"Tell them people Mama told you so!" A pre-trippie from Mama Odile

[Nichellebelle]

Hi and welcome to Mama Odile's Pre-trip report! My name is Nichelle and my DH is Charlie. DH is an Architect and runs his own company. I work for the Department of Education and run a non-profit that helps homeless children on the side. In my spare time I love to read, compete in pageants, cook and of course plan Disney trips! If I could... I would live in MK. We live in Maryland the Crab state but we are not crabby people with our two cats Nipsy and Fleetwood. We were married in May of 2008 and had a Disneymoon afterward to celebrate! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in one of the Honeymoon Suites and then took a Disney Cruise.

Here is a picture of DH at Atlantis in Nassau

Nipsy and Fleetwood over Christmas

For our first Anniversary we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL) and fell in love. The resort itself was like being at a park. This will be my third trip to Walt Disney World and I am so excited. We will be staying at the AKL this May again to celebrate our second Anniversary. Our arrival day is Monday and we will depart on Saturday. I hope you enjoy my report. I love sharing new adventures and meeting new friends!


Day 1:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2295753

Day 2:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2295753&page=2

 

[Nichellebelle]

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe that in only 4 months we will be back at Disney world! "Squeal"
We were blessed enough to get a pin code and now we get to stay Club level at AKL! Yay! I am so excited about this because now we can take a Sunrise Safari which I have always wanted to take. I love animals and if I could start over I think I might be a Zoologist. Yesterday I was able to make our ADR's and we got them all. Below is the schedule of where we plan on eating:

Monday: Chef De France in Epcot

I have never eaten here before but if it is anything like the bakery in France I can't wait!

Tuesday: Breakfast at the Crystal Palace and Dinner at the Castle
This is our actual Anniversary so we splurged on two character meals well really just once since we are on the dining plan. I have never eaten inside the Castle... I am bursting with excitement like a little kid to go. What is the dress code like in the Castle?


Wednesday: Sci-Fi at DHS for lunch and Dinner at Boma
DH and I love this place because we love watching movies!

Thursday: Sunrise Safari/ Quick Service meals

Friday: Main Street Restaurant in MK

What are your must have places to eat at Disney?

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi there! I'm in. We're going in May also! We have a little over 4 weeks to go. I can't wait!!

We love O'hana. We have done Le Cellier a couple of times. The food is great but the portions are kind of weak. That's the only time you will hear me say that about Disney TS but it's true there for some reason.

The dress code for the castle (CRT) is casual...nothing different. It is all about atmosphere there.

 

[Nichellebelle]

Hi! I have always wanted to go to O'hana but can never figure out the best way to get there from AKL. I am glad the dress code is casual for CRT! I can't wait to go, I am such a big kid! I love going in May too. Did you find it crowded when you went last year? When we went to the EMH at night the crowds were insane.

 

[Nichellebelle]

Hello again my Lovelies!

Our May trip has been through a transformation of sorts..Here I am at my desk planning!

We are now checking in on Sunday and leaving on Thursday. Well...if you have ever been on a Sunrise Safari you know that they only have them on Sunday and Thursday. We are checking in on Sunday and checking out on Thursday which would prevent us from attending a Sunrise Safari. Well this became a huge problem for Mama Odile...Uh-oh Aww shux y'all...but I just "dug a little deeper" and came up with the solution.

Originally, we were going to fly in on Sunday for check-in. But why wait? We decided to fly in on Saturday and stay at a airport hotel and leave bright and early the next morning for AKL and our Sunrise Safari. So...now we will get a full day at Disney without the hassle of transportation. Yay!!!

Our Schedule for Sunday

7:30- Sunrise Safari

Picture courtesy of Disney World website

9:00-Breakfast at Pizzafari

Picture courtesy of Mouse Planet website

10:00-Fun at AKP; I want to ride Kali River Rapids, see Festival of the Lion King, and ride DINOSAUR to name a few (We have never rode Expedition Everest because every year we are too chicken, this year its on baby)

Pictures courtesy of Disney World website

2:00-Back to AKL for Pool time and Relaxation

I found this picture on DIS boards so if it yours please let me know if you have a problem with me using it!

7:00-Jiko


I love, love, love...planning outfits! So, I have started to plan what I am going to wear on each day of our vacation. Below is the top I plan on wearing at Animal Kingdom. I Think it is pretty and Rustic looking at the same time. Adventure here I come! (Take that Yeti)

I was thinking of something that we could do on Saturday before our Sunday check-in at AKL and pondered the idea of going to Universal Studios....but maybe we should just relax?

