I Knew You Would Eventually Get Tired of Disney World - April '12 TR - Completed 2/9

[shan23877]

Sounds like a great AK morning. Love the pics of the kids holding hands.

Can't wait to hear about Fulton's. We've never tried it, but it sounds good!

 

[mirage0306]

Great update! Apes, gorillas, family pictures, hand holding. Sweetness abounds.

I just love AK. I want to go back. Like, right now. Just love that amazing theming. And hidden mickeys. Always love hidden mickeys.

What did you think of the honey chicken, BTW? Did you and Dylan split that or did you each have your own? I thought it was really good, but kind of heavy.

Poop on those parents who somehow couldn't guess their kid would step on a duckling. Poor baby ducking. And poop that they didn't care! I don't understand people sometimes.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

I am really enjoying your trip report, you have a beautiful family! I must tell you, that, because of you, I have now changed our May 2013 from Mother's day week to late April to early May as the crowds seem to be a lot lighter. I hope I don't regret it

 

[nilla]

More great pictures! We didn't get to Animal Kingdom -- but we'll definitely hit it up next time (next year we hope). Can't wait to hear what you all thought of Fulton's. We really, really enjoyed it (twice!). LOL

Won't be tonight, but soon! We've really grown to love AK. More on that later, too.

BTW, I'm now hooked on Slotomania. Too fun!

Great update. Lots of pictures and light on the dialogue - just the way I like em'.

It's how I trick people into not realizing how boring our Disney trips really are. But shhhhhh....

You got some beautiful AK pictures! Lots of great variety. Was Lilly in any of those pictures? She was still pretty small in December. I didn't look for her in June.

I think her head is in one of the shots. Not sure. AK is very camera-friendly, especially since it's closed at night.

BTW, I plan to read your TR soon! I fell behind on others. Including Katmark's.

Great update! Love all the photos.

So, you were too tired to ride the safari?

I'll clear that up tonight

Another great update! I was waiting!

Wait no longer! More is on the way!

Sounds like a great AK morning. Love the pics of the kids holding hands.

It's going great so far!

Your TR is next on my list to catch up on. This weekend, maybe

Great update! Apes, gorillas...

Say no more!

I just love AK. I want to go back. Like, right now.

Ok, let's go.

What did you think of the honey chicken, BTW? Did you and Dylan split that or did you each have your own? I thought it was really good, but kind of heavy.

It was soooo good, but it was Chinese food, which means we got WAY too much. But I'm not complaining. I like deciding for myself wheter to stuff myself.

I ate most, if not all of mine. Dylan didn't get nearly that close.

Poop on those parents who somehow couldn't guess their kid would step on a duckling. Poor baby ducking. And poop that they didn't care! I don't understand people sometimes.

They made the french fry feeders look like Jack Hanna!

I am really enjoying your trip report, you have a beautiful family! I must tell you, that, because of you, I have now changed our May 2013 from Mother's day week to late April to early May as the crowds seem to be a lot lighter. I hope I don't regret it

Mother's day probably isn't bad, but the time you picked is fantastic. You MAY see cheerleaders, but they generally don't get FPs and don't tour very intelligently. Easily bypassed

Ok, more updates! I'm on a roll!

 

[nilla]

To clear up some confusion from the prior the last update, I was NOT too tired to go on the Safari. I was too tired to WRITE about going on the Safari. And on the Safari we go.

(pause while I open Photobucket. No, not in the park. At home. Writing my Trip Report. Ok, Photobucket is open. Thank you, auto-login.)

Not than anyone cares, I have all of my MP3s on Shuffle in WMP right now. It went from "C is for Cookie" to a Misfits song to Elvis to something from Mary Poppins. Good times!

Back to the Safari-

What Safari?

THIS Safari!

I beat this ride to death in the last AK update, so here are some caption-less animal shots.

Lion sighting! I thought they just made those things up!

