I said Ohana, not Obama!!!! - A BFF's do NYE TR **UPDATE 11/4 Pg. 38**

[IheartDDuck]

Jumping on board for this one too.
YOU ARE SO FUNNY!!!!!!!!

Hahaha, glad you're here for this one too!

Joining in!!! That's too funny that you were leaving the Poly pretty much as we were arriving!!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

I know, how strange is that?! It's a great place though, that's for sure.

 

[__disneygirl]

You are too kind!!! Your TR is pretty funny too! Gibbon arms?

Your room at the Poly is SO gorgeous!!! I just can't get enough of that place.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Saturday December 31, 2011

So by some act of god, I was up and out of bed by 9am. That clocks in at about 6 hours of sleep. Which I know for a fact were not 6 hours, because I remember waking up several times during the night (or morning, depending on how you look at it).

It also didn't help that at random times during the night, the ventilation system made a sound like someone just ripped a big one. No joke, when it happened, I was eyeballing Farrell.....now, no need to worry folks, it wasn't such a loud noise that we had to move rooms. I was just so over tired, that every little noise woke me up on this first night.

Anyhoodle, I got up and got myself ready to go, washed my face, did my makeup and took a shower. I'm much more anal retentive than Farrell about makeup because I am much less beautiful than she is.

I woke Farrell up after that and she hopped in the shower. We were ready to go at about 10:20am. We headed to Captain Cook's to pick up some snackys for breakfast. My snacky of choice?

The beautiful chocolate croissant. Part the skies and say "aaaaahhhhhh". Hark, I hear the angels sing!

The night before, on our way to the airport, I had told Farrell that I had a concern about our evening reservation. We had a 9pm ressie for Ohana. However, we also wanted to get to DHS before midnight to see the fireworks. I knew Ohana was a huge ressie, so there were going to be tons of people there. I had made a backup lunch ressie elsewhere. I asked Farrell what she thought and she said that she definitely wanted to go out that night, so we should do the lunch ressie.


After our breakfast of chocolate croissant and bagel, we headed to the bus stop to head to the Animal Kingdom. No car today, as I figured the parking lot would be busy. So, I texted Megan (Tinkerbelluvr7) and asked her if she wanted my Ohana reservation while we were waiting for our bus. I knew she had been eyeing it. Hence the title of the TR (early, I know!). As I was typing it into my iPhone it autocorrected Ohana to Obama. Which prompted me to YELL at the phone "I said Ohana, not Obama!!!" Which everyone at the bus stop heard. I have no shame. Dang you autocorrect!

We actually ended up waiting about a 1/2 hour for the bus. Wasn't a big deal to us though. I mean, honestly, where else were we going? So we took this to bide our time.

And our view from our seat at the bus stop.

I checked my two wait time apps while we were waiting. Both of the apps were claiming that there were basically no lines at the Animal Kingdom. Get out of town! On NYE? Seriously?! I was skeptical, that's for sure.

The poor CM at the bus stop was getting really nervous now, because no AK bus had come. I think he was scared that everyone was going to turn on him or something. Run for the hills!!!

The bus finally came and in no time we were at the Animal Kingdom. As soon as we got off the bus, Farrell realized she forgot her sunglasses, not at the room. No, that would be too easy. She forgot them at home. I can't help with that. She said that she would be fine. I told her that I knew this place and she wouldn't be fine. So before we even made it into the park, we stopped at the store OUTSIDE of AK. *sigh* So close, yet so far.

After she found a suitable pair, we headed to the ticket booths so I could pick up my AP.

I picked up my ticket. Lo and behold, I got Donald! Shut my mouth and call me a Donald lover! I've never had a Donald ticket before. Ever. Ever. Ever. I was so happy!

Also, it's good to note that there was a huge sign up already advertising the hours for all of the parks. And said sign stated that the Magic Kingdom was already at capacity. At 12:30pm.

We finally headed into the park. I was nervous because this was Farrell's first Disney park. Would she love it? Hate it?

She loved it! She loved the animals that were everywhere. Phew. Nervousness over.

In honor of MeMom's Bella: MINGOS!!!

My lines app said that the wait time for the safari was only 10 minutes. Get out! I was again skeptical, but we headed over. Know what? It was only 10 minutes!!!!

DEER!

What a lazy bugger! You could tell the weather was nice out.

Farrell quote of the day? "Those aren't real, right?"

Ummmm, hate to break it to you.....

They're all real!

Okay, don't take the next picture the wrong way. This was HILARIOUS! They were two baby elephant siblings, and they were fighting with each other. The one kept on tackling (I'm not kidding, TACKLING) the other one and pinning him to the ground. Awesome.

