Sure he has his Disney driver's license... a March 2016 Trip Report

[Meghaen]

Thanks so much for the Trip Report so far! My family and I are going to WDW in August; it will be their first trip. Everything seems so complicated from when I went as a child with FP+ reservations, ADRs, and touring plans. Reading your trip report though makes it seem very laid back and just what a vacation should be. I can't wait to read the rest!

 

[Sydney2977]

Isn't Symphony of the Stars beautiful? DH and I saw the show in January. I'm hoping whatever the "new" SW fireworks show starting soon is just as great, since we'll be seeing it in Nov.


ToT is my favorite ride in all of WDW and I agree, it's best at night

I'm hoping the Star Works fireworks are a permanent thing since we won't be back for a couple years. Hopefully next time older DS will join us so I'll have a ToT buddy! Have you ever taken a picture from the top before the drop? I have one during the day but not at night. If I could get that I'd be so happy!

I am really enjoying your trip report! I look forward to reading the rest of it.
DH and I ate at the Brown Derby and Boatwrights on our last trip and they both ended up being surprise hits of the trip. DH talks about his delicious burger from Brown Derby. I am intrigued with Paradiso 37 after your review. We may have to try it on one of our future trips.

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it. I'd not really heard a ton of good things about Boatwrights but I'm glad we tried it. I definitely want older DS to try it since he likes that kind of cuisine too. We will probably wait a few trips before doing HBD again but it would definitely be for lunch again since the guys liked those choices better. I had never found any great reviews of Paradiso 37 either but we love anything Mexican-ish and we really enjoyed it.

I have never tried Brown Derby but am considering now after seeing the review and photos of the Cobb salad. And now you mention how your DH loved his burger from there. So it sounds like it would be a perfect place to eat for my son too!

There's another vote from "crazycatlady"'s DH above too for the burger! It's a wonderful option if you don't want some of the huge or expensive other options HBD has. Just remember it's only at lunch. The Cobb salad can also be ordered as a smaller appetizer version and it's available at the Lounge too.

Thanks so much for the Trip Report so far! My family and I are going to WDW in August; it will be their first trip. Everything seems so complicated from when I went as a child with FP+ reservations, ADRs, and touring plans. Reading your trip report though makes it seem very laid back and just what a vacation should be. I can't wait to read the rest!

Sure, I'm enjoying typing it up to share! I agree, it is definitely more complicated from when I was a kid, and even more so now that when my boys were little kids. One good thing is the resources available online to be able to plan better. I think the biggest tip I could give "1st timers" is to not overwhelm yourself with trying to do EVERYTHING! I like checklists so I'll write down on notecards everything we like kind of as a priority list but with the expectation that if we don't even do all of these it's ok. The most important thing is to have fun! Going in knowing you need to be flexible is also important. Who is going in your family and what are the ages?

 

[Sydney2977]

Saturday March 12: On our last day we made it for park opening

I guess going to bed at a decent hour the night before was an advantage because I woke up by a little after 7:00 on my own, though I had set my alarm for 7:30. I got ready and the guys got up on their own soon after me and got ready in succession. It was a little cooler this morning but a bit humid as well.


We took a different route to the bus stop just because we had time and I couldn't get enough of how pretty the grounds were.


I mean even the smoking areas are beautiful.


This morning we did end up waiting about 20 minutes for a bus but there must have been traffic or something. It was a Saturday after all and we were trying to get there at park opening time. When we got to the bus stop the time board said about a 10 minute wait, but that time kept getting bumped out. I do like that they update the board so you know the expectations. I thought it was a good thing we were running a bit ahead of our schedule so we'd still make it in plenty of time for our 9:10 breakfast adr.

We finally made it on a bus to AK and DH and I ended up standing on either side of DS's ECV while he remained seated in it. We did start out in seats and purposely gave them up to people though. Once again there were perfectly able bodied teens seated while parents were standing with small children. I can't wait till next trip when DS is able bodied and says something to other teens!

As we pulled into the bus unload area we caught a glimpse of the cranes in place for the construction of Pandora. I mentioned to DH to remind me to watch the movie when we got home- I still haven't seen Avatar! I figure the land will be complete by our next visit and I need to be familiar with it so I will be more excited for it.


Since it was only about 8:40 we made sure we got the sign picture. Sometimes we're in such a rush to get in that I end up taking it as we're leaving for the day.


