Mommy and Me Safari - A Magical Trip for Two -*Update 03/13 - Dreams and Celebrations

[Northern Disney Girl]

I am still here! Still waiting...patiently.....

 

[Monny2AE]

running out of ...no pressure

 

[Queenofallthings]

I just found your TR today and am subbing!! Can't wait to read more....

 

[Bear and Honey]

Joining in and ready for more.
What a surprise and a great memory!!

 

[Krissy04]

Sounds like fun! I'm in

 

[drakes]

I am still here! Still waiting...patiently.....

running out of ...no pressure

I just found your TR today and am subbing!! Can't wait to read more....

Joining in and ready for more.
What a surprise and a great memory!!

Sounds like fun! I'm in

Welcome to Queen, Bear and Krissy!

I am working on an update right now... I thought this TR stuff was going to be easy!

 

[drakes]

It's time to go....

I woke up January 23rd at 2:00 am, got myself ready, added the last minute travel items, woke up dd, DH packed the car and we were out of the house at about 2:45. The airport is approximately a 30 minute drive from our house, and due to the new flight regulations for flying into the USA the advised me to be there 3 hours before our flight. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:30am from Toronto.

We were able to complete US customs on Canadian soil, which was nice. DD and I were both asked questions for the customs officer to be confident I was travelling with her legitimately (which was stressful, but also nice to know they protect children flying with a solo adult). After customs and security we found out gate and had a short 20 minute wait, so I am glad we got there so early. The flight was uneventful. There was an in-flight movie “Fame” which I did not watch. I read instead and dd watched Tinkerbell, Lost Treasure on the ipod.
We arrived in MCO at 9:30! We quickly got off the plane and headed on our way to the Orlando Monorail!

I always pick up my own bags versus use the service provided by ME, so we did have to go to baggage claim. We lucked out that both our suitcases came off within the first 5 minutes, so now we were on our way to the Magical Express!

Magical Express check in was a breeze and we waited maybe 5- 10 minutes when they decided to add us to a bus headed out to Caribbean Beach Resort and Pop Century. These are 2 resorts I have not seen, so I was kind of excited to get a little glimpse of them as we were dropping families off there first. The initial trips I had booked for DD and I were at CBR and Pop so it was ironic that I would still be seeing them.

We were one of the last families on the ME bus, but we still got front row seat behind the driver ! Score ! Here we are going under the famous sign!

And arriving at Jambo House !

I’d like to guess we arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge at about 10:30. I had completed online check in and this was the time I had informed them I would be there. Pulling up to the lodge I have to admit it is very “rustic” and overgrown with vegetation, which did take away from the architecture of the lodge itself. We walked through to the great lobby and I felt my nerves start up (or maybe it was low blood sugar). I had located the online check in desk and there was no one in line, but there was also no CM present to assist me. I waited a few minutes and a gentleman did finally come to assist me. My check in package was ready, but he required me to go to another check in station. This was the point where I wished I had checked the bags with ME, because lugging them around was hurting my arm! The CM proceeded to log us in and still was required to activate our Keys to the World card, only to find out our park pass with park hopper had not been added, so he had to add them and reverse the charge because I had already paid off my package. I was not impressed, mind you this was my first Disney check in, DH has always done it previously, so maybe Disney does not offer magical check in service?

The CM proceeded to tell us all about the lodge, where to find the restaurants, animal viewing, and then the statement “The Uzima Pool is closed for the month of January; however we have arranged for you to use the Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village. A shuttle service is available from 10 am – 5pm; all you need do is wait for the van at the location just outside the lobby doors”.
My response “Oh the pool is closed? I booked and paid for a pool view room?”
I was cut off “Oh no ma’am we have taken care of that for you, we have booked you into a Sunset Savannah view room, room 2230 on the Kudu Trail. This is a bunk bed room with a view of the Sunset Savannah” The CM then proceeded to direct me on the map to my room. Of course I am sure my mouth was open in shock, an upgrade? Me? I got a free upgrade at the AKL? What a score!

