Operation Big Thunder: the Dole Whip Conspiracy COMPLETE

[eandesmom]

We still had one more surprise to spring on the kids. In our previous trips to the Happiest Place To Spend Your Money On Earth, we’d primarily stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. This was mostly due to the fact that it remains the cheapest place for a family of 5 to stay on-site. And my love for POR has been well-documented; we’ve loved the place and never regretted staying there. We were also fortunate enough to cross an item off of our bucket list when we got the chance to stay at the Wilderness Lodge for a couple of nights before our cruise in 2009. That has long been my favorite resort on property, and my love for the Wilderness Lodge has also been well-documented (are these the subtlest shameless plugs for past TR’s of all time or what?).

Hey man, at least you aren't a family of 6. It's even worse then. 2 rooms, a villa or FW cabin. Or ASM suite...until AoA optened. What boggled my mind is that basically...all of those options ended up costing about the same. And none were cheap!

Enter the Mysterious Benefactor.

At some point during our planning, I was having a conversation with him about our plans for the Disney surprise, and he had asked where we would be staying. I told him I wasn’t sure yet, but most likely it would be POR again, as that was what we could afford. But I did mention that our dream would be AKL.

He started doing this:

Or at least, that’s what I imagined him doing. The conversation was online, so he could have been clipping his nose hairs for all I know. Anyway, the Mysterious Benefactor sent back a message that said: we might be able to help each other out. He had DVC points he wasn’t going to be able to use for some silly reason and that they would expire in August of this year. And he’d be more than happy to rent them to us and set us up in a 1-bedroom savannah-view suite in Kidani Village.

SWEET! That is so cool. And what we'd originally booked for our trip in August...until we had to "downgrade" to be financially responsible and all that rot. Ah....2 bathrooms.....someday I will see them. Someday!

Julie and I couldn’t get over how big the bathroom was. We have 2.5 baths in our house, and I think you could have fit all of them inside this one.

While I admit I love a big bathroom, I would probably take a slightly bigger kitchen instead....or a bigger table on the verandah...or more chairs on the verandah. The latter of course having nothing whatsoever to do with the size of the bathroom. I had to search hard for anything to dislike about AKV! Does Kidani have freakishly heavy, loud doors to the bath and master? Just curious if they copied that rather odd detail from Jambo.

Darth huh? I feel bad we didn't name a single animal now.

It took a while to figure out how to get to the Mara. We finally found the way, down the stairs and then outside.
We got into the Mara and made our orders. For the life of me, I can’t remember what exactly Julie ordered, but I know she had some sort of vegetable mix and couscous that she was raving about. I took a look at the menu, swallowed, took a deep breath and… did not order a burger. Instead, I saw they had a special on a half-rack of bbq ribs, and that was calling my name.

If it was the African Stew...that stuff is the BOMB! So so so so good! probably the falafel, Eric loved it too. Seriously, I think the Mara may be one of the best CS on property, hands down. Very hard to find though. I thought we were lost at first.

We had one more mission that evening: night-vision goggles. As some of you know, the AKL provides a station with night-vision goggles every evening so you can see the animals on the savannah—get this—at night! The only problem was, we couldn’t find any signs directing us to the right place. We went through the lobby to the main animal viewing area only to find that we were digging in the wrong place. At least I got a cool shot of the outside of the main lobby.

Nope, not a single sign. Maybe they don't want you doing it? We stumbled across it by pure luck. Or by virtue of the night vision goggle gods looking out for us as heaven knows we were completely turned around by the point we finally found it. And it wasn't even what we were looking for! Spoiler alert.

We made our way back to the room to get our kids in bed and ready for Rope Drop in the morning. Julie and I went out on the balcony once more. And I know what you’re thinking, but no, there was no "coffee on the verandah". The signs make it clear that every square inch of that place is under surveillance. But that’s ok, there was still some magic to be found: just over the roof of Jambo House, Wishes was visible in the distance. Sorry, the crappy blurry picture doesn’t do it justice.

Still, it was a wonderful ending to a purely magical day.

Coffee spewing moment! Oh that is hysterical. But I'll take the plug. Though I have to say...coffee with a VIEW of the verandah might have been a wonderful ending to a purely magical day.

