No cats to herd this time! It's just the two of us!UPDATED 11/24-DIS Meet & Departure

[crocko]

This picture of the giraffes and flamingos is awesome!

 

[mom2mek]

This picture of the giraffes and flamingos is awesome!

Thank you!

Sara

 

[kaysmommie]

Awesome Safari and pictures! Wish we saw that many giraffes and they stopped on the road. Waiting for more .

 

[mom2mek]

Awesome Safari and pictures! Wish we saw that many giraffes and they stopped on the road. Waiting for more .

Thanks Nichole! I was happy that if we were going to be stopped on the Safari at least it was watching something pretty (and non-violent)!

Sara

 

[MeMom]

Excellent pictures!

We love an early morning or an end of the day safari!

 

[mom2mek]

Excellent pictures!

We love an early morning or an end of the day safari!

This was the most we have ever seen on a Safari! I'm thinking that the quietness of the Savannah must have brought some of the animals out....they must have had 15 minutes of "No Jeeps" going through and they all wanted to come out and see what was going on! Of course, we didn't see the rhinos up close this time, and those are some of the ones we usually do see! Go figure! I would love to do a Sunrise or Sunset Safari through the AKL or Grand Gathering thing!

Sara

 

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - May 13, 2009 (yes, still....)

Part 7 - Some Close Encounters With Some MORE Animals....these ones are wood though....

After our extra-long safari, we decided to just make our way over to Camp Minnie Mickey to catch the 6:00 Festival of the Lion King. We would just have to save the tigers for another trip! EMH had now started, and you could definitely tell a difference in the crowd levels at this point.

Love the cactus:

Another shot of Everest and the Tree of Life:

On our way over to the show, we passed the pathway that brings you super close to the tree and decided to take a little detour and go down the path. We still had enough time to get over to FOTLK and I definitely wanted Shawn to see the amazing hand-carved animals in the base of the tree. There are over 300 animals carved into the base of the tree and it is truly a work of art.

Well, Shawn was mesmorized. At one point, I totally lost him, as I kept walking through with my head up staring at all the amazing carvings, and I turned around, and he was gone! The man was like a kid in there…wandering off without telling anyone! I thought this was a kid-less trip! LOL! At one point I had to get my cell phone out and call him to figure out where in the heck he had gone. And just like a kid, he was right there near me….just not where I could actually “see” him! Gonna have to put him on a leash!

It’s funny because we actually went down a different trail than the one I had told him about from when I went on the girls trip in December. Both are very nice and you can see so many different animals on each trail. It is so peaceful up in there by the tree – what a gorgeous park!

(The owl I think was one of the most impressive carvings....truly spectacular!)

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...)

Another one of the owl...it was just amazing...


A final pic as we were leaving the area, with one of the waterfalls...

We finally left the trail and headed out and back around to the front of Discovery Island on our way over to Camp Minnie Mickey. On the way, we saw this bird on top of one of the stores....Shawn went to take a picture while I went to the drink stand across the walkway from the store and got us some soft drinks as we were parched at this point.

Seriously, could this bird's neck be any longer?

Even the water fountains are properly themed...this one is in the well:

Shawn was even pointing out the hidden mickeys in the little bird house type lamps...didn't get a picture of those for some reason...weird....

Before long we were arriving at the theater....

Coming up...we arrive at Festival of the Lion King!!

Sara

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Yay - another update! Love the Tree of Life pictures. It is great you guys had time to stroll through there. Not something that is too easy to do with kids. And I agree, that owl is incredible!

Looking forward to Festival of the Li on King.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Your pictures of the Tree of Life are amazing!

We have never strolled through that garden...we've only seen the parts of the tree you see in the It's Tough to be a Bug queue. I can see we've really been missing out! It's on the must-do list for our next trip. (whenever that may be! )

That bird's neck is creepy long. Yikes!

I love the water fountains at AK too...I mentioned that in my TR as well. It's a great little touch!

FOTLK is AWESOME! Can't wait!

 

[jillyb]

Another great update!

 

[mom2mek]

Yay - another update! Love the Tree of Life pictures. It is great you guys had time to stroll through there. Not something that is too easy to do with kids. And I agree, that owl is incredible!

