"To Disney & Beyond" ~ Road Trip 2010 ~ Final Drive & Final Thoughts

[Spartangirl]

Sounds like you guys had a blast at the beach and just relaxing in your room

It truly was fantastic!

I LOVE the outlets there...isn't it funny though they are so hit or miss...I am glad you guys found some great deals.

The outlets were great...I was glad we found some great deals too! I know what you mean about the hit or miss...glad it was a "hit" for us!

I had no clue there was a disney outlet there, that is AWESOME!! There used to be a disney store here in Richmond, I was so sad when that closed

We were pleasantly surprised! All of the Disney stores around us have closed too...it's so sad...

The trip was great! We might go in May for the D23 Destination D. We won't even go to the parks, just relax and go to the conference. I am going to start the trip report next weekend.

I'm so glad you had a great trip...YAY for May! I hope you get to go! Relaxing in Disney would be ok too! Let me know when you start your report...I'd love to read!

I loved the pictures of the palm trees! We don't have a lot of them down here.

We don't have palm trees at all, so I definitely enjoy seeing them too!

I love your Coach purchase! Once I get another 20% coupon in the mail I am heading up to the outlets in Williamsburg to buy a new purse. I really need one!

Thank you! Ohhhhhhh...sounds like a new purchase is going to happen soon!

 

[Jennifer48]

Great purchases! So happy for you for finding something Cars for your nephew and on clearance!

 

[Spartangirl]

Great purchases! So happy for you for finding something Cars for your nephew and on clearance!

Thanks so much, Jennifer! It truly made our day...we couldn't believe our great find!

 

[Spartangirl]

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Experience of a Lifetime

Today was the day that Chris and I had been looking forward to for quite some time. We got up, ate a quick breakfast, and headed out to the T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station.

As we arrived, we parked our car next to several other cars near a bamboo fence and were asked to stay in our cars until 9:15 a.m. Promptly at the given time, our guides came out, opened the gates, and had us pull inside the complex. We were lead into a building where we were given rules about the animals and had to sign a waiver. Now this waiver was a little different...instead of just signing our lives away, we had to print the following statement: I understand my participation in the following activity might result in personal injury. YES, it was a little intimidating, but they wanted to insure that we read the waiver.

Chris and I decided to participate in the TIGERS program because not only is it a chance to meet some really cool animals (We were told that this is the only place in the WORLD to have this experience), but it was also a chance to give back. All of the money that we paid goes toward conservation efforts both here at the ranch and globally.

On to the tour...

Our first animal ambassador was quite "small." The tour guides proceeded to walk out a LIGER (Mom is a tiger and Dad is a lion). This particular cat's name is Hercules and you can find him listed as the largest cat in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records...11 ft. long and over 900 pounds!

Next up was a binturong...he walked across our laps and we noticed that he had a strong odor, yet kind of smelled like popcorn!

Up next, we headed farther into the bush and we stood in an open field next to an alligator filled pond with no barriers. It was just "a little" nerve-wracking... Our guides brought out two beautiful lynxes. It was so neat to be in such close proximity to these beautiful creatures.

Soon we headed to a new area and took a seat. There we were introduced to several baby tigers...a couple one month olds, a couple two month olds, and a couple four month olds. Here are a few of the fun pictures that we took...

We were then asked to sit on the ground where we had a chance to play and interact with the babies! One of the two month olds took a liking to Chris' boot and tried to use it as a chew toy. Another one of the tiny babies found a cozy place on my lap and didn't want to get up.

We were sad when our time was up with the baby tigers because we had such a great time interacting with them.

Soon, some four month old wolves were brought out. They looked just like dogs!

I can see how people could easily let their guard down even though they're wild animals.

We said goodbye to the pups and anxiously awaited what was next...

Up Next: Locked in!

 

[MeMom]

How cool!!! I would love to do this.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Lynne! What an amazingly perfect day at the beach!
Looks like you had a great night, too. What could be better than shopping for shoes and bags? I love your finds

Your tiger interaction was amazing! What a memory to treasure. I can't believe how big that Liger is!

