Dimplenose
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Libbys Trip Day 4 Animal Kingdom and Boma Dinner
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Sunday August 14th
Once again Im awake early. This time I put on a load of washing. The kids are both up soon after and have breakfast. They sit and play with their potato heads for a while (if only their friends could see them!)
I have to wake up DH but soon were off to animal kingdom. Weve not even passed Splendid China before the kids are squabbling. (When I say splendid China I mean the walls round what used to be Splendid China. We never went there on our previous trips but its still sad to see a deserted attraction).
We got to Animal Kingdom very quickly (less than 10 minutes) now that weve mastered Sherbeth Road. We parked in Unicorn 27, having been diverted around most of the car park to get there. There were characters waiting just before the entrance, but this year the kids are not collecting autographs so we go straight in. We grab a couple of maps and then take some photos as we wander over to Tusker House.
On the way we see Lilo and Stitch and DD wants to stop for a photo. (For some reason DH mistakes Lilo for Pocahontas a mistake we tease him about for the rest of the trip.) We carry on to Tusker House buy some drinks and sit round deciding what everyone would like to do.
Our first choice is Kilimanjaro Safari but before we get there the kids are fighting. DH and I join in and by the time we get on the ride no one is talking to each other. We start the ride in silence but by the time it finishes weve all calmed down and everything is OK (oh, yes Little Red is safe too!). The driver we had wasnt too good his voice was very monotonous and therefore he got very little passenger response. There was a traffic jam at the unloading point (one truck full of passengers was parked someway away from the platform I dont know why.)
We then got the train to Conservation Station not our favourite place but I was keen to see if the poster of the vet spot welding a goats ear was still there, Im pleased to say it was. One there we had a brief look round and managed to stroke an alligator (OK so it was only a foot long but it WAS an alligator!). Three of us were then highly amused by DD being chased by a dustbin she didnt find it so funny. Before heading back to the train we needed a loo stop. It was quite an education in itself, with background noises and the posters about animal poo. The best part was the hand driers that blew with such a force it made the skin on our hands ripple.
Back in the main park we went to Pizzafari I hadnt been aware of this place before doing the Disney Quizzes. The pizzas were good but very stodgy. The breadsticks were really nice but no one finished their pizza.
We then go over to Dinosaur Dh and DS want to ride this but DD and I dont (Ive ridden it once and most of that ride I had my eyes firmly shut!) We arrange to meet at the Dig Site and they go off to queue. We go through a shop (more potato head stuff to look at) and eventually get to the boneyard. Its very hot now and we need to ask directions to the digging. Since our first trip (1998) some really efficient fans have been installed and its quite pleasant just to sit and watch DD get covered in grit.
Quite soon the boys return. While they were queuing the people behind had asked if Dinosaur was a ride I hope they enjoyed it. DD gets out of the grit-pit and spends a few minutes getting the grit off herself while we chat to an older CM about Bas problems. He reaches into his pocket and quietly passes us some Tarzan tattoos as if theyre some kind of contraband.
De-stoned we head over to Kali River Rapids there is a 40 minute wait and fast passes are for much the same time. DS is now getting a headache (he wont accept that wearing a black hat, no sunglasses and not drinking water maybe to blame) so with the sun reflecting strongly off the concrete paths we decide to head back to the villa for a rest and clean up before our trip to Bomas this evening. (We leave the car park 1:55 and get to villa at 2:03.)
DS takes some paracetamol and a drink and goes to bed. DH plonks himself in front of the TV so its up to me to keep an aye on DD in the pool.
After a good break everyone is feeling a lot better and we all get changed and ready for our 5:10 ADR at Boma. It takes no time to get there but, once at the gate of Animal Kingdom Lodge, were asked for ID. Luckily I have been carrying my driving licence around because of using travellers cheques and this was enough to get us all in. We were given a 3 hour parking permit and told where to park.
Animal Kingdom Lodge seemed very much like Wilderness Lodges little brother. (I believe they were designed by the same person.) I dont know if Id have been more impressed if I hadnt already visited Wilderness Lodge but I wasnt over awed with AKL as I had been with WL. AKL is a lovely building with some very clever and very careful features but it just didnt have that wow factor for me.
We found a map and saw that we needed to go downstairs for Boma. We went down and were given a pager but only had to wait 10 minutes before being shown to the table. Our server was very jolly and keen to tell us all about Boma. On hearing our accents we told her that we lived near London and she told us her son was stationed near London at Lakenheath!
We really enjoyed trying out the different flavours on the buffet. There were some very strange combinations even within a single dish. The kids did try a few new things (none of us liked the crab soup) but reverted to the pasta or chips. My favourite was the salmon which had a very mild topping. The desserts were absolutely gorgeous but I doubt whether they were authentic African recipes.
After dinner we had a look around the hotel. We went outside and saw zebra, giraffes and some kind of antelope. Then thunder and lightning (but no rain) began and we went indoors. We did a trip to the shop and looked for the hidden Mickey on a lampshade in the lobby.
We had a very pleasant evening but its not somewhere wed visit again. Perhaps my expectations of hotel and restaurant were too high after reading so many enthusiastic reports.
We drove back to the villa. Hopefully our bodies will be on US time tomorrow.