I was also happy that I could finally wear this Maleficent shirt on a trip. DH got it for me years ago but since it's a tank top and we've done fall trips it's been too cool to wear. Even this morning I wore a light hoodie with it. And how does it go with the AK theme you ask? Well, Diablo is a bird... DS totally copied me with the bird theme, and DH decided to go with a safari guide look as you'll soon see.

They had already started lining guests up to proceed with opening. I tried to see if there was a separate line for people getting to breakfast adr's and when I inquired of a CM she said they were about to let everyone in. Since I knew we wouldn't be late I figured we'd just get in line with everyone else and go on in.


It seemed pretty crowded but the lines moved quickly and we were soon walking through the oasis. Before we crossed over to Discovery Island we got a better glimpse of the construction of Pandora. Wow, it looks so grand! I can't wait to see what immersive world they come up with.


As you can see at opening the crowds were pretty thick, but again it was a Saturday and the start of Spring Break for some places so it was to be expected.


I absolutely LOVE the Tree of Life! Besides the castle, I think it's my favorite park icon. the one disappointment at AK this trip was that they were doing construction for the new Rivers of Light show so the trails that get you up close to the tree were closed. I hope they are open again in the future because the detailed carvings in the tree are so neat.


I told the guys to hang a left and proceed on to Africa.


We were on our way to try a new place for breakfast.

 

[mdsouth]

Thanks for the tip about the burger only being available at Brown Derby at lunch.
Great photos of the Tree of Life. I too love that icon.

I don't know the layout of the AK park very well, but I am guessing that you are going to Tusker House for breakfast. I will just have to stay tuned to see.

I am tentatively planning a trip for next March - 13-17. SO, I appreciate reading about your experiences with the crowds. I wonder how bad the crowds will be. I am hoping they will be better than summer around the 4th of July.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Catching back up! Looks like you've had some fun adventures!

 

[Sydney2977]

Saturday March 12: Breakfast at Tusker House

We haven't done a character meal in a few trips so I thought this would be a fun one to add to this trip. When Donald's breakfast used to be in Dinoland we loved going. We have done Boma several times for breakfast and I figured this would be similar while also putting us in the park and trying something new.


We checked in a few minutes early for our 9:10 adr and were seated right away. The CM had to lead us around to get a good seat for DS so he wouldn't have too far to go to get to the buffet which was very nice. The main area in nice a bright with several side sections for more seating.


Our server was Yun and she was a complete joy! I would request her if we went again, she was so genuinely friendly and funny. She brought out the delicious juice for us and coffee for me as well. The whole meal we were checked on often and she told us when the characters would be coming and kept our drinks filled. Every time she stopped by she chatted a bit and we just really enjoyed our morning with her.

DH went to get his food while I helped DS pick his. He went a little sweet and a little savory, with a Mickey waffle, donut, Danish, chocolate chip muffin, grapes, tater tots, bacon and sausage, and a biscuit and gravy.


My first plate included a wonderful variety, including bacon and sausage, eggs, sweet potato, cheese blintz, croissant, bread pudding, fruit, mango chutney, and oatmeal with toppings.


I guess I was so busy eating my food that I forgot to take a picture of DH's plate. If I remember correctly he got bacon and sausage, biscuits and gravy, tater tots, fruit, a Danish, donut, and carved ham.

As we were eating Yun came over to tell us that the characters would be coming around, starting with a few tables behind us. First up was our host Donald! All the characters were great because they came up behind DH first and greeted him and I got to get a picture, then they came around to the other side to greet DS and I and DH got a picture of us with them. Very nice so DS didn't have to get up and down.


Next to visit us was DH's new crush Daisy! She was so sweet with the guys, it was adorable, giving hugs and blowing kisses.


The main Mouse stopped by to make sure we were having fun.


Finally Goofy made an appearance and got to acting silly with us, mainly encouraged by DH.


We thought the character interaction was excellent here. The fact that they took their time with us was great since we didn't have any little kids with us. But they were very engaging with the little boy at the table behind us and took time with a big group of girls on the other side of us too.

The guys were pretty stuffed but I wanted to go back and try a few more things. I got roasted potatoes, lemon poppy seed and another type of bread, yogurt with cranberries, watermelon, more bacon, and quiche.


