__disneygirl
well, all that's left now is the happy ending.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2005
- Messages
- 3,528
April 14, 2010
Day 4, Part 5 In Which We Don't Say Goodbye, We Say Go Well
And so it was time for Africa. For some reason, as a child, I was fascinated by Africa above all other places. I wanted to go there so bad. My parents would say, "Where do you want to go on vacation?" and I would reply "AFRICA!"
I now have a desire to travel the whole world, seeing anything and everything I could (My current obsession is Monte Carlo), but before I so badly wanted to see Europe, and Australia, and Asia... it was Africa. So this section of AK holds a special place in my heart.
We arrived in Harambe and wanted to take the safari immediately. We both hadn't been on it since 2006! I know, it's like, WHUCK? But like I've said, my mom's last trip was in 06, and my solo trip was so heavily dominated by Epcot. I was so excited to get up close in personal with all these beautiful animals. The wait time said 40 minutes, and we would have waited except the fastpass return time was in just a bit longer than that! Not a popular day for the safaris I guess! This was actually perfect because it meant we could see the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail while we wait for our FP time to come up.
My mom and I LOVE gorillas. We had been talking about this all day, seeing them. We had even heard there was a BABY GORILLA. Oh, we were so excited.
.........
Well. I've got no pictures for ya. Cause no gorillas were out. It was too late. They had had it. They were checked out. They were not as forthcoming as the bats and did not perform for us or show any privates on command. Sigh. As they say, you can't win em all.
This was the only thing about this day at AK that wasn't perfect. Like I said before, it was the best AK day. Oh, the only other thing: Kali River Rapids was closed! We haven't done this one since 2002 - every time it comes up, we don't want to get wet. We planned for it this time though, and brought a change of nicer (but still comfy) clothes to change in for dinner, that we said we'd put on after we go on Kali. But it was not to be. Next trip, it will be a huge priority because that ride is so much fun and I MISS IT! 8 years is far too long.
If you're sad about the lack of gorilla, HAVE NO FEAR! Because we had the best freaking gorilla experience ever later on in the trip. Including the baby. OMG, I can't wait to tell you guys! But that doesn't come up for awhile. Oh well, to quote Mr. Andy Warhol: "The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." So true!!
So onto the safari!!! TO SEE MY BELOVED LIONS!! I've also recently fallen in love with giraffes. Especially baby giraffes. Baby anythings are just the best. You know what I do when I'm feeling down? It's so silly, but it makes me feel better. I type "baby" into Google Images followed by the name of any animal. It cheers me up soooo much. So much cute, how could you not MELT? (Speaking of cute... Go to facebook.com/boo - just trust me on this one.)
We were afraid that the safari was going to suck because the gorillas were nowhere to be found and we thought it might be the same case with the animals here. I knew from reading the DIS that the best time to see the animals is early morning. However, that was not the case AT ALL! This was the best safari in recent memory with the exception of the elephants which we saw none of (but it's ok, because the same day we had the awesome gorilla experience, the same happened with the elephants!)
Gorgeous giraffes
I love how their spots are the same but different. You know?
He was talking to me about something, I can't remember what it was. He may have been asking me what I thought of LOST but so many people ask me about that, I just can't remember. I know, I know, it's like, a giraffe talks to you, you should remember the topic, but it escapes me.
I love him cause he has a heart on his neck. My friend Peter's dog Bandit has a heart on his bum so it reminded me of him!
Their spots fascinate me. I felt so lucky to see them up SO close. I thought they were going to pop their cute heads into the truck and lick my face!
I always wish there was more giraffe time cause I just get sad when we start to move away from them!!
Is this the Ankhole Cattle? Uhhh. Hmm. Their horns are intimidating.
Imagine if one of them rammed the safari vehicle? My mind immediately goes to disaster so these are the kinds of things I think of.
It was weird to see this truck! Wonder what that guy was doing...
Love the upside down trees. One in my backyard please!!
FLAMINGOS!!!! Need these for my backyard too!!
Ok, it was LION TIME! Now normally I get all excited to see the lions and then they are just sitting their on that air conditioned rock all like WUDDUP. And so we drive up and yeah this is what I see.
Still AWESOME, you know, cause it's still a live lion...right there! But I want to see a lion standing on the rock and roaring like it's about to come eat us. I mean that would be something to write home about. And I didn't see the male with his big pretty mane which was a problem. SUDDENLY, AS WE CONTINUE, WE SEE THIS OMG!!!!
