jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
Well, I'll have you know that I spent over an hour yesterday writing up a trip report only to have AOL dump everything and right at the end too. So, now I'm typing on Word. DD says I can paste it when I'm through. We'll see.
Today is going to be one of the few early starts we'll have this trip. The Animal Kingdom is Scott's favorite park so we're going to try to make early opening.
Mickey gives Scott a ring at 7:00 and we drive over to AK, arriving right at opening time. The CM's at the gates are a lot more diligent about checking resort ID's than I remember from any other trip. We have to produce both of our keys to get in. Once through the gates we stroll ever so slowly toward Harambe while every fiber of my being is screaming "RRUUUNNN!!!! for the Safari!" Somehow I manage to fight my natural instincts and we take LOTS of time to get there, stopping along the way to admire the landscaping, the animals and even the bridge (yes, the bridge). I've never before taken the time to observe all the little details that have gone into making AK such a neat park. Always too busy racing from attraction to attraction. Not today. Scott, I fear, may be planning on landscaping our backyard to look this way. He's especially captivated by the boulders and how they must have been created (chicken wire and concrete is his final decision.) Come to think of it, big rocks have always fascinated Scott. They are certainly a rarity in south Louisiana. We once drove over 200 miles to Where the Heck, AZ in order to see what I was told is an especially compelling rock. Scott spent at least an hour just staring at it. Sorry to be shallow but, for me anyways, a rock is just a rock.
Anyways, many "rocks" later we reach the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. The big dominant male gorilla is having a little brekkie right by the window in the Gorilla Room (sounds like a good name for a bar, doesn't it?) and there's a zoologist there to discuss all things simian with Scott. Actually the gorilla guy is pretty good, informative and interesting in a way so few people are. The gorilla lady outside is not nearly so nice. Scott's feeling pretty frisky from all the rest we got yesterday and decides to have a little fun. He insists, despite her repeted denials ("Sir, these are wild animals and we do NOT give them human names") that the staff must have named at least some of the gorillas and even offers up a few suggestions for her benefit. It's obvious that she doesn't see the humor in the situation so I pinch Scott hard until he finally agrees to move on. In a way though, I agree with him. I don't see how the staff doesn't name the animals. After all, they're only human and if Jane Goodall can name hers I don't see why Disney can't. We admire the landscaping some more and spend quite a bit of time on the rest of the trail before exiting for our FP ride on the Safari.
Remember your junior high math teacher? The unmarried one who wore a tie every day even in the summer and graded the spelling on your pre-algebra test? Well. in case you wondered, he's currently checking FP's at the entrance to the Safari. We had the audacity to show up two (2) whole minutes early. Can you imagine the nerve of some people? Scott is told, ordered really, to go stand in a shady area with a group of other shifty characters and await our appropriate time. All right then, another testosterone moment. NOBODY tells my little silverback where to stand. Especially not (By the way, these are not my sentiments. I'm merely the messenger) some dorky little dweeb with skinny legs sticking out of a little safari outfit. WE'LL wait acrosss the way in the hot Florida sun, thank you very much.
After all the pre-board drama, the Safari is very nice. The "guide" is pretty good at spotting animals and somehow manages not to sound like he's gone through his spiel at least a thousand times previously. Scott, still feeling his oats, makes a few sly comments but I don't think anyone except me hears him. By the way, would a poacher acutally make camp right next to a well-traveled road? No wonder they get caught every time. It's something to think about. I think its the combination of artifice and solemnity in this area of the park that sets off Scott's contrarian streak.
Time for a trip to Asia now. I pick up a couple of Fast Passes for Kali and we head off for the Jungle Trek. We don't enjoy this nearly as much as the Pangani. The tigers are comatose and bear a greater resemblance to an LSU student on the Sunday morning after a game than they do to terrifying man-eaters. Of course that's easy enough to say while standing on the safe side of an animal-proof barrier. Enough education already, it's time to get wet and have some fun! In reality it's a pretty dry run for us on Kali River Rapids until we get to the end. The rafts are stuck in a queue and we get soaked by the kids on the bridge above us. Scott perks up at the sight of the gigantic water pistols and after the ride we wait in line with all the other eight year olds so he can have a go. He loves it and spends quite a bit of time perfecting his technique. I finally drag him away when the other kiddies in line start to riot. Actually, forget the kids, it's time for my breakfast!
Scott can always get moving when pork loin enters the picture so were out of the AK and off to Boma lickety-split. We have a 10:30 PS and when we get there the waiting area is packed. The staff is sending anyone without a PS away breakfastless. I can't help but gloat a little. Where WDW is concerned too much spontanaiety can sometimes be too much of a good thing. We load up on the buffet and share a press pot of coffee. I was afraid that eating at a buffet so late in the morning might be a mistake but everything was fresh and frequently replenished. I think this is the best buffet in Disney and I didn't miss Mickey, Cindy or Pluto a bit.