All of the food was spectacular and I would highly recommend Tusker House especially for a character meal. For us we might not want to pay the extra for the character meal and will probably stick with Boma on our AK days for breakfast. The atmosphere and décor are a plus, and the location puts you right by Kilamanjaro Safari, The Festival of the Lion King, the Pangani Trails, and the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. We never felt rushed yet were in and out in under an hour.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Looks like a yummy breakfast!

 

[mdsouth]

It seems as if the breakfast buffet at Tusker House has more of a variety of foods than some other places. We had breakfast with Donald and the gang years ago but it must have been when it was in Dinoland. I think that was in 2005 and my daughter's first trip to WDW. Such happy memories!

 

[ariane37]

I have that same Maleficent tank Hot Topic, right? I love that store and get tons of Disney stuff there - more than I should lol.
You're making me want to go back to TH and I just finished booking our dining for our Nov. trip! We haven't been since 2012 but have always found the character interaction to be some of the best and the food, also.

 

[Sydney2977]

Looks like a yummy breakfast!

It certainly was! You should try it, your DD would enjoy too! There's a kid's section where the food stations are shorter so kids can see and choose better.

It seems as if the breakfast buffet at Tusker House has more of a variety of foods than some other places. We had breakfast with Donald and the gang years ago but it must have been when it was in Dinoland. I think that was in 2005 and my daughter's first trip to WDW. Such happy memories!

The variety is definitely a plus- traditional stuff and some with more of an African flavor. The last time we did Donald's in Dinoland was 2007. You're right- great memories!

I have that same Maleficent tank Hot Topic, right? I love that store and get tons of Disney stuff there - more than I should lol.
You're making me want to go back to TH and I just finished booking our dining for our Nov. trip! We haven't been since 2012 but have always found the character interaction to be some of the best and the food, also.

Yep- Hot Topic! DH got it for me along with a pack of Maleficent socks, one pair of which I also wore that day.
Hey, if you didn't get TH in your Nov. dining plans I guess you'll just have to go back, huh? Darn the bad luck...

 

[Sydney2977]

Saturday March 12: Kilimanjaro Safari

The conclusion of our breakfast was timed perfectly with the opening window of our first fp+: 10:10-11:10 on Kilimanjaro Safari. While I love the rides at AK, the real attraction at this park for me is the animals, and getting up close with them is such a thrill. I've always loved animals, but my teacher in 4th grade had formerly taught in Nairobi, so she incorporated a lot of our lessons into cultural things from there, including projects, having pen pals from her former school, and a section on African studies where we learned about the Maasai people and native animals. Since then my dream is to go on a real safari, but until that happens, AK is the next best thing! This is also DH's favorite attraction here- he would be happy just riding in the safari vehicles all day.

We zipped through the fp+ line, the CM had us go to the section where we could park the ECV and board, along with a few other families, and we only had to wait about 10 minutes for our vehicle.


Our guide was excellent! She was extremely knowledgeable. pointing out facts about each animal, and stopped for some wonderful viewing and photo ops. First up was the okapi, which was kind of being shy and stayed farther away. They are so pretty and we've had a chance to feed and pet them at the Houston Zoo. The next animal we got to watch was the rhino- of course now I can't remember if it's the black or white one. He walked along the side of the rocks and finally plopped himself down for a nap.


This little Bongo was just grazing around so we got to observe him a while. The antlers are so gorgeous and I like how the fur on the back comes up like a mohawk.


Around the corner was the hippo pool where the group was hanging out.


New to the safari and something we've never seen before were the African painted dogs.


Their coloring is very interesting and they look similar to hyenas but are cuter and more like domesticated dogs. Some were resting along the back of the enclosure while others roamed around. Again our guide was driving slow enough that we got a good look at them.


The ankole cattle were out on the savannah. They remind me of the longhorn cattle in Texas, but much larger. Years ago while visiting Rafiki's Planet Watch a CM had examples of their horns out, let the boys hold them, and showed the cross section where we could see that they are mainly hollow. She told us how the horns help to cool the cattle.


The giraffes were all over this time and we got to have some amazing observations. We could see them on both sides of the vehicle, eating and walking, from far away and up close. The little one is so cute!


We were so spoiled last trip getting upgraded to a savannah view at AKL and having to opportunity to stand on our balcony and watch these beautiful creatures. I want to try staying at most every resort at some point, but I know AKL will be one we go back to, and I will definitely pay for a savannah view! Look how close they were to our vehicle.