DD was beyond ecstatic! “Let’s go Mom! “, so off we went to find room 2230 on the Kudu Trail.

We did find it after a walk down the hallway gazing out the large windows overlooking the savannah as well as stopping to look at some of the beautiful African artefacts located throughout the nooks and crannies of the lodge.
We found our room, and manoeuvred out suitcases through the door. DD was immediately lying down on the bottom bunk and I walked over to the curtains. I closed my eyes as I opened the curtains, only to be utterly speechless when I did open my eyes and saw 4 giraffes feeding right there in front of us. I was completely impressed with my savannah view room! We stood and watched as some ostrich and zebras also made their way into our view. I actually said out loud “I could sit here all day and watch this!”

We watched the giraffes graze for about 30 minutes and then decided we were hungry too! We still had time to make our lunch ressies for 1:15 at Tony’s Town Square. We left AKL at 12:30 and the bus ride was approx 20 minutes to the Magic Kingdom!

DD and I left with huge smiles on our faces and I kept hearing “I can’t believe we got a free upgrade”, I must have said that out loud and DD chose to repeat it!

So far Disney Magic was working its spell on us!

More Photos in next 2 Posts

Up Next
Lunch at Tony’s
Magic Kingdom Afternoon – do we last until the Evening?

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great pictures and congratulations on the upgrade!!! Can't wait for more....I'm interested in your review of Tony's

 

[drakes]

Here are some of DD's photos

The check in desk, there was a wall hanging that she liked

Apparently the green elephant was her favorite

Our view...

 

[drakes]

Here are some room pics..

We had this little guy waiting for us...

The bunk beds

The queen bed - I forgot to add I had ordered some pins and a book online and had them delivered to the room. The pins were in the safe at the hotel and the book was in the room already !

Our Balcony

And the bathroom for us Disney Photo Addicts that need to see every detail

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

WOW!!!!!

Okay, seriously??? I have NEVER before wanted to stay at AKL!! But after seeing those Giraffes hanging out in front of your room!!! OMGosh!!! My Natalie would go CRAZY!!! She LOVES Giraffes!! The bathroom looks amazing too! What an awesome check in!! I know you were kinda hoping you might get an upgrade what with the pool being closed and all!! Can't wait to hear about your lunch @ MK!! Tony's is on our "Top 5 for next time: List!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Even though your check-in was a bit rough, the outcome was fantastic! What a sweet upgrade....pool view to savannah view! I don't blame you one little bit for the mouth dropping open.

I would love to sit and watch the animals from the room balcony!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Awesome that you got an upgrade!! It must have been nice to be down right by the animals! We were up on the 4th floor and they seemed a bit farther away. I never thought I'd like AKL as much as I did either. But it really is an amazing place, wonderfully themed! I said the same thing - I could sit here and watch the animals all day!

I'm curious as to how you liked Tony's. We tried to get it for our Dec. trip but it was full! I thought people weren't crazy about it, but I guess on that day they were!

ETA - your picture of the WDW sign from the bus is the best I've ever seen!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update, congrats on the upgrade! Your room and view look fantastic!

 

[JoBird]

Awesome update!

Yay for the upgrade!!!! What a wonderful surprise for you guys! I hope that the pool being closed wasn't a big deal though.

Your WDW sign IS the best I've ever seen--- it is great! Don't you just love the feeling you get when you see it? Like a huge unknown is waiting for you.




Can't wait to read some more....

hope you are feeling better.

Jo

 

[DWGal210]

Hi, I was drawn in my your title and wanted to read all about your trip!

Great start so far!! How much fun is that to get an upgrade?!?! So cool!

 

[Charlefours]

magical upgrade despite the service--not a bad trade off!! LOVE the view--holy smokes that would be really cool.

I am impressed they asked questions before you boarded--nice to know that!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I went to AKL last year and didn't do the online check-in. I spent alot of time in a long lineup looking at this.

I got a free upgrade to a pool view (DH asked since it was my b-day) that I wouldn't have gotten if I had checked in online. So I guess it was worth it especially given that the pool was open while I was there.

