If only Tinker Bell was related to the tooth fairy... (FINISHED 4/26)

[that's nice]

Don.... check out this room.

 

[Emma's Dad]

(Yes, Dave... this IS an update! LOL!)

At this point I'm ready to head over to the FUN area of the park... the part that has one of the best roller coasters ever! Yep... Asia, here we come! Of course, we HAVE to stop for the requisite beating of the drums first. Here is DD showing us her stuff:



Video:


Then there's always the photo spot to take the perfect picture in front of the TOL:

(Look familiar?)


Photopass guy was distracting them... lol


With the photo op done we continue to head towards my, er... OUR, final destination. Just so happens that a show was getting ready to start at the Flights of Wonder. We've never seen this show before so we figure why not. DD loved the Pet Shenanigans (http://www.buschgardens.com/bgw/explore/Shows.aspx?id=502) show at Busch Gardens, so why not see what interesting things these birds had to offer? We scored seats toward the back for a quick escape at the end of the show. Here are some shots I took during the show:



In this picture, the CM's had the volunteers hold their camera's out and take a picture as these huge birds flew up to them. It was pretty neat!


This was a picture of one of the birds coming from the stage to the back of the audience:


This particular guy was either too interested in trying to find food or was experiencing stage fright. Not sure which:


A little blurry... but he finally jumped and made it to the stage. Yay!


I little better look at him:


Here he comes my way!


ALMOST got a complete picture of him in the air... literally inches from our heads. Glad he didn't have the need to relieve himself. lol


All in all it was a decent show. I always find it fascinating how they can train these animals to do tricks. I would see the show again if I had some extra time, but would not make it part of a busy itinerary. DD thought it was a good show, too.

Being at the back, when the show ended we bolted and continued on towards EE. But then we find ourselves at yet another photo spot. I like this spot because of how you can make EE dissappear from the background depending on the angle you take the picture. I'm sure most of you already knew this, but check it out:

Now you see it...



Now you don't (except a tiny part of it). Love DD's face in this one!



OK... enough of the picture-taking already! That was the last stop before we strolled up to EE and got in line. No need for a FP this time.... standby time was only 15 minutes! Woohoo! A little confession here... this is pretty much the ONLY reason I enjoy going to Animal Kingdom. I mean, sure, I'm not a total AK scrooge... but this is the bread and butter for me. LOVE this coaster! I still remember the first ride... when it started going backwards.... wow... what-a-rush! I managed to break out the camera while on the ride... here's what I got:





Check out this picture... crystal-clear day at the top of EE. You can see all the way to Epcot and beyond. I'm sure some of you will be able to point out most, if not all the landmarks in here:


Just waiting to go backwards!!


AHHHHHHHH!


Gotta check out this video... dad's never lie... do they??


So much fun in one ride! Still... WHEN are they going to fix that yeti??? Come on, Disney!!

From EE we continue on through Asia across Discovery River and into the land that should never be crossed... Dinoland! Since we were trying to make it towards the exit it only made sense to go that route. But just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. But we trudge on. Past Lion King... down the trail... then the huge dino comes in view. And wouldn't you know that it's about this time that DD announces she needs a restroom break! And the only one that I know of in that area is over by the dreaded Primeval Whirl. So off we go... quickly to the bathrooms. I just don't like having to wait outside by PW... so loud and obnoxious. Like it's just taunting me. I must be getting old!

With the girls ready to go, we walk up past TriceraTop Spin and then DD sees The Boneyard. She manages to talk us into spending some time there while she burns off some energy. Fine by me... I was ready to take a break and just watch the kids running around like there's no tomorrow. Such energy. It's amazing! Twenty minutes later DD is done and is thirsty to the max. We go grab some water and then REALLY head for the exit. It's getting around 4:00 ish and we need to get back to CSR to get our room and then over to DTD for some dinner.

We arrived at bus stop 1 and walked into El Centro to confirm our room is really ready. Room is ready... gift card is not. They are still unsure as to WHEN we will get this gift card. But... they did assure us that we we'll get it... don't worry. Easy for you to say, Disney, you already got my money! We were not about to drag our luggage once again to the room so we asked the bell services to request a cart for us. While waiting for Carlos to pick us up, I visited the sundry to get milk and doughnuts for our morning breakfast. Sounds nutritious, right? Hey! It's vacation time! hehe. Carlos did not take long at all to arrive at the luggage room and before we knew it we were outside our familiar room and ready to get settled in. DD was BEGGING to go to the pool, but we were all getting hungry and already had plans to visit DTD. So.... another Bus Stop 4 walk, wait, and ride and DTD we go!

