Marriage: The Trip Report - Update 2/28 - Final Thoughts & Link to Disneyland TR!

[jenjolt]

YAY for making it out to Rafiki's!!!!! I do enjoy it back there! Some really cool characters and you got to love the bathrooms!!!

Henry's picture with the sheep and goats is too cute!!!! Love it!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I've never gotten off the train at Rafikis planet watch. I'm not sure why?

I was probably too lazy to lug the stroller and the diaper bag and everything off the train.

Henry is doing a great job at brushing the goat and checking out the shoes. He is multi-tasking. Not very men can do those sorta things. You have taught him well!

Nice coloring Henry!

so you just rode the train loop? That itself is pretty entertaining! Even though we ride the train almost daily (well, the subway), Henry still loves to ride a "real" train there.

about multi-tasking! Oh too funny! Joe is the KING of the "I'm a man, I can't multi-task" excuse!

Some people never/rarely go to Rafiki's, but it's pretty much a must for us every trip. We usually do the safari, walk the Pangani Tail, and then go to Rafiki's. We enjoy see whatever procedure they are doing for the morning, getting some pictures with the regular characters that hang out there, and seeing whatever small animals the handlers bring out to the center of the room. Brooklynn loves to brush the goats, and I like to browse the gift shop for things for school.

If I worked in Disney World, this is where I would like to work. I think I could enjoy a job where I got to talk to kids about animals all day.

Henry looks like he had plenty of fun. So cute that he was checking out the Spiderman 'kicks'.

There were no zebra domes as Kusafiri when we were there a few weeks ago. There was a zebra cupcake, though.

I think working at Rafiki's would be a lot of fun! Nice choice. They have a great gift shop, it seems to hold a few unique things.

That is sad to hear about Zebra Dome! I got all excited. It would be a great addition, don't you think?

that is so funny!!


are you accepting friends! I so need a live report!!!

We like Rafiki's, we actually really like AK.. I know a lot of people don't, but we like it for the slower pace.. its a good park to put in between all the days, it makes you slow down.. of course we slow down after we do the mad dash and ride EE 5x in a row!!

Yes, absolutely! I will be reporting live on Facebook (and I'll try to do Twitter too) during our trip. If you'd like to follow along and we aren't Facebook friends yet, send me a PM with your info! If you are more of a Tweeter, I am @joebrookhenry

I like AK too, Joe isn't such a fan, but it's grown on him a bit. This coming trip we are just going a half-day there. I'll have more time with the Travel Agent group since we are doing a group activity there (not sure if we are doing a tour/rides, or what?), but I doubt Joe and Henry will make it back. Joe MUCH prefers the other 3 parks over it still.

One of the rumors I heard was that "more" was going on back there. I hope so, it would be a great addition.

Henry is a great goat brusher.

I've heard that rumor as well. I hope it's not just someone blowing smoke! It would be a perfect spot I think!

Rafiki's Planet Watch was fun for my kiddos too. They loved brushing the goats!

It's funny that you can do that at most any petting zoo, but the Disney goats are best.

We've only been back there once. Claire liked it, but I didn't think it was anything great. I'm sure we'll make it back in the future again to check it out.

The activities along the path are fun and educational. And if we could actually catch a surgery I would like Henry to experience that someday when he's a bit older so he could understand. Lots of learning moments back there!

I am another one who has yet to get to Rafiki's Planet. One of these days....

Someday. I would always forget it even existed until a couple trips ago!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Yes, I do think Joe and Charles would tour quite nicely together.

I adore that train station to Rafiki's -- there are so many cool details there! I took a ton of pictures when we were there last time.

Hurray for time with the goats! Henry looks like he is taking his grooming responsibilities very seriously.

Poor snake swallowing a golf ball -- he probably thought it was an egg of some sort.

If Joe and Charles ever did tour together - do you think they would ever make it to the parks?! Joe would be happy as a clam to just sit poolside.

There are a ton of details on that train! It's very neat. Kind of like the jeeps for the Safari too.

Isn't it sad about the snake? Makes you wonder what else they have pulled out of animals, I'm sure kids (and adults ) drop things into the pens daily.

Hi Brook! Love the AK pics, esp of the Tree of Life.

Henry looks like he is having such a great time at Rafiki's Planet Watch - sounds like a great experience!

on it being 12 days until your trip!!!

I hope to get my May trip going sometime here - I took a TON of pictures of the Tree of Life! But, the pink trees weren't flowering anymore, so they aren't quite as pretty.

I have been trying to catch up on your report and every time I do, I'm interrupted! I am reading, just still far behind!

YAY for making it out to Rafiki's!!!!! I do enjoy it back there! Some really cool characters and you got to love the bathrooms!!!