 

[Mrs. Knowitall]

The conversation was online, so he could have been clipping his nose hairs for all I know.

I used to come to Disney for the rides. Now I come for the atmosphere.

We had exchanged some text messages during our drive (which on our pay-as-you-go dumbphone amounts to tapping out messages in Morse Code) in order to arrange the meet-up.

See.....we need an iPhone.....it was tedious.....

For the life of me, I can’t remember what exactly Julie ordered, but I know she had some sort of vegetable mix and couscous that she was raving about.

It was half a roasted chicken (delicious!!!!) and the couscous (which I NEED to make again.....a great way to get veggies....)

 

[Mrs. Knowitall]

BTW - You could have totally LIED about my meal..... just sayin'.....

 

[MEK]

Heck - I missed your update by pages again. Why does this always happen?????????? I need a warning signal.

Because I have already DISed way too long tonight. I am only going with this movie quote:


You Americans, you're all the same. Always overdressing for the wrong occasions. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Scotty is so cute in all his hat pictures.

Pictures of the resort are gorgeous. That seriously is the hugest bathroom ever, is it not? I hope you guys absolutely loved Kidani. Its so beautiful.
I also really like the Mara. Great food.

What? No swimming?

 

[Poolrat]

We made our way back to the room to get our kids in bed and ready for Rope Drop in the morning. Julie and I went out on the balcony once more. And I know what you’re thinking, but no, there was no "coffee on the verandah". The signs make it clear that every square inch of that place is under surveillance. But that’s ok, there was still some magic to be found: just over the roof of Jambo House, Wishes was visible in the distance. Sorry, the crappy blurry picture doesn’t do it justice.

Way to work that in there!!!! And Hilarious.

 

[KatMark]

Isn't AKL great? And those one-bedroom suites are the best! I can't wait to be back there next year for our 30th.

I have to say your benefactor is one special and nice dude.

Love that you had another DIS meet with your DISdad friend from Indianapolis.

But I done have one bone to pick with you. I told Mark what you said about the "stupid hat shots" and now he says I am to no longer associate with you here on the DIS, on FB or at DIS meets. They are NOT stupid hat shots, but hat shots to alert the DIS subscribers of what is available BEFORE their trip so they can plan accordingly. Seriously, Mark, you must get with the hat program.

Seriously, great update and so glad the kids and you loved AKL. Giraffes off your balcony. Can you ask for anything better (well, except for winning the lottery).

 

[rentayenta]

Wow, you're all far too clever for me but I'm enjoying the report. We'll be at Kidani for the first time in October. Can't wait. And brava to you and the Mrs. for pulling off the surprise. That's no small feat.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

In our previous trips to the Happiest Place To Spend Your Money On Earth

Isn't it nice of Disney to put mini-theme parks all over the country? Of course with attraction maintenance and the cost of performers for the shows, all they were left with was the gift shops...

Enter the Mysterious Benefactor.

Or at least, that’s what I imagined him doing. The conversation was online, so he could have been clipping his nose hairs for all I know.

The Mysterious Benefactor does not believe in clipping his nose hairs. He's growing them out to braid them.

Also, the Mysterious Benefactor has determined that it is cool to refer to oneself in the 3rd person.

I think I broke an Internet Speed Record in typing my affirmative response.

My favorite line in the exchange was this:
But considering Julie read your message over my shoulder and shouted, "REPLY NOW!! SAY YES!!!" I'd say she's interested.

He stopped me and said, “You’re at Disney World. Of course you’re going to have a good time. Welcome home.”

The kids arrived at the Kidani lobby just like their father: giddy as a schoolboy.

Admit it - you skipped from the van to the lobby. It's ok to admit it, I've done it too.

I used to come to Disney for the rides. Now I come for the atmosphere.

And the Dole Whips.

Julie and I couldn’t get over how big the bathroom was. We have 2.5 baths in our house, and I think you could have fit all of them inside this one.

Disney knows that a favorite family vacation pastime is the "peeing for distance" competitions, so they adjusted the size of the arena accordingly.