Wait, one of those is a rhino! Oh well. Speaking of making things up, we're evidently not on the trail of poachers. And something's missing...

Kind of cool that we saw Little Red earlier in the trip, and now, she's gone. The end of an era. An unnecessary era, but still. Can I get a drum roll?

These are good shots, but to be honest, it was like pulling teeth to get these kids to play the drums. I don't know what they had against fun at that particular moment, but they either got really shy, really tired, or really lame all of the sudden. They'd better get back in it soon, 'cuz Kali is next!

 

[nilla]

We ride, we get wet. Really wet. The people on the raft with us have their purses and bags protected in the center compartment, but our giant backpack prevents the cover from closing, so WET! Sorry!

At least they didn't have ponchos on. I am quite intolerant of the ponchos, as is no secret. We exit the ride, and the kids want to hit "the fountain".

Last trip, we laughed at kids who thought were in the fountain when they shouldn't be, but it turns out, it's all good! So in y'go!

The goal of this is not to get wet, but to get RIDICULOUSLY wet. But it's hot. I wish I fit in there! Emily strikes up a conversation about lost tooth status with the girl sitting next to her. One last shot:

I usually try to leave other parents' kids out of my Trip Report, but I swear this kid photobombed at least five shots in a row. I even tried to get sneaky and pump-fake him, but he was good. Real good. So he's in this shot. Congrats, kid. You're famous!

Gift shop stop, and I start going nuts with the camera.

 

[nilla]

Back in the present, "Happy Tapping With Elmo" was just selected by Windows Media Player. And I'm not skipping past it.

With the non-Dinosaur Big Three down, we decide to head over to see Festival of the Lion King. Nemo and LK in the same year? Insane! But we're having fun, so who cares? Great day, so far, BTW.

We get there by way of tree path, which is actually open today.

Hey, look - protection!

Not a bad idea. Falling metal branches (or whatever they're made of) are NOT Magical Memories! More shots!

Look, if you want me to feed you, you really gotta get away from the sign. It's so obvious.

Almost there. Look, it's the place we've never once stopped for!

Great theming, though! Love the Duck family

And now, onto the part of our show I like to call "We Don't Know How to Use Our Camera". Observe.

But wait, there's more!

Fi-uh!

The moral of this story is "Qua Harini". I don't know what it means, or if I even spelled it right, but we're saying it every 30 seconds now, so it must be important.

 

[nilla]

At this point, it seems like we really, really don't want to leave this park. Plus, we have time to do one more thing.

Kristin picks "It's Tough to be a Bug".

I'm a bit surprised, since this is sort of our Animal Kingdom equivalent of Country Bears Jamboree, but maybe we'll like it more this time. Dylan was scared of it the last two times we were here. In we go.

"Antie". HA. Hey Dyl, can you move that giant dung ball?

Thanks. In we go, down we sit, and Dylan is VERY concerned about the from-behind hornet stings. I tell him it's like getting poked with a finger. I don't think he believes me.

Decent show; better than I remember. Dylan jumped forward in him seat before the hornet scene, but I got stung. He asked a million times what it was like. "It's like getting poked with a finger." He's not buying it.

Alright, two more pictures before I go to bed. For real, now...not in the Trip Report. We didn't eat yet! Are you nuts??? Anyway, that pic.

Boyds! And that's all we've got for ya. Good night!

[POST=45719159](next update)[/POST]

 

[MEK]

What! I am actually up late enough to catch an update hot off the press!

I think you pictures are even better in this update than last. Wow! But I am so freakin tired right now, so I am going to look at them again in the morning. Awesome job!

 

[JeanetteK]

If you are hooked on Slotomania, send Dan and I a friend request. We're (or I am at least) friends with Kristin, so you can get the info from her.

Once again, great pictures and a great update

 

[krhst25]

As I was reading your TR I had Happy Tapping with Elmo running through my head- an oldie but a goodie! Great pix- looking forward to your dinner report.

