Jumping, Dancing & Jamming Our Way Through Walt Disney World! I'm With the Band Now!

[mickeystoontown]

So jealous about the cruise! We've been looking at cruises, but my DH doesn't like to do any for less than 7 days, so we are heading to Vero Beach instead before heading to the World.

I'm sure you will have a fabulous time!

I knew if I were to ever get John to agree to a cruise, it would have to be a short one. I am really unsure about whether or not we will like the cruise aspect but know that we will enjoy the land activities.

Oh, I forgot to second Cruise Critic! There is a lot of info and the boards are almost as addicting as the Dis! Hard to believe, I know, but they are.

I never did get a chance to go to the Cruise Critic site. I'll try to get over there some time today.

Congrats on the cruise! That IS some great news!

The more I read about the cruise, the more excited I get.

I spoke too soon!!! Ben's friend is actually going during the first week in April, not during our school vacation week.

That's what I get for listening to information reported by 10 year olds!

I see you have updated your ticker to include the cruise. It must be real! You wouldn't change a ticker would you?

Awww, too bad they won't be there at the same time. I did add the ticker and the cruise plans are still in place.

If I were to go on the cruise, I would get on the boat as soon as I could. There is a lot to see and do on a cruise and almost not enough time to do it. I think a disney cruise would be amazing.

I didn't realize that you could board to ship so early and am now thinking we'll scrap the Space Center plans.

Is it me or are your photos not there. I think its saying you exceeded bandwidth

Tell Mama she needs to go on the cruise w/ you it will be a great memory for you & Hunter. The girl i work w/ took her Grandma on one and it's some of her best memories of her Grandma.

Yeah, I can't see them either. Exceeding bandwidth error. You are too popular Lisa!

Yep, they are not there...

Gosh darn it! You would know that I'd get the extra pictures uploaded to Photobucket and then the bandwidth would be exceeded. Fortunately, I still have the memory cards in my purse so I'll upload them to one of my other gazillion photobucket accounts and repost.

 

[natebenma]

Awww, too bad they won't be there at the same time. I did add the ticker and the cruise plans are still in place.

I think I'm sadder than Ben is! And the people (cousins) they are going with include a 12 year old, which would have been perfect for Nate because he only wants to be with others of his kind.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Wow glad you decided to add the cruise. We have been thinking of doing one so I can't wait for your cruise report.

Would you believe we leave 2 weeks from tomorrow and my daughter sprained her ankle and is in an aircast! Remember I need a scooter at WDW9due to old age and arthritis!!!) and we will have her 3 year old. Please say a prayer she heals fast!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I think I'm sadder than Ben is! And the people (cousins) they are going with include a 12 year old, which would have been perfect for Nate because he only wants to be with others of his kind.

That would have been the perfect scenario. Too bad Ben got the info wrong.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I was wrong when I said I had the memory card with the extra Animal Kingdom pictures on it. I do have a few though. So, on with the show....the animal/safari show! When I left off we had seen elephants peeping through the brush at us, flamingos standing around on Mickey Island and rhinos seeking shelter from the sun. More of the rhinos:

As we approached the lions' rock, I hoped that we would finally see one of the lions awake. They always seem to be asleep or lying down. This time was no different. You can see just a little bit of the lioness' head in between the rocks:

There were warthogs sleeping in this tunnel like thingie but you can't see them at all since it was dark:

All too quickly, our two week safari was over and we were back in the theme park. Since we were close to the entrance of Pangani Forest Trail, we decided to go there next. They had the misters on and it was quite steamy. I took this picture of the light streaming through the trees:

Did you know that these animals are related to the giraffe?

As we got further down the trail, we came to the section with all the birds and we saw many.

These nests were the most interesting things. Instead of having the opening at the top of the nest, the opening was at the bottom.

***Need to stop here because the phone is ringing. I'll probably pick up where I left off tomorrow.

 

[jenseib]

Those birds like to live life on the edge...defying gravity

 

[MissLiz]

"Santa" brought DD9 an Okapi (the giraffe relative) Webkinz for Christmas! She was so excited! She loves them!

I think I've only seen the lions visible once or twice. Usually I'm the one trying to turn all the way around as we pass, just in case.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

If I were to go on the cruise, I would get on the boat as soon as I could. There is a lot to see and do on a cruise and almost not enough time to do it. I think a disney cruise would be amazing.

I didn't realize that you could board to ship so early and am now thinking we'll scrap the Space Center plans.

Just a word of warning about this from what I have been reading on the cruise boards they can be very strict about the port arrival times and sometimes people have shown up early and not been able to board until there assigned times. This is only for the Dream and Fantasy mainly because of the large number of people boarding.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Like I said on FB...so excited that you booked a cruise! You will LOVE it! If I can answer any questions about Nassau, let me know. I'd be happy to help!

Also, I second natebenma on the Cruise Critic suggestion. I found TONS of great information about cruising on their message boards.