When we went back to check out the lobby and main viewing area, we found the giraffe that Evan had named Coach Tom (after his t-ball coach, of course)

I'm not sure that's Coach Tom. Coach Tom wears a Braves hat on his foot. Maybe it fell off in the Savannah somewhere.

We explored the pool area. Sadly, we didn’t get to make much use of it on this trip (spoiler warning).

I'll assume this was because you were off having fun in other places.

and happened to have just finished a stay in Kidani on the very day we were arriving.

And you thought them leaving on the day you arrived was just coincidence? As Rob would say, "Bless your heart..."

We had exchanged some text messages during our drive (which on our pay-as-you-go dumbphone amounts to tapping out messages in Morse Code)

It's still better than smoke signals. Marginally, but still better.

The kids then discovered the pins display. And fell in love like never before. Suddenly, we could see that we were going to have a new expensive habit to feed.

Hey kids, instead of those pins, how about some crack?

I took a look at the menu, swallowed, took a deep breath and… did not order a burger.

Instead, I saw they had a special on a half-rack of bbq ribs, and that was calling my name.

Good call.

These guys are wonderful people.

Agreed! Glad you got a chance to meet up.

The only problem was, we couldn’t find any signs directing us to the right place.

Of course not. It's night time. And dark. You can't see the signs in the dark, can you?

Sorry, the crappy blurry picture doesn’t do it justice.

Crappy, blurry Wishes is still better than no Wishes at all.

Actually… that was mightily kind.
I should probably ease up on the grief I intended to give him here.

Really?

Naaaaaaaaa….

Oh.

I have to say your benefactor is one special and nice dude.

Nah, he just married well. The benefactor wanted to rob them blind on the rental fee, but his wife decided that we weren't going to profit off of our friends.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Woo hoo for Kidani! LOVE it!

Woo for the mysterious benefactor as well! How great is that!?

Sounds like a great night! I've been wanting to try out those night vision goggles!

 

[Flossbolna]

Great arrival story!! I just love AKL I stayed there for half of my trips to WDW and am in serious doubt whether I should not stay there for my next trip again... But then there are also other resorts to experience.... So difficult to decided!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

The Bucket List

+1

Christmas Vacation

+1

Headpiece to the staff of Ra = Raiders of the Lost Ark reference

+1

Raiders of the Lost Ark!!!!!!

+1!!!!!!!

Nothing you can possess which.... = another Raiders reference

+1

You chose wisely = Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

+1

Firing a flash at people wearing night vision goggles = Patriot Games (not a quote, but a scene!)

I think I do remember that scene, but I wasn't going for a movie quote/reference here.

Darth Vader = several Star Wars movies (yes, perhaps even all of them)

+1

Mysterious benefactor = Judge Dredd

That would require me to have actually seen Judge Dredd.

The coffee on the verandah reference was howl-out-loud funny!

Thanks! I couldn't resist. I hear that's what all the kids are calling it these days.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Awesome update... The view looks spectacular.

Great meet up with the king of DDC.

The view really is awesome. It's mesmerizing watching the animals. They don't even have to do anything, but you'll still hang out on the balcony watching.

It was great to see Stopher and family!

im calling this as a lie as i dont think she would leave the check in process to just you. or that it was not 100% smooth.

Well, I do tend to be the vacation planner of the family. Julie knows I love it, so she leaves it to me. She likes to play with her camera instead.

Well, luck was finally on my side to allow me to play the movie quote game... then work interfered and Glenn showed up.

Glenn still has his mad movie skillz from the previous contest.

That's still better than Rob getting them all though.

Way to work in a shot at your nemesis!

And that is a valid reason for staying there.

I am on a state salary, after all.

I can't wait until I can stay there again... I don't know when that will be, but I can't wait. I think my budget committee even enjoyed it enough she'd be willing to blow the budget to stay there.

Julie and I have gotten to the point where she mentions wanting to go back, and I know I have permission to start crunching numbers.

Does a bear $#!^ in the woods?

I dunno. I've never actually watched them.

Oh, so it wasn't a serious question. That's a relief. I'm glad to see Disney is hiring security guards with more than 1 brain cell.

I'm not. That might rule me out for a future security guard position.

Says the guy who doesn't like Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain.

I'll hang out on Expedition Everest instead.