We are stuffed to the groaning point. It's time to head back to CBR for a little R&R. We arrive to find the quiet pool at Jamaica closed for remodeling (I knew that check-in lady had it in for me!) so we make the walk over the bridge to the themed pool at OPR. It's another beautiful day and we spend most of the afternoon napping and slowly emptying the ice chest of beer.
Scott wants to see Fantasmic so we rouse ourselves sometime in the late afternoon. Neither of us is reallly hungry so we decide to give the Food and Wine Festival a go before heading over to MGM. We start out on the Mexico side of the World Showcase where we split a Quesadilla con Pollo y Chorizo ($3.50) and a Dos Equis ($4.00). Next its a Shrimp Lettuce Wrap from Southeast Asia ($3.00) accompanied by a Carlsberg ($4.25) from Scandinavia. The Strawberry Rice Cream looks good but we're not ready for sweets yet. Though we probably should, we can't pass up the Specialty Beer Garden. Scott has a Red Stripe ($4.25) and I try the Bare Knuckle Stout ($2.25). Our final stops are at Morocco (Hummus with Pita, $1) and Great Beers of the World (Scott has a Labatts and I get a Bass, $4.25 each.). Wow, that's a lot more beer than it seemed like at the time!
We exit at the International Gateway and take the boat to MGM. Here we catch the second half of the Beauty and the Beast show before snagging perfect seats for Fantasmic. Scott amuses himself during the wait by jumping in and out of the stadium for additional beer purchases, even after he's warned that he'll lose his seat if he doesn't stay put. I grow anxious until a very nice British couple offers to spread out to fill in his spot for him. They seem very sympathetic to his need to remain well-oiled for the production. Scott returns the favor by forming a fast friendship with his saviors while I sit silently on the other side. Everyone enjoys the show. Strangely enough though, Scott and I are pretty sleepy by the time it's over so it's back to the CBR and beddie-bye for us.
Oh, I can't believe I forgot this part. I don't know what I was thinking but before our trip I purchased a DIS fanny pack and tee-shirt to wear. Now, I'm the sort of person who hates attention. Especially attention from strangers. So why am I wearing a bright, flourescent lime green fanny pack that SCREAMS "Look at me!"? I'm an idiot, that's why. A perfectly nice lady noticed my DIS wear and greeted me and introduced herself. (I'm sorry I didn't catch your name, I was in the middle of a social anxiety attack.) I can't meet strangers. I always come across as a snot or a moron. Either way, if you are the person who spoke to me outside Kali River Rapids I am very sorry. I'm not rude really, just completely lacking in the social graces.
Jennifer
Today is going to be one of the few early starts we'll have this trip. The Animal Kingdom is Scott's favorite park so we're going to try to make early opening.
Mickey gives Scott a ring at 7:00 and we drive over to AK, arriving right at opening time. The CM's at the gates are a lot more diligent about checking resort ID's than I remember from any other trip. We have to produce both of our keys to get in. Once through the gates we stroll ever so slowly toward Harambe while every fiber of my being is screaming "RRUUUNNN!!!! for the Safari!" Somehow I manage to fight my natural instincts and we take LOTS of time to get there, stopping along the way to admire the landscaping, the animals and even the bridge (yes, the bridge). I've never before taken the time to observe all the little details that have gone into making AK such a neat park. Always too busy racing from attraction to attraction. Not today. Scott, I fear, may be planning on landscaping our backyard to look this way. He's especially captivated by the boulders and how they must have been created (chicken wire and concrete is his final decision.) Come to think of it, big rocks have always fascinated Scott. They are certainly a rarity in south Louisiana. We once drove over 200 miles to Where the Heck, AZ in order to see what I was told is an especially compelling rock. Scott spent at least an hour just staring at it. Sorry to be shallow but, for me anyways, a rock is just a rock.
Anyways, many "rocks" later we reach the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. The big dominant male gorilla is having a little brekkie right by the window in the Gorilla Room (sounds like a good name for a bar, doesn't it?) and there's a zoologist there to discuss all things simian with Scott. Actually the gorilla guy is pretty good, informative and interesting in a way so few people are. The gorilla lady outside is not nearly so nice. Scott's feeling pretty frisky from all the rest we got yesterday and decides to have a little fun. He insists, despite her repeted denials ("Sir, these are wild animals and we do NOT give them human names") that the staff must have named at least some of the gorillas and even offers up a few suggestions for her benefit. It's obvious that she doesn't see the humor in the situation so I pinch Scott hard until he finally agrees to move on. In a way though, I agree with him. I don't see how the staff doesn't name the animals. After all, they're only human and if Jane Goodall can name hers I don't see why Disney can't. We admire the landscaping some more and spend quite a bit of time on the rest of the trail before exiting for our FP ride on the Safari.
