Pods-n-El & The Love Bug(S)- September 24-29th,2010 at AKV Concierge! Updates 11/30

[podsnel]

Next we were to the Wildebeests.

You would have thought that they didn't even know we were there. But MJK pointed out their ears- they were completly pointed at us on all the animals. The animals on the savannah may not look like they are paying attention to you, but they use their sense of hearing like you wouldn't believe- that's how they are really protecting themselves.

Next, we saw a cheetah hiding in the grass- see his little face?

And then the lion.

We were treated to a lot of info of how brutal it is to be a male lion. They are always having to defend their "title", everyone, apparently, just can't wait to be king. The first thing the new king does? Kills all the cubs (because they are not his). The lionesses go into mourning for an hour, and then it's time for makin' bacon...sorry...makin new lions. Sounds a little rough, huh? Yea. we thought so, too. The lion actually moved while we were there, rolling over- I've never seen him do that before. Always he's just layin' there.

A white Rhino-

Or a black rhino. A rhino, nonetheless. Some antelope, can't remember which, but she was purty-

Then, the ostrich-

Ostriches come in two colors- black and brown. The brown are female. The black...male. Here is the ostrich with her eggs-

And they are REAL ostrich eggs- they have had the insides sucked out, however.

Do you see the problem? The ostrich is black. And those are HER eggs. Girl ostriches are BROWN. Except for this transvestite bird. She has a lot of testoterone. And SHE decided to be a HE. And her feathers changed...from brown, to black!

Pretty amazing for an animal with a brain the size of a pea!

That was the end of the tour- which MJK confirmed was ending for good very soon and being replaced by some other new premium animal experience. With walking and riding. Can't wait to see what the new tour is!! This one was EXCELLENT- and they even gave us all FPs so we could ride KS the way "Walt would have intended"- although, I didn't know Walt had a lot of say in AK, but I guess in spirit he was in on the imagineering, right?

After all that running to the tour an hour before, we were REALLY thirsty the whole time....so, we made a bee-line for the Dawa Bar- home of some of my greatest public humiliation.

We couldn't decide between a Harambe Cooler and something else...and the bartender said- they taste the same, they are really the same drink, but one is a couple more $$. Ok! Then give us the cheaper one! We walked towards Asia, and stopped to enjoy these embassadors from Thailand. Right before we showed up, a TON of kids were in there drawing and playing and having a good ol time. Excellent!!

We decided it was snack time, and ordered something at Y&Y counter service. This guy was SO HAPPY we did!!

We really liked his hairnet. I can't stress enough how important it is to eat at off times- at 11:30, we walked right up- we were eating in literally 2 minutes. An hour later, we walked by and the line was 15 people deep at every register. We went for eggrolls and fried rice to share-

Afterwards, it was time for a little monkey-lovin!!

And a little quality time with the local dragon-

Up next- do YOU see something missing on the bats? Or are they just not as happy to see me as they usually are??????

 

[englishrose47]

Great Animal pix Ellen and of course the Monkey kissing !!!!

 

[podsnel]

(shhhhhh) Harry Potter!

Oh my gosh, I hear you! I was in a little bit of a panic when I read about the shut-down and was waiting on our friends to decide which week they could go. I didn't want to lose out on BCV! One of these days I definitely want to try BLT. The location is awesome, and I kind of like the decor.

I will keep my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly for MS and when you call in you get BLT!

Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed for us- I am very hopeful about BLT, I just checked with MS and they had lots of availability for a 2 BDRM LV. So it should be fine. Just CRAZY on Thursday morning.

omg I love the food porn!!!! what is with people not knowing about the DIS.. shesh LOL

Oh ya were heading back South, but ditching Mickey for Freddy. On a Carnival 8day in March... Im counting down.. But so glad you are going soon so i can live vivaciously through your next trippy!

So ...south as in Florida, or South as in Mexico? What ship? Aren't cruises great?? And is either of the boys a 12? I could send you a tux, if you want-

yea yea...

you know me i'm a trouble maker keeping my fingers crossed that they system works okay to book.

Glad to hear it- LOVE troublemakers!!

Wow Ellen that was a lot of Food !!But looked yummy!!

It was a TON- we only had one bite of that vegetable box, and it was huge. I felt kind of bad!

 

[podsnel]

Great Animal pix Ellen and of course the Monkey kissing !!!!

And of COURSE the monkey kissing!!

 

[rentayenta]

Love the ostrich picture! Great shot. He looks like he wants to kiss you.

 

[MEK]

Awesomely fun update. I would really love to do that safari, but now they are replacing it with something else???? Something for just conierge? Bummer (unless I get those AKL points, after my kitchen is done).

I love all your animal pictures. Awesome camera work!

Someday I will get an eggroll from Y&Y. They look so darn good.