 

[ashleighbass06]

Okay, part of that looked absolutely terrifying (the world's largest Liger!?) but other parts looked so cute and amazing (baby TIGERS!!!)! Wow!

And did you watch the game on Saturday? Talk about terrifying, that was a scary game! But, in the end we won and now we're #5!!! And let me tell you, if we go to the Rose Bowl, I'm going and will be spending a day at Disneyland!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh my gosh, what an amazing encounter! How do you find these places Lynne?

The boys came over to look at your pictures because I was just going on and on about how cool it was, now they want to go I had to tell them that I seriously doubted that children could participate, I figure the liability would be too high.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

 

[Tracy161]

Oh my gosh!!! What an incredible experience!!! That must have been so amazing, great update!

 

[redsox721]

Boy I go on vacation for two weeks (didn't do much--just wedding stuff with my daughter and day trips) and you have already left Disney. Love the pictures Illuminations and of Myrtle Beach.

The pictures with the animals are amazing. You both look like little kids with the animals. Did they take the pictures with your camera or is it like a photopass at Disney?

I need to go reread everything since I only scanned it before. Thanks for the updates.

 

[Aburns8]

What a wonderful experience. I was reading about this with one of my cats sitting on my lap! That is something that I think I want to do one day!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What an absolutely incredible experience although I might have been slightly terrified just signing that waiver! Those baby tigers are just precious!!! It's hard to believe they will grow up to be such massive and powerful animals!!!

 

[hlrababy]

Oh my goodness, I am in love with those babies!!! I love, love, love tigers!!! I did laugh out loud at the liger...it makes me think of Napoleon Dynamite!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

What an amazing place the T.I.G.E.R. Preservation looks to be! I can see why you guys were so looking forward to going there. The pictures are great! How many people do they allow in at one time? I could see other people behind you in some of the pictures and it looked like ya'll were all sitting in a big circle.

 

[Shannon84]

I cannot believe the size of that Liger and Im sorry but cant stop thinking of Napoleon Dynamite either Anyway that thing is very impressive looking, it almost looks fake its so large!!

The baby tigers are just adorable, I cant believe they were just cuddling with you guys like that that is so cool and that binturong looks adorable. I had to look it up to see what it was...but in the pictures I saw they didnt look as cute as that one

 

[Jennifer48]

What an incredible experience! So cool!

Was someone using your camera to take pictures or did they have their own photographer there?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Lynne! Not sure if I've checked in yet, but I'm doing a TR on my cruise - the link is here. I keep remembering how positive you are about everything, it helps temper my DCL vs. RCCL comments!

 

[Spartangirl]

How cool!!! I would love to do this.

If you love animals, you'd love this experience...it was amazing!

Hi Lynne! What an amazingly perfect day at the beach!

Hey Tammie! It was such a great beach day!

Looks like you had a great night, too. What could be better than shopping for shoes and bags? I love your finds

Thanks...I agree...nothing is better than shopping for shoes and bags!

Your tiger interaction was amazing! What a memory to treasure. I can't believe how big that Liger is!

That Liger was HUGE!!! The ground shook when he walked! It was an amazing experience!

Okay, part of that looked absolutely terrifying (the world's largest Liger!?) but other parts looked so cute and amazing (baby TIGERS!!!)! Wow!

It was such a fantastic experience...unlike anything we have ever done before!

And did you watch the game on Saturday? Talk about terrifying, that was a scary game! But, in the end we won and now we're #5!!! And let me tell you, if we go to the Rose Bowl, I'm going and will be spending a day at Disneyland!

THAT game was a nail biter!!! The Rose Bowl and DL sounds like a perfect combo to me! Wish I was feeling better about today's game...it's halftime now and it doesn't look like our team has shown up! Here's to hoping for a better 2nd half...it's not looking too promising...

Oh my gosh, what an amazing encounter! How do you find these places Lynne?

It was incredible, Michelle! Lots and lots of research! I try to research the "top activities" to do in the places that we visit and then I start reading reviews on the things that interest us.

