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[StefaniLyn]

Ok...

Here is my top 10 for Epcot WS.....


1. Follow Liesa around.

2. Follow Liesa around.

3. Follow Liesa around.

4. Follow Liesa around.

5. Follow Liesa around.

6. Follow Liesa around.

7. Follow Liesa around.

8. Follow Liesa around.

wait for it.....

wait for it......

wait for it......

9. Follow Liesa around.

10. If I get bored doing #s 1 - 9 - Go be lazy in the pool!

very creative and original Maroo! Though I can't say I blame you - Leisa clearly has a well thought out and comprehensive plan. What's left to do but follow her around?

 

[All7OfUs]

Unlike the fantasy or the educational elements that I love about the other parks, the intricate, yet serene, beauty of Animal Kingdom draws me to it.

I will admit the confusing layout of the park itself left me with quite an unfavorable bias on my first visit in 2001. The kids and I wandered around lost and confused (I tend to do that anyways under normal circumstances), and quite frankly frustrated; but the old adage, "Knowledge is the key to enjoyment" certainly holds true for this park.

On our last visit we went went well prepared with the backstory of AK as our starting point. It opened a whole new world to us! Really? There's an "Asia"? And an "Africa?" And really super corny-tacky area called "Dinoland" with a ride that could actually induce sponataneous puking?! (Guess where the kids headed off to right after EE?)

There's so much I love about this park, but here a few things that top my list of Must-Do's:

1) Walk all 3 trails, paying extra attention to the theming in each one; Maharaja, Pangani, and the Tree of Life Trails.

2) Find and watch DeVine

3) Ride EE, possibly several dozen times.

4) See the Festival of the Lion King show

5) Explore the Oasis Animal Exhibits and Discovery Island shops (each has a different theme, did you know?)

6) Stop to wach the African musicians and other music groups that play around the park.

7) Find a whole bunch of Hidden Mickeys and hidden gems I've learned about over the last year.

8) Eat a Minnie's Strawberry bar

9) See the folk art and handpainted murals in Pizzafari

10) If time, see Nemo again (it made me cry last time)

Think I can fit it all in?? I think I'll have at least 1 and a half days here total. Maybe even more, if I get here during one of my solo days. I'm ready for an adventure here, for sure!

 

[eandesmom]

backsroty

you might need to replenish the collage fund


Nemo made you cry?

Awwwwwwwwwww

I likey your list!

 

[jordanyosh]

The toughest thing about AK are trying to fit in the shows.

 

[winkers]

I love AK.

I think you can fit it all in.

I agree, the layout is a little confusing. Even with a map, I still get lost. But then that happens when I'm driving too.

 

[All7OfUs]

I really really hope to have time to just explore the WS this time. I've been to WDW 4 times and have not really explored it at all. We've eaten, we've had drinks, we've strolled. But really explore? Enjoy? No.

I'm hoping to get a full day in in just the WS....not all at once but over the course of the trip. I also think by having more "adults" with us this trip, that will be easier to pull off as I think they will love the WS.

I love your list!

I guess, I've always gone with kids, who aren't really into stop and smell the roses kind of touring. Details aren't important, high thrills are. So we stand in line for Maelstrom and flit from place to place.

I think no less than a whole day is needed JUST for WS. Most people give it a half day tops. Us included our first trips. Your kids are older too, and now with the KP Missions, it should be easier to entice them to stay longer.

When you're on Maelstrom, look for the hidden Mickey on the mural at the loading dock!

I've seen that one!! Isn't that clever? I'd have never seen it though without having seen Steven Barrett's website.

I'm happy to report that with me and my kids trying on every stinkin hat in WS, none of us has walked away with cooties, lice or anyother nasty thing.

We can look at gloves, scarfs, jackets..and none of them inspire us to try them on. But we see a hat and it's like we're genetically undable to pass it up.

I think it's probably easier to get lice from public school than from Disney hats. Just sayin'...

Some fun ones to get may be in Future World too. We got one of NASA helmuts that were pretty fun last time.

I love a nice hat too, ask Jordan about the 5 berets I bought in France (the real France) on my high school trip. I like them for about 10 minutes, then they get relegated to the junk trunk forever more. Too sentimental for selling, too stupid looking to actually wear.

this reminded me of your stolen outhouse...