Ok, the "at the time" is throwing me off here. Did he lose a kid since then or something? I realize you aren't mentioning Ryder, but I'm pretty sure he was around before your trip.

I think I got confused myself. When he offered to rent the points, Ryder wasn't born yet, but when they sent the letter, he obviously was. But he still wasn't able to write a letter himself, so it came from Madison and Evan. So when I wrote the chapter, I was thinking of the time when I rented the points, and the fact that the letter was from the older two, and put that phrase in there. Then I was hungry, and made myself a sandwich. Then I came back and forgot the whole thing. Does that explain it?

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

+1

Disney actually does ribs pretty well in most cases. I'd have had to make the same call there.

Sometimes you need something different from a burger. Fried chicken, steak, and bbq ribs are acceptable substitutes.

Indiana Jones and the Raider of the Lost Ark

+1

I like to stick with the original title, "Raiders of the Lost Ark". The "Indiana Jones" was added later by George Lucas so they could line up on the DVD shelves together.

You told him about the bridge in Charleston, didn't you?

Maybe he just figured out that we were having issues with directions on this trip.

I think it would actually be kind of funny.

You would, wouldn't you? That's a mean and nasty thing to say.

Ok, it would be kind of funny.

Wow! Impressive that you could see it from there.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Like minds?

Experiment-627 (A Caribbean Double with a Wilderness Chaser)


Although I doubt you’d really want to be admitting to that comparison

Loving the Wilderness Lodge is a sign of brilliance.

Far more subtle then the bomb I just dropped into a TR that was not even my own.

As a matter of fact, I wasn’t subtle about it in any way shape or form.

I'm glad you did, since I was having fun linking to other trip reports. I just didn't find a way to work your title in and link to it.

A guest appearance
(and from one of the boards more “modest” denizens).

Actually… that was mightily kind.
I should probably ease up on the grief I intended to give him here.

Naaaaaaaaa….

Agreed. The more time spent piling up on Barry, the less spent piling up on me.

I’ve yet to hear that turn of phrase from a CM…



Someday…

Sounds like you have a bucket-list item, too.

Me too…

Still a kid at heart, but there are some aspects that you just need a little bit of age to appreciate fully.

The more time you spend in the "real" world, the more you want to go someplace that helps you escape.

Awwwwww…
Now you done went and got all mushy.

I'm just a big softy.

Must mean that y’all were marching in the ranks of General Parkus Maximus’s leigons

We only had 2-day park hoppers for this little adventure.

Whoooaa… you had me concerned for a minute there.

Never fear, there's always some sort of meat involved.

But there are things more important then pride.
Family for one.

Also, football and explosions.

Still beat no picture at all.
The image is not to show us what we missed…
It’s to remind y’all of what you lived.

Mission accomplished.

Excellent. But if I'd had a better picture with which to rub it in, I certainly would have posted it.

OK…
I’m implementing a new policy for the next few updates. I will only identity the quotes after responding to the update itself (and I won’t be all that diligent about hunting them down)

If I get ‘em first, so be it…
If I don’t, fair enough.

Quotes in your responses, however, are still fair game though.
First one to the table gets the biggest biscuit.

[Keanu Reeves face] Whoa. [/Keanu Reeves face]

I’ll take a shot at this being a reference to “A Christmas Carol”

As dickens wrote it, the line was: "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man…”

But it may just be close enough for government work.

Here's a hint: it is a movie quote, but not A Christmas Carol.

That one actually is the title of a film.

It is? I had no idea.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Looks like all of these were picked up, thanks to your magnanimity. (is that a word?)

Some more “Indiana Jones”




And still more “Indiana Jones”




And even more “Indiana Jones”




And even more, more “Indiana Jones”




And yet even more “Indiana Jones”

But you have to specify which one.

Now as for the lie…
I need to read this more carefully and get back to you on that one.

Great update!

AKL is on our dream list as well. We had it booked a few years ago but they were building something over there, something big and apparently people were complaining about the noise. Disney decided to move people and offered Saratoga Springs but we said we wanted the Poly. They agreed and then upgraded us to Club Level. It was a great way to spend the last 3 days after 7 at Pop Century.

