Last Trip? It was until we met Food & Wine -- Recap 2/12

[KatMark]

I was up bright and early this morning as we had to be at our destination by 8:15 and knew we'd need to shower and have breakfast before we left.

I got ready and while Mark got ready, I decided to go outside and see how humid it already might be, and took some pictures.











I took some pictures of the pool area while Mark finished getting dressed:







We finished up breakfast, got the car from valet and headed here







We checked in for the Backstage Safari Tour and were given our badges as we waited for the rest of the group to arrive.

As with the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, no pictures are allowed on the tour until the very end when we get our own private "safari ride."

After we were all there and checked in, we walked to a backlot and hopped in vans to drive over to where they keep the animals at night. First, we went to see the rhino area and got to meet a huge rhino who was being kept in for the day (they alternate them when they have two males sometimes if they are trying to impregnate one of the females); then we went to where the elephants were kept at night.

We got back in the fans and went to the nutrition center and were shown the different areas of where they prepare the animals food on a daily basis (we saw the warehouse where the dry goods, canned goods, etc., are kept, then the kitchen, watched some of the workers put the food together, etc.). We then went to the hospital at Rafiki's, but unfortunately no procedures were being done that day. We did get to go into one of the operating rooms and look around, etc.

We then stopped for a snack and water before it was time to hit our own personal safari. We hopped into our truck and we were off and now I was able to take pictures.



















Okay....I'll move on from the giraffes.

And you'll get a rear end view:



Continued in next post

 

[KatMark]

Isn't he cute?








And I got the back end of......









I was so pleased. We have RARELY seen the lions awake, let alone get pictures of them.

We came upon some zebras next



And an ostrich









After we exited the safari, we came upon this guy taking a snooze



We really enjoyed the tour. Mark probably more than me becasue he is the serious animal lover in the family (he should have been a vet). But we learned some stuff about the upkeep of the animals, breeding, exchanging animals, etc. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Next time, I want to do the Wild Africa Trek, but I think that one will wait until 2016 as I don't think we will fit it in during our 2015 trip.

Up next, we go and see Pat's tumble monkeys

 

[SarahDisney]

I love all the family pictures!

Those early morning pictures look great.

And wow ... you got some fantastic safari pictures! I really love the lion pictures. Sounds like it was an interesting tour!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

I think I must have missed a post somewhere..... What's going on with Alisha? and What's this about Grandbabies? Maybe I read it and then got distracted with Little Miss who knows.

Looks like a fun tour. It also sounds like a good thing to take Little Miss on when she is older.

You definitely got a few great photos of the elephant and the giraffes.

 

[RGirl]

Hi Kathy!

Mmm - your food at LTT and BW Bakery is looking so good. Doesn’t help that I’m sitting here, having spent the entire day home with a sick kid, and have no idea what to do for dinner.

Oh, what a great pic of you and the kids in front of the three!

The Backstage Safari Tour!!! I am so excited to read about this! I just love the tours - so much to learn. Did you happen to notice if kids were allowed on this one?

 

[jedijill]

Ooh, I did that tour several years ago and it was fantastic! You guys got some great animal shots. What a fun morning.

Jill in CO

 

[MEK]

I'm glad to here you liked the tour. I have often thought about doing one of them. I did the african trek and that was cool, but I would like to learn more about the feeding and care of the animals.

Yay for a personal safari. You got great pictures and I think both of those lions were posing for you. Nice!

Great pictures of you, Mark, and the kids.

 

[KatMark]

I love all the family pictures!

Thanks, Sarah.

Those early morning pictures look great.

I love the AK...it's such a beautiful park.

And wow ... you got some fantastic safari pictures! I really love the lion pictures. Sounds like it was an interesting tour!

We were able to stop numerous times since it was a "special safari" so I was able to get better pictures. We liked the tour a lot.

I think I must have missed a post somewhere..... What's going on with Alisha? and What's this about Grandbabies? Maybe I read it and then got distracted with Little Miss who knows.

Alisha was finally diagnosed after her visit to Mayo. She has fibromyalgia. She is NOT going to do any type of medication because she wants to get pregnant so she and Mark have a baby before next Christmas. She will be working on diet, exercise, less stress, etc. Oh, and I have to quit smoking before she will get pregnant. I am now at 94-1/2 hours without a cigarette.