OMG! That's too funny!! Speaking of genetics... are men programmed to spray all over the place? It's like they are living out a childhood dream of being a firefighter or something. No offense, guys, but why is the throne constantly "coated"?

DD10 is a spelling whiz but DD8 can't spell worth a darn. It's very frustrating for me to try and study with DD8 because she spells everything phonetically. Her teacher insists that some kids just 'get it' and others have to work to spell every word. And then she tells me not to worry because of spell check.

Poor Bekka - all this fuss over one little letter!

An OR nurse sounds like a wonderful career. Not a lot of spelling required either! We love our OR nurses





Oh my, oh my, oh my! Leisa, I am ashamed to say that I have done only a couple of items on your list! I am so intrigued by KP Missions though I've never heard of them. Myuki? Who is s/he and what does s/he do?

Great list overall! What about the ride in Mexico?

I've heard that too. Spelling, they say, is a visual thing, and some can remember the shape of the words and some can't. Spelling phonectically actually works in most other languages, but definitely NOT in English.

I hope that she can get into nursing school!! Her grades are good, though, so I'm not too worried.

Mikuki is this lady:



And she is a "Master" (the only woman Master, in fact, ever) of making this:



It is candy made from rice flour. Her creations are INCREDIBLE!! You can't miss her next time!

Ok...

Here is my top 10 for Epcot WS.....


1. Follow Liesa around.

2. Follow Liesa around.

3. Follow Liesa around.

4. Follow Liesa around.

5. Follow Liesa around.

6. Follow Liesa around.

7. Follow Liesa around.

8. Follow Liesa around.

wait for it.....

wait for it......

wait for it......

9. Follow Liesa around.

10. If I get bored doing #s 1 - 9 - Go be lazy in the pool!

Classic!! You are over-the-top funny!!

very creative and original Maroo! Though I can't say I blame you - Leisa clearly has a well thought out and comprehensive plan. What's left to do but follow her around?

HA!! I promise she won't be disappointed!

 

[All7OfUs]

you might need to replenish the collage fund


Nemo made you cry?

Awwwwwwwwwww

I likey your list!

Had I known you were on---I'd have gone back to edit first thing!!! I always post it raw, and then go back, cuz, half the time I lose what I've just spent an hour typing. So.... because I have nothing to replace the collage fund with, I'm going back to edit, change the title, AND put in the link on the TOC now. I'll join y'all in about 10 minutes at the usual places.

The toughest thing about AK are trying to fit in the shows.

It's almost like they purposely schedule them so you can't fit them all in...

I love AK.

I think you can fit it all in.

I agree, the layout is a little confusing. Even with a map, I still get lost. But then that happens when I'm driving too.

Yup, made me cry. Something so special about the reuniting scene. Reminds me of my Father's love for me and His passionate pursuit of me- even when I blow it.

 

[that's nice]

There's so much I love about this park, but here a few things that top my list of Must-Do's:

1) Walk all 3 trails, paying extra attention to the theming in each one; Maharaja, Pangani, and the Tree of Life Trails.

This is a great idea!

2) Find and watch DeVine

We've only seen her once. I've looked for her the last 2 times and I didn't see her.

3) Ride EE, possibly several dozen times.

Single rider line is key for this!

4) See the Festival of the Lion King show

This is a great show.. plus it is shorter than Nemo if you are strapped for time.

5) Explore the Oasis Animal Exhibits and Discovery Island shops (each has a different theme, did you know?)

More shopping huh?

6) Stop to wach the African musicians and other music groups that play around the park.

Very good idea. You can do what Juliana does and play the drums in Harambe.

7) Find a whole bunch of Hidden Mickeys and hidden gems I've learned about over the last year.

Sounds like fun!

8) Eat a Minnie's Strawberry bar

What about Mickey?

9) See the folk art and handpainted murals in Pizzafari

I've seen the murals... but never looked closely at them.

10) If time, see Nemo again (it made me cry last time)

Cry?

 

[jordanyosh]

I usually do all the attractions on one day and then come back just to do Nemo. While I like FOTLK, it's not something I need to do every trip. I usually see it once every 3-4 years. I take that back...I don't think I've actually seen FOTLK since 03....I guess I need to see it this trip...

Anyways at 1 1/2 days at AK, that's what I would do. I LOVE Nemo so I try to see that twice every trip.