 

[MainStMandy]

Hi!! I'm in!! You and your DH are a beautiful couple!!! And we love AKL too!! We are staying there for 2 nights on our upcoming trip. I wish we had thought to do the Sunrise Safari!! Can't wait to hear about it!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi! I have always wanted to go to O'hana but can never figure out the best way to get there from AKL. I am glad the dress code is casual for CRT! I can't wait to go, I am such a big kid! I love going in May too. Did you find it crowded when you went last year? When we went to the EMH at night the crowds were insane.

It wasn't crowded last year to us. It was very manageable. The evening EMH was a breeze. With that said, we had record level rain during our stay. We have visited in May on 5 trips. We keep going back so it can't be too bad. I don't know when exactly you are going in May but the closer you get to Memorial Day the more crowded the parks are.

Can't wait to see more outfits you have planned. Glad you got the safari worked out also.

 

[Nichellebelle]

Hi!! I'm in!! You and your DH are a beautiful couple!!! And we love AKL too!! We are staying there for 2 nights on our upcoming trip. I wish we had thought to do the Sunrise Safari!! Can't wait to hear about it!

Hi there! Thank you for visiting! AKL is the best. I almost forgot about the Sunrise Safari but was reminded by a post on DIS. Thank you so much for the compliment! That was sweet

It wasn't crowded last year to us. It was very manageable. The evening EMH was a breeze. With that said, we had record level rain during our stay. We have visited in May on 5 trips. We keep going back so it can't be too bad. I don't know when exactly you are going in May but the closer you get to Memorial Day the more crowded the parks are.

Can't wait to see more outfits you have planned. Glad you got the safari worked out also.

Hey! Yeah, I saw about all the rain from Becky (Ladybugmom) It looked insane! What is funny is that we were there the second week before the Monsoons started. I hope it does not rain this year! I love going in May we are going the first week. Thanks again for visiting

 

[AuroraRose]

I'm in for this one as well! I see you have gone to AKL before, now I'm even more excited!! What is this Sunrise Safari you speak of, though? It's only my second trip to WDW, so I am going to have to investigate further..

Last year we went May 11-18, and it was rainy while we were there. I didn't mind it, though. Probably because I love rain and since I live in Vegas now, we don't see much of it!

Expedition Everest is so much fun! You sound like my sister, though! She doesn't want to go on that or on Splash Mt.! I am bribing her to go on both of those by paying for two of her meals.

I want to see more of your outfits you have planned too! Is that silly of me?! I really like that top, it's so cute!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm joining in for your fun---AKL looks beautiful. We ate dinner at Boma last May. I really enjoyed looking around the resort that evening.

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary. What day? DH and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary on May 18. We'll arrive at Disney three days later!

 

[Nichellebelle]

I'm in for this one as well! I see you have gone to AKL before, now I'm even more excited!! What is this Sunrise Safari you speak of, though? It's only my second trip to WDW, so I am going to have to investigate further..

Last year we went May 11-18, and it was rainy while we were there. I didn't mind it, though. Probably because I love rain and since I live in Vegas now, we don't see much of it!

Expedition Everest is so much fun! You sound like my sister, though! She doesn't want to go on that or on Splash Mt.! I am bribing her to go on both of those by paying for two of her meals.

I want to see more of your outfits you have planned too! Is that silly of me?! I really like that top, it's so cute!

Can't wait to hear more!

Hey! You are such a great sister! We were just leaving when you were arriving last year. Isn't it funny how we pass each other in the winds of time, each of our stories trailing each other through that wonderful place in Buena Vista we call home? I love, I mean lu-ovvve Splash Mountain. Outfit planning...so fun! Thank you for visiting my PTR!

I'm joining in for your fun---AKL looks beautiful. We ate dinner at Boma last May. I really enjoyed looking around the resort that evening.

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary. What day? DH and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary on May 18. We'll arrive at Disney three days later!

Hello there!

AKL was beautiful...so stunning that when we entered the lobby my eyes were at once numbed by the visceral beauty of the place. Each morning when we would wake up there would be Giraffes at our balcony.One morning, a little Giraffe was staring at me as I stared at her She was such a magnificent creature that I decided to do a little bow. Can you imagine my awe when she bowed back to me? I squealed and ran back in to the room to tell my husband...these are the memories that I am so thankful for! To be able to experience such beautiful creatures is truly a blessing. Our anniversary is on May 4th, 2 years and counting. Boma is so good. We only at there at Breakfast but I was so stuffed I could barely move! Thank you for visiting my PTR!

