Turn Around and See What Happens -- It's Whoopi Time and that's a wrap 3/31; F&G add

[MeMom]

I am very much enjoying your pictures. Virtual walks around Disney World are a nice treat right now. I could see myself standing right there on the Boardwalk in a few of those pictures.

 

[Chicago Mo]

HOLY COW! Or ELEPHANT!
we sat on the back once.. I can relate to the crazy bumps.. When going over the bridge i thought we were going to fall... yes a chiropractor is needed!

I love that sign about the photography.. makes me giggle all the time.

The pictures around the resort are just BEAUTIFUL!!! one day... maybe this trip if the Poly is going to be in the state everyone is talking about..

did you end up taking the picture off the wall???

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Mark ended up with a Chocolate Chip Croissant

I could sure go for one of those right about now.

We went and sat under the portico by the Villas while he ate his croissant and I drank my cappucino (no picture...I'm sure you've seen plenty of those).

Darn, I was going to send Starbucks photo evidence that you cheated on them.

I can't believe this is the FIRST picture I took at the AK? I was not very good with pictures at times.

You must have been having too much fun.

Mary wondering if she was going to survive this ride?

I will say that while we saw a lot of animals on our own, our driver was the worse we've ever had. He was very boring, didn't offer a lot of information, etc.

Well, that stinks. But on the plus side, the animatronic sleeping lion woke up!

 

[mommy2mrb]

With a little luck?

um, going to see Mary and the girls???

love your photos from Boardwalk, very festive for Christmas!

you got some great photos of the safari in spite of the bumping around! bummer about the boring driver

 

[afwdwfan]

I love that shirt.

We went and sat under the portico by the Villas while he ate his croissant and I drank my cappucino (no picture...I'm sure you've seen plenty of those).

I think I might have seen one or two of them in your past TR's.

The CROWDS of people

Wow!

I will say that while we saw a lot of animals on our own, our driver was the worse we've ever had. He was very boring, didn't offer a lot of information, etc.

That's a disappointment. But at least the animals were cooperative.

Shoveling snow in Illinois?

It's funny because it is probably true.

 

[Janet B]

Morning Kathy!

Great update and pictures!! You captured the animals so well... including the classic butt shots A sarfari outing is never complete with a few of those! (Sorry you got a boring guide. ) We rode a few times in the back seat too and hung on for dear life to the camera. Agree it does give one an unwanted neck and back adjustment. (Hoping Mary was feeling okay after the ride.)

Your boardwalk pictures were gorgeous! And one of my fav snack/dessert is the chocolate chip croissant...can't blame Mark for wanting to dive into it.
-----------------------------------

Re the parties/crowds... just shows that everyone has different experiences.. our previous Tuesday parties were not that crowded but that was in '07 and '09. On my very quick visit at the end of Sept, we did the halloween party Sunday and believe we caught a break due to it was the same weekend F&W opened. It was not busy (had a 5 min wait for Space Mountain!!)

Our party in December was manageable except as you point out, one needed to decide between rides/character greets. I felt bad for guests attending the party on 12/5 or 12/6 as both those parties were sold out. Jeanette said it was a circus.

:You read right. I am so tired of Disney overselling things that you can't enjoy yourself after spending all that additional money. We could either do rides or see characters. There has to be a balance where you can fit in a little of both and that's just impossible with the number of tickets they sell.

Agree. Disney has been upping the price over the last several years (as well as increasing the crowd limit), and still excluding some nights for discounts..hey not that it's a huge savings, but still).

My all time fav is the Halloween party.

With a little luck?

Shoveling snow in Illinois?

 

[Pluto0809]

The Boardwalk Bakery looks yummy! We are planning on eating there for lunch on the wedding day if the weather cooperates. We aren't going to a park that day and since the wedding is at Sea Breeze Point, the bakery seems like a good option.

I love the shot of the Hippos out of the water! You don't see them out like that very often.

I had NO idea that Giraffes are your favorite.

 

[natebenma]

Great morning so far!

Nice little breakfast snack with some gorgeous views!

AK gets so very crowded or at least it seems that way.

Bummer about your safari driver, but you did get some nice animal views and pictures. I like the one of the elephants trunk in a loop, too.

We like the morning safaris on our July trips because the animals seem more active when it is cooler. I have heard rainy days are good too.

Lunch, huh?

Tusker House?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I didn't even see that you had updated again. Ooops! Caught again now though. Love the pictures that you took on the Boardwalk! The view is gorgeous!