Henry's picture with the sheep and goats is too cute!!!! Love it!!!

I love the characters back there! Someday Henry will wait in the line.

 

[PirateKate]

I haven't made it back to Rafiki's Planet Watch since we before had kids, but it's on my list of things to do next time. Henry looks like he was having a blast petting the goats. Last time I was there, I thought the train ride was the best part.

 

[vamassey1]

Yeah I'm finally caught back up!

You are my hero.

There is no way I could keep my patience and not be rushing from one ride to another first thing in the morning. Luckily I'm married to someone who rushes too. After we have hit the big rides then we slow down. It works best if we have 2 days in each park. When we go in Feb of 2012 we will only have 1 day in 3 parks and 1/2 day in Epcot. But I just keep telling myself I'm just glad we're going.

I really enjoyed your photo tour of Movies. It was the first Disney resort we stayed at in 2002. Now I want to go back.

When we go in Feb we'll be crashing Danielle's school trip. She gets to go do behind the scenes classes first thing in the morning then touring the parks. When they go to AK they will be doing something with the big cats. I wish I was a kid too.

Henry is such a cutie! He really is growing into a handsome little boy.

 

[Charleston Princess]

If Joe and Charles ever did tour together - do you think they would ever make it to the parks?! Joe would be happy as a clam to just sit poolside.

Good point! We could make it a DIS board game and take bets!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Waaay back, maybe 2003 or so, we actually watched part of a surgery where they were removing a golf ball from a snake! I wonder if that x-ray/ball was from the same one? We had joked at the time that it took them a lot of time to convince the snake to swallow the ball so they would have a surgery for the day!

 

[jenb1023]

Wow, you had to wait for a second train - crazy! Cute pictures and update from Rafiki's! The petting zoo is always a bust for us - the animals always seem to hide. On our most recent trip, we sat down for one of the animal handler talks outside and DD got to be an assistant animal trainer. It was so cute and she was thrilled!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I find Rafiki's Planet Watch boring. We heard bad things about it back there so we waited until our third trip before checking it out. So DH and I were underwhelmed and decided our previous decisions to skip the area had been correct.

Still, you don't know til you try it, right? The kids were slightly more interested in what was available to see/do but they both agreed that the best thing about Rafiki's Planet Watch was the gift shop.

On our next trip, I'm hoping to do something a little more relaxing...less park days so we may leave out AK all together (it's my least favourite park) but even if we do head in there, I'm fairly certain we won't be patronizing that area again.

Having said all of that....I'm glad you guys had a great time!

And kudos to you for being able to slow things down a bit and let your husband be the pace guide. If I had to do that with DH I'd look something like this:



Ergo, we always compromise and go at a pace slower than mine but faster than his.

Having a great time reading along!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I haven't made it back to Rafiki's Planet Watch since we before had kids, but it's on my list of things to do next time. Henry looks like he was having a blast petting the goats. Last time I was there, I thought the train ride was the best part.

I don't think we'd go back there if it wasn't for Henry. I like goats and think they are adorable, but they are also in the Central Park Zoo, so it's not a must do by any means. The air conditioning in the main building is nice though.

Yeah I'm finally caught back up!

You are my hero.

There is no way I could keep my patience and not be rushing from one ride to another first thing in the morning. Luckily I'm married to someone who rushes too. After we have hit the big rides then we slow down. It works best if we have 2 days in each park. When we go in Feb of 2012 we will only have 1 day in 3 parks and 1/2 day in Epcot. But I just keep telling myself I'm just glad we're going.

I really enjoyed your photo tour of Movies. It was the first Disney resort we stayed at in 2002. Now I want to go back.

When we go in Feb we'll be crashing Danielle's school trip. She gets to go do behind the scenes classes first thing in the morning then touring the parks. When they go to AK they will be doing something with the big cats. I wish I was a kid too.

Henry is such a cutie! He really is growing into a handsome little boy.

What a VERY cool class trip! I remember reading a bit about it when you were making the plans on your TR - I'm so glad it worked out that you guys get to crash it.

It is so hard for me to move slowly in the parks and not just think about how much we aren't doing that I want to. I hope this coming trip will go smoother since I've convinced Joe into a couple Rope Drops. We can slow down after we hit our most important choices. Then I'm all about moving slowly, taking the time for a snack, etc. Hopefully it balances us out!

Good point! We could make it a DIS board game and take bets!

Waaay back, maybe 2003 or so, we actually watched part of a surgery where they were removing a golf ball from a snake! I wonder if that x-ray/ball was from the same one? We had joked at the time that it took them a lot of time to convince the snake to swallow the ball so they would have a surgery for the day!

Wow! I wonder if it was the same one! I wouldn't doubt it! That's hilarious about them trying to convince the snake. But, it made me wonder who the heck brings a golf ball to Animal Kingdom and then throws it into one of the animal pens?! Very odd!

