DukeStreetKing
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2004
- Messages
- 2,644
It never fails. Whenever we have a trip to Disney planned, it rains. Judging by the amount of rain we received from Hurricane Dennis, this trip should be a blast.
GF and I left the Tampa area around 3:00 PM on Saturday, July 9 and headed up I-4. A major rain band had just come through so only a few drizzles were left and the highway was the emptiest Ive seen it in quite a while. We pulled into the Downtown Disney parking lot around 4-ish, parked by the AMC Theater and walked to the bus stops. We got as far as the Planet Hollywood gift shop and the skies opened again! After a few minutes of waiting in the store, the rain slowed and we walked under the umbrella to the bus stops. As soon as we got under the shelter, the rain came pouring down again. Only this time it was coming in at us sideways! LOL, we cant win for losing, I guess. I was using the umbrella as a shield and GF was using me the same way. Luckily only my pant legs below the knee got wet and we boarded the bus to the Animal Kingdom lodge for dinner. Or so we thought. The bus stop (#5), serviced the Animal Kingdom lodge and Coronado Springs. A bus for CS pulled up and we got on, figuring it was going to both resorts. See, when you go as often as we do, you tend to make silly mistakes. This was ours. Anyway, as the bus was pulling away from the stop, the driver made his announcement about going to Typhoon Lagoon and the CS. I asked if he was also going to AKL. He said no, and then pulled over so we could get out just as the AKL bus was pulling up. Thanks Driver, I didnt get your name.
So we finally get to AKL and head downstairs to Boma, Mind you we dont have a Priority Seating or whatever it is called now. Oh, well, how booked can they be at 5:50 on a Saturday night during the summer? Huh, nothing until 9:30? Ok, heres my name, well be around. Then we saw Jikos right next door. We were dressed in jeans and dress shirts, which I wouldnt necessarily wear to a nicer restaurant but on our quest to eat at every Disney sit-down restaurant, this was on our list. There was no wait for a table and after a quick apology for our attire, we were seated at a window table and assured that we were dressed just fine.
The restaurant is very nicely outfitted. The bird lamps hanging from the ceiling are a nice touch and supposedly the rear wall changes colors just like an African sunset would. However, during the hour or so that were there, I didnt see a significant color change. We started with an appetizer not listed on the menu. It was the first four items from the Cooking Place section Duck and Pork Firecracker, Lamb Patis, Lentil Pastilla and Maize Tamales. These came with 3 different dipping sauces and a small mound of Arugala with a vinaigrette dressing. Very tasty! I ordered the Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon which is served with macaroni and cheese and a red wine sauce. GF ordered the Wood-Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Both dishes were very nice, although I should have ordered my filet medium instead of medium well. It was a little too dry for me, but good nonetheless. The portions were just right for us, not enough to stuff our gills but just enough to know we ate. I like that. I was driving home that night so I did not have an alcoholic beverage and neither did GF, so the bill came to $87.85. Using our DDE card brought the total to $70.90. Love that card!! I dropped $20.00 for a tip and off we went.
I stopped by the reception area for Bomas and cancelled our 9:30 so someone else could have it and then we headed out to the animal observation area by the pool. Wouldnt you know, it stopped raining while we ate but as soon as we were getting ready to go outside it started again. The lifeguards had closed the pool deck, so we couldnt get to the observation area. Ok, lets check out the hotel. The lodge area itself appears to be laid out just like the Wilderness Lodge, which is kind of disappointing, but it is very pretty. I love the big wood burning stove in the lobby.
We walked around outside for a while at the animal viewing area behind the lobby and saw some zebras, pink backed pelicans and some other birds which I cant recall. A quick walk through the lobby and a quick turn led to another viewing area where a couple of giraffes were enjoying the dinner. What lovely creatures they are! Did you know I wrote a book about a giraffe that was afraid of heights? Yes, I did and it will be published in June, 2006. LOL, ok shameless book plug over.
Anyway, after a self guided tour of the hotel, we found ourselves out by the pool deck again near the fitness center, Hmmm, no lifeguards blocking this path. There was a group of people taking some kind of guided tour with a CM, so we just fell into place with them. After the impromptu tour was over, we walked past a very surprised life guard who was wondering where all these people were coming from. I couldnt help but say that we were swimming in the pool and it was great because nobody else was in it! LOL. Thankfully, the people who were waiting to go back swimming laughed at my little joke.
We got back to the bus stops and found a SEVERELY overcrowded bus at the stop for Downtown Disney. I have seen and been on crowded busses before, but this was ridiculous. I swear I saw a passenger sitting in the drivers lap! Right after this bus left, another one pulled up and 6 people besides us got on. Thats it, six! Lucky us. We arrived back at DTD and went to the AMC Theater to watch The Fantastic Four. The movie was ok, not great, not bad. Then it was time to head back.