 

[pipersmom]

We've never been to AK, so it's something I'm really looking forward to. Piper is convinced she wants to ride Primevil(sp?) Whirl, which should be interesting considering she normally refuses to ride anything that spins, knows this spins, yet is all about it..we'll see, lol. She also wants to ride EE, other than that I think we'll prob end up focusing on the animal trails and conservation station, and shows. I've never heard of Minnie's Strawberry Bar, we're both strawberry nuts, so we'll have to try it!

 

[All7OfUs]

This is a great idea!

We've only seen her once. I've looked for her the last 2 times and I didn't see her.

I've heard she can be hit and miss... I won't stalk her, but do hope we can score a sighting.

Single rider line is key for this!

maroo swears by it.

This is a great show.. plus it is shorter than Nemo if you are strapped for time.

Never seen it. Like Jordan says, it's hard to get allthe shows in. I think it's a conspiracy.

More shopping huh?

Not really, but each shop is done up with a different theme, and I want to see it for myself. One is migrating animals, one is spots and stripes, etc...

Very good idea. You can do what Juliana does and play the drums in Harambe.

I'd like that!!

Sounds like fun!


What about Mickey?

Honestly, I"m not that big of an ice cream fan. Esp. fake stuff like soft serve. I was spoiled ona homemade icecream when I was little, I guess...

I've seen the murals... but never looked closely at them.


Cry?

Yeah, I'm a weenie...

 

[All7OfUs]

I usually do all the attractions on one day and then come back just to do Nemo. While I like FOTLK, it's not something I need to do every trip. I usually see it once every 3-4 years. I take that back...I don't think I've actually seen FOTLK since 03....I guess I need to see it this trip...

Anyways at 1 1/2 days at AK, that's what I would do. I LOVE Nemo so I try to see that twice every trip.

I've not seen it at all yet, so am really looking forward to it. I'll consider it my wanna be Cirque trip.

I think that's about what I have scheduled. I think it should be enough. I love Nemo too, I think the staging and production are AMAZING!

We've never been to AK, so it's something I'm really looking forward to. Piper is convinced she wants to ride Primevil(sp?) Whirl, which should be interesting considering she normally refuses to ride anything that spins, knows this spins, yet is all about it..we'll see, lol. She also wants to ride EE, other than that I think we'll prob end up focusing on the animal trails and conservation station, and shows. I've never heard of Minnie's Strawberry Bar, we're both strawberry nuts, so we'll have to try it!

My kids rode Primeval Hurl and thought is was meh. I had to stay with my 6 year old, so maybe I'm lucky? We rode the Dumbo wanna be twice with no line whatsoever. She loved it, and I was spared.

Strawberry bars are so good!! If I'm not mistaken they are 100% natural with no preservatives or artificial junk. They are so yummy and refreshing on a hot day. And less filling and fattening than ice cream. That way, you can pig out extra well at Bomas later on.

 

[All7OfUs]

maroo, STOP NOW! Skip to the next page, and don't peek! I know you're trying......... shoo, go 'way

Peeps, don't quote these photos, or they'll end up where she might see them.

As the weeks and months pass, I hope to be busy putting together a few little things to put in a gift basket for maroo and LeeAnn. My hope is that these little baskets can be waiting for them when they arrive in the room, but that will depend on timing, and if I can be the first one to check in. If not, that's ok, but it sure would be fun to have these surprises waiting for them.

I want to share with you what I did this weekend for my fellow soldiers. I think a little "friendly fire" of this sort will be a nice thing. I hope maroo and LeeAnn will enjoy these little homemade things, as much as I enjoyed making them!

Here is the front of one of the little coasters with a not-so- hidden- Mickey.



And the back...



And all 3 of ours put together:



My hope is that we can use these for our morning cups of coffee or tea during our trip (or in maroo's case probably pop), and then take them home and use them all year long, emoting fond memories of our time together.

They only took about 1/2 hour each, since I was using scraps from our quilting class. I should be able to put the last 2 Mickey's on and quilt them next weekend. Most of you know, the computer stays off in our house on Sundays, and that Saturday night is always pizza/movie night, so not much updating happens on the weekends. Which is a good thing, because that frees me up to do some fun little things like this, work on my Planning Journal, and most importantly, spend some quality time with my family.

