Our 1st trip as a family of three!----Update 11/3 Our Favorites/Trip Wrap-Up

[LilAnn]

Just started reading along, love the pictures.
We are so excited about leaving tomorrow I had to come to the board to calm down!
I love the Meet & Greet theme, if i went alone that would be my choice too!

OOOh! You are going to be there today! I am so excited for you!ave a fantastic time! H

WOW! One snack credit is a great deal. My DH and I could split that for sure I am going to post the link to the Starring Rolls reveiw on my PTR soon. I will let you know when I do!

I thought it was a great deal too! Yay! I think I still have some catching up to do on my Dis reading. You know I'll just comment on the yummy cupcakes and pastries again!

Hi, I'm joining in, your daughter is soooo cute! Gotta go get caught up!

Awww, thank you! I think so! Thanks for joining!

 

[LilAnn]

This morning, we were off to bond with nature at Animal Kingdom! We haven’t typically spent a lot of time at AK in our past trips, so while we didn’t have a set plan, there were a lot of things we wanted to try to do and see.

I always love seeing the Tree of Life!

It makes me so happy every time! As you can see, I didn’t match my little girl every day of the trip. A lot of the clothing plans went out the window as well when we arrived and it was much hotter than we had anticipated!

One of the few pics of just me and the munchkin.

Okay, so maybe I had to crop my hubby out of that pic, but I can pretend it was just the two of us. I am always the one behind the camera, and then I wonder why I never have pics of just me and her.

After our obligatory PP pics, we headed over to Kilimanjaro to grab FP for later in the morning. I love FP! Then we kind of just wandered around AK for a bit. Where do you think we ended up spending a big chunk of time that morning?

Camp Minnie and Mickey, of course! We could finally meet everone's favorite mouse! You didn’t think our little princess was going to make it through the morning without whipping out her autograph book, did you?

First up – ! I love the safari gear!

I love that she’s still waving at him as he’s busy signing away.

Going in for the hug!

After Donald, she couldn’t wait to see who else was around.

Yup, ! Oh, she was excited about this one.

I love that she tried to have a conversation with them! Then she gets a little confused when they don’t talk back to her. Have to love Minnie’s safari outfit!

She was so good at waiting patiently for all the characters. Sigh, look at that toddler potbelly.

Then, it was time to meet the big kahuna – ! She was just as happy to see him as she was to see the rest of the gang.

She was a pro at the meet and greet routine. She would run up with her book,

hand it to the character and step aside to wait patiently.

I would usually run up and grab the book when she went in for the hug.

Then she would pivot and smile for the picture. She had it down pat.

 

[LilAnn]

When we were done with meeting Mickey and the Gang, we were famished. Good thing, too, since we had lunchtime ADRs at Yak & Yeti! I have read such good things about this place that we were excited to try it. I have to say that I love the theming!

Then again, I am part Thai, so had to take that picture for my family.

Some other bonuses? Air conditioning! And a fun coloring menu for the munchkin. Doesn’t she look happy?

Our meal was yummy! I wasn’t planning on writing this TR, so I am sorry to say that I barely have any food porn pics. I remember that we all liked what we ordered, so we left happy.

After lunch, it was time for our 2 week safari ride! On our walk over from Asia to Africa, we had a surprise meeting with an elusive Disney icon.

Devine! I was so excited as I have never seen her out and about before!

Then we were distracted again by some drums. I really don’t think any toddler can pass up the chance to bang on some drums.

Just as I was wondering how we were going to trick our munchkin away from her drumming frenzy, we got lucky.

The other drums were out in the sun, so they were too hot! Phew. So we continued on our way to the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.

I was surprised that there were so many animals out and about in the heat, so I wasn’t prepared with my camera. So I apologize for my lack of pictures here.

Here are the giraffes. Our little munchkin had been asking for ages to see some giraffes and when I took her to the National Zoo a few months ago, they weren’t there! So she was happy to see them here.

We had some fun animal crossing encounters too, but again, very few pictures. That is what happens when I hand the camera over to my husband. We had to stop and wait for an ostrich that was crossing and that one came super close to the vehicle! I was worried that it might come attack us – haha! There was also a rhino crossing soon after.

So this safari ride was pretty successful in my book!

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update! I really like your Tree picture! It looks so pretty with the water in front

for seeing Devine! She is so cool to see in person!

Glad you enjoyed Yak and Yeti since we're trying it in August! Any recommendations there?

Nice safari pics and the one playing the drums is too cute

 

[heaven2dc]

Loved your mother/daughter pic - so cute! Your daughter is so adorable - she is such a pro at the autograph signing (maybe she is getting prepared for her future as a star ) It sure looks hot there - so unusual for May.

 

[BabyEeyore]

Wonderful update. Such great pictures!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Love all the pictures of your DD with the characters! She certainly knew how it all worked didn't she? Such a cutie!

Isn't Devine cool? In all my visits to AK I've only seen her twice.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Great update! I have to tell you, it's not just toddlers that can't pass up a chance to bang on a drum. It's also 30 year old husbands

 

[tinkgurl]

Aw..looks like it was a great day at AK so far. I'm so glad she was having so much fun meeting the characters. I love the one of her waving at Donald.

Yay, you liked Yak & Yeti! Isn't it so good?! I can't wait to finally get the rest of my family there next month!

Oh gosh, I have a feeling we will be stopping for those drums too. I completely feel you though with the wondering how you're going to get them away from them.