I remember riding in the back row of the safari truck before and have to agree that you get jostled around something fierce. I do disagree that your pictures were bad. I thought that they were very good. You got an exceptionally good shot of an elephant butt.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

Joining in. WOW MVMVP looked pretty busy that day. We are thinking of going around that time next year and want to do the Sunday or Tuesday party, thinking maybe it would not be very busy, but after looking at some of your pictures I am not so sure

Cant wait to keep reading.

 

[eandesmom]

I think I'm all caught up!

I am sorry that your lunch at the Plaza had such horrible service and the girls lunches were meh. I've not been impressed with the service there the times I've been and have also noticed empty tables. We had a similar empty table scenario at Captian's grille this last trip but thankfully once actually seated, service was quite good.

What fun holiday pictures you got throughout and really Kathy, is there such a thing as too many holiday borders?

The safari can be bumpy, I guess your experience is exactly why my sister (pregnant) wasn't allowed to go on it! Not bad pictures though, not at all.

 

[KatMark]

That's just a beautiful view!

It really is; I really liked being at the Boardwalk.

I'm sure you could of just inserted any number of pictures you've taken of coffee.

I'm sure I could, but why give you more to pick on.

Sometimes it is good to put the camera away and just soak in what's going on around you.

It is, and I really should do it more. But then my TR's would really probably not be necessary.

Stitches Great Escape?

Ummmmm no! Although I wish I could escape him!

Great pics!

Thank you very much.

The end of your first day certainly was great! You saw and did so much!

We got a lot of rides in; just wish we'd gotten more characters.

Ak is always a favorite if mine.... Live the safari pics!!!

We really LOVE AK and spend more and more time there each trip.

hummm…

a) hungover
b) shaky hands
c) not enough caffeine?
d) Mark kept tickling you?


Oh, I guess I was way off.

Good attempts, Tim....but you were way off.



I really thought that one or two of us might pop out of that truck.

That just plain stinks.

It did, but at least we saw lots of animals.

What no guesses?

Got cha.

Good...glad that we cleared up.

True… I thought I was going to get to it but I didn't. Hey, you got an update, what more do you want from me?

You did get an update done, so you get brownie points for that.

 

[KatMark]

I love the views around the boardwalk. I usually take a weekend trip to the Jersey shore every summer and I usually get coffee and sit on the boardwalk and watch the town come alive.

I fell in love with it too. It's so quiet and peaceful first thing in the morning.

How could you forget an AK entrance pic? I probably have 20 of them. Seriously every trip and multiple visits I take the same pictures.

I don't know where my head was that morning...obviously I didn't have enough coffee.

The safari is my favorite ride in AK. I am impressed the lions were awake. They are very hit and miss.

We love safari too and it is by far my favorite. I think this is the fist time I've gotten the lion awake.

The lion yay!

I thought of you when I took that photo, MEK.

I love that picture of the elephant with his trunk in a loop. That's cool!

That baby elephant was so cute.

So Mary doesn't like Safari? She does look like she might be feeling a little sick.

Oh, I think she likes it, she (nor any of us adults) enjoyed the bumpiness in the back seat.

Monday started out at 57 here, so it was rainy and temps dropped throughout the day -- she had school thankfully! the temps dropped over night and she was off of school Tuesday and then had a two hour delay this morning (Wednesday). By this morning the temps were at 4, but the wind had fizzled out so it was tolerable walking the dog. Cracked me up that they cancelled school & had a late opening. When I was a kid we just bundled up & off we went. (dang I sound old now don't I? LOL)

I remember those days too...bundle up and go. I can understand why they closed ours Monday and Tuesday when it was -15 for a high; the buses wouldn't start and way too cold for the kids to walk.

Have to smile at your favorite tv shows. Joe watches a lot of those. I catch them when I can but TV doesn't happen that often for me.

Tell Joe he has good taste.

mmmmm boardwalk bakery

We ended up back there later in the trip too.

I really enjoyed all the Boardwalk photos - it was done so nicely for Christmas.

The area has grown on me a lot.

Some times you just need to have fun!!! AK looks pretty crowded.

It was pretty crowded; thank the Lord for Fastpass+

Great Safari shots Kathy - even some of the lion!

Thanks.

You got some wonderful!! photos on the safari. LOVE all your close-ups! We have had some really awesome guides and some real stinkers as well. I love when you get the ones that are willing to go off script and just rattle off information that they have about the animals. On our last safari, we were stopped several times on the savannah by animals that couldn't care less that they were standing in the middle of the road. The guide was great. He just talked to us off script while we sat and waited for our turn to use the road.

I like the ones who go off script and give you their observations from their previous safaris.

All the Christmas decorations around the Boardwalk area make everything look so pretty. Just like at home, when it's time to take everything down, it all looks so bare.