So this ostrich. Let me tell you about this ostrich...

He was really close to the truck. Like, super close. Like, you could be afraid that he was going to snatch something out of your hand. He got mighty close to Farrell. I almost yelled at her that she was going to be eaten! He was that close. Don't you go eating my best friend Mr. Ostrich!

And, like any other man that you will meet out there....laying around while the wifey handles everything else.

Like keeping an eye out for crazy humans....

Farrell definitely loved the safari and gave it her seal of approval.

Up next: Where is lunch?

 

[IheartDDuck]

The Animal Kingdom was the first place the chickies took me to! Why did this excite me?

Because I would be rolling with my homies!

It was so nice to finally feel like I didn't stick out like a sore thumb! Although I do look kind of dingy next to these pristine white Yetii (in case you're wondering, the proper pronunciation for Yeti in plural is YetEYE).

But did we go to Asia first? Nnnnooooo. We went to Africa. I was ready to jump in front of a truck....which was conveniently located.

I also wanted to remind everyone of the warnings for this "safari".

But it all turned out okay in the end, you know why? Because I rescued the baby elephant. That's right, I rescued little red!

 

[IheartDDuck]

You are too kind!!! Your TR is pretty funny too! Gibbon arms?

Your room at the Poly is SO gorgeous!!! I just can't get enough of that place.

Yeah, my arms are obnoxiously long. I was going to throw in a Star Trek: The Next Generation reference, but I wasn't sure who was dorky enough to watch that show like I did. Data (Brent Spiner) had obnoxiously long arms that almost touched his knee. That's what mine are kind of like.

I can't get enough of the Poly either. I didn't want to leave.

 

[jecskc]

It was so great that AK wasn't super crowded for Farrell that day.

I am with you on the chocolate croissants. I am so glad you heard the angels singing too. For a while there I thought I was going crazy. Glad to know that happens to everyone.


And yay for Yeti saving Little Red. You. Go. Dude. Looking forward to more !!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

So glad they didn't have waits on NYE!!! AK is the last park to get full from what I remember from working there. Epcot takes a ton of people before it's filled too! Thanks again for the ADR! You would have NEVER made it to DHS since we left Ohana at 11:30pm!

I'm so jealous you got to see baby Jabali (elephant). I have yet to see the little monster!!!

 

[MEK]

So I just learned that if I am ever brave enough to go to Disney world on NY's eve the park is visit is AK. I can't believe you basically walked on the safari. That is awesome.

I am also glad Farrell liked AK. I know some people don't, but it happens to be one of my personal favs!

 

[IheartDDuck]

It was so great that AK wasn't super crowded for Farrell that day.

I am with you on the chocolate croissants. I am so glad you heard the angels singing too. For a while there I thought I was going crazy. Glad to know that happens to everyone.


And yay for Yeti saving Little Red. You. Go. Dude. Looking forward to more !!

I was really surprised, because I was expecting more crowds than there were (at that park. That doesn't prove true for the rest of the trip sadly).

I love the chocolate croissants! That and the cheese danish. Love that too.

Yeti was very brave and noble.

So glad they didn't have waits on NYE!!! AK is the last park to get full from what I remember from working there. Epcot takes a ton of people before it's filled too! Thanks again for the ADR! You would have NEVER made it to DHS since we left Ohana at 11:30pm!

I'm so jealous you got to see baby Jabali (elephant). I have yet to see the little monster!!!

I figured that AK would have been the best place to go. I know, after you told me how long your ADR took, I was soooo glad that we decided to give it to you!

So I just learned that if I am ever brave enough to go to Disney world on NY's eve the park is visit is AK. I can't believe you basically walked on the safari. That is awesome.

I am also glad Farrell liked AK. I know some people don't, but it happens to be one of my personal favs!

It really was the best option, for sure. You just have to go on NYE knowing that there will be lots of people. Anything other than that is gravy.

I was super surprised about the walk on to the safari though. That seriously amazed me.

 

[jecskc]

OK this is completely random, but I read on Lia's TR that your mom was from Belgium. So I had to tell you that I got engaged in Brugge. My DH ( just boyfriend at the time) was working in Rotterdam for several months and I went over to visit. We took an overnight trip to Brugge and it was just beautiful. And I still have dreams about the chocolate shops. Anyway, enjoy your trip over there. Get up to see Kokkenhoff while you are in the Netherlands if you can. Beautiful country up there.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Mmmm your chocolate croissant looks amazing!! I have to say, I agree with you about the loud ventilation system in Tokelau. Every time we'd run it, I'd be like "okay, when is this going to stop, it's so loud!!" .