As far as your TR. I still blame it on LJ because he added something to my computer to detect viruses and now there must be something it detects in your TR's. It's just my computer, but it is wierd. I can't be made at LJ, because it is LJ and he is the best. Anyway - he will be at my house on Saturday and I am going to make him fix it!

 

[manntra]

Mary Ellen that is so strange about not being able to read Ellen's thread It happened on the last TR too right? Weird.....the new tour of hiking in the safari is the one that we were looking at for May

I love your picture of the bontebok (the brown/black with white head animal...) I think after the giraffes they might be one of my favorites of the safari....love their markings

at the ostrich picture

What?? No dancing today??!!

Tracy

 

[CRdisMom]

tracy--it looks like we will be there around the same time next week....

 

[ortholablady]

More great animal pics. Boy, it's tough to be a lion though. And a little weird to be an ostrich.

 

[lshaw6]

Does that lion EVER get up and move? He's been in that same position every time we've done the KS. Sounds like it was a pretty neat tour, sorry it won't be around anymore. Maybe I'll have to try the replacement tour sometime. Thanks for sharing the pics and the info!

 

[dvc4life]

Great updates Ellen! Looks like you have been having lots of fun. And lots of food.

Well, the Member Cruise this year was one of the smoothest cruises we have ever been on. We didn't even feel like we were on the water when we were out roaming around on sea day. The weather was just beautiful and I would cruise in September any time.

But, since this was our 3rd member cruise we didn't find it as magical as the first one and even less than the 2nd. We still got gifts, and there was still special guests on board, but it just wasn't a WOW like before. I mean everyone on board were pretty much DVC members and then most were Castaway Club members so when you would go to the events they were absolutely packed. But, that was minimal because the cruise was just very relaxing and there are not a lot of kids on it compared to a normal cruise.

But if you are looking to buy more points, this cruise is the place to do it. We were not looking to buy this year since we bought into BLT last year on the cruise, which we LOVED by the way. So. . . . that is some of my thoughts.

Now, sorry about so much chatter. Can't wait for your next installment!!!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Mmmmm Yak and Yeti CS is good, isn't it?? I kind of want to try the TS but I know I'd order the honey chicken so why get it IN the restaurant when I can get if for WAAAAY cheaper outside.

BTW, the WHOLE gang will be there Thursday night. Tom, Dsis and DBIL WITH Emma AND my parents. Guarantee my mom is going to do something super embarrassing like run up front to take my picture when everyone is supposed to be sitting.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Those animal photos are awesome! What kind of camera were you using? BTW, that was a cheetah sticking its head over the grass. They are my favorite wild cat.

 

[podsnel]

Love the ostrich picture! Great shot. He looks like he wants to kiss you.

Well, she/he is just not my type....I only kiss monkeys...and Pods, but he's more of a Gorilla.

Awesomely fun update. I would really love to do that safari, but now they are replacing it with something else???? Something for just conierge? Bummer (unless I get those AKL points, after my kitchen is done).

I love all your animal pictures. Awesome camera work!

Someday I will get an eggroll from Y&Y. They look so darn good.

As far as your TR. I still blame it on LJ because he added something to my computer to detect viruses and now there must be something it detects in your TR's. It's just my computer, but it is wierd. I can't be made at LJ, because it is LJ and he is the best. Anyway - he will be at my house on Saturday and I am going to make him fix it!

Well PLEASE get the computer thing working!! I'll feel horrible if my antics crash your mac!!

And I don't know who that new experience is specifically going to be for- the zoologist said Disney was developing a new PREMIUM experience, but maybe that just means it comes at a premium price? $$$$ Time will tell....

Mary Ellen that is so strange about not being able to read Ellen's thread It happened on the last TR too right? Weird.....the new tour of hiking in the safari is the one that we were looking at for May

I love your picture of the bontebok (the brown/black with white head animal...) I think after the giraffes they might be one of my favorites of the safari....love their markings

at the ostrich picture

What?? No dancing today??!!

Tracy

Wow...a bontebok... I never would have known. My favorite is the Bongo- which is at the very beginning of the safari, and we absolutely flew by her- I was so bummed. I was actually looking the wrong way at the Okapas when we saw her. The Bongo at AKV passed away.

And no dancing today- the show wasn't participatory at all that we saw that day.

tracy--it looks like we will be there around the same time next week....

I hope you can meet!

More great animal pics. Boy, it's tough to be a lion though. And a little weird to be an ostrich.

That was GREAT! Thanks for the laugh!

Does that lion EVER get up and move? He's been in that same position every time we've done the KS. Sounds like it was a pretty neat tour, sorry it won't be around anymore. Maybe I'll have to try the replacement tour sometime. Thanks for sharing the pics and the info!