IT WAS TOO EPIC!!! I WAS LITERALLY GASPING, MAKING INCOHERENT NOISES AND BOUNCING IN MY SEAT (LIKE EVEN MORE THAN YOU NATURALLY DO BEING ON THAT RIDE) AND JUST COULDN'T CONTAIN MYSELF!! IT WAS SO COOL!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. NOT TO MENTION, THE LION WAS LIKE MAKING SOUNDS!!!!!!!!!! NOT A FULL ON ROOOARRRR, BUT GRUNTING. AND IT WAS PACING BACK IN FORTH LIKE SCAR. LIKE THIS WAS A LION ON A MISSION YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW!!! AND I WAS ALL LIKE O SHOOT, WHAT IS GOING TO GO DOWN HERE??!??! IT WAS JUST SO AMAZING!!!! I WAS SO EXCITED THAT THE DRIVER COMMENTED ON ME LOL!!! AND I WAS JUST LIKE OMG YOU DON'T GET HOW MUCH I LOVE LIONS AND ONE IS RIGHT THERE AND LIKE IT IS SO AMAZING AND I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE IT PLEASE STOP THE CAR SO I CAN GO SAY HI OR SOMETHING OMG.
Have you ever seen something SO BEAUTIFUL??????? It was so amazing!! It was straight up Simba action!!!! I wonder how often they pace back and forth like that b/c I've done the safari at least, I don't know, 10 times, and it's never happened before and didn't happen when we did the safari again later on in the trip so I wonder if something was going down on Pride Rock!!
Whew. It was so fun. NO...it was way more than fun. It was one of those things you DREAM about happening on your vacation. We travel to explore and see things we have never seen before and that was truly a singular experience for me that I will never forget. I've always dreamed of seeing a lion in action in person like that and it finally came true. And, as Stacey would say, "Without all the Malaria shots and stuff."
I love you Disney. Thank you Walt. THANK YOU WALT!!!!!!!!!!!
I tweeted:
Here in Africa we don't say goodbye, we say go well. I JUST SAW AN EPIC LION!!!
The first part of that is what your driver says to you when you are getting off the safari. I have tried to add it into everyday conversation!
I tweeted again:
I got the most amazing photos of the lions. I've never seen a male that active. I was awestruck.
=)=)=)
After that AMAZING safari, our brains were just fried. Mom mentioned she was kind of running out of steam and we still had a lot to do that day so we decided to get some drinks and take a rest near the Dawa Bar.
I saw this on the wall:
It is Swahili. I translated it through a free online translation site, and this came up: "no permission to install this wall in front of livestock." Well... okay then. Wish I knew someone who spoke Swahili so I could have it translated for real!
This was on another wall:
I looked that up too, and found: The Swahili word Uhuru translates as "freedom", a name given to commemorate Tanzanian independence from Great Britain in 1961. Gotta love those details! I mean, these are things I never ever would have known and here I am better for having learned a little piece of history.
And omg. I had another totally exciting and amazing moment. I FOUND AN AWESOME HIDDEN MICKEY I DID NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT!!!!!
I have been obsessed with finding Hidden Mickeys since I was 12. OMG, I love it. I bought that Hidden Mickey book they sell at the parks back in 2002, stuck a sample of Laila: The Essence of Norway in it (it still smells to this day. I take a whiff when I need some Disney!) and read it a thousands times.
Now, I find Hidden Mickeys constantly, so much that I don't even stop to take pictures of them or mention them in this TR. They are just everywhere. It is an addiction of mine and I am ALWAYS looking for them. The thing is, I've read about them extensively, so I have a lot of them logged in my memory, even if I haven't SEEN them in person. Like, I can walk into any building at WDW and be like "Oh yeah, there's a Hidden Mickey somewhere in by that window."
I've found most of the hard to spot or special Hidden Mickeys (though one that eludes me is the HIDDEN MINNIE in the mural of Hollywood in the loading dock at The Great Movie Ride... have tried SO many times, never can spot it. I have seen pictures and know EXACTLY what it looks like, but I just can never find it!! Though the Great Movie Ride in general has AMAZING Hidden Mickeys so google that and find them next time!!!), but only because I knew about them previously. Most Hidden Mickeys I find on my own are just the classic three circles.
This Hidden Mickey I had NOT read about. I had no idea it was there. But I was just walking by this pole and I was like JESUS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! THAT'S MICKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See him? I was so excited!! My mom was sitting down already, but I made her come and see it. She was not jumping up and down like me, but she loves Hidden Mickeys too and always wants me to point them out to her. I think it's a really cool one. I love the silhouette ones, especially. I'm also wondering if this one is new or something, because I googled and googled and didn't find any mention of it!! Hmmm...
Up Next: How to have Animal Kingdom all to yourself.
Day 4, Part 5 In Which We Don't Say Goodbye, We Say Go Well
And so it was time for Africa. For some reason, as a child, I was fascinated by Africa above all other places. I wanted to go there so bad. My parents would say, "Where do you want to go on vacation?" and I would reply "AFRICA!"