The boys came over to look at your pictures because I was just going on and on about how cool it was, now they want to go I had to tell them that I seriously doubted that children could participate, I figure the liability would be too high.

Surprisingly, I think the age for children is over 6! There were a few younger children on our tour... The kids on our tour seemed to be having a ball...if your boys have any interest in animals, they would love it!

I can't wait to see what happens next!

Thanks for continuing to read...I'm hoping to update tonight or tomorrow...my next update will have the rest of the tour!

 

[Spartangirl]

Oh my gosh!!! What an incredible experience!!! That must have been so amazing, great update!

I can't even begin to describe what an incredible experience it was...we had such a fantastic time!

Boy I go on vacation for two weeks (didn't do much--just wedding stuff with my daughter and day trips) and you have already left Disney.

I guess I'm kind of cruisin' along on this TR! Day trips and wedding stuff sounds like a lot of fun to me!

Love the pictures Illuminations and of Myrtle Beach.

Thank you so much, Cheryl!

The pictures with the animals are amazing. You both look like little kids with the animals.

I think we felt like little kids too...we are both animal lovers and this experience was amazing for both of us!

Did they take the pictures with your camera or is it like a photopass at Disney?

It was like a photopass at Disney...they didn't even allow us to bring our cameras in...so OF COURSE, I had to buy the pics!

I need to go reread everything since I only scanned it before. Thanks for the updates.

Thanks for continuing to read...

What a wonderful experience. I was reading about this with one of my cats sitting on my lap! That is something that I think I want to do one day!

It was amazing...you'd love it if you're an animal lover!!!

What an absolutely incredible experience although I might have been slightly terrified just signing that waiver!

We were definitely a little worried about signing the waiver...thankfully we lived to tell about our wonderful experience!

Those baby tigers are just precious!!! It's hard to believe they will grow up to be such massive and powerful animals!!!

They were simply adorable......too bad they can't stay that size!

 

[Spartangirl]

Oh my goodness, I am in love with those babies!!! I love, love, love tigers!!!

Awww...I love tigers too! They were SO CUTE!!!

I did laugh out loud at the liger...it makes me think of Napoleon Dynamite!!

Oh my gosh...how could I forget? Napoleon Dynamite!

What an amazing place the T.I.G.E.R. Preservation looks to be! I can see why you guys were so looking forward to going there.

It was incredible and I'm so glad we had a chance to experience it!

The pictures are great!

Thanks...we bought a picture cd from our experience...they didn't allow us to bring any of our equipment in. OF COURSE I wanted the memories captured!

How many people do they allow in at one time? I could see other people behind you in some of the pictures and it looked like ya'll were all sitting in a big circle.

I'm not sure what the limit is. We probably had about 40 people in our group, but we never felt overly crowded. We were sitting in a circle at one point!

I cannot believe the size of that Liger and Im sorry but cant stop thinking of Napoleon Dynamite either Anyway that thing is very impressive looking, it almost looks fake its so large!!

The Liger was ENORMOUS!!! As he walked we could feel the ground moving! Napoleon Dynamite...that just cracks me up!

The baby tigers are just adorable, I cant believe they were just cuddling with you guys like that that is so cool and that binturong looks adorable. I had to look it up to see what it was...but in the pictures I saw they didnt look as cute as that one

The baby tigers were so cute and so soft. I fell in love with the one who decided to rest on my lap! The binturong was interesting...I guess it was pretty cute in its own way!

What an incredible experience! So cool!

It was AMAZING! Unlike anything we've ever done before...

Was someone using your camera to take pictures or did they have their own photographer there?

They actually didn't allow us to bring in any of our own camera equipment so I bought the photo cd of pics that the staff took.

Hi Lynne! Not sure if I've checked in yet, but I'm doing a TR on my cruise - the link is here. I keep remembering how positive you are about everything, it helps temper my DCL vs. RCCL comments!

Thanks for the heads up, Tammie...I'll be sure to join in! You know how I love cruising!