 

[orangecats2]

Hey! You said two more pics before you quit and that was only one!!! Not cool man.

 

[nilla]

What! I am actually up late enough to catch an update hot off the press!

I think you pictures are even better in this update than last. Wow!

Thank you! I sure take enough of them!

If you are hooked on Slotomania, send Dan and I a friend request. We're (or I am at least) friends with Kristin, so you can get the info from her.

Sure will, but I'll warn you...I am NOT a good Facebook friend

As I was reading your TR I had Happy Tapping with Elmo running through my head- an oldie but a goodie!

You most certainly DON'T need a map to find the king of tapping.

Hey! You said two more pics before you quit and that was only one!!! Not cool man.

There. Are you happy now?

Would it be crazy to ask for three updates in a row? Heck no! Let's close out Day 9.

 

[nilla]

Alright, we're out of Animal Kingdom. For at least another year. Maybe more. I like to look back at the treeline and think, "there is a lot of crazy stuff on the other side of those trees."

So, how to get to Downtown Disney? Well, we could take a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge, then grab another to DTD. Yeah, that would be awful. Kristin's the "idea girl" again, and it's back to the cabs!

Cab after cab line the curb by the parking lot, but there's something missing - drivers. No, wait - they'll all just hanging out in one van. It's packed like a Volkswagen Beetle in a circus. They have some sort of decision as to who gets the next job, and soon enough, we're loaded up and on our way.

I did not realize how long the drive from AK to DTD is. But it's long. Like "add more o's to the word for dramatic effect" long. Looooooooong, I tell ya.

And our cabbie is quiet. Kind of a bummer. I like a talkative cabby, bus driver, etc. We're approaching the new Art of Animation restort - let's see if I can get a shot.

Kristin asks if I got it, but I'm not sure. It was a tough angle. She's a bit annoyed and asks for the camera, then acknowledges that I didn't get a bad shot at all. We'll probably stay here at some point in our lives:

FINALLY (all caps "finally"), we arrive at DTD. Unless you're at one of the Port Orleans resorts, this place is a pain to get here. And I don't like it that much. Concrete. Lots of concrete. Awesome stores, but I'm not thrilled by it. I guess when compared to other shopping places, it's miles above...and there's all the entertainment stuff we haven't done. So I guess I'm being a bit unfair. Alright, let's drop our hang-ups and do Downtown Disney. Now.

But wait, he has to drop us off first! Ok, another photo. We'll probably see this at some point in our lives:

Alright, we're at the end of the line! Out we go, starting this whole adventure off with a pic of the boy with a whole lotta flower pots.

We drop into the crystal place (forget the name) so Kristin can get gifts for our friends' kids - engraved glasses. I poke around. Hey, awesome castle! I wonder what it costs.

Whoa! Alright. That's about $37,450 more than I'm willing to drop on it right now! It's amazing, though. Here's more.

 

[nilla]

Apparently, our ADRs are at a time later than we're used to, because we have a ton of time to shop. It's into World of Disney next. Lots of "must gets" here, including a new antenna topper for my car. Nemo's the winner this year. There's also the small matter of me running out of shorts, and the more recently noticed issue of Dylan needed more underwear. It seems that some of what we packed may have fit him in 2006, but do him little good now. But there are NO underwear for a kid his age in this store. Unless you want to pay $30 for ONE pair of boxers. I was thinking more like $8 for five pairs, so.....no. I can't find shorts, either. I did find a "My Other Car is a Doom Buggy" sticker, which will replace the "...Monorail" sticker that I got last year. Kristin says I can have both, but that doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't people be confused?

I can't imagine I didn't take 1,000,001 pictures in here, so I'm guessing I didn't think you'd be interested in seeing them all when I was picking out shots for this TR. Here are a few:

But perhaps my favorite are the dead pirates.

No, I'm NOT letting you out. I don't care if these guys are glaring at me, while loading a cannon.

