There's a Giraffe in my Stocking! A Mom/Daughter Christmas trip!

[mousetravel]

WOW! AKL looks BEAUTIFUL. I think this every time I see pictures from that resort, but it really does take my breath away. I am going to have to stay there eventually!

On our trip, we were surprised by Minnie and Mickey too! We didn't get a chance to see them at the party, so it was nice to find them at a random resort! My sister and I saw them at Wilderness Lodge!

Can't wait to read more!

I wish I knew ahead of time that the characters would be at different resorts! We would have taken a day to tour around more resorts and get character pics!!

i did not even go down to the pool area1 Great pics and more characters in the lobby.

We kind of "accidently" came upon this area after eating breakfast. I didn't even think of going to the pool area while we were there!

You got some beautiful and unique shots of the resort and savannah! I hope you were able to see the giraffes before you left.

Thank you! More to come (if we got to see giraffes, or not?????)

Oh, I just LOVE those morning pics from the balcony. It made me feel like I was there with you. There's just something so peaceful and serene and magical about Disney in the morning!!! Aaaaahhh! I so wish I was there now!

I loved going out there on the balcony every morning. It was so beautiful! And even with DD sleeping in, and me being out there by myself, it was so nice!! Wish I was there, too!!!

 

[jenseib]

Love the Holiday Mickey and Minnie pictures!!!

 

[RGirl]

How great to find Mickey and Minnie in the lobby!

AKL looks so beautiful. Darn the bus situation!

 

[mousetravel]

Love the Holiday Mickey and Minnie pictures!!!

Thanks!!

How great to find Mickey and Minnie in the lobby!

AKL looks so beautiful. Darn the bus situation!

 

[mousetravel]

We left from AKL to go do our last minute shopping at DTD.
I loved the Christmas decor there!!

They announced over the loud speaker that a "Bibbidi Bobbidi Parade" was about to start, so we rushed over to see what was going on. It was a parade of a few kids that had gotten makeovers at BBB. It was so cute. This was the first time I had ever seen this at DTD!

It was too cute. Lots of people were taking pictures as they went by, as if they were the paparazzi!!

A Lego pic on our way out. Loved the newest Lego decor!

We left DTD and went back to AKL to hang out a bit before time to leave. We also went back to the gift shop and wandered around a little bit:

We had about an hour and half before we needed to leave, and I wanted to check out the outdoor "outlook" area, and DD wanted to check out some other areas, so we split up and decided to meet back in an hour.

So I wanted to "squeeze" all the atmosphere in, before having to leave! I actually enjoyed strolling around by myself for a bit. So I headed outdoors, and found the most wonderful sight as we were ending our wonderful trip!!!!!

 

[Pinkocto]

I hope it was the giraffes!

 

[KatGarcia]

nice cliffhanger.... now get back here and tell us what it was! LOL!

 

[disneymomjcs]

Parade Pics continued:

After the parade, DD wanted some ice cream, so while I stood in line, DD took some Fantasyland construction pics.

We got our ice creams and walked around for a bit.
I got mine is this cute souvenir ceramic keepsake:

We then decided to go eat at Cosmic Ray's:

Yep, ice cream before dinner!!!



Coming up: Night time comes too quickly at MK, and a couple of "first time" rides!!

I love the ceramic mug with icecream! Of course ice cream before dinner your on vacation!

 

[disneymomjcs]

I loved reading your trip report. I can tell you and your daughter had a great time and it shows in your pictures. We love Animal Kingdom Lodge especially Jambo house! It is one of our favorite resorts. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jenseib]

oh man....not a cliff hanger!!!!!

I love the BBB parade shots. I think that is so cute

 

[LuvEeyore]

Cliff hanger

 

[mousetravel]

I hope it was the giraffes!

nice cliffhanger.... now get back here and tell us what it was! LOL!

I love the ceramic mug with icecream! Of course ice cream before dinner your on vacation!

I loved it, too. Will make a cute candy cane holder next Christmas!!

I loved reading your trip report. I can tell you and your daughter had a great time and it shows in your pictures. We love Animal Kingdom Lodge especially Jambo house! It is one of our favorite resorts. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you!!!

oh man....not a cliff hanger!!!!!

I love the BBB parade shots. I think that is so cute

It was cute. That's the first time I ever seen that at DTD.

Cliff hanger

Hoping to get updated tonight or tomorrow!!