Not much to report on the evening happenings. We made it over to DTD around 5:30 ish and made a visit to Wolgang Puck Express. DW had the gourmet pizza and I tried the Chicken Alfredo. Both were very yummy (my official food review here). I believe this is DW's favorite "non-Disney" restaurant of choice. Can't go wrong with this place! While at DTD we also checked out some of the shops, saw a couple of high schools perform at the stage, and then made it back to the bus stop by about 7:30. It's been a long day and it was time to get DD back to the room. No pool time for her this day! And, for some unknown reason, no pictures of DTD this night.

We made it back to the room again, DD got her bath, and all ready for a good night's sleep by 8:30pm. Poor DD... so exhausted. Here she is with her newly acquired Webkinz. They are all as snug as a bug in a rug... although Owl's eyes kind-of freaks me out in this picture



And there you have it... the end of day one! OK... yeah... I deserved that measly golf clap for taking only 4 months to complete one day of a TR! Hold on to your hats though... this TR is getting ready for overdrive!!

Next up: Day 2, Part 1: EPCOT -"MY DISNEY MAGIC!!"

 

[KatMark]

Hooray...an update! I really needed something to make me smile and this did it. Your daughter is so photogenic. Love the video on EE.

And those eyes on the owl

 

[trennr]

I spot the following in your EE shot...

Spaceship Earth
the Dolphin
the Swan
the Tower of Terror
and
Down in the trees I see the CSR.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hooray...an update! I really needed something to make me smile and this did it. Your daughter is so photogenic. Love the video on EE.

And those eyes on the owl

Glad I could make you smile, Kat She loves to pose and have fun with the camera. For Christmas we bought her a Kodak 12 megapixel camera to take whatever pictures she wants... She can sure fill up a 4 gb memory card pretty quick!
The video is priceless! Makes me laugh every time I hear her screaming down into the tunnel!

I spot the following in your EE shot...

Spaceship Earth
the Dolphin
the Swan
the Tower of Terror
and
Down in the trees I see the CSR.

I knew I could count on you, Nate The full high res picture is pretty cool to look at. I'll try to take a panoramic shot this year

 

[trennr]

So much fun in one ride! Still... WHEN are they going to fix that yeti??? Come on, Disney!!

Now if you had read the 2nd Kingdom Keepers book you would know that the Yeti was actually a prison for the Demon Chernabog from the original Fantasia movies...but Maleficent freed him in that book and well Disney has been working on that ever since.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Now if you had read the 2nd Kingdom Keepers book you would know that the Yeti was actually a prison for the Demon Chernabog from the original Fantasia movies...but Maleficent freed him in that book and well Disney has been working on that ever since.

Well... if only I have known this before! Sheesh! And here I thought Snow Miser found the Bumble and froze him like that!

 

[trennr]

Well... if only I have known this before! Sheesh! And here I thought Snow Miser found the Bumble and froze him like that!

No no no...the Bumble Bounced and Yukon Cornellius trained him...not to mention Hermie the Elf removed all his teeth...anyway that's too far South for Snow Miser to travel...his brother Heat Miser wouldn't like him on his Turf.

Sheeze...you'd think a guy would know these things.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

(Yes, Dave... this IS an update! LOL!)

ALMOST got a complete picture of him in the air... literally inches from our heads. Glad he didn't have the need to relieve himself.

It's still a pretty cool shot!

All in all it was a decent show. I always find it fascinating how they can train these animals to do tricks.

It's not that hard. The trainer just realizes that they are far more intelligent that the subject, and through a series of positive reinforcement, conditions the subject to respond in a certain way to certain commands. Kind of like when my wife calls me from a different room, then I come running and sit at her feet. I have her trained to give me a little treat every time I do that.

So much fun in one ride! Still... WHEN are they going to fix that yeti??? Come on, Disney!!

I've never been on it when it was working, so I never knew it was broken.

I just don't like having to wait outside by PW... so loud and obnoxious. Like it's just taunting me. I must be getting old!

And GET OFF MY LAWN!!

And there you have it... the end of day one! OK... yeah... I deserved that measly golf clap for taking only 4 months to complete one day of a TR! Hold on to your hats though... this TR is getting ready for overdrive!!

My minivan has "overdrive". That doesn't make it fast.

Great update, Don! You've inspired me to hopefully, maybe get an update of my own done today.

 

[Emma's Dad]

No no no...the Bumble Bounced and Yukon Cornellius trained him...not to mention Hermie the Elf removed all his teeth...anyway that's too far South for Snow Miser to travel...his brother Heat Miser wouldn't like him on his Turf.

Sheeze...you'd think a guy would know these things.

Well, I kind-of feel like Yukon right now after he licks his pick ax and says "Nothing".

It's still a pretty cool shot!