Looks like a fun tour. It also sounds like a good thing to take Little Miss on when she is older.

Yes, Little Miss will have to be older. But it is a fun tour.

You definitely got a few great photos of the elephant and the giraffes.

Thankfully the truck stopped a few times.

Hi Kathy!

Roni.

Mmm - your food at LTT and BW Bakery is looking so good. Doesn’t help that I’m sitting here, having spent the entire day home with a sick kid, and have no idea what to do for dinner.

I hope Willow is feeling better. Soup always works when not feeling well.

Oh, what a great pic of you and the kids in front of the three!

Thank you; it's my new favorite of me and my kids.

The Backstage Safari Tour!!! I am so excited to read about this! I just love the tours - so much to learn. Did you happen to notice if kids were allowed on this one?

Yes, no one under the age of 16 is allowed.

Ooh, I did that tour several years ago and it was fantastic! You guys got some great animal shots. What a fun morning.

Jill in CO

Jill, I'm really glad we did it. Now that we don't have kids and have done all the attractions a zillion times, we are enjoying doing a tour here and there.

 

[KatMark]

I'm glad to here you liked the tour. I have often thought about doing one of them. I did the african trek and that was cool, but I would like to learn more about the feeding and care of the animals.

Yes, the one you did is the one I want to do next.

Yay for a personal safari. You got great pictures and I think both of those lions were posing for you. Nice!

It was great and we learned a lot on the safari. I was so excited to get the lions...I've never gotten them before.

Great pictures of you, Mark, and the kids.

Thanks.

 

[Chicago Mo]

This was a really fun update! you do recommend the tour?!?! When the kids are old enough i want to do this!

The pictures are GREAT as always!!! isn't it the best when you can watch the sunrise in Disney?!?! One of my favorite part of the days!

Great family pictures!!! They are going to Disney?!?!? AND YOUR NOT GOING WITH?!? I hope they have a fantastic time!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

I'm glad that you were able to have a nice day after Thanksgiving with all of your kids. I'm sure it was a much needed day after some of the not so good stuff you've had going on.

I got ready and while Mark got ready, I decided to go outside and see how humid it already might be, and took some pictures.

Really? Was there any question?

First, we went to see the rhino area and got to meet a huge rhino who was being kept in for the day (they alternate them when they have two males sometimes if they are trying to impregnate one of the females);

There's some entertainment for the Safari riders...

The tour looks like fun. I'd love to do any and all of the backstage tours that they offer! I'm glad you had an opportunity to check it out. And maybe even more importantly, you got a chance to see the lions in different poses than the normal eyes closed...

 

[jenseib]

Getting caught back up.
What a fun day with Tim and family.
Dinner looked great. Too bad about all the rain though...been there during times like that and it sucks.
Your Backstage tour looks so fun. I really want to do some of these, but many require Claire to be older...plus I haven't been able to fit it in yet.

Now I am going to tell you about my crazy dream I had last night!

I dreamt you were in Ohio for something, so you and Mark came to visit us. Claire was being a brat and wouldn't talk to you even though you were being so nice to her. I just felt you thought we were weird. LOL. Mark went out with Skip to look at the cows and then they went to a tractor pull together. And when it was time for you to leave I realised you never asked to get a picture together and I know you always say if there isn't a picture then it didn't happen and I was so sure then that you didn't like us.
So I am not sure what I ate last night to have the dream, but you were the star of it.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

First of all, I had somehow missed the update on Alicia. I'm glad she doesn't have any life-threatening at least, but sorry she has fibromyalgia. I hope she finds a regiment that helps her have less pain. And congratulations on not smoking for days now! I hope Mark and Alicia have no issues getting pregnant quickly so she can also get on meds after the birth.

And Andy and Des will be at WDW the same time as me! If I see them I'll say hi, in a non-creepy way!

On to the update!

I went to both the Rhino barn and the Elephant Barn on my Backstage Tour too. Did you get to feed the Rhino sticks? We had one of the Black Rhinos on our tour.