I actually SHRIEKED, "OMG!!! THE LION'S MOVING!!" and then...it was over and he was laying down again.

Great updates Ellen! Looks like you have been having lots of fun. And lots of food.

Well, the Member Cruise this year was one of the smoothest cruises we have ever been on. We didn't even feel like we were on the water when we were out roaming around on sea day. The weather was just beautiful and I would cruise in September any time.

But, since this was our 3rd member cruise we didn't find it as magical as the first one and even less than the 2nd. We still got gifts, and there was still special guests on board, but it just wasn't a WOW like before. I mean everyone on board were pretty much DVC members and then most were Castaway Club members so when you would go to the events they were absolutely packed. But, that was minimal because the cruise was just very relaxing and there are not a lot of kids on it compared to a normal cruise.

But if you are looking to buy more points, this cruise is the place to do it. We were not looking to buy this year since we bought into BLT last year on the cruise, which we LOVED by the way. So. . . . that is some of my thoughts.

Now, sorry about so much chatter. Can't wait for your next installment!!!!!

That's about what I would imagine-especially with it always being to the Bahamas for just a few nights. I'm sure it was wonderful, but it would be nice if they did something a little different for the repeats. I keep hoping DCL will dock in NYC and they'll eventually do the member cruise up here. Or ANY cruise up here! Would love a trip to Canada in the fall on points, or Bermuda in June someday.... Thanks for filling me in- did you rebook, or are you taking a break?

And I loved staying at BLT, too- that's where I was last year when I missed meeting you.

Mmmmm Yak and Yeti CS is good, isn't it?? I kind of want to try the TS but I know I'd order the honey chicken so why get it IN the restaurant when I can get if for WAAAAY cheaper outside.

BTW, the WHOLE gang will be there Thursday night. Tom, Dsis and DBIL WITH Emma AND my parents. Guarantee my mom is going to do something super embarrassing like run up front to take my picture when everyone is supposed to be sitting.

Yea...but INSIDE has those groovy cool martinis....

I can't WAIT to meet everyone!! I'll have to conspire with your Mom on what we can do to embarass you most!! I know!!! I'll tell her it's allowed and encouraged that family members run up on stage with the honorees!!! And make a little speech!! I'll have to be sure to pack my video camera.....

 

[podsnel]

Those animal photos are awesome! What kind of camera were you using? BTW, that was a cheetah sticking its head over the grass. They are my favorite wild cat.

I have a Canon Rebel xsi. And oops on the cheetah!! Thanks for setting me straight- I'll go back and fix it.

Ok! I fixed her!! I can understand why you love that animal- so beautiful and so FAST!!!!!

 

[OhMari]

I wondered how you remembered the names of the more exotic animals. Then I remembered you were on the special safari.

I just saw your ticker and see that you are going again by the end of this month. You will just have to do double duty, cause I know you will never have this one done by then.

 

[podsnel]

I wondered how you remembered the names of the more exotic animals. Then I remembered you were on the special safari.

I just saw your ticker and see that you are going again by the end of this month. You will just have to do double duty, cause I know you will never have this one done by then.

Is Kara and her girls going to be there at the same time?

Well, I am trying to write as much of this one as I can before I go- I hate overlapping my TRs, it's just toooooo much!! But lucky me that I'm in this predicament every so often!!

We are going to stay at BCV for 2 nights, go to MNSSHP one of them, then on Saturday the 7 night DCL Western over Halloween- followed by a nigt at Vero to regroup afterwards. 10 whole nights of multiple Disney Magic!! Can't WAIT!!!!

And Kara won't be there, I wish she would be, though!! Cammie is going in late Nov I think with Lauren.

 

[Flossbolna]

Well, I am trying to write as much of this one as I can before I go- I hate overlapping my TRs, it's just toooooo much!! But lucky me that I'm in this predicament every so often!!

We are going to stay at BCV for 2 nights, go to MNSSHP one of them, then on Saturday the 7 night DCL Western over Halloween- followed by a nigt at Vero to regroup afterwards. 10 whole nights of multiple Disney Magic!! Can't WAIT!!!!

And Kara won't be there, I wish she would be, though!! Cammie is going in late Nov I think with Lauren.

Sounds like a great trip you have planned! And I am glad to hear that there will be a report for the cruise as well! I am thinking about a cruise myself and would love to read about your experiences!

 

[kid-at-heart]

I have "blown" out chicken eggs (poke a little hole in each in and BLOW like crazy). I wonder if they do the ostrich eggs the same way. If so, I would hate to be the person whose job it was to blow/suck out the ostrich eggs.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Wow, 10 whole nights at WDW! There's no way that I could get my DH to stay there for that long, actually he would stay no place that long.

I'm almost there with staying in Florida for a few months each winter. Then I can visit Disney a lot more. I swear I'm going to start going alone!