It's not that hard. The trainer just realizes that they are far more intelligent that the subject, and through a series of positive reinforcement, conditions the subject to respond in a certain way to certain commands. Kind of like when my wife calls me from a different room, then I come running and sit at her feet. I have her trained to give me a little treat every time I do that.

Would that be a Rice Krispie Treat? Yummy!

I've never been on it when it was working, so I never knew it was broken.

Same here. But would like to see it work at least once in my lifetime!

My minivan has "overdrive". That doesn't make it fast.

HAHAHA! Good point....

Great update, Don! You've inspired me to hopefully, maybe get an update of my own done today.

Hmmmm... the room makeovers gave me the boost I needed... maybe I need Nate to stop on over for you hehe

 

[dvczerfs]

wow, an update and its animal kingdom. im just kidding don. you got some great pics on everest. did i see you are still on day 1?

 

[Emma's Dad]

wow, an update and its animal kingdom. im just kidding don. you got some great pics on everest. did i see you are still on day 1?

Awww... you are such a "glass half empty" guy... I look at it as Day 1 is finally DONE!

 

[afwdwfan]

Part 6 of day 1 already... wow... feels like you just got there about a year ago.

A little confession here... this is pretty much the ONLY reason I enjoy going to Animal Kingdom. I mean, sure, I'm not a total AK scrooge... but this is the bread and butter for me.

I completely understand what you mean...

 

[Emma's Dad]

Part 6 of day 1 already... wow... feels like you just got there about a year ago.

Almost!

I completely understand what you mean...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

(Yes, Dave... this IS an update! LOL!)

(golf clap)

All in all it was a decent show. I always find it fascinating how they can train these animals to do tricks. I would see the show again if I had some extra time, but would not make it part of a busy itinerary. DD thought it was a good show, too.

There's a lot of things in AK you could say that about... But it sounds interesting. I've never seen that show.

A little confession here... this is pretty much the ONLY reason I enjoy going to Animal Kingdom. I mean, sure, I'm not a total AK scrooge... but this is the bread and butter for me. LOVE this coaster!

Definitely the best part of the park. Have to agree with you there. Our last trip was interesting. We like Everest and the Safari, but found ourselves really enjoying the theming in Asia. We started enjoying the park more when we took it as a place to sit, go slower, and enjoy the details the Imagineers put into the place.

So much fun in one ride! Still... WHEN are they going to fix that yeti??? Come on, Disney!!

Nice ride pictures! I agree on the yeti. Saw it "live" the first time I rode it in 2006... had no idea it would be the last time!

[From EE we continue on through Asia across Discovery River and into the land that should never be crossed... Dinoland!

*shudder* I like the Dinosaur ride. Otherwise...

Both were very yummy (my official food review here).

Yelp should be hiring you for some reviews any minute.

 

[that's nice]

(Yes, Dave... this IS an update! LOL!)

Great video of your DD playing the drums.. I think she missed 3 though.

Great pic!!!!

All in all it was a decent show. I always find it fascinating how they can train these animals to do tricks. I would see the show again if I had some extra time, but would not make it part of a busy itinerary. DD thought it was a good show, too.

We have never seen FoW and by your GLOWING review, we might continue to skip it.

I like this spot because of how you can make EE dissappear from the background depending on the angle you take the picture. I'm sure most of you already knew this, but check it out:

Now you see it...



Now you don't (except a tiny part of it). Love DD's face in this one!

The shrine to Everest! It is really neat how the shrine matches up with the mountain.

Check out this picture... crystal-clear day at the top of EE. You can see all the way to Epcot and beyond. I'm sure some of you will be able to point out most, if not all the landmarks in here:

Beautiful day!

Gotta check out this video... dad's never lie... do they??

HAHA!!!!!! You LIAR!

Still... WHEN are they going to fix that yeti??? Come on, Disney!!

I have just accepted the fact that it will NEVER get fixed.

Room is ready... gift card is not. They are still unsure as to WHEN we will get this gift card. But... they did assure us that we we'll get it... don't worry. Easy for you to say, Disney, you already got my money!

Giftcardgate... I almost forgot about this. See what happens after 4 months in-between updates.



She was beat huh? Yea, you are right about that owl... a little freaky if you ask me!



Great update Don! I can't wait to check this thread in April for your day 2 update!

 

[DisDadDoc]

Finally subscribing! Don't think we should hold you to that "must finish trip report before next trip" rule... You might never get back.

 

[trennr]

Don...doesn't someone have a trip coming up soon...

 

[Emma's Dad]

Finally subscribing! Don't think we should hold you to that "must finish trip report before next trip" rule... You might never get back.

Or maybe no sleep until the trip arrives!

Don...doesn't someone have a trip coming up soon...

 

[afwdwfan]

Don...doesn't someone have a trip coming up soon...

That's the rumor I've heard... I think he still has a few days left to update too.