We had some friends who had a one bedroom suite last year and we got to see it when we joined them for diner. They are amazing!

Can't blame you for trying the Poly out--that's one we'd love to try someday, too. The theme is fairly immersive there, too. I'm less enamored with the GF, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk...they all seem somewhat the same to me. Theme: Fancy Hotel.

Not that I'd turn down a room in any of them, of course.

 

[glennbo123]

"Giddy as a schoolboy" is from.....guess what?...Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Does a bear $#!^ in the woods?

I dunno. I've never actually watched them.

Does a giraffe $#!^ in the Savannah? I know you've watched them...

I think I got confused myself. When he offered to rent the points, Ryder wasn't born yet, but when they sent the letter, he obviously was. But he still wasn't able to write a letter himself, so it came from Madison and Evan. So when I wrote the chapter, I was thinking of the time when I rented the points, and the fact that the letter was from the older two, and put that phrase in there. Then I was hungry, and made myself a sandwich. Then I came back and forgot the whole thing. Does that explain it?

I have one question....what kind of sandwich was it?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Here's a hint: it is a movie quote, but not A Christmas Carol.

Ohhhhh....

Elsa: The last time I saw your father we were in the library.
He was very close to tracking down the Knight's tomb.
I've never seen him so excited. He was as giddy as a schoolboy.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade




Figures…
still too late for that one

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Does a giraffe $#!^ in the Savannah? I know you've watched them...

I can confirm that the answer is yes.

I have one question....what kind of sandwich was it?

A healthy one. Probably a Monte Cristo.

 

[MissLiz]

Great update! Glad you got to meet up with some DIS people. That is fantastic!

I love seeing pictures of AKL. I think it's my all-time favorite resort ever. (Well, until I get to go stay at Giraffe Manor in Africa......someday)

I can answer the $#!^ question about all of the animals on the savanna, unfortunately. On our last AKL stay, I believe our room was right above the animal bathroom. Every morning, the animals would come over, one by one, in a line and do their business right under our balcony.

We never see any animals with the night vision goggles, either, but you are using night vision goggles! That immediately makes you cooler than you were before using them. At least that's what I believe.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I think I got confused myself. When he offered to rent the points, Ryder wasn't born yet, but when they sent the letter, he obviously was. But he still wasn't able to write a letter himself, so it came from Madison and Evan. So when I wrote the chapter, I was thinking of the time when I rented the points, and the fact that the letter was from the older two, and put that phrase in there. Then I was hungry, and made myself a sandwich. Then I came back and forgot the whole thing. Does that explain it?

Obliviously

I'm glad you did, since I was having fun linking to other trip reports. I just didn't find a way to work your title in and link to it.

And thanks for the subtle plug on the current one.
Not being a Disney trip, I wouldn't have expect to see that one get mentioned anyway.



By the way…
There’s not only a new update over there, but a Frankenstein of a Bonus Feature that is so ridiculously unnecessary, that it make nearly all the others in my prior TRs look well thought out and reasonable.

Agreed. The more time spent piling up on Barry, the less spent piling up on me.

So…
The best defense is actually misdirection?
Kind’a like tripping the person next to you when you’re both running from the same bear.

Sounds like you have a bucket-list item, too.

The Bucket List




Hey it worked for Andy…
I took a shot.

Also, football and explosions.

Excellent. But if I'd had a better picture with which to rub it in, I certainly would have posted it.

And I wouldn’t have blamed ya’

[Keanu Reeves face] Whoa. [/Keanu Reeves face]

I felt bad when you explained the “Everyone Gets a Point Night” was the result of my potentially having an insurmountable lead. That wasn’t my intention. I’ll take the hit for a couple of updates to tighten things back up (but only for a while). As strategies go, it’s not conducive to winning, but it is indicative of the busted person I’ve become. When I was a young’en the first three “Rules of Life” that my momma drummed in to the kids were:

Rule-1: You are not better then anyone else.
Rule-2: No one is better then you.
Rule-3: Rule 1 always trumps Rule 2.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

So…
The best defense is actually misdirection?
Kind’a like tripping the person next to you when you’re both running from the same bear.

Nah, the bear is busy $#!^ing in the woods.