animals are out).
Also, the rooms in the main building are converted hotel rooms, so the studios are not as big as other DVC studios. And, as people have mentioned, there is not a whole lotta storage. Our closet was filled with a portable crib. We just lived out of our suitcases for 5 days.
BUT... you cant beat having real live giraffes and zebras and ostriches walking around under you balcony!
We had the luggage brought up and started getting ready for our dinner at Jiko. I had the not-so-brilliant idea of starting some laundry before dinner so it would be done when we finished. When we called to ask where the free DVC laundry room was, no one seemed to know. We were on hold for 10 minutes before we got directions to a laundry room, but when we got there we found all the machines were coin-operated. So we called from there to ask how DVCers got free laundry and were told just to turn on the machines without putting coins in. That didnt work, of course, so we called again and were told theyd send a maintenance guy. Ten minutes later he hadnt arrived, and finally I had to go keep our reservation at Jiko while DH stayed behind to wait. He ended up being 20 minutes late to dinner because it turned out wed been given directions to the wrong laundry roomtheres a DVC laundry room on the fifth floor.... And we went through all this because I feel compelled to do laundry when its free!
When we checked out of the Contemporary we discovered some people had added more money to our Disney Honeymoon Registry in the last few days very cool! Checking into AKV was pretty painless, but I was white-knuckling it for a bit because non-members cant talk to Member Services to confirm their room reservations on rented points. So at the back of my mind I had these what if the reservation didnt go through and we dont have anywhere to stay for 5 nights? thoughts until we actually got our room keys. Of course, the fact that we had a printed confirmation directly from the Disney Vacation Club should have reassured me...
We left our bags with Bell Services and left the O Mobile in the lot, grabbing a bus to AK. When they opened the turnstiles, we hustled past the row of animal wranglers they station just beyond the gates to distract you as you hotfoot it for Everestor at least the rope to the area closest to Everest. We did the patented Disney Im not running walk-run just so we could all go wait at another rope for the interminable park-opening ceremony with a truckload of characters. FINALLY we got to walk-run behind the cast members to Everest. We grabbed FPs, zipped through the line, and then waited a minute or two to ride up front.
Sweet merciful crap, is that ride fun! I know most of the other roller coasters inside and out, so it was great not to know what was going to happen next. The theming is, of course, amazing, and the ride itself is scary but smooth and it doesnt feel too short. Anyway you guys all know this already, but now Ive caught up! After Everest we hoofed it over to Africa to ride the safari probably the longest line we waited in on our entire trip at about half an hour. There were a decent number of animals out, but I dont know how anyone gets good pictures from those jouncy safari vehicles. I liked how long the ride was, and DH liked all the details, like fake tire tracks in the fake mud.
When we got off the ride we grabbed FPs for later. I cant remember when we rode Dinosaur I think it was next. I was all ready for a fun excursion to see dinosaurs with Claire Huxtable but then some jerky employee of hers sent us to right before the meteor wiped out the dinos so we could bring back a dinosaur for him to profit from. (Why an entire dinosaur? Why not just an egg? Wouldnt that have been a little easier to carry?).
As we were walking back through DinoLand U.S.A. we ran into a couple with anniversary pins on who congratulated us on being newlyweds, and the husband said This is what you get to look forward to in 14 years! I thought that was sweet and encouraging!
[Can someone tell me why they dont have boats going around the river at Animal Kingdom anymore? We couldnt get over what a wasted opportunity it was...]
We got to Yak & Yeti a little before they opened. I guess they were still working the kinks out b/c it took them a while to open the doors and a lot of the people ahead of us in line seemed disgruntled about it. We, however, were perfectly gruntled! While we were waiting to be seated we met another DISer in line, which was really neat. Its a small world after all...
We got to sit upstairs by a window overlooking the front of the restaurant.
The theming is really neat. The food is... well it isnt typical Landrysits better than Rain Forest foodbut its way overpriced and not particularly authentic. Plus they dont have a DDE discount, and their AP discount is a measly 10% off up to 4 entrees. Boo!
Overpriced Potstickers
Overpriced Fishsticks in Sweet Ketchup
At least they had another stick the mouse ears on a [fill in the blank] photo op! And well totally eat there again just cuz its air conditioned.
After lunch we hit the days most popular, most crowded showing of the Flights of Wonder bird show. They had a neat pre-show Q & A with a handler and this owl.
We got seats down toward the front of the stadium on the left. Whenever they asked for volunteers, we were shameless in our grandstanding (Looky! Lookit us! We just got married!) and DH got to be in the show!
Heres what it looks like when youre sitting on stage and a gianormous bird comes swooping down at you from the back row of the audience and nearly whacks you in the face with its talons:
Stoopid slow camera....