 

[drakes]

WOW!!!!!

Okay, seriously??? I have NEVER before wanted to stay at AKL!! But after seeing those Giraffes hanging out in front of your room!!! OMGosh!!! My Natalie would go CRAZY!!! She LOVES Giraffes!! The bathroom looks amazing too! What an awesome check in!! I know you were kinda hoping you might get an upgrade what with the pool being closed and all!! Can't wait to hear about your lunch @ MK!! Tony's is on our "Top 5 for next time: List!

Yes the free upgrade was a great surprise. I liked AKL before we stayed there, after that room I left in love with AKL !

Even though your check-in was a bit rough, the outcome was fantastic! What a sweet upgrade....pool view to savannah view! I don't blame you one little bit for the mouth dropping open.

I would love to sit and watch the animals from the room balcony!

It was nice to know those free upgrades do happen! We did luck out!

Awesome that you got an upgrade!! It must have been nice to be down right by the animals! We were up on the 4th floor and they seemed a bit farther away. I never thought I'd like AKL as much as I did either. But it really is an amazing place, wonderfully themed! I said the same thing - I could sit here and watch the animals all day!

I'm curious as to how you liked Tony's. We tried to get it for our Dec. trip but it was full! I thought people weren't crazy about it, but I guess on that day they were!

ETA - your picture of the WDW sign from the bus is the best I've ever seen!!!

I had heard the 2nd floor was the place to be to see the animals, I hadn't thought about it until now when you mentioned it, so I gess our upgrade was now even bettr than I thought . I took LOT of pictures of that sign from a variety of distances in order to get the best I could!

Great update, congrats on the upgrade! Your room and view look fantastic!

It was a fanastic room and view - I think our boys would love it at AKL, the pool waterslide was great !

Awesome update!

Yay for the upgrade!!!! What a wonderful surprise for you guys! I hope that the pool being closed wasn't a big deal though.

Your WDW sign IS the best I've ever seen--- it is great! Don't you just love the feeling you get when you see it? Like a huge unknown is waiting for you.




Can't wait to read some more....

hope you are feeling better.

Jo

The pool being closed was not a big deal, we used the pool at Kidani more than any other trip, I thought with the distance we`d not use it at all.

I am feeling better - thanks, gotta love prescription drugs! I had a visit to the doctor and the pain is going away !

Hi, I was drawn in my your title and wanted to read all about your trip!

Great start so far!! How much fun is that to get an upgrade?!?! So cool!

Thank you and WELCOME! I have been bad for updates, partially because I was trying to sort my photopass pics out to order the cd, and then organizing my personal photos. I am now organized and will upload to photobucket with each post.

magical upgrade despite the service--not a bad trade off!! LOVE the view--holy smokes that would be really cool.

I am impressed they asked questions before you boarded--nice to know that!

yes security put my mind at ease that we were safe! Free Upgrades Do exisit

I went to AKL last year and didn't do the online check-in. I spent alot of time in a long lineup looking at this.




I got a free upgrade to a pool view (DH asked since it was my b-day) that I wouldn't have gotten if I had checked in online. So I guess it was worth it especially given that the pool was open while I was there.

I had noted we were celebrating on our check in. I only did online, because all these helpful ladies convinced me it was easy and worth it. There was a long line up for the regular check in, I was a bit perturbed that there was noone to help me!

What did we celebrate? Personal Triumph... celebrating the mother daughter bond, I had recently passed a 2 year course and received a new level designation, and is was 2010 and DD and I were happy and healthy.. I am sure the list could go on and Disney does list Personal triumph as a celebration!

 

[Pluto_fan]

DD was immediately lying down on the bottom bunk and I walked over to the curtains. I closed my eyes as I opened the curtains, only to be utterly speechless when I did open my eyes and saw 4 giraffes feeding right there in front of us. I was completely impressed with my savannah view room! We stood and watched as some ostrich and zebras also made their way into our view. I actually said out loud “I could sit here all day and watch this!”

WOW! Reading this gave me goosebumps!

What a great update, and thanks for sharing your fabulous pictures!