Remember your junior high math teacher? The unmarried one who wore a tie every day even in the summer and graded the spelling on your pre-algebra test? Well. in case you wondered, he's currently checking FP's at the entrance to the Safari. We had the audacity to show up two (2) whole minutes early. Can you imagine the nerve of some people? Scott is told, ordered really, to go stand in a shady area with a group of other shifty characters and await our appropriate time. All right then, another testosterone moment. NOBODY tells my little silverback where to stand. Especially not (By the way, these are not my sentiments. I'm merely the messenger) some dorky little dweeb with skinny legs sticking out of a little safari outfit. WE'LL wait acrosss the way in the hot Florida sun, thank you very much.
After all the pre-board drama, the Safari is very nice. The "guide" is pretty good at spotting animals and somehow manages not to sound like he's gone through his spiel at least a thousand times previously. Scott, still feeling his oats, makes a few sly comments but I don't think anyone except me hears him. By the way, would a poacher acutally make camp right next to a well-traveled road? No wonder they get caught every time. It's something to think about. I think its the combination of artifice and solemnity in this area of the park that sets off Scott's contrarian streak.
Time for a trip to Asia now. I pick up a couple of Fast Passes for Kali and we head off for the Jungle Trek. We don't enjoy this nearly as much as the Pangani. The tigers are comatose and bear a greater resemblance to an LSU student on the Sunday morning after a game than they do to terrifying man-eaters. Of course that's easy enough to say while standing on the safe side of an animal-proof barrier. Enough education already, it's time to get wet and have some fun! In reality it's a pretty dry run for us on Kali River Rapids until we get to the end. The rafts are stuck in a queue and we get soaked by the kids on the bridge above us. Scott perks up at the sight of the gigantic water pistols and after the ride we wait in line with all the other eight year olds so he can have a go. He loves it and spends quite a bit of time perfecting his technique. I finally drag him away when the other kiddies in line start to riot. Actually, forget the kids, it's time for my breakfast!
Scott can always get moving when pork loin enters the picture so were out of the AK and off to Boma lickety-split. We have a 10:30 PS and when we get there the waiting area is packed. The staff is sending anyone without a PS away breakfastless. I can't help but gloat a little. Where WDW is concerned too much spontanaiety can sometimes be too much of a good thing. We load up on the buffet and share a press pot of coffee. I was afraid that eating at a buffet so late in the morning might be a mistake but everything was fresh and frequently replenished. I think this is the best buffet in Disney and I didn't miss Mickey, Cindy or Pluto a bit.
We are stuffed to the groaning point. It's time to head back to CBR for a little R&R. We arrive to find the quiet pool at Jamaica closed for remodeling (I knew that check-in lady had it in for me!) so we make the walk over the bridge to the themed pool at OPR. It's another beautiful day and we spend most of the afternoon napping and slowly emptying the ice chest of beer.
Scott wants to see Fantasmic so we rouse ourselves sometime in the late afternoon. Neither of us is reallly hungry so we decide to give the Food and Wine Festival a go before heading over to MGM. We start out on the Mexico side of the World Showcase where we split a Quesadilla con Pollo y Chorizo ($3.50) and a Dos Equis ($4.00). Next its a Shrimp Lettuce Wrap from Southeast Asia ($3.00) accompanied by a Carlsberg ($4.25) from Scandinavia. The Strawberry Rice Cream looks good but we're not ready for sweets yet. Though we probably should, we can't pass up the Specialty Beer Garden. Scott has a Red Stripe ($4.25) and I try the Bare Knuckle Stout ($2.25). Our final stops are at Morocco (Hummus with Pita, $1) and Great Beers of the World (Scott has a Labatts and I get a Bass, $4.25 each.). Wow, that's a lot more beer than it seemed like at the time!
We exit at the International Gateway and take the boat to MGM. Here we catch the second half of the Beauty and the Beast show before snagging perfect seats for Fantasmic. Scott amuses himself during the wait by jumping in and out of the stadium for additional beer purchases, even after he's warned that he'll lose his seat if he doesn't stay put. I grow anxious until a very nice British couple offers to spread out to fill in his spot for him. They seem very sympathetic to his need to remain well-oiled for the production. Scott returns the favor by forming a fast friendship with his saviors while I sit silently on the other side. Everyone enjoys the show. Strangely enough though, Scott and I are pretty sleepy by the time it's over so it's back to the CBR and beddie-bye for us.
Oh, I can't believe I forgot this part. I don't know what I was thinking but before our trip I purchased a DIS fanny pack and tee-shirt to wear. Now, I'm the sort of person who hates attention. Especially attention from strangers. So why am I wearing a bright, flourescent lime green fanny pack that SCREAMS "Look at me!"? I'm an idiot, that's why. A perfectly nice lady noticed my DIS wear and greeted me and introduced herself. (I'm sorry I didn't catch your name, I was in the middle of a social anxiety attack.) I can't meet strangers. I always come across as a snot or a moron. Either way, if you are the person who spoke to me outside Kali River Rapids I am very sorry. I'm not rude really, just completely lacking in the social graces.
Jennifer