I am not an awesome photographer so this picture shows just how lucky we were that our guide drove slowly enough for our group to have the experience we did.

 

[Sydney2977]

Saturday March 12: It's not a giraffic jam, is it?

The next section of the safari brought us to the mandrill group. I thought these were a kind of baboon, but our guide explained that they are actually classified as a separate species and are the largest monkeys. She stopped the vehicle a minute to let us watch them.


Our guide then got a call to hold our position as there was some kind of block in the road up ahead. We couldn't see around the corner so we had no idea we were stopping. All I could think of was that DS's girlfriend had told us last time she was on the safari there were giraffes blocking the road and their guide called it a "giraffic jam!" We ended up waiting about 20 minutes in that spot, so we really got to watch the mandrills playing around, eating, and communicating with each other. The males are the colorful ones and those were the only ones we saw. It was a pretty entertaining place to be stuck.

Soon enough our guide had us back on our journey and we got to see lots of elephants, some resting, some staying in the background, some eating. These two were funny playing with each other.


Then we got to the culprits of the hold up- the ostriches! We were told they had settled down in the middle of the roadway and a team had to come out to safely move them. These CM's were staying nearby to make sure the ostriches didn't do it again.


The other rhino was being shy but we did get a glimpse.


The sable antelope were grazing as we passed by. Their horns are very majestic and their coloring as well.


Several zebras were also grazing nearby. They seemed to be more spread out than we normally see them.


We were in for a treat next- both the male and female lions were out! Usually we catch a glimpse of one or the other, and sometimes just one, but they must have both been loving the weather that day. First was the female, proudly posing up on the rocks.


Our guide drove slowly again so we could see her very well. When we came around to the other side we got to see the male enjoying a nap. He was so soft looking I wanted to pet him! With his eyes squished up like that he looked like a house cat.


The warthogs were also taking a nap and it was adorable that some of them were snuggled together.


Last up on our safari was the oryx. He was resting a ways back but we still had a good view of those amazing horns.


This was probably the best safari we've ever experiences- partly due to the wonderful weather and partly because our guide was so patient and accommodating.

 

[westcoastfldisneygirl]

All caught up! Love your photos! The animal shots are amazing. The rhino taking a nap

Your breakfast looked really good and I am glad the characters spent so much time with you guys!

 

[mdsouth]

Great photos of your safari ride! The safari ride is one of my daughter's favorite rides of all of WDW. When were last there we actually spent two full days at AK on two consecutive days! I think we went on the safari ride at least four times, it might have been five or six total over the two days. The giraffes are my favorite animal of all time. I remember doing a research paper and project on them in fourth grade and my love for them started then.

 

[Sydney2977]

Aaaah! I can't believe it's been a month since I've updated this! Work has been crazy and I just found out I received the position I applied for so whoopee for a promotion! DH's old '98 truck is finally down to it's last leg so I convinced him to get a newer one- a 2014- so the extra money will be useful. It also means extra money for me to squirrel away for our next WDW trip! Ok, back to finishing up the last trip...

Saturday March 12- Antics in Africa

After departing the safari we still had more we wanted to experience in Africa. First up was the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. I like wandering through here an taking time to watch all the animals. One of my personal favorites are the naked mole rats. DS says they're ugly and gross but I think they're cute and the behavior is interesting.



Another group of animals I could watch all day is the meerkats- so adorable! The CM there said that they take turns standing guard watching for predatory birds, but sometimes they're all up on alert.



They also had three new babies that were so funny- chasing and wrestling with each other like little kids.



The hippo viewing area is also a highlight of this trail because you can see them underwater. DS was chuckling about all the younger kids pressed up to the glass in fascination and we had to tell him "that used to be you and your brother too!"

Last up we had to say hi to the gorillas. This viewing area is great as well because it lets you get close to them safely. DH was teasing me saying the gorilla was sleeping like I do! There was another one walking in the back ridge area too. We've seen multiple ones right up by the glass before and they are fun to watch interact with each other.


Upon exiting the trail we realized it was almost noon so we decided to catch the Festival of the Lion King show. Our family in general is not big on shows, but this is one we haven't missed since the first time we saw it. The Lion King soundtrack is probably one of our favorites and the performers are cool too. They seated the fp+ holders first and then let the rest of us in. The CM's escorted those of us with wheelchairs and ECV's to those designated sections. DS stayed in his ECV while DH and I sat on the benches. Once the show began I looked over and saw DS was recording the whole thing on his phone! We were seated in the giraffe section and had a challenge trying to make those noises.