 

[mousetravel]

I walked outside to the outlook area and seen a few animals on this side:

I continued walking around, and on the other side, what I wanted to see up close all along!!!!



Is this not the cutest little thing ever??!!!!!!

I was so excited about this little guy. He was so adorable. I wish I could have found out how old he was, but he seemed to be pretty young. Maybe not a "baby", but a little one.

I think I spent almost an hour here just amazed because I love safari animals, mainly giraffes.



Finding some dinner in the tree:

I even decided to make this picture my screensaver!!

And there he goes. Looks like I had gotten there right on time!!

A few zebras were nearby:

And a couple more shots as I needed to get back to meet DD.

What a great way to end our trip!!




Coming up: Some photopass pics and......






upcoming plans????????????

 

[Pinkocto]

Love the picutres! What a perfect way to end the trip

 

[RGirl]

Aww - love those giraffe pics!

I think one could vacation at the AKL and never do any parks - just hang out watching the animals, swimming, etc.

 

[jenseib]

I love little giraffes. Our zoo had one born last summer and he was so cute.

 

[therussells08]

Okay I just finished catching up on your TR!

Love the gingerbread house pics at GF! I've been at Christmas twice and still haven't seen it!

Your DD is so photogenic! She's gorgeous!

Yay! I love FotLK so much! It's so fun!

I love DD's new shirt! Very cute!

Oh my, those Tusker House desserts look amazing!

I remember the first time I saw Devine. I wasn't on the DIS yet, so I had no idea what she was!

Ugh, I'm sorry to hear about your screwy SD card! At least you have your PP pictures!

Awww, that interaction with Eeyore and Tigger sounds precious! I love those guys!

Ohh I love AKL so much! I'm so glad you took a picture of that amazing bathroom wallpaper! I just posted about that in my TR!

I love the Christmas parade at MK. I am obsessed with the white ponies that pull Cinderella's carriage. They're so adorable!

YAY I love your Beach Club pics! That's where we're staying in July for the first time!

That's so awesome that you got those FPs! what a magical moment!

That baby giraffe is SO adorable!

What a great TR! I can't wait to hear about your upcoming plans!

 

[mousetravel]

Love the picutres! What a perfect way to end the trip

Thanks!

Aww - love those giraffe pics!

I think one could vacation at the AKL and never do any parks - just hang out watching the animals, swimming, etc.

I could definately vacation at the AKL and not go anywhere else!

I love little giraffes. Our zoo had one born last summer and he was so cute.

Aww, I'd love to see a newborn baby giraffe.

Okay I just finished catching up on your TR!

Thanks for joining in on my TR!


Love the gingerbread house pics at GF! I've been at Christmas twice and still haven't seen it! I had seen it only on the Travel Channel specials, and was so excited that we finally saw it!!


Your DD is so photogenic! She's gorgeous! [B]Thank you!![/B]




Yay! I love FotLK so much! It's so fun! Me too. It's my favorite show in all of WDW!!

I love DD's new shirt! Very cute!



Oh my, those Tusker House desserts look amazing!

I remember the first time I saw Devine. I wasn't on the DIS yet, so I had no idea what she was!


Ugh, I'm sorry to hear about your screwy SD card! At least you have your PP pictures!

Awww, that interaction with Eeyore and Tigger sounds precious! I love those guys!

Ohh I love AKL so much! I'm so glad you took a picture of that amazing bathroom wallpaper! I just posted about that in my TR!

I noticed where you included that in your TR! The details in everything at the AKL are amazing!

I love the Christmas parade at MK. I am obsessed with the white ponies that pull Cinderella's carriage. They're so adorable!

YAY I love your Beach Club pics! That's where we're staying in July for the first time! I would love to stay there. Cape May Cafe is my DD's favorite character dining place.

That's so awesome that you got those FPs! what a magical moment!

That baby giraffe is SO adorable!

What a great TR! I can't wait to hear about your upcoming plans!

Thank you!

 

[LuvEeyore]

I love the pictures of the giraffe!!

Another note, thanks for the train info. I got our tickets today for our December trip. The prices dropped so so I locked in the price!!

 

[mousetravel]

I love the pictures of the giraffe!!

Another note, thanks for the train info. I got our tickets today for our December trip. The prices dropped so so I locked in the price!!

Oh, yeah, I have been planning to email or PM to ask if you got my email and all the info. I wish I was able to have taken pics of our train trip portion, but for the most part, everytime we were traveling, it was at night! I only have a couple of pics, and I think they're in my 2011 DCL TR.