Great pictures on your safari portion! Not surprised you had several giraffe ones, and I've never seen the Lion and Lioness up there like that! I'm jealous you were able to get such great pictures of them.

I loved that tour too, and agree that you learn some interesting backstage info. I'm glad you and Mark also enjoyed it so much.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I took some pictures of the pool area while Mark finished getting dressed:

Thanks for avoiding the creepy clown!

We checked in for the Backstage Safari Tour and were given our badges as we waited for the rest of the group to arrive.

I'm jealous! That tour looks really cool.

Okay....I'll move on from the giraffes.

And you'll get a rear end view:

I thought the full moon safari was a different tour.

I was so pleased. We have RARELY seen the lions awake, let alone get pictures of them.

Wow! The animatronics are so life-like.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

"I am going to try to get an update done later this afternoon when the big boss leaves" I just loved that.

I loved seeing all your family pictures Kathy, but mostly that last one. That is such a beautiful photo (and of course the Mickey shirt only makes it better). That one I hope is printed and framed.

Ah My God what a view to wake up to. And I just noticed that you ca see The Hollywood Tower Hotel!!! Now that is cool.

Wow, the backstage part really sounds cool. Of course I love any "backstage" stuff. Doesn't ruin the magic for me.

I will never tire of watching Giraffes.

Haha, that is quite the cheeky monkey.

I know there are many places to see Lions much better than at AK (Busch gardens comes to mind), but there is something so majestic about them up on Pride Rock that it's hard to top that.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Alisha was finally diagnosed after her visit to Mayo. She has fibromyalgia. She is NOT going to do any type of medication because she wants to get pregnant so she and Mark have a baby before next Christmas. She will be working on diet, exercise, less stress, etc. Oh, and I have to quit smoking before she will get pregnant. I am now at 94-1/2 hours without a cigarette.

Congrats on Quitting Smoking!

I will keep Alisha in my prayers. Trying to get pregnant while dealing with other issues is not an easy task. (I struggle with my own issues) Here's hoping that they have success fast.

 

[KatMark]

This was a really fun update! you do recommend the tour?!?! When the kids are old enough i want to do this!

Absolutely; we love learning some of the secrets and seeing the backstage areas. Kids have to be 16 for this one.

The pictures are GREAT as always!!! isn't it the best when you can watch the sunrise in Disney?!?! One of my favorite part of the days!

Sunrise and sunset are best when you are seeing them in Disney.

Great family pictures!!! They are going to Disney?!?!? AND YOUR NOT GOING WITH?!? I hope they have a fantastic time!!!

Thanks, Mo. Andy is going for the second year in a row to coach a baseball team at Disney. But they will have plenty of time for Disney too. And after the baseball tournament is over, Andy has a coaches conference which just happens to be in Orlando this year, so I'm thinking they'll be hitting Disney a couple of evenings after the daytime meetings. Oh, and we weren't asked to go.

I'm glad that you were able to have a nice day after Thanksgiving with all of your kids. I'm sure it was a much needed day after some of the not so good stuff you've had going on.

It really was a good day with all of my kids. Thanks, Andy.

Really? Was there any question?

Probably not; but it was a good excuse to go and get pictures.

There's some entertainment for the Safari riders...

I think I'd rather not see that.

The tour looks like fun. I'd love to do any and all of the backstage tours that they offer! I'm glad you had an opportunity to check it out. And maybe even more importantly, you got a chance to see the lions in different poses than the normal eyes closed...

It was really interesting and I'm really glad we did it. Yes, it was so nice to see the lions actually awake.

Getting caught back up.
What a fun day with Tim and family.

We had so much fun with them. I am glad it finally all worked out.

Dinner looked great. Too bad about all the rain though...been there during times like that and it sucks.

We really enjoy LTT. The rain this trip was insane. And you are right...it does suck.

Your Backstage tour looks so fun. I really want to do some of these, but many require Claire to be older...plus I haven't been able to fit it in yet.

Yes, I've noticed that most of them require kids to be 16.

Now I am going to tell you about my crazy dream I had last night!