As usual the whole show was spectacular! Seriously, even if you're not big into shows this one is not to be missed! A bit of comedy, a bit of danger, a bit of romance, and lots of celebration make it like a mini version of the Broadway version.




Upon exiting the theater we had a rather unpleasant experience. We were slowly filing out along with everyone else when a guy in front of DS who was letting his 2 year old walk suddenly stopped to pick him up. DS stopped the ECV which caused DH and I to have to stop abruptly behind him. Then when the guy stood up he bumped the ECV. He then proceeded to turn around and start yelling at DS to watch out, even though DS was already stopped and did nothing! So DH said back to him that maybe he shouldn't stop in the middle of the theater while hundreds of people are trying to exit. The guy then yelled back that he had to "pick up his baby" and DH said he should have done that before he started walking. As we were walking out the guy kept yelling that he had to pick up his baby and then began yelling obscenities when DH kept calmly telling him DS didn't bump him and that he should have picked his kid up before. The fact that DH was keeping calm and not trying to make a scene seemed to be making this guy more angry and he kept getting louder and cursing more! Then once we got out of the theater the wife joined in and started yelling and cursing too, even though se had not seen any of it because she was ahead of us all. At that point I tried to shut it all down by saying something like "Hey, you're at Disney, there's lots of kids around, why don't you stop cussing?" This had the exact opposite effect and they both started loudly yelling obscenities, their child right there the whole time, and other guests now staring in disbelief. DH then said to DS and I something like let's just get out of here and leave these idiots to ruin their own time and we kept going while ignoring them.

We weren't quite ready for lunch so we figured we'd take a ride over to Rafiki's Planet Watch. The train ride alone is nice and relaxing, and different because the cars face sideways. DS was able to back his ECV in while DH and I had regular seats.



The attractions at Rafiki's are a definite must for younger kids. We have fond memories of the outdoor and indoor activities the boys used to enjoy, and there are often character meets here. DS was slightly disappointed that he couldn't go in the Affection Section to pet the animals.

Once inside the guys noticed something new that they jumped at the chance to do since there was only one little boy in line ahead of them. Normally I would have joked with them to do it, but they must have been way into their Disney sides and beat me to it. There is a CM that has you follow along to say the Lion Guard promise and you get a button and a pamphlet that has a spot to put your picture and a search throughout the park for other Lion Guard characters. Definitely do this if you have photo pass- the photographer CM takes lots of pictures.



The CM they had doing the pledge was so engaging and lots of fun! It's little extras like this that make Disney so magical.



We looked around at all the animals and rooms. No procedures going on that day but sometimes you'll be lucky enough to view one. There's also usually a CM with some kind of demo- we've had things like samples of animal "poo" and ankole cattle horns to hold and see the insides of. There's also a stage where animals are brought out for a lesson and demo. That day is was a scarlet macaw.



Before we even went in DS had his donation ready. It's something we've done every visit. We used to give them a donation but now they give from their own money- so sweet. The CM here takes donations for the Disney Conservation Fund and you get a button for it.

On the way back we had to wait about 10 minutes for a train but at least it was in the shade. Our journey through Africa was complete.

 

[heaven2dc]

We love the FOTLK show too! One of our favs - so colorful and entertaining! Sorry about the incident involving the guest in front of your son - so glad it didn't damper your day I believe your husband handled the situation perfectly!

 

[Sydney2977]

Saturday March 12: Afternoon in Asia

It wasn't time for our fp+ for Expedition Everest and we weren't hungry either, so we made our first stop in Asia the Maharajah Jungle Trek.



Unfortunately this is the only picture I have from it! Right as we got in my camera batteries died and I didn't have spare ones since I had switched those out at the beginning of the trip. I thought I could take some ok ones on my phone but they didn't end up coming out well. I do remember the bats were being pretty active- I love watching them and their little faces are so cute. What's weird is that I don't mind bats flying around but I really get freaked out when large birds are flying around. I watch the birds in that section walking around, but when they start flying overhead I am out of there! There was only one tiger we could see and he was just napping by the pool. The viewing areas here are great though because they offer multiple locations to see the tigers. We thought the others might be eating somewhere because we saw CM's coming out of the enclosure.