I'm also thinking that this might be a nice gifty for whoever wins the Rations Drop Game- which will start back up sometime soon. Can't say when exactly, but soon. I have enough fabric for a couple more of these. And since I'm so nice, and love a good game, I won't even make you come and get it in person.

 

[pipersmom]

Ohh..I'm jealous! Very neat idea. And I cracked up when I saw your title change, I don't know how she is with things like that, but it would drive me craaaaaaazy!

 

[All7OfUs]

Ohh..I'm jealous! Very neat idea. And I cracked up when I saw your title change, I don't know how she is with things like that, but it would drive me craaaaaaazy!

She told me to warn her when I posted this stuff, so she was warned and totally fine with it. She's more honest than Abe himself, so I don't worry

It'd drive me crazy too! Hope I don't drive her too far into the looney bin before we go.

 

[MKBekka]

what is it with my one little letter?! e,a, big deal! I will admit, I am stuck on OR nursing...and I loved my biology class. It's so interesting to see how things work inside of you! here's a gross fact about your body. In your lifetime, you body will make two swimming-pools full of spit. GAG!!!

I like the hats and fountains idea!

 

[shannn]

How Cute!!! And I love the idea behind it. The sentiment of having something that you use each day and then remember the trip because of it... how sweet! Doing this PTR so far ahead is really giving you time to share and bond, and it will make the trip all the better for it.

 

[All7OfUs]

what is it with my one little letter?! e,a, big deal! I will admit, I am stuck on OR nursing...and I loved my biology class. It's so interesting to see how things work inside of you! here's a gross fact about your body. In your lifetime, you body will make two swimming-pools full of spit. GAG!!!

I like the hats and fountains idea!

You know, I got about 3 pictures TOTAL of me on our last trip. Is it because I'm the only one ever holding the camera?

I'm so glad I know that little disgusting fact now! I feel complete and fulfilled.

How Cute!!! And I love the idea behind it. The sentiment of having something that you use each day and then remember the trip because of it... how sweet! Doing this PTR so far ahead is really giving you time to share and bond, and it will make the trip all the better for it.

It really does. I love (in some ways) the fact that I can so totally plan at leisure and not have to hurry about it. I have a few more things I've actually finished, but with a PTR starting so far out, I really have to pace myself.

 

[Sandy321]

OK caught up!!

With AK - we like to do EE first, then FP - go over to Dinosaur - then DD likes to do that primevil whirl - so I run to Safari to get FP - then we wander the trails... and we esp look out for CM's on the trails that have "earning my ears" and talk to them -

another time - we went to the Harumbe School! DD was missing school, and they were studying Africa - so we got the best education - the CM was earning her ears - and while she was scheduled to talk about one section of Africa, the other guests wandered off - but DD kept asking her questions, and before you konw it, she spent over 1/2 hour talking about her hometown!!

So AK has a special place for us - we dont often make it through all the trails - instead we spend a lot of time in one trail.. again mostly looking for the CM's that stand off to the sides...

I'm actually hoping we can do the Behind the Scene tour at AK - you get there early and sometimes they do medical procedures (well visits as well as operations) that you get to see... plus

do you know about the "secret" AK path? It takes you round the Tree and I keep missing it... maybe Robo has it on his maps at Stitch Kingdom - I'll go look and report back - but I know it ends where the FP machines are outside of Its Tough To Be A Bug (Hey, how come this isnt on your list?? )

 

[eandesmom]

Had I known you were on---I'd have gone back to edit first thing!!! I always post it raw, and then go back, cuz, half the time I lose what I've just spent an hour typing. So.... because I have nothing to replace the collage fund with, I'm going back to edit, change the title, AND put in the link on the TOC now. I'll join y'all in about 10 minutes at the usual places.

uh huh....and I noticed you deleted your spelling error (which was clearly not so much an error as a fingers moving faster than the brain or the other way around I'm never sure) from my quoted post so the evidence is gone...

It's almost like they purposely schedule them so you can't fit them all in...

I often have that same feeling...

Yup, made me cry. Something so special about the reuniting scene. Reminds me of my Father's love for me and His passionate pursuit of me- even when I blow it.

I LOVE maroo's list for the WS

and I love your ideas! SO cute. She is a far stronger woman than I.

I would peek.