Libby
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Sunday August 14th
Once again Im awake early. This time I put on a load of washing. The kids are both up soon after and have breakfast. They sit and play with their potato heads for a while (if only their friends could see them!)
I have to wake up DH but soon were off to animal kingdom. Weve not even passed Splendid China before the kids are squabbling. (When I say splendid China I mean the walls round what used to be Splendid China. We never went there on our previous trips but its still sad to see a deserted attraction).
We got to Animal Kingdom very quickly (less than 10 minutes) now that weve mastered Sherbeth Road. We parked in Unicorn 27, having been diverted around most of the car park to get there. There were characters waiting just before the entrance, but this year the kids are not collecting autographs so we go straight in. We grab a couple of maps and then take some photos as we wander over to Tusker House.
On the way we see Lilo and Stitch and DD wants to stop for a photo. (For some reason DH mistakes Lilo for Pocahontas a mistake we tease him about for the rest of the trip.) We carry on to Tusker House buy some drinks and sit round deciding what everyone would like to do.
Our first choice is Kilimanjaro Safari but before we get there the kids are fighting. DH and I join in and by the time we get on the ride no one is talking to each other. We start the ride in silence but by the time it finishes weve all calmed down and everything is OK (oh, yes Little Red is safe too!). The driver we had wasnt too good his voice was very monotonous and therefore he got very little passenger response. There was a traffic jam at the unloading point (one truck full of passengers was parked someway away from the platform I dont know why.)
We then got the train to Conservation Station not our favourite place but I was keen to see if the poster of the vet spot welding a goats ear was still there, Im pleased to say it was. One there we had a brief look round and managed to stroke an alligator (OK so it was only a foot long but it WAS an alligator!). Three of us were then highly amused by DD being chased by a dustbin she didnt find it so funny. Before heading back to the train we needed a loo stop. It was quite an education in itself, with background noises and the posters about animal poo. The best part was the hand driers that blew with such a force it made the skin on our hands ripple.
Back in the main park we went to Pizzafari I hadnt been aware of this place before doing the Disney Quizzes. The pizzas were good but very stodgy. The breadsticks were really nice but no one finished their pizza.
We then go over to Dinosaur Dh and DS want to ride this but DD and I dont (Ive ridden it once and most of that ride I had my eyes firmly shut!) We arrange to meet at the Dig Site and they go off to queue. We go through a shop (more potato head stuff to look at) and eventually get to the boneyard. Its very hot now and we need to ask directions to the digging. Since our first trip (1998) some really efficient fans have been installed and its quite pleasant just to sit and watch DD get covered in grit.
Quite soon the boys return. While they were queuing the people behind had asked if Dinosaur was a ride I hope they enjoyed it. DD gets out of the grit-pit and spends a few minutes getting the grit off herself while we chat to an older CM about Bas problems. He reaches into his pocket and quietly passes us some Tarzan tattoos as if theyre some kind of contraband.
De-stoned we head over to Kali River Rapids there is a 40 minute wait and fast passes are for much the same time. DS is now getting a headache (he wont accept that wearing a black hat, no sunglasses and not drinking water maybe to blame) so with the sun reflecting strongly off the concrete paths we decide to head back to the villa for a rest and clean up before our trip to Bomas this evening. (We leave the car park 1:55 and get to villa at 2:03.)
DS takes some paracetamol and a drink and goes to bed. DH plonks himself in front of the TV so its up to me to keep an aye on DD in the pool.
After a good break everyone is feeling a lot better and we all get changed and ready for our 5:10 ADR at Boma. It takes no time to get there but, once at the gate of Animal Kingdom Lodge, were asked for ID. Luckily I have been carrying my driving licence around because of using travellers cheques and this was enough to get us all in. We were given a 3 hour parking permit and told where to park.
Animal Kingdom Lodge seemed very much like Wilderness Lodges little brother. (I believe they were designed by the same person.) I dont know if Id have been more impressed if I hadnt already visited Wilderness Lodge but I wasnt over awed with AKL as I had been with WL. AKL is a lovely building with some very clever and very careful features but it just didnt have that wow factor for me.
We found a map and saw that we needed to go downstairs for Boma. We went down and were given a pager but only had to wait 10 minutes before being shown to the table. Our server was very jolly and keen to tell us all about Boma. On hearing our accents we told her that we lived near London and she told us her son was stationed near London at Lakenheath!
We really enjoyed trying out the different flavours on the buffet. There were some very strange combinations even within a single dish. The kids did try a few new things (none of us liked the crab soup) but reverted to the pasta or chips. My favourite was the salmon which had a very mild topping. The desserts were absolutely gorgeous but I doubt whether they were authentic African recipes.
After dinner we had a look around the hotel. We went outside and saw zebra, giraffes and some kind of antelope. Then thunder and lightning (but no rain) began and we went indoors. We did a trip to the shop and looked for the hidden Mickey on a lampshade in the lobby.
We had a very pleasant evening but its not somewhere wed visit again. Perhaps my expectations of hotel and restaurant were too high after reading so many enthusiastic reports.
We drove back to the villa. Hopefully our bodies will be on US time tomorrow.
Libby
Another great day and another great trip report Libby