When we exited the trail I popped into a little shop to ask if they had batteries. The CM there directed me to Island Mercantile on Discovery Island so we trekked back over the bridge. I was able to pick up a pack of AA batteries for around $7- pretty good for in the park! We stopped totest them out for some Tree of Life photos.





Now it was time for Expedition Everest so we went back into Asia and past all the construction barriers to the mountain. The construction was slightly distracting but I'm really excited about the new nighttime show and the opportunity to make AK an all day park. I found an awesome quote that I am going to use as part of DS's Eagle Scout ceremony (he has his Board of Review next week).



Our fp+ was for 2:25 and it was just a few minutes past that when we arrived. There were lots of people sitting around the barrier walls and the entrance but we weren't sure why. The line only took about five minutes and we were ready to board the train.



DS and I rode in the very back row with DH right in front of us. It's a cool feeling especially on the big drop. I love this rollercoaster because it's not as jerky as some others and the difference in the track makes it fun.

By this time we were all hungry. I had planned to try something new like Flame Tree BBQ but since we were already in Asia the guys wanted their favorite Yak & Yeti cs. We ordered and found a table in the outdoor section towards the back that had room for DS to park his ECV. One disadvantage for guests is that there is only outdoor seating, so if it's really hot this may not be the ideal place to eat.

The guys got their typical honey chicken. It was delicious as always but they said they did appreciate that now it is served in a tray making it easier to eat. It used to be served in a take-out style box which while portable made it hard to stir everything together and you'd end up with lots of rice at the bottom.



I had to be different and try a special they were having that day of chicken curry. For cs it was pretty good- the veggies were tender and the chicken plentiful, but I would have preferred more spice. I do realize that they are trying to please a wide audience though. I think in the future I would stick with the honey chicken.

After lunch we wandered back onto Discovery Island. Because of the construction we could not walk on any of the trails and there weren't all the animals to observe like there usually are. We did find some hilarious otters though. They were adorable trying to open things to eat and playing with each other.



Last on our list of must-do's at AK was Dinosaur! DH has found in recent trips that the jerky movements bother him so he chooses not to ride, although he used to love it. But it is one of DS's absolute favorites in all of WDW so I made sure I had a fp+ for it which was at 3:55. The wait was only about 30 minutes anyway, so we got through the fp+ line quick and were into our rovers. A blast as always!



It was about 4:30 when we headed out of AK for the day. We did have to wait about 20 minutes for a bus, but then were on our way to MK for the evening.

 

[mdsouth]

Congratulations on your promotion!!!

I am glad you bought some batteries for your camera. I love all the photos you take!

I am all caught up now! I think some people just try to be obnoxious and rude to others. I am glad your DH stepped in and calmly tried to settle them down. Unfortunately, there are lots of jerks that inhabit the planet with us. Glad you guys were able to just let it go and move on.

I have not seen the Lion King Show. I really did not know anything about it on our first family trip and then last trip they did not have it running since they were building the new theater. So, I hope it is still running when we return some day.

 

[Menagerie]

Love the Eagle quote. Please wish your son good luck at his Board. My younger son just had his Court of Honor in June and my older son is also an Eagle Scout. They both make my proud.

 

[Sydney2977]

Congratulations on your promotion!!!

I am glad you bought some batteries for your camera. I love all the photos you take!

I am all caught up now! I think some people just try to be obnoxious and rude to others. I am glad your DH stepped in and calmly tried to settle them down. Unfortunately, there are lots of jerks that inhabit the planet with us. Glad you guys were able to just let it go and move on.

I have not seen the Lion King Show. I really did not know anything about it on our first family trip and then last trip they did not have it running since they were building the new theater. So, I hope it is still running when we return some day.

Thank you! I am excited to step up to a new challenge. And thanks about the pics too- I love looking back and reminiscing after trips so the photos are important to me.

I am sure the Lion King show will be running for a long time- it's excellent! Make it a must for your next trip.

Love the Eagle quote. Please wish your son good luck at his Board. My younger son just had his Court of Honor in June and my older son is also an Eagle Scout. They both make my proud.

Congratulations to you as an Eagle parent of two! Thanks for the good luck too. He was more nervous about his Scoutmaster conference than the BoR! I know he'll do well. The problem for me will be trying to plan the CoH with school starting, activities, and when older DS can come home again, because I know he'll want his brother there.