 

[Nichellebelle]

Since I am officially snowed in today, I am planning the rest of my outfit for Animal kingdom!

This is the top I am going to wear:

I am going to wear these shorts:

I figured these shorts would dry fast if they got wet under my poncho during the ten times I plan on riding Kali River Rapids


They might not be the cutest shoes but they are soooo comfortable! Shoes:

When I know I am going to be somewhere really hot, I mix a little of this into my lotion or sunblock:

And I am never without this lip-gloss, seriously this is like the best gloss ever invented:

 

[AuroraRose]

Hey! You are such a great sister! We were just leaving when you were arriving last year. Isn't it funny how we pass each other in the winds of time, each of our stories trailing each other through that wonderful place in Buena Vista we call home? I love, I mean lu-ovvve Splash Mountain. Outfit planning...so fun! Thank you for visiting my PTR!

Hehe, I try! Wow, really? That's too funny! We probably passed right by each other! Splash and Space are probably my favorites. Although, I really just love so many things about Disney, it's hard to pick favorites sometimes!

Yes, I do love outfit planning, and your outfit for AK is way too cute! And I had to go look for that shimmer powder after you posted it! OMG, so pretty! Definitely looking forward to more!

 

[MainStMandy]

Love your outfit!! Too cute!!!

 

[Nichellebelle]

Hehe, I try! Wow, really? That's too funny! We probably passed right by each other! Splash and Space are probably my favorites. Although, I really just love so many things about Disney, it's hard to pick favorites sometimes!

Yes, I do love outfit planning, and your outfit for AK is way too cute! And I had to go look for that shimmer powder after you posted it! OMG, so pretty! Definitely looking forward to more!

Thanks! BTW is your name inspired from Sleeping Beauty? That is my favorite Disney cartoon.

Love your outfit!! Too cute!!!

Thanks Mandy!

 

[jenniferkeala808]

hey nichelle! I'm here! Thanks for checking out my PTR...now i'm gonna catch up on yours! Can't wait to hear more!!

ok...so went back and caught up...i LOVE reading too!! what do you like to read?? I'm so glad you can catch the sunrise safari!! sounds exciting! And i love how you're planning what you're going to wear already!! What dates are you going to be there?? Anyway, can't wait for more updates!!

 

[serrotak]

Joining in!! I am planning all of my outfits for my trip too, and I'm a guy. Did you buy any new clothes yet for the trip? I bought some new shorts and lots of new clothes for the kids. I think that's the best part of planning.

 

[Nichellebelle]

hey nichelle! I'm here! Thanks for checking out my PTR...now i'm gonna catch up on yours! Can't wait to hear more!!

ok...so went back and caught up...i LOVE reading too!! what do you like to read?? I'm so glad you can catch the sunrise safari!! sounds exciting! And i love how you're planning what you're going to wear already!! What dates are you going to be there?? Anyway, can't wait for more updates!!

Hey Again! The Safari does look like fun, I am excited to go. I like to read a lot of Sci-fi and Classic literature. Right now I am reading Peter and Wendy, 1911 by J.M Barrie and I love it. I am also re-reading A Wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle and Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I am going to be there May 2-6th. Thanks for visiting!

Joining in!! I am planning all of my outfits for my trip too, and I'm a guy. Did you buy any new clothes yet for the trip? I bought some new shorts and lots of new clothes for the kids. I think that's the best part of planning.

Hello! Outfit planning is a must lol I have not bought my outfits yet because I have not finalized them all. Yeah the clothes are fun. Thanks for visiting!

 

[kcandbella]

Hi! I'm joining in. We will be there the first week in May as well!

I love your outfit, so cute! I have been so busy planning outfits for the kids (my daughter and nephews) that I have not even thought about outfits for me! I guess I will have to start thinking about that!

Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[Nichellebelle]

Hi! I'm joining in. We will be there the first week in May as well!

I love your outfit, so cute! I have been so busy planning outfits for the kids (my daughter and nephews) that I have not even thought about outfits for me! I guess I will have to start thinking about that!

Looking forward to hearing more!

Hey Kayce! Thanks for visiting! We are getting close May huh? Shopping for the little ones is so fun though! We have not started our family yet but I have little nieces that I luuoove shopping for. I am glad you like the outfit