Return of the Porg - A June 2018 TR *updated 6/24 Epic DISmeet highlights day 7 COMPLETED!*

[paradesintherain]

Love the cats!!

Thank you! They're my babies for sure

This actually looks amazing for airport food!

It really was! I was very happy with it

Oh, I love AKL so much!

Me too. Nothing else compares for me

Great location!

It really was!

I love the AKl rooms, they really are special.

They're so comfy, and warm feeling.

Awesome view! Did you find it noisy from the pool?

I thought I might but it was actually pretty sound-proof. If I strained I could definitely hear noises, but it wasn't anything that would wake me up. And I'm a super light sleeper. Also didn't hear much hallway noise.

Definitely not enough outlets and the lighting is just weird in the bathroom.

Fix this, Disney!!

Sounds like things worked out perfectly!

Definitely! I was not disappointed

Yum, yum and yum!

Awesome evening plans!

Thanks! And it actually worked out well with our travel day.

Joining in. Excited to see where this party goes!

Thanks for joining!

Your dinner at Saana looks delicious. I have an ADR here for October with DH, which will be my first time ever there. I can't wait to try that bread service

I hear you about the heat and humidity. I went to WDW in June once and August once and it's definitely not my favorite time to go. Our August trip was almost unbearable. Our clothes felt damp 10 minutes after stepping outside, my camera lens was foggy from the humidity, and the daily rain was not fun. Of course, I'd still go if that was the ONLY time I could go, but I definitely prefer more temperate weather such as we get in April and October.

Sanaa is so delicious, it's definitely a must-do for me now.

I definitely prefer the more temperate months too, but by the end of the trip I had adapted pretty well to the heat and I find the daily rain kind of exciting - as long as I don't get soaked by it!

Glad it ended up working out for you at Sanaa! The naan and your entree look delicious!

Beautiful pics at AK! I'm sorry it was so hot though!

Sanaa is just incredible. Haven't had a disappointing experience there yet!

Thank you!! I think I was just too exhausted to handle the heat well, really.

I love the butter chicken too!

I could go for some butter chicken right now. Maybe some naan too!

Following along! We will be at the AKL in 27 days! We were just there June 4-12 and the heat was brutal. It was the least amount of rain we ever experienced on a Summer trip. The skies were pretty and blue but the lack of clouds beat us down. Planning lots of pool time for August. You and your dad are adorable!

Have so much fun at AKL! It's hard not to at such a beautiful resort, and you'll love the pool!

Orlando must have saved all the rain for us - it rained quite a bit when we were there. But man that heat does wear you down quickly!

Good bit of info on the bread service! We will be eating there in August and I plan on doing the same.

Good choice! Their naan is perfection - I especially like the spicy one.

Joining in. Reading TR's to keep myself occupied until we leave for our trip on 7/31. Plus your first day was my birthday so I must read to see how things go!

Welcome! Thanks for joining in. Happy belated birthday!

Where will you be staying in July? Hope it's a magical trip!

Joining in. We always end up going to AK on our first day. We are going to try HS first on our next trip though! That butter chicken does look delicious!

Thanks for joining in!!
It was fun to go to AK first! Except that it's a rude introduction to the heat, being maybe the hottest park

I don't think I've ever gone to DHS first either, but that sounds like fun to me since it might be my favorite park!

 

[paradesintherain]

I had no idea you could add a second meat to the potje. I already texted my friend this amazing news. We are totally doing that on our December trip!!! I feel like we always end up wasting so much food on our trips.

It makes it a really shareable dish! I was hoping to just replace the vegetable dish with a meat, but this way worked out well too. Hope you enjoy in December!!

 

[paradesintherain]

Day 1 - June 21st - Best Safari Ever!
​

When our FP time rolled around it was dusk, much later than I’ve ever been on Safari before. And it was AWESOME. But the lower lighting meant it was a little harder to get good pictures.

First off we saw a rhino eating some hay.

There were lots of antelopes, and other animals too. It seemed like animals were EVERYWHERE.

When we got to the savannah or whatever the wide open part is called the giraffes were super close. They were actually so close the driver said she couldn’t stop.

This was taken on my phone without any zoom. It was so cool!

And then the coolest thing happened! We came up on the elephant enclosure and there didn’t really seem to be any elephants there until one of them surfaced from underwater! The driver was so shocked and happy and said she’d never seen them swimming before. It was like real-life Jungle Cruise! This is the best picture I could get.

Next we saw some cheetahs, who were as lazy as ever.

The lions were sleeping, as usual, but they were sleeping on rocks I’d never seen them on before. And there was, I think, a water buck right in front of their enclosure. I had never seen other animals in this area, let alone so close to their enclosure so that was super cool.

