I Paid Someone $5 for a Catchy Trip Report Title, and This is All I Got-Updated 12/29

[Big Kid]

Wonderful trip report. We are also big AK and AKL fans and so especially enjoyed all those photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jordanyosh]

I have yet to travel down that secret path....I think I'll have time on my next trip!!! Great pix of the tree!

Thanks for continuing to hype up Kidani... It makes me excited!

Where were those pix of the giraffes taken from?

 

[glennbo123]

Wonderful trip report. We are also big AK and AKL fans and so especially enjoyed all those photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, and Big Kid.

We still have many installments to go.

 

[glennbo123]

I have yet to travel down that secret path....I think I'll have time on my next trip!!! Great pix of the tree!

Thanks for continuing to hype up Kidani... It makes me excited!

Where were those pix of the giraffes taken from?

I know how you like to enjoy the park, relaxing and seeing all it has to offer, so I'm sure you'll make it down that path.

We stayed in the first "bead" to the left of the lobby if you're looking at it from the entrance. So, I think the first photo was taken as we were going to the elevator to go to our suite ("1" on the map below), and the second photo was taken as I was going down the hall a couple more "beads" to get to another elevator to go down and go to the pool ("2" on the map). The photo was taken from the hallway, in between "beads". You can see the corner of someone's balcony in the photo, so a savanna view room would be even closer than this picture.

 

[eandesmom]

I LOVE the tree pictures!

I really want to hit that trail on our trip....will have to look up exactly where it is.

One of these days we will stay at AKL and most likely Kidani. I hope to at least see it for dinner on the next trip!

I see your point on the squinting but the yeti pic is pretty darn cute!

 

[rentayenta]

I couldn't get enough Savannah pics either.

 

[glennbo123]

I LOVE the tree pictures!!

Thanks! It was cool to see it from that close.

I really want to hit that trail on our trip....will have to look up exactly where it is.

It's worth it for the neat view and to just get away from the crowds for a few minutes.

One of these days we will stay at AKL and most likely Kidani. I hope to at least see it for dinner on the next trip!

Yes, at least stop in for dinner and check it out. But of course, you'll want to stay there after that, so just realize that going in.

I see your point on the squinting but the yeti pic is pretty darn cute!

Aw, thanks.

I couldn't get enough Savannah pics either.

I know. You get home and realize you've got 17 pictures of pretty much the same thing. But it's fun while you're taking them.

 

[jenbear123]

I’m not exactly sure what animal this is (a horned lizard?), but thought it was cool.

I believe the creature in question is in fact an "Ankylosaurus" - an armored dinosaur

 

[glennbo123]

I believe the creature in question is in fact an "Ankylosaurus" - an armored dinosaur

I thought it was a dinosaur, but doubted myself because I didn't see any others.

But I'm not so sure that's what it is.....I wiki'd ankylosaurus and it appears to have a longer tail that it used as a club. I don't know.

 

[jordanyosh]

Thanks for the in depth info...can you request a general room location? When do you do that? Does DVC have online check in?

 

[glennbo123]

Thanks for the in depth info...can you request a general room location? When do you do that? Does DVC have online check in?

No problem. Yes, you can request a general room location. I liked where we were -- not too far to the pool or the lobby. I think you can make your request when you make your reservation, but I didn't do it until about a week before arrival and then I reitereated it when I checked-in. They were able to meet my request. DVC does have online check-in, but I've seen mixed reviews on it. Most people don't think it really saves much time.

 

[jordanyosh]

No problem. Yes, you can request a general room location. I liked where we were -- not too far to the pool or the lobby. I think you can make your request when you make your reservation, but I didn't do it until about a week before arrival and then I reitereated it when I checked-in. They were able to meet my request. DVC does have online check-in, but I've seen mixed reviews on it. Most people don't think it really saves much time.

Thanks so much for the info.

I think I'm on the reservation as my cousin is the DVC owner; just need her to call Member Services with my request, yes?

I was just wondering if online check in increased or decreased chances of 1) room being ready upon check in 2) getting requested area.....

 

[glennbo123]

Thanks so much for the info.

I think I'm on the reservation as my cousin is the DVC owner; just need her to call Member Services with my request, yes?

I was just wondering if online check in increased or decreased chances of 1) room being ready upon check in 2) getting requested area.....

Yes, the owner needs to call. Oh Wendy, WendyO!

It's just my theory, but I'd bet that online check-in decreases your chances of the room being ready early because the room # is already assigned. So, it's left in the hands of when the previous occupants check-out, when housekeeping gets to it, etc. etc. If you check-in at the desk they may be able to look at a list of rooms that are ready and give you one of those, if it meets your other criteria. That's my theory!

On point #2, my hunch is no, it doesn't increase your chances...much. My only logic behind this hunch is that I don't think a lot of people are doing online check-in so there aren't a lot of people in front of you for a particular request.

I could be all wet though.

 

[jordanyosh]

Yes, the owner needs to call. Oh Wendy, WendyO!