That's so awesome that AK was so empty!! Definitely the perfect park choice!

 

[teekathepony]

You go yeti! Good for you rescuing that baby elephant!

Great Animal Kingdom day! So glad Farrell enjoyed her very first ever Disney park!

 

[IheartDDuck]

OK this is completely random, but I read on Lia's TR that your mom was from Belgium. So I had to tell you that I got engaged in Brugge. My DH ( just boyfriend at the time) was working in Rotterdam for several months and I went over to visit. We took an overnight trip to Brugge and it was just beautiful. And I still have dreams about the chocolate shops. Anyway, enjoy your trip over there. Get up to see Kokkenhoff while you are in the Netherlands if you can. Beautiful country up there.

How awesome that you were engaged in Brugge! We visited there in September 2010 and I agree it was just beautiful. We bought the majority of our chocolate there based on the recommendations of our family. I mean, if people that live there say it's the best chocolate, then it has to be.

My mom was actually born and raised in Antwerp, so we had a little bit of a drive to Brugge, but not too bad. I just love it there. So beautiful and everyone is so nice.

Mmmm your chocolate croissant looks amazing!! I have to say, I agree with you about the loud ventilation system in Tokelau. Every time we'd run it, I'd be like "okay, when is this going to stop, it's so loud!!" .

That's so awesome that AK was so empty!! Definitely the perfect park choice!

OMG, you were in Tokelau too?! The similarities just keep going, don't they.

You go yeti! Good for you rescuing that baby elephant!

Great Animal Kingdom day! So glad Farrell enjoyed her very first ever Disney park!

It was a good start to our first full day.

 

[Kelliroo3]

I love the idea of telling Yeti's side of the story through pictures. So cute! I'll have to try that. You are so funny! I love the Obama part.

 

[Leshaface]

Great updates!

Mmm, that chocolate croissant, looks magnificent! Ugh, what I'd give for that right now..

It's pretty amazing that the wait on NYE for one of the most popular attractions at AK was only 10 minutes! Crazazy!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I love the idea of telling Yeti's side of the story through pictures. So cute! I'll have to try that. You are so funny! I love the Obama part.

Haha, having Yeti along creates an extra diversion. We just have to think through what he's going to do for that day. He's not always along with us taking pictures, but he is most of the time.

Great updates!

Mmm, that chocolate croissant, looks magnificent! Ugh, what I'd give for that right now..

It's pretty amazing that the wait on NYE for one of the most popular attractions at AK was only 10 minutes! Crazazy!

I would give a lot for any Disney food right now!

I was shocked about the Safari. You're right, it's a popular attraction even when there aren't huge crowds. I was just amazed we got on so quickly.

 

[Nermel9]

Great update! That's strange the ventilation system makes such strange noises! I feel like that might annoy me!

That croissant looks good, I don't think I've ever had a flavored croissant, just a boring old plain one.

Animal Kingdom seems like the place to be on New Year's Eve! That was nice that you gave Megan your 'Ohana ADR!

Glad Farrell liked Animal Kingdom!

 

[__disneygirl]

Wow, hardly anyone goes to AK on New Years, huh? Noted! I would think by noon it would be mobbed. I really REALLY want to go to WDW for New Years, it sounds like such a blast!

OMG those elephants tackling each other!!! That is so funny, I love getting the chance to see them acting up or doing something out of the ordinary... so fun!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Great update! That's strange the ventilation system makes such strange noises! I feel like that might annoy me!

That croissant looks good, I don't think I've ever had a flavored croissant, just a boring old plain one.

Animal Kingdom seems like the place to be on New Year's Eve! That was nice that you gave Megan your 'Ohana ADR!

Glad Farrell liked Animal Kingdom!

You've never had a flavored croissant! Girl, you've been missing out. Put it on your list!

The Ohana reservation worked out because Megan had mentioned to me before that if I wanted to give it up, she would take it. It all worked out for the best in the end.

Wow, hardly anyone goes to AK on New Years, huh? Noted! I would think by noon it would be mobbed. I really REALLY want to go to WDW for New Years, it sounds like such a blast!

OMG those elephants tackling each other!!! That is so funny, I love getting the chance to see them acting up or doing something out of the ordinary... so fun!!!

I was gobsmacked! Seriously, that it was so not crowded that day. Everyone else was at other parks I guess.

The safari is soooo much more fun when the animals are doing something out of the ordinary. It make for a fun experience.

 

[PirateKate]

I can't believe how un-crowded Animal Kingdom was on NYE! I feel kind of sorry for all those poor people in the closed to capacity Magic Kingdom.

Sounds like a great safari!