So there you have it, our little Get Away From Dennis trip that worked to some extent. Thanks for reading.
GF and I left the Tampa area around 3:00 PM on Saturday, July 9 and headed up I-4. A major rain band had just come through so only a few drizzles were left and the highway was the emptiest Ive seen it in quite a while. We pulled into the Downtown Disney parking lot around 4-ish, parked by the AMC Theater and walked to the bus stops. We got as far as the Planet Hollywood gift shop and the skies opened again! After a few minutes of waiting in the store, the rain slowed and we walked under the umbrella to the bus stops. As soon as we got under the shelter, the rain came pouring down again. Only this time it was coming in at us sideways! LOL, we cant win for losing, I guess. I was using the umbrella as a shield and GF was using me the same way. Luckily only my pant legs below the knee got wet and we boarded the bus to the Animal Kingdom lodge for dinner. Or so we thought. The bus stop (#5), serviced the Animal Kingdom lodge and Coronado Springs. A bus for CS pulled up and we got on, figuring it was going to both resorts. See, when you go as often as we do, you tend to make silly mistakes. This was ours. Anyway, as the bus was pulling away from the stop, the driver made his announcement about going to Typhoon Lagoon and the CS. I asked if he was also going to AKL. He said no, and then pulled over so we could get out just as the AKL bus was pulling up. Thanks Driver, I didnt get your name.
So we finally get to AKL and head downstairs to Boma, Mind you we dont have a Priority Seating or whatever it is called now. Oh, well, how booked can they be at 5:50 on a Saturday night during the summer? Huh, nothing until 9:30? Ok, heres my name, well be around. Then we saw Jikos right next door. We were dressed in jeans and dress shirts, which I wouldnt necessarily wear to a nicer restaurant but on our quest to eat at every Disney sit-down restaurant, this was on our list. There was no wait for a table and after a quick apology for our attire, we were seated at a window table and assured that we were dressed just fine.
The restaurant is very nicely outfitted. The bird lamps hanging from the ceiling are a nice touch and supposedly the rear wall changes colors just like an African sunset would. However, during the hour or so that were there, I didnt see a significant color change. We started with an appetizer not listed on the menu. It was the first four items from the Cooking Place section Duck and Pork Firecracker, Lamb Patis, Lentil Pastilla and Maize Tamales. These came with 3 different dipping sauces and a small mound of Arugala with a vinaigrette dressing. Very tasty! I ordered the Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon which is served with macaroni and cheese and a red wine sauce. GF ordered the Wood-Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Both dishes were very nice, although I should have ordered my filet medium instead of medium well. It was a little too dry for me, but good nonetheless. The portions were just right for us, not enough to stuff our gills but just enough to know we ate. I like that. I was driving home that night so I did not have an alcoholic beverage and neither did GF, so the bill came to $87.85. Using our DDE card brought the total to $70.90. Love that card!! I dropped $20.00 for a tip and off we went.
I stopped by the reception area for Bomas and cancelled our 9:30 so someone else could have it and then we headed out to the animal observation area by the pool. Wouldnt you know, it stopped raining while we ate but as soon as we were getting ready to go outside it started again. The lifeguards had closed the pool deck, so we couldnt get to the observation area. Ok, lets check out the hotel. The lodge area itself appears to be laid out just like the Wilderness Lodge, which is kind of disappointing, but it is very pretty. I love the big wood burning stove in the lobby.
We walked around outside for a while at the animal viewing area behind the lobby and saw some zebras, pink backed pelicans and some other birds which I cant recall. A quick walk through the lobby and a quick turn led to another viewing area where a couple of giraffes were enjoying the dinner. What lovely creatures they are! Did you know I wrote a book about a giraffe that was afraid of heights? Yes, I did and it will be published in June, 2006. LOL, ok shameless book plug over.
Anyway, after a self guided tour of the hotel, we found ourselves out by the pool deck again near the fitness center, Hmmm, no lifeguards blocking this path. There was a group of people taking some kind of guided tour with a CM, so we just fell into place with them. After the impromptu tour was over, we walked past a very surprised life guard who was wondering where all these people were coming from. I couldnt help but say that we were swimming in the pool and it was great because nobody else was in it! LOL. Thankfully, the people who were waiting to go back swimming laughed at my little joke.
We got back to the bus stops and found a SEVERELY overcrowded bus at the stop for Downtown Disney. I have seen and been on crowded busses before, but this was ridiculous. I swear I saw a passenger sitting in the drivers lap! Right after this bus left, another one pulled up and 6 people besides us got on. Thats it, six! Lucky us. We arrived back at DTD and went to the AMC Theater to watch The Fantastic Four. The movie was ok, not great, not bad. Then it was time to head back.
So there you have it, our little Get Away From Dennis trip that worked to some extent. Thanks for reading.