Looking forward to Festival of the Li on King.

Thanks Michelle! The owl was stunning! I find the tree totally fascinating, considering when you are far enough away from it, you only notice patterns but the more you stare at it, the more you see....so pretty!

Your pictures of the Tree of Life are amazing!

We have never strolled through that garden...we've only seen the parts of the tree you see in the It's Tough to be a Bug queue. I can see we've really been missing out! It's on the must-do list for our next trip. (whenever that may be! )

That bird's neck is creepy long. Yikes!

I love the water fountains at AK too...I mentioned that in my TR as well. It's a great little touch!

FOTLK is AWESOME! Can't wait!

Thanks Missy! Yes, definitely try and take the time to get up close to the tree. We went a different way this time (I don't even remember where we turned onto the path) but in December, when I went on a girls trip, we turned on the path right outside Pizzafari and were able to get up nice and close to the base of the tree.

Another great update!

Thanks Jill!

Sara

 

[crocko]

Some great pics....Tree of Life really is mesmerizing.

I'm excited to see how my kiddos react to it.

 

[kaysmommie]

Great update,
I love those pictures of the animal carvings on the tree . I took a picture of the owl too .

 

[DisneyJo]

The safari sounds great what a fantastic place to stop, don't suppose it would have been as good further back

Beautiful photos of the tree, I'm hoping to spend more time exploring when we go in December as it won't be hot like when we visit in August and all we want to do is get out of the heat quick!

 

[tinkerbells mum]

really enjoying your trip report, the photos are lovely, can't wait to hear more xx

 

[ladybugmom]

Oh wow!! What AMAZING pics you got of the Tree of Life! Incredible!! Yay for the Lion King show! We just LOVED that show--one of our favorites!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[luvngoofy]

WOW, I'm behind, great to read 2 at once!

I would love to be "stuck" on the Safari with the giraffes. They are always hiding at the tree line. I love giraffes, they are so amazing to me.

The pictures of the Tree are really beautiful. I am going to hunt for that path. Is it the same as TGM talks about?

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...) He looks like a flasher!

 

[mom2mek]

Some great pics....Tree of Life really is mesmerizing.

I'm excited to see how my kiddos react to it.

Thanks Chris! It really is such an amazing work of craftsmanship!

Great update,
I love those pictures of the animal carvings on the tree . I took a picture of the owl too .

Hehe! I had never seen the owl before.....one of the best I think!

The safari sounds great what a fantastic place to stop, don't suppose it would have been as good further back

Beautiful photos of the tree, I'm hoping to spend more time exploring when we go in December as it won't be hot like when we visit in August and all we want to do is get out of the heat quick!

Oooo yes, do it Jo! December was glorious at the AK! That park always seems hotter than the others - guess it's due to the heavy foliage! December was the first time I had ever made it up that close!

really enjoying your trip report, the photos are lovely, can't wait to hear more xx

Thanks. It looks weird to me when I glance back over the report and not see pictures of many people, LOL! It's all plants,animals, and buildings! OH well....cute kids weren't with us this time, and neither one of us jumps at the opportunity to pose solo!

Oh wow!! What AMAZING pics you got of the Tree of Life! Incredible!! Yay for the Lion King show! We just LOVED that show--one of our favorites!! Can't wait to read more!

Thanks Becky! FOTLK coming up next!

WOW, I'm behind, great to read 2 at once!

I would love to be "stuck" on the Safari with the giraffes. They are always hiding at the tree line. I love giraffes, they are so amazing to me.

The pictures of the Tree are really beautiful. I am going to hunt for that path. Is it the same as TGM talks about?

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...) He looks like a flasher!

LOL! Flasher Bat! Yes he does....very creepy!

I actually think the path I took in December (right outside Pizzafari) is the path you are thinking about - but this one was great too! I wish I could remember where we actually entered it, but it was definitely before Pizzafari when coming from Africa, if that helps! Really nice.

Sara

 

[luvngoofy]

Hello! Where did you go?

 

[mom2mek]

Hello! Where did you go?

Hi! I was away this weekend on a girls trip to the mountains with some really good friends.... But I'm back and I've got an update....coming right up!

Sara