Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
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- Apr 2, 2002
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Libbys 2009 Trip
Day 5 Friday July 31st
We decide to do Animal Kingdom today. We have an ADR at Biergarten in Epcot at 6:30 and were hoping it wont rain as we chose that time so we could stay for the Illuminations afterwards (news last night said 50% chance of rain today.)
Anyway back to the day. We are up at about 7:30 and head over to the food court. When I say we Im not including DS who decided a lay in was preferable to breakfast.
The three of us have breakfast and then take a cinnamon roll and a bottle of juice back to the room to try and coax DS out of bed.
By 9:15 were parked at Animal Kingdom and decide, once were through the bag checks, to head straight for Exhibition Everest to get fast passes.
It takes us a while to find our way there (we have to ask directions) but once we are there we find that there is only a 20 minute wait so we join the queue. It was good to join a regular queue for a change fast passes are great but weve missed out on a lot of theming by using them.
Now as Ive said before Im very scared of heights and Im not sure how Im going to like this ride I love BTMRR but that hasnt got an open part with drops on both sides as EE has at its beginning. Were soon through the queue and are seated in the 2nd and 3rd rows. I put my things in the bag holder (not too tight the ride cant be that bad!) and hold onto DH hand (very tightly). I am right, I really dont like the first ramp and make sure I stare into the carriage but once thats over, wow! I loved it. (DH had a very sore hand from where I was gripping a little too hard!)
Its now very hot and we head off to Pizzafari so we can sit in some air conditioning and have a drink.
Next we go to the Nemo show. Its due to start in 10 minutes and from the ropes there has obviously been a very long queue but we just amble along and straight in to an already three quarters full theatre. This place is vast and Im sure it could seat everyone who wanted to get in. We are very lucky and are directed to seats at the front of the second section (behind the wide walkway). Our view is slightly obscured by a guest in a wheelchair who has propped some crutches upright behind her but a CM soon arrives and helps her to stow them so they dont block the view.
Im expecting a Nemo version of the Little Mermaid Show but it is quite different. At first its a bit weird that the actors are in costume and have a puppet but after a while it seems quite natural and I really enjoy this spectacular show.
After the show DH and DS want to ride Dinosaur (Ive ridden this once and was so scared I shut my eyes for most of it!) so DD and I go to look around the shops and take some photos.
We go back to Pizzafari for lunch.
After lunch we grab fast passes for the Kilimanjaro Safari . Weve some time to kill and DH would like to see some tigers so we head off to the Maharajah Jungle Trek. I love animal kingdom not so much for the rides or even the animals but for the themeing. There has been amazing attention to detail and I could wander round looking at it all day.
The jungle trek was delightful. The tigers were very lethargic but then it was early afternoon and its very hot. We got a few photos before heading back to the safari.
The safari is enjoyable and we saw plent of animals despite the heat I seem to remember there being CMs guarding Little Red but this time he was all alone.
As we leave the park we are asked to fill in a restaurant survey which we are happy to do.
We go back to the hotel to put our feet up before heading to Epcot for the evening. Its now raining and gets heavier during the afternoon.
DH decides hed still like to drive to Epcot (Im more inclined to get the bus) so at about 5pm we don our binbags and drive to Epcot.
Its very quiet at Epcot and the rain is still very heavy. We have a 6:30 reservation so we still have time to do things before eating.
We go to the Living Seas and ride Nemo. Were asked to remove our ponchos before getting on to the ride. A sweet little ride but were freezing as were still damp from the rain.
We wander anticlockwise around the World Showcase looking in the shops until we get to Germany.
Were still a little early but we are soon seated at the Biergarten. The show is just finishing as we enter the restaurant. Were looked after by a very nice, older German waitress with a very thick accent.
Were seated next to an American family. The wife hears our surname as we are seated and introduces herself as her maiden name is the same. Shes very proud that her ancestors were Scottish but looks a little disappointed when DH (who is heavily into family history) tells her it is one of the most common Scottish surnames.
The food here consists of lots of German salads, breads, sausages and meats. The kids are not so impressed as there isnt the usual kids pap that most of the Disney restaurants offer at their buffets. Although Im not usually a great meat eater I find plenty here that I enjoy. This is definitely not a restaurant for vegetarians.
Weve nearly finished our meal when the show starts again. We linger over our desserts and enjoy half an hour of a German band.
As we leave we find it is still raining steadily and Im worried that there wont be any fireworks, but as there has been no announcement I assume that Illuminations will still take place. We decide its worth waiting (only an hour to go) as the crowds are very thin tonight.
We visit Mexico and ride the boat ride. Im having trouble getting my new camera to focus in low light so I spend most of the ride fiddling with the camera rather than enjoying the ride.
By the time we get back to future world the rain has stopped. We use our ponchos as a ground sheet and find a spot near one of the Port of Entry shops and sit by the railings and wait for the fireworks.
Once the show starts were too tired to stand and stay seated and watch through the railings. We enjoy the show.
As we head out of the park it suddenly seems very busy. I notice the twinkly lights in the pavement.
We dont need to get the tram to get to our car but there is a CM controlling the pedestrians so we have to wait for the tram to move before were allowed to cross behind it. (We would have head plenty of time to cross before it left but we do as we are told.)
Its a quick drive back to ASMu. Its the latest weve arrived back at our room and we are amazed at the animal noises coming from the wooded/lake area behind our block. Its much louder than the chirping crickets that we have heard elsewhere a sort of twanging noise. I think it may be frogs but DH tries to convince me that it is just Disney sound effects!