Once again, I am reminded of the fact that WDW does not sell guns in any of its parks or stores.

THe kids want to head over to the Vinylmation store, but our ADRs have finally come up.

In that case, the kids want to head over to the Lego store. BUT OUR ADRS HAVE FINALLY COME UP. Stop arguing with us! And you'd better eat, too...this dinner is not only fancy, but quite possibly shmancy as well. So be on your best behavior, or else!

Into Fultons we go, and either we ask to sit outside or are involuntarily seated outside. I think it's the former. Pretty nice out here. Emily agrees.

Ok, couples shots!

It's really not that fancy here, and far from shmancy. Comfortable. We get the first round. Someone got the crab and lobster bisque. Possibly me. Delicious!

I don't know the name of this beer, or where it was made, but it was hyphenated AND capitalized AWE-SOME.

You know, it would take you two seconds to look it up.

Ok, you're right. It's a Cigar City Maduro, which is a brown ale. I think there was some crazy vanilla porter or something that they were out of, but I cannot confirm that. But this was really good.

Wait, what beer are you talking about?

That one. In the picture. Here, Kristin will point it out for you.

***SIDEBAR***

Right now as I'm typing this, I'm listening to "Mickey's Dance Party". Now, I'm sure when they made this back in 2000, no one involved said, "this will age about as well as Mickey Mouse Disney". But it did. And that's not a good thing. Unless you find it hilarious, which I do. So it's not a complete failure, I guess.

 

[nilla]

Back to our story. While we're waiting for the main course, how about some atmosphere shots?

Our weapons are issued.

Now, there's NO WAY Dylan's going to eat seafood, so we get him a Filet instead. He's not thrilled. We'll remember this moment in 7 years, when you want a Filet, and we make you get grilled cheese. It was really, really good though. What a waste!

He didn't hate it, but certainly didn't love it, either. Em when Mac & Cheese, again.

Kristin and I went for the whole lobster deal, which I've never done before. I think she did in Maine, but does not remember how. No worries - our waitress is from Louisiana, so we're experts soon enough. Or we know enough to be dangerous. You decide. Here's what it looks like:

By the way, that shot was post-cracking. The lobster looked like a proper lobster when it arrived at our table. We both prefer crab to lobster, but this was a really good lobster. Sort of odd that crab fans would get lobster at a crab place, no? But we're in Disney, and it's my unbirthday, so anything goes!

What rhymes with "goes"? How about...

We're really reaching in this TR anymore, aren't we? Never mind - dessert!

Hold on, I thought I saw crab legs in that photo? What are you hiding?

I'm sorry. I overlooked that. And I've only had one glass of wine so far. Our meal was Louis Fulton's Ultimate Crab and Lobster Experience - Two whole pound and a quarter Maine lobsters, Alaska snow crab, Pacific Northwest dungeness crab. Please don't sue me, AllEars. I mean well.

The snow crab was fantastic, the dungeoness not as good but still good, and the lobster was excellent. Fantastic meal!

Dylan didn't do a completely awful job, so we cut him some slack and let him get the cheesecake.

But did you notice it was "to go"? He didn't do a good enough job. Gotta stand your ground, parents. Here's what I got:

I think it's a cobbler. Not sure. lauren_74 admitted in her TR that she does not take meal pics, and maybe I shouldn't either, since I never know what the heck is in those pics anyway. AllEars isn't helping with the desserts, either. Kristin got this:

Emily got something that was this:

...but evolved into this:

 

[nilla]

So off we go the Lego store.

What's that? What was your final assessment of Fulton's? Ok, here goes.

It was delicious. The setting was fantastic. Great beer. But we were with the wrong crowd. The kids just didn't appreciate it. I think it would be a great all-adult meal, though, and even a DISmeet location. Kristin and I liked it a lot, but tend to get pulled down by the kids' attitude toward it. It's why my favorite restaurant in WDW is one where I can drink a lot of beer and watch guys in liederhosen play polka. You dumb yourself down.