One other thought from the Safari: there were hyenas but no painted dogs. Do they switch them out for nighttime?


After a very satisfying Safari we took the African walkway to Pandora.

I took the time to notice the little details that are abundant in Animal Kingdom.

It was a little smoky on the pathway, maybe from Flame Tree BBQ? Either way, it made it look extra cool.

We got to Pandora, and the sun was setting so I kind of went crazy taking pictures. You know how it can be in Pandora. So here’s a sneak preview, a photo with less than interesting skies.

Up next: A Pandoran Sunset​

 

[buzzrelly]

Your safari was awesome! I love all the up close giraffe pictures

 

[disneyAndi14]

I’m jealous, our 2 Safari trip’s in April were duds, very few animals!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

And then the coolest thing happened! We came up on the elephant enclosure and there didn’t really seem to be any elephants there until one of them surfaced from underwater! The driver was so shocked and happy and said she’d never seen them swimming before. It was like real-life Jungle Cruise! This is the best picture I could get.

Awesome!!! What a luck! That must have been really cool and exciting to see.

 

[pepperandchips]

What an amazing first day so far! That safari truly looks like it was a special one. I didn't know the elephants went swimming! So cool. And too funny that the giraffes were so close you couldn't stop. Guess the driver didn't want to pick up any extra passengers! I do believe they swap out the painted dogs and the hyenas for the evening. Probably makes something more interesting to see on the sunset safaris.

Lovely pictures as always!!

 

[SweetSerenity]

I'm here!

That picture of you and Gaston is a-dorable! I love it!

I'm so glad you stayed at AKL. I love it there. In fact, I'm 95% sure you stayed in the same room we did on our honeymoon in 2015.

Can't wait to try Sanaa in November!

Ready for more!

 

[petals]

Your Safari looks awesome.

 

[paradesintherain]

Your safari was awesome! I love all the up close giraffe pictures

It really was! The giraffes were just incredible!

I’m jealous, our 2 Safari trip’s in April were duds, very few animals!

Ugh that stinks. Maybe next time!

Awesome!!! What a luck! That must have been really cool and exciting to see.

It was the neatest thing ever!

What an amazing first day so far! That safari truly looks like it was a special one. I didn't know the elephants went swimming! So cool. And too funny that the giraffes were so close you couldn't stop. Guess the driver didn't want to pick up any extra passengers! I do believe they swap out the painted dogs and the hyenas for the evening. Probably makes something more interesting to see on the sunset safaris.

Lovely pictures as always!!

It was definitely one of the best safaris I've been on! I wanted to stop by the giraffe so badly!!

Nice to know about the hyenas; I wonder what else is different.

Thanks so much!!

I'm here!

That picture of you and Gaston is a-dorable! I love it!

I'm so glad you stayed at AKL. I love it there. In fact, I'm 95% sure you stayed in the same room we did on our honeymoon in 2015.

Can't wait to try Sanaa in November!

Ready for more!

Thanks for joining in!!

It's one of my very favorite pictures ever! Someday I need to meet him again.

That's so funny we had the same room!! It's a great one.

Sanaa is fabulous, you'll love it.

Your Safari looks awesome.

Oh it really was!!

 

[Raeven]

Next we saw some cheetahs, who were as lazy as ever.

I don't think I've ever seen the cheetahs so close before!

Pretty!

 

[paradesintherain]

I don't think I've ever seen the cheetahs so close before!

They weren't actually very close, I just zoomed in a lot

Pretty!

Thank you!, it's one of my very favorite views!

 

[paradesintherain]

Day 1 - June 21st - Pandoran Sunset!





Ok, so if you’ve joined me for previous trip reports you know that I tend to take A LOT of photos of Pandora, and well, this trip was no different. So this is another photo heavy update, oops!

It also wasn’t quite time for our FP, so what else is a girl to do?

Maybe because the Flight of Passage entrance is always such a cluster I had never noticed the banshee figure out front before. I was kind of enamored with it.

No matter how many times I visit I think there will always be new details to discover.

I was loving Pandora at dusk, but it was still really hot and incredibly humid. Dad was very patient with my photo-taking.

I spotted a PP with no line, so I jumped in place.

Then the sky started to really change colors. The rain clouds really make for a wonderful sunset.

Like, wow.

See, I really liked that little banshee. Or should I say Ikran?

By now it was definitely time for our FP but the sunset was too beautiful and the colors were changing by the minute so I made Dad suffer through the heat even longer.

But really how could I miss THIS?