Were happy to get back to our rooms and are soon in bed.
Day 5 Friday July 31st
We decide to do Animal Kingdom today. We have an ADR at Biergarten in Epcot at 6:30 and were hoping it wont rain as we chose that time so we could stay for the Illuminations afterwards (news last night said 50% chance of rain today.)
Anyway back to the day. We are up at about 7:30 and head over to the food court. When I say we Im not including DS who decided a lay in was preferable to breakfast.
The three of us have breakfast and then take a cinnamon roll and a bottle of juice back to the room to try and coax DS out of bed.
By 9:15 were parked at Animal Kingdom and decide, once were through the bag checks, to head straight for Exhibition Everest to get fast passes.
It takes us a while to find our way there (we have to ask directions) but once we are there we find that there is only a 20 minute wait so we join the queue. It was good to join a regular queue for a change fast passes are great but weve missed out on a lot of theming by using them.
Now as Ive said before Im very scared of heights and Im not sure how Im going to like this ride I love BTMRR but that hasnt got an open part with drops on both sides as EE has at its beginning. Were soon through the queue and are seated in the 2nd and 3rd rows. I put my things in the bag holder (not too tight the ride cant be that bad!) and hold onto DH hand (very tightly). I am right, I really dont like the first ramp and make sure I stare into the carriage but once thats over, wow! I loved it. (DH had a very sore hand from where I was gripping a little too hard!)
Its now very hot and we head off to Pizzafari so we can sit in some air conditioning and have a drink.
Next we go to the Nemo show. Its due to start in 10 minutes and from the ropes there has obviously been a very long queue but we just amble along and straight in to an already three quarters full theatre. This place is vast and Im sure it could seat everyone who wanted to get in. We are very lucky and are directed to seats at the front of the second section (behind the wide walkway). Our view is slightly obscured by a guest in a wheelchair who has propped some crutches upright behind her but a CM soon arrives and helps her to stow them so they dont block the view.
Im expecting a Nemo version of the Little Mermaid Show but it is quite different. At first its a bit weird that the actors are in costume and have a puppet but after a while it seems quite natural and I really enjoy this spectacular show.
After the show DH and DS want to ride Dinosaur (Ive ridden this once and was so scared I shut my eyes for most of it!) so DD and I go to look around the shops and take some photos.
We go back to Pizzafari for lunch.
After lunch we grab fast passes for the Kilimanjaro Safari . Weve some time to kill and DH would like to see some tigers so we head off to the Maharajah Jungle Trek. I love animal kingdom not so much for the rides or even the animals but for the themeing. There has been amazing attention to detail and I could wander round looking at it all day.
The jungle trek was delightful. The tigers were very lethargic but then it was early afternoon and its very hot. We got a few photos before heading back to the safari.
The safari is enjoyable and we saw plent of animals despite the heat I seem to remember there being CMs guarding Little Red but this time he was all alone.
As we leave the park we are asked to fill in a restaurant survey which we are happy to do.
We go back to the hotel to put our feet up before heading to Epcot for the evening. Its now raining and gets heavier during the afternoon.
DH decides hed still like to drive to Epcot (Im more inclined to get the bus) so at about 5pm we don our binbags and drive to Epcot.
Its very quiet at Epcot and the rain is still very heavy. We have a 6:30 reservation so we still have time to do things before eating.
We go to the Living Seas and ride Nemo. Were asked to remove our ponchos before getting on to the ride. A sweet little ride but were freezing as were still damp from the rain.
We wander anticlockwise around the World Showcase looking in the shops until we get to Germany.
Were still a little early but we are soon seated at the Biergarten. The show is just finishing as we enter the restaurant. Were looked after by a very nice, older German waitress with a very thick accent.
Were seated next to an American family. The wife hears our surname as we are seated and introduces herself as her maiden name is the same. Shes very proud that her ancestors were Scottish but looks a little disappointed when DH (who is heavily into family history) tells her it is one of the most common Scottish surnames.
The food here consists of lots of German salads, breads, sausages and meats. The kids are not so impressed as there isnt the usual kids pap that most of the Disney restaurants offer at their buffets. Although Im not usually a great meat eater I find plenty here that I enjoy. This is definitely not a restaurant for vegetarians.
Weve nearly finished our meal when the show starts again. We linger over our desserts and enjoy half an hour of a German band.
As we leave we find it is still raining steadily and Im worried that there wont be any fireworks, but as there has been no announcement I assume that Illuminations will still take place. We decide its worth waiting (only an hour to go) as the crowds are very thin tonight.
We visit Mexico and ride the boat ride. Im having trouble getting my new camera to focus in low light so I spend most of the ride fiddling with the camera rather than enjoying the ride.
By the time we get back to future world the rain has stopped. We use our ponchos as a ground sheet and find a spot near one of the Port of Entry shops and sit by the railings and wait for the fireworks.
Once the show starts were too tired to stand and stay seated and watch through the railings. We enjoy the show.
As we head out of the park it suddenly seems very busy. I notice the twinkly lights in the pavement.
We dont need to get the tram to get to our car but there is a CM controlling the pedestrians so we have to wait for the tram to move before were allowed to cross behind it. (We would have head plenty of time to cross before it left but we do as we are told.)
Its a quick drive back to ASMu. Its the latest weve arrived back at our room and we are amazed at the animal noises coming from the wooded/lake area behind our block. Its much louder than the chirping crickets that we have heard elsewhere a sort of twanging noise. I think it may be frogs but DH tries to convince me that it is just Disney sound effects!
Were happy to get back to our rooms and are soon in bed.