It's just my theory, but I'd bet that online check-in decreases your chances of the room being ready early because the room # is already assigned. So, it's left in the hands of when the previous occupants check-out, when housekeeping gets to it, etc. etc. If you check-in at the desk they may be able to look at a list of rooms that are ready and give you one of those, if it meets your other criteria. That's my theory!

On point #2, my hunch is no, it doesn't increase your chances...much. My only logic behind this hunch is that I don't think a lot of people are doing online check-in so there aren't a lot of people in front of you for a particular request.

I could be all wet though.

Again thanks for the info!!!

 

[glennbo123]

Again thanks for the info!!!

It is my pleasure, my friend.

 

[aprilisis]

Yay! I caught up. Awesome photos- as always. I am going to have to try to find that trail next time- I love the photos of the Tree of Life from it.

 

[glennbo123]

Yay! I caught up. Awesome photos- as always. I am going to have to try to find that trail next time- I love the photos of the Tree of Life from it.

Thank you! Since you're caught up it sounds like I need to get to work. Stay tuned.

 

[glennbo123]

After our action-packed day at the Animal Kingdom we spent some time at the pool at Kidani Village. I must have enjoyed myself resting, relaxing, and playing in the pool because I took no pictures! One thing I should mention though -- it was nice that they have a drink refill station at the pool bar. The kids always took their refillable mugs, and I “sampled” whatever they got. We stayed there until about 5:00, then returned to our suite to get ready for Judy and my date night at Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort.

I restocked my wallet with all of my money and cards and things, since everything had dried nicely while we were at the pool. Then we got the oven going so the kids could heat up a frozen pizza which we had put on our Garden Grocer order specifically for this occasion. We gave them some instructions, put Lauren in charge, and left. Our ADR was for 7:10

The last picture in my last trip report installment was of the savanna (giraffes), so why not the first one in this installment? Here’s an ostrich photo I took on the way out.

We made our way to the Polynesian by bus (to MK) and monorail (around the lake) and arrived a little early. I wanted to check out the beach area, since we’d be returning the following night to eat at Ohana’s with the kids, and I was thinking about watching the fireworks from the beach. So we walked through the lobby, saw the pool, which looked very cool by the way, and arrived at the beach. Yep, there it was all right; right where you’d expect. There appeared to be lots of room to watch the fireworks from there even if there was a big crowd to see the early showing (July 3rd) of the July 4th fireworks the next night. There were some cast members there taking down beach chairs, so I asked one of them to take our picture with the castle in the background. Unfortunately, it appears to be coming out of the top of my head, and I look like I’m slouching…must be from the weight of the castle.

We went back into the lobby and browsed in the gift shop. Then we mosey'd toward the restaurant. Here’s Judy admiring the lobby (sorry it’s a little blurry).

And our destination…

They were able to seat us right away. While we waited I took a picture of my bride.

And she offered to take one of me. I think this is the first picture she’s ever taken with my camera.

Our server was a man named Ratana, and he was great; very personable. He brought us out some Hawaiian sweet bread and macadamia nut butter. This was fantastic! We each had some, and then Judy stopped, but I kept going until it was gone. Afterward she informed me that she ate ¼ of it, so therefore I had eaten ¾ !!! Oh my gosh. It makes me think of a routine from comedian Jim Gaffigan, “um, you can cancel my entrée, I’m just gonna fill up on this bread.”

Then we ordered a sushi platter for two. There was a time when Judy proclaimed she would never eat raw fish. Then a few years ago I got her to try sushi and she discovered that she loves it. On this platter we have crab cake roll, tuna volcano, and salmon and yellow fin rolls.

Ratana saw me taking a picture of the sushi and offered to take our picture. Looks like I still had a little bit of bread to finish.

On to the entrée’s. Judy got the shrimp and scallops. She likes her scallops to be done just-so, and she said these were perfect.

I got the rib-eye steak, mashed potatoes, and broccolini. Everything was fantastic. Delectable. I ate every bite.

Lots of times we skip dessert, but tonight we were going all out. I got the chocolate volcano. Oh yeah.

Judy is more of a cheesecake fan. She got the white chocolate cheesecake. She was especially fond of the Mickey sprinkles.

This dinner was great! And I was absolutely stuffed. Waaay more stuffed than Boma a couple of nights earlier. I had taken it easy at Boma, with small portions, but ¾’s of a loaf of bread before a meal, will do that to you. (But I didn’t regret it. That bread was so good.) So we rolled out of there and just headed home. We were too tired and too full to visit a park.

We got back to Kidani at about 9:30. If you remember, the night before, I had taken some night pictures around the resort and my picture of the resort entrance didn’t turn out because the camera was left on manual focus. So, I retook the shot on this night. I really like this picture. I think it’s very calming. It is now my desktop picture on my computer at work.

Oh….and the kids survived.


In the next installment: The beginning of the end.

Link to next installment

 

[jordanyosh]

I love that last photo!!!!!

Note to self: don't eat bread at Kona or not 3/4 of it..

 

[glennbo123]

I love that last photo!!!!!

Thanks.

Note to self: don't eat bread at Kona or not 3/4 of it..

I'd do it again.