I now have a desire to travel the whole world, seeing anything and everything I could (My current obsession is Monte Carlo), but before I so badly wanted to see Europe, and Australia, and Asia... it was Africa. So this section of AK holds a special place in my heart.
We arrived in Harambe and wanted to take the safari immediately. We both hadn't been on it since 2006! I know, it's like, WHUCK? But like I've said, my mom's last trip was in 06, and my solo trip was so heavily dominated by Epcot. I was so excited to get up close in personal with all these beautiful animals. The wait time said 40 minutes, and we would have waited except the fastpass return time was in just a bit longer than that! Not a popular day for the safaris I guess! This was actually perfect because it meant we could see the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail while we wait for our FP time to come up.
My mom and I LOVE gorillas. We had been talking about this all day, seeing them. We had even heard there was a BABY GORILLA. Oh, we were so excited.
.........
Well. I've got no pictures for ya. Cause no gorillas were out. It was too late. They had had it. They were checked out. They were not as forthcoming as the bats and did not perform for us or show any privates on command. Sigh. As they say, you can't win em all.
This was the only thing about this day at AK that wasn't perfect. Like I said before, it was the best AK day. Oh, the only other thing: Kali River Rapids was closed! We haven't done this one since 2002 - every time it comes up, we don't want to get wet. We planned for it this time though, and brought a change of nicer (but still comfy) clothes to change in for dinner, that we said we'd put on after we go on Kali. But it was not to be. Next trip, it will be a huge priority because that ride is so much fun and I MISS IT! 8 years is far too long.
If you're sad about the lack of gorilla, HAVE NO FEAR! Because we had the best freaking gorilla experience ever later on in the trip. Including the baby. OMG, I can't wait to tell you guys! But that doesn't come up for awhile. Oh well, to quote Mr. Andy Warhol: "The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." So true!!
So onto the safari!!! TO SEE MY BELOVED LIONS!! I've also recently fallen in love with giraffes. Especially baby giraffes. Baby anythings are just the best. You know what I do when I'm feeling down? It's so silly, but it makes me feel better. I type "baby" into Google Images followed by the name of any animal. It cheers me up soooo much. So much cute, how could you not MELT? (Speaking of cute... Go to facebook.com/boo - just trust me on this one.)
We were afraid that the safari was going to suck because the gorillas were nowhere to be found and we thought it might be the same case with the animals here. I knew from reading the DIS that the best time to see the animals is early morning. However, that was not the case AT ALL! This was the best safari in recent memory with the exception of the elephants which we saw none of (but it's ok, because the same day we had the awesome gorilla experience, the same happened with the elephants!)
Gorgeous giraffes
I love how their spots are the same but different. You know?
He was talking to me about something, I can't remember what it was. He may have been asking me what I thought of LOST but so many people ask me about that, I just can't remember. I know, I know, it's like, a giraffe talks to you, you should remember the topic, but it escapes me.
I love him cause he has a heart on his neck. My friend Peter's dog Bandit has a heart on his bum so it reminded me of him!
Their spots fascinate me. I felt so lucky to see them up SO close. I thought they were going to pop their cute heads into the truck and lick my face!
I always wish there was more giraffe time cause I just get sad when we start to move away from them!!
Is this the Ankhole Cattle? Uhhh. Hmm. Their horns are intimidating.
Imagine if one of them rammed the safari vehicle? My mind immediately goes to disaster so these are the kinds of things I think of.
It was weird to see this truck! Wonder what that guy was doing...
Love the upside down trees. One in my backyard please!!
FLAMINGOS!!!! Need these for my backyard too!!
Ok, it was LION TIME! Now normally I get all excited to see the lions and then they are just sitting their on that air conditioned rock all like WUDDUP. And so we drive up and yeah this is what I see.
Still AWESOME, you know, cause it's still a live lion...right there! But I want to see a lion standing on the rock and roaring like it's about to come eat us. I mean that would be something to write home about. And I didn't see the male with his big pretty mane which was a problem. SUDDENLY, AS WE CONTINUE, WE SEE THIS OMG!!!!
IT WAS TOO EPIC!!! I WAS LITERALLY GASPING, MAKING INCOHERENT NOISES AND BOUNCING IN MY SEAT (LIKE EVEN MORE THAN YOU NATURALLY DO BEING ON THAT RIDE) AND JUST COULDN'T CONTAIN MYSELF!! IT WAS SO COOL!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. NOT TO MENTION, THE LION WAS LIKE MAKING SOUNDS!!!!!!!!!! NOT A FULL ON ROOOARRRR, BUT GRUNTING. AND IT WAS PACING BACK IN FORTH LIKE SCAR. LIKE THIS WAS A LION ON A MISSION YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW!!! AND I WAS ALL LIKE O SHOOT, WHAT IS GOING TO GO DOWN HERE??!??! IT WAS JUST SO AMAZING!!!! I WAS SO EXCITED THAT THE DRIVER COMMENTED ON ME LOL!!! AND I WAS JUST LIKE OMG YOU DON'T GET HOW MUCH I LOVE LIONS AND ONE IS RIGHT THERE AND LIKE IT IS SO AMAZING AND I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE IT PLEASE STOP THE CAR SO I CAN GO SAY HI OR SOMETHING OMG.