I guess some of the birds didnt do what they were supposed to at this show, but we didnt care it was cute! Afterward we got to meet some of the birds. They are too-cool-for-school and wont sign autographs.
After the show we walked all the trails in Africa and rode the train to Rafikis Planet Watch. I thought it was going to have lots of places to meet and pet animals. I like to pet animals! But all they had was a typical kiddie petting zoo with nothing but goats and donkeys. Boooooooo-ring!
So back to Asia we went to use our Everest FPs and collect some more. Even on our second go-round we couldnt figure out if wed actually gone upside down or not, so we had to embarrass ourselves by asking a CM. Hee hee!
By then our Safari FPs had opened up, so we went trekking back to Africa (we wore a path between Asia and Africa that day) only to find that the ride was shut down due to animal difficulties. When we got back from our honeymoon we learned that one of the safari vehicles caught fire! Luckily no one was seriously injured.
We got some frosty chocolate milkshakes and watched the acrobats outside Tusker House. We poked around Tusker House cuz well never eat there now that its a buffet, and then we went to check out the animal trails in Asia. They were GREAT! We loved the theming of the tiger area especially.
After our third ride on Everest we poked around the trails at the base of the Tree of Life looking at all the animals carved in it and trying to find the otter exhibit. This turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the day because there were lots of secluded spots for necking!
The last thing we did was go over to Camp Minnie Mickey so DH could look for dragons. He is a fan of the idea that Animal Kingdom should have a land devoted to fantasy animals, and he heard about how they originally used dragons in some of the signage for the park, so he wanted to look for more dragon clues in what became Camp Minnie Mickey instead of Beastly Kingdom, or whatever it would have been called. I sat on a bench.
As we walked to catch our bus to AKV, we tried to call and have Bell Services send our luggage up to whatever room wed been assigned, but they wont do it unless youre in the room. Duly noted. Heres what our room looked like, only darker:
I was disappointed to see that we faced the construction of the new DVC wingit wasnt much to look at, and I thought the noise had scared all the animals away from our savannah because we hardly ever saw any (finally, on our last day in the room, we came back in the middle of the day and discovered thats when all the animals are out).
Also, the rooms in the main building are converted hotel rooms, so the studios are not as big as other DVC studios. And, as people have mentioned, there is not a whole lotta storage. Our closet was filled with a portable crib. We just lived out of our suitcases for 5 days.
BUT... you cant beat having real live giraffes and zebras and ostriches walking around under you balcony!
We had the luggage brought up and started getting ready for our dinner at Jiko. I had the not-so-brilliant idea of starting some laundry before dinner so it would be done when we finished. When we called to ask where the free DVC laundry room was, no one seemed to know. We were on hold for 10 minutes before we got directions to a laundry room, but when we got there we found all the machines were coin-operated. So we called from there to ask how DVCers got free laundry and were told just to turn on the machines without putting coins in. That didnt work, of course, so we called again and were told theyd send a maintenance guy. Ten minutes later he hadnt arrived, and finally I had to go keep our reservation at Jiko while DH stayed behind to wait. He ended up being 20 minutes late to dinner because it turned out wed been given directions to the wrong laundry roomtheres a DVC laundry room on the fifth floor.... And we went through all this because I feel compelled to do laundry when its free!
lurkyloo
The Attic was just perfect!
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2006
- Messages
- 15,683
Our dinner at Jiko, when we finally got to eat it, was amazing. Id been waiting years to try the filet with macaroni and cheese, and it was fantasticbut DHs sturgeon was even better!
Also, they gave us a really sweet card signed by all the servers to congratulate us on our wedding. And we got free pistachio creme brulee. Im not a big fan of pistachio flavoring so I skipped it and cut into our cake topper for dessert instead. Heres how it went (note the addition of ice cream!).
Im not sure what happened here I guess I popped the top off and then put it back on? I dunno... I just needed cake and it wasnt happening fast enough!
Up next, my first-ever trip to MGM/Hollywood Studios!
Also, they gave us a really sweet card signed by all the servers to congratulate us on our wedding. And we got free pistachio creme brulee. Im not a big fan of pistachio flavoring so I skipped it and cut into our cake topper for dessert instead. Heres how it went (note the addition of ice cream!).
Im not sure what happened here I guess I popped the top off and then put it back on? I dunno... I just needed cake and it wasnt happening fast enough!
Up next, my first-ever trip to MGM/Hollywood Studios!
Kimberly815
DIS Veteran<br><font color=green>you can call us M
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
- Messages
- 2,302
Hi lurkyloo! I am loving your trip report! What a beautiful wedding! Congratulations!
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