I'd love to go back there when the kids are older or not on vacation with us, but didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I do recommend it for people without kids, or with kids who are not a complete drag to eat with

Alright, over to the Lego store. We're there FOREVER, so I get lots of shots. I like the Ninjago guys.

And this guy:

Pretty crowded in here, but the girl at the counter says August is way worse. I can't imagine!

The kids are doing the "build your own lego guy" thing where you pick the head, body, legs, and accessory, and they're taking their time. But that's ok, because they enjoy this. And it's a neat store. Emily wants to buy something, but she doesn't really play with Legos - pardon me, Lego company...Lego BRICKS (once read a statement asking customers to refrain from calling them "Legos") - so let's see if she's really interested.

Oh yeah, she's interested.

We buy her some of the new girly Legos - sorry, Lego BRICKS - and head on out. It's pretty crowded down here right now, but we're on our way out. But first, I want to check out the sports merch store.

Darnit. No Disney-themed Vikings merch. Bummer! We stop into whatever this store was (this TR is really helpful, right?). Might have been the same store. I liked the theming, though.

Hey, Monopoly!

Love me some Monopoly. Kristin refuses to play with Dylan and me, because we allegedly "gang up on her". No, we just realize that you're better than us and don't like to hand you the game by letting you get the powder blue monopoly. Sorry. Alright, one more shot, then off to the bus stop.

Love that one. And the people in it

We reach the bus stop, which is one of the last ones down the row. The wait was a bit extensive, too, but finally, we're on. Looks to be a lot of conventioners on this bus, so naturally, I hate them. I don't know why - they haven't done anything to offend me, and I've been to conventions. It just seems like they're trespassing on MY turf. If you're not here for Disney, you're simply not worthy of Disney. I don't know how I could possibly sugar coat that!

Anyway, it's back to CSR ("he just missed the entrance!"), and off to bed! Emily wants to braid Rapunzel's hair, but not tonight. Not tonight.

Good night.

[POST=47181485](next update)[/POST]

 

[shan23877]

Fulton's looks great! (I'm pretty sure that Kristen had the Key Lime Pie). My DD loves both crab legs and steak, so we might have to try it. Is it a signature?

Great pics of the kids in the fountain at AK. Very cute.

My DD isn't that interested in Lego BRICKS either--unless we're at the Lego store. Then she wants all the girly ones.

Too bad there wasn't any Vikings merch. I didn't find any Cubs stuff there either. We did get sucked into 3 ESPN shirts though.

I finally had to put the Disney princess music on it's own playlist. Too weird to go from the Killers, the Beatles, the Stones to Under the Sea.

 

[JeanetteK]

You and Kristin had the same meal Dan had the first night we went there. I had the Alaskan King Crab Legs both times, and Dan had them the second time. Sorry you guys didn't enjoy it as much as you could have -- though I did wonder how the kids would do. If you ever find yourself there without the kids, definitely give it another try. It made for such a great "date" night for us. You know the food is great, just need to give it another try to really enjoy it. I'm glad you enjoyed the food though. The cheesecake is really, really good. That was our take-out dessert both times (well, Dan may have gotten the chocolate cake the first night). We were both way too full to enjoy dessert at the restaurant, plus on our second visit I said we HAD to go to Ghiradelli for ice cream. WHOA BABY - was that ever worth it. LOL.

SO - leave the kids at home and meet us at Fulton's next April! LOL (just kidding Dylan and Emily - sort of). HA HA

 

[2xcited2sleep]

You are on quite a roll with updates! I have had fun catching up.

Sorry the kids are not so fun to eat with. I think this and the Beach Club discussion point to a no kids trip in the future. Have you ever been for Food & Wine?

I don't think I have ever noticed the "hidden" Mickey in the walkway at Downtown Disney....So cool!!!