I dreamt you were in Ohio for something, so you and Mark came to visit us. Claire was being a brat and wouldn't talk to you even though you were being so nice to her. I just felt you thought we were weird. LOL. Mark went out with Skip to look at the cows and then they went to a tractor pull together. And when it was time for you to leave I realised you never asked to get a picture together and I know you always say if there isn't a picture then it didn't happen and I was so sure then that you didn't like us.
So I am not sure what I ate last night to have the dream, but you were the star of it.

Jen, you had me I could just see Mark going off with Skip to see the cows (he loves cows). I'm not sure about the tractor pull, but he would have talked to the cows. What did you eat for dinner? And I have no doubt that I would like you and Claire.

First of all, I had somehow missed the update on Alicia. I'm glad she doesn't have any life-threatening at least, but sorry she has fibromyalgia. I hope she finds a regiment that helps her have less pain. And congratulations on not smoking for days now! I hope Mark and Alicia have no issues getting pregnant quickly so she can also get on meds after the birth.

Thanks, Steph. I hope once they start she can too.

And Andy and Des will be at WDW the same time as me! If I see them I'll say hi, in a non-creepy way!

Yes, be sure to look for them. They know all about all my DIS friends so it would not surprise Andy at all if someone stopped him and said "I know KatMark."

On to the update!

I went to both the Rhino barn and the Elephant Barn on my Backstage Tour too. Did you get to feed the Rhino sticks? We had one of the Black Rhinos on our tour.

No, we didn't get to feed the Rhino, and we spent a good 20 or 25 minutes there with him.

Great pictures on your safari portion! Not surprised you had several giraffe ones, and I've never seen the Lion and Lioness up there like that! I'm jealous you were able to get such great pictures of them.

I was amazed that I could see them let alone get a good picture. Thank you new camera!

I loved that tour too, and agree that you learn some interesting backstage info. I'm glad you and Mark also enjoyed it so much.

Thanks...we really did.

Thanks for avoiding the creepy clown!

No problem on that!

I'm jealous! That tour looks really cool.

It really is; I could see you and Julie really enjoying it.

I thought the full moon safari was a different tour.

Good one, Mark.

Wow! The animatronics are so life-like.

Aren't they?

"I am going to try to get an update done later this afternoon when the big boss leaves" I just loved that.

You liked that, huh? I work for three attorneys. Two are very young and are associates (although one should make partner at the end of the year); they are so self-sufficient they do most of their own stuff. My "big boss" is the man I started my 39th year with in July; he is 88 years old and has been a big part of my family's life ever since.

I loved seeing all your family pictures Kathy, but mostly that last one. That is such a beautiful photo (and of course the Mickey shirt only makes it better). That one I hope is printed and framed.

Yes, it is getting printed and framed for home. I do have it as my desktop right now and a copy on my bulletin board at work.

Ah My God what a view to wake up to. And I just noticed that you ca see The Hollywood Tower Hotel!!! Now that is cool.

Isn't it great? BWV is moving up my list quickly as favorite resort.

Wow, the backstage part really sounds cool. Of course I love any "backstage" stuff. Doesn't ruin the magic for me.

I don't find it ruins the magic either. I really enjoy the tours.

I will never tire of watching Giraffes.

Neither will I. I was very distraught yesterday when on AOL there was an article that indicated that they are close to becoming extinct.

Haha, that is quite the cheeky monkey.

Yes, definitely not his better side.

I know there are many places to see Lions much better than at AK (Busch gardens comes to mind), but there is something so majestic about them up on Pride Rock that it's hard to top that.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[KatMark]

Congrats on Quitting Smoking!

Thank you. Although the headache I have had for three days is not making me happy which I am sure is withdrawal.

I will keep Alisha in my prayers. Trying to get pregnant while dealing with other issues is not an easy task. (I struggle with my own issues) Here's hoping that they have success fast.

I know...and I've told her she has to be as stress free as possible while trying to get pregnant and while pregrant. And she has endometrios as well, so she has that going against her as well.

 

[dizneeat]

I had a lot of catching up to do (yes, again!) and there is just too much to comment on but let me say that I really enjoyed seeing the photos of your tour!

 

[petals]

Great updates. The tour looks great. Luvin all the animal pictures