Wow, you had to wait for a second train - crazy! Cute pictures and update from Rafiki's! The petting zoo is always a bust for us - the animals always seem to hide. On our most recent trip, we sat down for one of the animal handler talks outside and DD got to be an assistant animal trainer. It was so cute and she was thrilled!

I always mean to stop and chat with the animal trainers, but at the most Henry has just petted the animal and moved on. I think once he gets a bit older he'll be interested in that too.

I didn't even realize the animals could hide! All the times we've been back there all the goats have been all over the place.

I find Rafiki's Planet Watch boring. We heard bad things about it back there so we waited until our third trip before checking it out. So DH and I were underwhelmed and decided our previous decisions to skip the area had been correct.

Still, you don't know til you try it, right? The kids were slightly more interested in what was available to see/do but they both agreed that the best thing about Rafiki's Planet Watch was the gift shop.

On our next trip, I'm hoping to do something a little more relaxing...less park days so we may leave out AK all together (it's my least favourite park) but even if we do head in there, I'm fairly certain we won't be patronizing that area again.

Having said all of that....I'm glad you guys had a great time!

And kudos to you for being able to slow things down a bit and let your husband be the pace guide. If I had to do that with DH I'd look something like this:



Ergo, we always compromise and go at a pace slower than mine but faster than his.

Having a great time reading along!

about Rafiki's! It's definitely not for everyone, and it doesn't feel all that unique really. It's not a must do in our book, but if we have the time we don't mind going. The mural in the front room and the air conditioning are quite nice though! Ha!

Joe got to be the pace guide for the 1st week of the trip...I wasn't so nice later on!

 

[brookelizabeth]

10 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY!

I'm under the weather today, just achy feeling with zero energy....blah. But, if I start to feel better I plan to do an update!

 

[DisMomAmy]

10 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY!

I'm under the weather today, just achy feeling with zero energy....blah. But, if I start to feel better I plan to do an update!

Hope you feel better soon!! Because you're going to Disney in TEN days!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hope you feel better soon!! Because you're going to Disney in TEN days!!!

Thank you! And yes! this sickness better be DONE before then!

 

[chloe770]

10 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY!

I'm under the weather today, just achy feeling with zero energy....blah. But, if I start to feel better I plan to do an update!

Hopefully it's just the heat taking it's tole . Drink plenty of fluids, watch a good chick flick, take some Tylenol PM to turn off your mind and try to rest. You'll feel better tomorrow.

 

[jenb1023]

Hope you feel better soon!

9 day dance!!!!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Hey Brook! I know you've been super busy today...but surely you must have time for some SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!!!!

​

 

[tiggrbaby]

Feel better! Hopefully this means you will be totally healthy for Disney!

 

[TanzUnited99]

10 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY!

I'm under the weather today, just achy feeling with zero energy....blah. But, if I start to feel better I plan to do an update!

on it being 8 days until your trip!!!

Hope your feeling better today.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hopefully it's just the heat taking it's tole . Drink plenty of fluids, watch a good chick flick, take some Tylenol PM to turn off your mind and try to rest. You'll feel better tomorrow.

Hope you feel better soon!

9 day dance!!!!

Hey Brook! I know you've been super busy today...but surely you must have time for some SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!!!!

​

Feel better! Hopefully this means you will be totally healthy for Disney!

on it being 8 days until your trip!!!

Hope your feeling better today.

Thank you everyone! I am feeling MUCH better today. I could hardly get out of bed the other day, and yesterday started out rough, but thankfully I felt fine as the day went on. And yes, yesterday was a BUSY day with Free Dining being released for dates all the way into 2012...and so fun foo!

We are now at 8 days. EIGHT! I can't even believe that! My To Do List is slowly getting shorter, I'm confident it will all get done on time. At least the vital things anyway!

I will be updating tomorrow - no matter what! How does a nice longggggg update sound?

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

Thank you everyone! I am feeling MUCH better today. I could hardly get out of bed the other day, and yesterday started out rough, but thankfully I felt fine as the day went on. And yes, yesterday was a BUSY day with Free Dining being released for dates all the way into 2012...and so fun foo!

We are now at 8 days. EIGHT! I can't even believe that! My To Do List is slowly getting shorter, I'm confident it will all get done on time. At least the vital things anyway!

I will be updating tomorrow - no matter what! How does a nice longggggg update sound?

Glad you are feeling better!! better to get it over with now!

YEAH on 8 days!!!

BUSY, really? why? Good Grief! yesterday was nuts and I am STILL pulling quotes and going bonkers with the whole split reservations and whether or not you can get your theme park tickets early! I hope you were able to get everyone switched over.