I'll cut it off here, I think I've posted plenty of photos for one update




Up next: Maybe I stop taking pictures of Pandora... maybe I don't ​

 

[paradesintherain]

Day 1 - June 21st - Animal Kingdom at Night!



Eventually I pulled myself away from the sunset and tapped in at Navi River Journey… where I took more pictures of the sky.

With a little sadness we entered the show building and I could no longer take pictures of the sky. I knew when we came back out the beautiful sunset would be gone. And just so everyone knows, I tried really hard to be choosy about which pictures I posted. There were many more that didn’t make it on here!

Once on Navi River I decided to try out my new iPhone X on a dark ride.

So, I think it did ok, but I really hoped it would do better. Honestly, with any sort of movement the phone produces blurry pictures, which I guess makes sense but STILL.

Navi River Journey was fun. I think it’s enjoyable; nice to have a dark ride in Animal Kingdom, and I really like the soundtrack, and that animatronic is so impressive. Her movements are so smooth and fluid, it’s kind of breathtaking. But, wow, would I be angry if I waited in a hour plus line for it, not knowing exactly what it was.


As predicted, when we went back outside the sunset had ended, but now Pandora was glowing! I think it’s honestly best at dusk, when there’s a little bit of light left but everything is glowing. Once the sun is really and fully down it’s just SO dark.

I had wanted to stay and ride Everest at night, and maybe do a nighttime safari but the heat, my lack of sleep, and a long travel day had just zapped my energy so we headed toward the park exit, stopping in some shops along the way. I grabbed a box of Mickey rice krispies since last time I had seen them at the start of the trip and then never been able to find them again.

Then the Tree of Life Awakenings were going on so we stopped to watch.

We had never seen the Awakenings before and I guess I didn’t know what to expect, but I sure didn’t expect to CRY. Yes, I cried at the Awakenings. But there was Pocahontas music and Lion King music and did I mention that I was exhausted? But I really did find it beautiful and the projections on the tree are so amazing. Honestly enjoyed it more than I enjoyed Rivers of Light.


We left then, and pretty quickly got a bus back to the Lodge. I went to the Mara and bought myself a reusable mug. They end up being a good deal for me, but can’t they diversify the designs? I actually ended up throwing this one away at the end of the trip because I just don’t have the room for another mug.

Since it was so hot I also grabbed a Mickey ice cream sandwich. Delicious, as always.

Then, even though I was really tired, I decided it might be my best night to swim in the AKL pool which I had never done before. It wasn’t too late in the night, I needed to wash my hair anyway, and didn’t need to preserve my makeup to go back out later. So I changed, and went down to the pool, using the convenient elevator access near our room that led right to the pool. I opted to enter the pool by the water slide, so I really got the full experience. It was a fun little slide, and the water felt fantastic after a long day. Dad joined a bit later and I made him enter by the slide too.

Surprisingly after a bit the water began to feel cold, so we went back up to the room and went to sleep. The Porg had graciously warmed up the bed for me. Told ya he was here!

Up Next: Some princes and princesses! ​

 

[missangelalexis]

Great photos of the giraffes on your safari!

Your Pandora pics are so stunning! What a perfect time of night to be there!

The porg was resting up for you!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

So this is another photo heavy update, oops!

Nothing wrong with that! Beautiful sunset photos!

They end up being a good deal for me, but can’t they diversify the designs?

I totally agree!

best night to swim in the AKL pool which I had never done before.

Really? I love the pool. Glad you finally got to get in a swim!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Love the Pandora pictures, we have been on FoP so many times now and I have never noticed the banshee! Very cool.

I enjoy NRJ, such a peaceful ride with all the colors and the shaman at the end very fluid is right!

Glad to see the Porg was keeping the bed warm

 

[Raeven]

I love the sunset Pandora pictures!

 

[paradesintherain]

Real Life Update!!!


Guys, I don't know what happened but... I'm going back to Disney World August 2-7!!



So let's review how this happened... Originally I had saved August 1-8 (my normal days off without using PTO) for my annual trip to Lake Tahoe, but this year my aunt was super stressed and not up to having visitors. And then on my trip in June I was unable to see Toy Story Land (spoiler?!) so I started scheming how to get back to Disney World, thinking maybe that time off at the start of August could work out well.

I never really moved forward with planning that, though, until one of my friends told me that she was thinking of going in August, on the exact dates I had off. So then I started looking at if I could go too.

Well, I had enough Southwest points to book the roundtrip flight and I still have my annual pass so that's two things paid for.

And then I found a great AP rate at Pop Century and the rest is history!


I can cancel everything without penalty until July 28, but I probably won't. So I'll probably also post some whirlwind planning in here! ​

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Jealous!!!