I may have to pick your brain as well. We'd like to do a Cruise/WDW trip in 2013 and I may need your expert help in booking and saving MONEY! (At least saving money with fuzzy Disney math!)

Now...about those birds..... I went in there and raced to the end to wait for the boys to get through! LOL! No way was I going to hang out in there!

 

[jenseib]

Just a word of warning about this from what I have been reading on the cruise boards they can be very strict about the port arrival times and sometimes people have shown up early and not been able to board until there assigned times. This is only for the Dream and Fantasy mainly because of the large number of people boarding.

I have heard that too, but then I hear how others arrive early and have no problem what so ever. I think they are still testing it out and don't do it for every cruise.

 

[haleofafamily]

I love your AK pics!

My husband has been convinced that the lions on the Safari were not real since they are always in the same place and sleeping. But on one of our last trips, we were stopped in our jeep for a while because of an ostrich stopping on the road. We were stopped pretty close to the lions and the male actually got up and started walking around and roaring. It was so cool!

 

[natebenma]

Went back to check out the pictures that were missing. Really cool vinylmation sculpture!

As we approached the lions' rock, I hoped that we would finally see one of the lions awake. They always seem to be asleep or lying down. This time was no different. You can see just a little bit of the lioness' head in between the rocks:

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! (Arnold Horseshack imitation)

Brilliant idea. I am going to write to Disney and suggest that they re-imagineer the lions' rocks and make them see through so that everyone can finally see them when we go on safari!


Thanks for pointing out those birds nests with the opening pointing down. I have never noticed those before. Very cool.

 

[francis6306]

I love all the pictures that you take while there! It seems like you always manage to get something different! Love the AK shots!!

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Woohoo A cruise how exciting! and that will be great for you if your dis buddy Dana can come on the same cruise!

Between you and Jen you two have mind spinning with cruise thoughts. Only a Disney one though.

I do the 2 camera thing too. I like one better for day pictures. My other one I love but it won't hold a charge so I break it out for night shots and indoor shots. I can never find my pics because they are all over the place!

Those are beautiful bird and nest pictures.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Lisa, catching up--I was veryyyyy far behind and just saw you jam out with Mulch, Sweat and Shears and it was AWESOME! I truly hope you find the other video! You are SO STINKIN' FUN WOMAN!

And a cruise!!!!!!!! YAHOO! I think you guys will LOVE it. And to have friends aboard too? Even better! I look at it was "Only $75 more" and that is completely doable. Save some extra quarters between now and then and you won't even notice the price difference.

 

[kmrein]

Yay!!! A cruise! That's something we'd love to do within the next few years. I am sure you will have an absolute blast-how exciting!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'll come back and do replies but I had a little bit of time to post an installment so I'll do that first.



I last left off as we were walking through the Pangani Forest Trail but, first, let me backtrack a little. Now that I have the second camera pictures uploaded, I need to add more pictures that were taken our ride on Kilimanjaro Safari. Some are duplicates but taken from a bit of a different angle since Hunter had the second camera. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

I thought this picture was kinda cool with the blurred background but you can read the sign:

Okay so let's pick back up where I left off before.

We were on the Pangani Forest Trail and had seen quite a few birds including those who build their nests "upside down". This bird was singing a beautiful song but it took me a minute or two to find it as it was pretty well hidden in the leaves of the tree:

Another pretty yellow bird:

I love these colorful fish:

We entered the buildings with the small animal exhibits and saw this:

And a big frog:

Naked mole rats:

I believe this was a hedgehog:

**Up next: Those are very cool animals but I want to see the gorillas! Will they be out for us to see or will they be hiding in the bushes?

 

[JanaJohn]

**Up next: Those are very cool animals but I want to see the gorillas! Will they be out for us to see or will they be hiding in the bushes?

Hi Lisa,
You're up late! I'll go out on a limb and guess the gorillas will be out. It's kinda tough for those big guys to hide. My DW and I just love Animal Kingdom. We went to the local zoo yesterday since the weather was so good for this time of the year. Got some good gorilla pics while there too.

I took some really great pictures of the gorillas at AK last year (2011). WOW!!! I need to remember that last October is now last year. Time flies when you're having FUN!!!

BTW, have a Fantastic time on the cruise! There's always something to do both on and off the ship. Of course for me something to do also means it's a good time to have a beer!

 

[ronnmel]

I thought this picture was kinda cool with the blurred background but you can read the sign:

You are right, it is a very cool picture.

I'm afraid of birds, or I should say, of birds flying close to me in an enclosed space, so we didn't spend much time in that area.

 

[MEK]

I always love a good picture of the giraffes under a tree with Spanish moss. Nice safari pics. I also love the Pangani trail and my guess is that the gorillas will emerge. Hopefully Lilly will be there too. I had a little trouble spotting her in December, but then she came out!