Have you ever seen something SO BEAUTIFUL??????? It was so amazing!! It was straight up Simba action!!!! I wonder how often they pace back and forth like that b/c I've done the safari at least, I don't know, 10 times, and it's never happened before and didn't happen when we did the safari again later on in the trip so I wonder if something was going down on Pride Rock!!
Whew. It was so fun. NO...it was way more than fun. It was one of those things you DREAM about happening on your vacation. We travel to explore and see things we have never seen before and that was truly a singular experience for me that I will never forget. I've always dreamed of seeing a lion in action in person like that and it finally came true. And, as Stacey would say, "Without all the Malaria shots and stuff."
I love you Disney. Thank you Walt. THANK YOU WALT!!!!!!!!!!!
I tweeted:
Here in Africa we don't say goodbye, we say go well. I JUST SAW AN EPIC LION!!!
The first part of that is what your driver says to you when you are getting off the safari. I have tried to add it into everyday conversation!
I tweeted again:
I got the most amazing photos of the lions. I've never seen a male that active. I was awestruck.
=)=)=)
After that AMAZING safari, our brains were just fried. Mom mentioned she was kind of running out of steam and we still had a lot to do that day so we decided to get some drinks and take a rest near the Dawa Bar.
I saw this on the wall:
It is Swahili. I translated it through a free online translation site, and this came up: "no permission to install this wall in front of livestock." Well... okay then. Wish I knew someone who spoke Swahili so I could have it translated for real!
This was on another wall:
I looked that up too, and found: The Swahili word Uhuru translates as "freedom", a name given to commemorate Tanzanian independence from Great Britain in 1961. Gotta love those details! I mean, these are things I never ever would have known and here I am better for having learned a little piece of history.
And omg. I had another totally exciting and amazing moment. I FOUND AN AWESOME HIDDEN MICKEY I DID NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT!!!!!
I have been obsessed with finding Hidden Mickeys since I was 12. OMG, I love it. I bought that Hidden Mickey book they sell at the parks back in 2002, stuck a sample of Laila: The Essence of Norway in it (it still smells to this day. I take a whiff when I need some Disney!) and read it a thousands times.
Now, I find Hidden Mickeys constantly, so much that I don't even stop to take pictures of them or mention them in this TR. They are just everywhere. It is an addiction of mine and I am ALWAYS looking for them. The thing is, I've read about them extensively, so I have a lot of them logged in my memory, even if I haven't SEEN them in person. Like, I can walk into any building at WDW and be like "Oh yeah, there's a Hidden Mickey somewhere in by that window."
I've found most of the hard to spot or special Hidden Mickeys (though one that eludes me is the HIDDEN MINNIE in the mural of Hollywood in the loading dock at The Great Movie Ride... have tried SO many times, never can spot it. I have seen pictures and know EXACTLY what it looks like, but I just can never find it!! Though the Great Movie Ride in general has AMAZING Hidden Mickeys so google that and find them next time!!!), but only because I knew about them previously. Most Hidden Mickeys I find on my own are just the classic three circles.
This Hidden Mickey I had NOT read about. I had no idea it was there. But I was just walking by this pole and I was like JESUS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! THAT'S MICKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See him? I was so excited!! My mom was sitting down already, but I made her come and see it. She was not jumping up and down like me, but she loves Hidden Mickeys too and always wants me to point them out to her. I think it's a really cool one. I love the silhouette ones, especially. I'm also wondering if this one is new or something, because I googled and googled and didn't find any mention of it!! Hmmm...
Up Next: How to have Animal Kingdom all to yourself.
Where exactly is he nearby, so I can go get a picture of him?
Wow, you took such good safari pics!! 
I'd just want to take it home and keep it forever. 
" or "This is your consolation prize. They serve cheddar cheese soup near your house. Enjoy." or "You are destined to be fat. Just accept it." BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I'LL BE AT THIS RESTAURANT DAILY.
YAY your trip is so soon! I must admit...I'm jealous =) I made "just in case" reservations myself including one at Le Cellier so let's hope I don't have to cancel those this week 
!!! Oh and I see you are staying at OKW...never heard a bad review of that place. You're gonna have a great time!