 

[GaRain]

I love that you got to see Devine!!!
And all those characters!! Wait a second, where is Goofy!?

 

[ladybugmom]

What sweet pics!! Love Camp Minnie Mickey!! Yes, where is Goofy?! And you got to see D'vine!! WOW!! We never saw her on our trip!

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

My little one really loves AK and those dreaded drums. The thing I love the least in AK is the boneyard playground area I can't stand it., oh it's great but when she was younger like your little one, I would have to climb up and threw everything in 85 degrees with her while wearing flip-flops. No mommy had to do it..no daddy you watch.

 

[praisehisname]

Great update! I love the pics of your DD meeting Minnie! And toddler potbellies are so cute!

 

[BippityBoo]

Awww what a great update Your DD looked like she absolutely loved the characters! I have always wanted to try Yak and Yeti! SCORE on seeing DeVine! We only saw her once--it is very hard to see her!

 

[luckylady]

Great update.

 

[LilAnn]

Nice update! I really like your Tree picture! It looks so pretty with the water in front

for seeing Devine! She is so cool to see in person!

Glad you enjoyed Yak and Yeti since we're trying it in August! Any recommendations there?

Nice safari pics and the one playing the drums is too cute

Thanks, AK is really growing on me. I feel like there is so much detail in that park that I need to still explore! I think I ordered the Miso Salmon at Yak & Yeti and enjoyed it. Plus at the time, they had a trio of sorbets for dessert - yummy! Hit the spot perfectly! I have heard some good things about their appetizers.

Loved your mother/daughter pic - so cute! Your daughter is so adorable - she is such a pro at the autograph signing (maybe she is getting prepared for her future as a star ) It sure looks hot there - so unusual for May.

Oh my gosh - it was so much warmer than we were expecting. I was prepared for 80s, not 90s-100s! At times it felt hotter than our August trip! I rarely get mother daughter pics.

Wonderful update. Such great pictures!

Thank you!

Love all the pictures of your DD with the characters! She certainly knew how it all worked didn't she? Such a cutie!

Isn't Devine cool? In all my visits to AK I've only seen her twice.

She was such a pro wth the characters by the end of the trip! I would have totally missed Devine if it hadn't been for the crowd of people around her!

Great update! I have to tell you, it's not just toddlers that can't pass up a chance to bang on a drum. It's also 30 year old husbands

I'm sure Disney brings out the little kid inside to so many people, myself included!

Aw..looks like it was a great day at AK so far. I'm so glad she was having so much fun meeting the characters. I love the one of her waving at Donald.

Yay, you liked Yak & Yeti! Isn't it so good?! I can't wait to finally get the rest of my family there next month!

Oh gosh, I have a feeling we will be stopping for those drums too. I completely feel you though with the wondering how you're going to get them away from them.

I don't know how her arms didn't get tired at waving at characters!

Yak & Yeti was yummy! It was mostly due to your past TR that I agreed to try it. And it didn't disappoint! Good luck getting your little guy away from all the drums at all the parks!

I love that you got to see Devine!!!
And all those characters!! Wait a second, where is Goofy!?

No worries - she got to see Goofy a few times this trip! We also didn't get Chip & Dale because she was a little freaked by them. Goofy was there, but she hadn't seen Minnie, Mickey, or Donald yet up close.

What sweet pics!! Love Camp Minnie Mickey!! Yes, where is Goofy?! And you got to see D'vine!! WOW!! We never saw her on our trip!

Goofy was there, she just wanted to see Minnie and Mickey and Donald first. Waiting in line for the characters takes so much time if you stop at all of them!

I almost missed D'vine but caught her only because of the crowd of people around her!

My little one really loves AK and those dreaded drums. The thing I love the least in AK is the boneyard playground area I can't stand it., oh it's great but when she was younger like your little one, I would have to climb up and threw everything in 85 degrees with her while wearing flip-flops. No mommy had to do it..no daddy you watch.

Oooh - the boneyard playground. We passed that one evening and did some major distraction as we passed it so she wouldn't see it. I can just imagine how hard it would be to get her out of there! She was already a pro at spotting EVERY playground in Epcot!

Great update! I love the pics of your DD meeting Minnie! And toddler potbellies are so cute!

Haha, she always has the big potbelly. Plus I think she stands in a way that accentuates it.

Awww what a great update Your DD looked like she absolutely loved the characters! I have always wanted to try Yak and Yeti! SCORE on seeing DeVine! We only saw her once--it is very hard to see her!

she totally loved the characters! I need to get caught up on your PTR! There are just so many places to eat at WDW it's hard to fit them all in!

Great update.

Thank you!

 

[MeMom]

Very cute!
Beating on the drums is one of the small, simple pleasures of the Animal Kingdom experience for kids. They don't get to make such big noises too often and have the adults standing around them approve of it. My almost four year old granddaughter has always enjoyed smacking at them a bit as we go by.

 

[RachelNinja]

Hi! Just found your TR today and caught up on all your installments. Your DD is the absolutely cutest! I love reading TRs, but I especially love it when I find other Asians on DIS too! Haha, for some reason, there aren't many Asian Disney fans in my real life other than DBF.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Aww, I love all of the pics at Camp Minnie Mickey! Your DD is quite the pro at character greetings! Glad to hear you liked Y&Y - it's on my list of places to try!

 

[Trinity524]

Your daughter is so pretty that I had to pivot the laptop and make my DH look at her. SO happy you did this trip report as my son is around the same age and I am excited to see you liked Pop!

Subbing!