I agree; it looks beautiful and then bare when you take it down. And so much work.

Shoveling snow in Illinois?

Now that is a distinct possibility. But not what I am excited about.

Oh you are the funny one!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Just now caught up. Great pics Kathy! I love Kilimanjaro Safari!

 

[glennbo123]

This may have already been discussed (heck, maybe I brought it up and can't remember ) but I love Mark's Darth Vader shirt...."this will be a day long remembered"!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

for the Christmas party and the Safari updates! (I was a little behind).

I LOVE pictures of the castle all lit up like that!

Who doesn't love the giraffes?

 

[KatMark]

Caught up on your party updates!



Glad you are caught up.

Looks like you got pretty decent spots for the fireworks and parade.

Fireworks spot was great; the parade was okay. We were on the back of the ledge, but the girls could see and I kept standing on the ledge (when we weren't getting told to get down to attempt to get pictures)

That's another fantastic selfie in the BTM line!

Thank you.

Sounds like it was a good call for the girls to head back for some rest. I'm glad you stayed and had some nice moments.

I'm surprised Mark and I made it that long, but I'm glad we did.

WTG: WTP M&G (look mom, no vowels)

Okay...I'm totally lost on that.

The pictures of Mark and Eeyore are adorable!

I thought so too.

I know you didn't do it, but tell me about the Jingle Cruise. Is it only during the party or all the time around Christmas?

Yes, it is. I guess it was the first year for it. I think they had lights on the boat and different chatter?

You commented about how you went crazy on the holiday borders. I don't blame you one bit. I think I commented before, but they are so cute!

Thanks.

I LOVE this picture!!! It really speaks to me. And what it says is "Dee, you NEED to get to Disney during the holidays"

Dee, you really do NEED to get to Disney during the holidays.

You would love it...everyone should do it once.

I am very much enjoying your pictures. Virtual walks around Disney World are a nice treat right now. I could see myself standing right there on the Boardwalk in a few of those pictures.

Caren, I am so happy to see you. I hope you are feeling almost 100% by now. I'm glad you are enjoying the pictures.

HOLY COW! Or ELEPHANT!
we sat on the back once.. I can relate to the crazy bumps.. When going over the bridge i thought we were going to fall... yes a chiropractor is needed!

It was really rough back there!

I love that sign about the photography.. makes me giggle all the time.

Me too.

The pictures around the resort are just BEAUTIFUL!!! one day... maybe this trip if the Poly is going to be in the state everyone is talking about..

Mark and I thought of staying at the Poly for two nights when we are on his business trip in March, but I just don't want to deal with construction.

did you end up taking the picture off the wall???

I thought of it.

 

[KatMark]

I could sure go for one of those right about now.

But then Scotty happened?

Darn, I was going to send Starbucks photo evidence that you cheated on them.

I'm really surprised that they haven't added a Starbucks to the Boardwalk.

You must have been having too much fun.

That's it!



Seriously, I'm surprised any of us made it.

Well, that stinks. But on the plus side, the animatronic sleeping lion woke up!

So rare...I know.

um, going to see Mary and the girls???

Nope.

love your photos from Boardwalk, very festive for Christmas!

They did a very nice job.

You got some great photos of the safari in spite of the bumping around! bummer about the boring driver

Thanks, Lisa. Yes, he was very boring.

I love that shirt.

So does Mark; I have one with Darth on Dumbo.

I think I might have seen one or two of them in your past TR's.

Oh, I'm sure you have.

Wow!

The AK was a little crowded that day.

That's a disappointment. But at least the animals were cooperative.

Yes, thank you animals.

It's funny because it is probably true.

It could be; but looking at the extended forecast there doesn't appear to be a lot of snow. Maybe we are over the worse of it.

Morning Kathy!

Morning Janet.

Great update and pictures!! You captured the animals so well... including the classic butt shots A sarfari outing is never complete with a few of those! (Sorry you got a boring guide. ) We rode a few times in the back seat too and hung on for dear life to the camera. Agree it does give one an unwanted neck and back adjustment. (Hoping Mary was feeling okay after the ride.)

Can't miss a classic butt shot! Mary was fine.

Your boardwalk pictures were gorgeous! And one of my fav snack/dessert is the chocolate chip croissant...can't blame Mark for wanting to dive into it.
-----------------------------------

Thank you. And I can blame him...he knows better!

Re the parties/crowds... just shows that everyone has different experiences.. our previous Tuesday parties were not that crowded but that was in '07 and '09. On my very quick visit at the end of Sept, we did the halloween party Sunday and believe we caught a break due to it was the same weekend F&W opened. It was not busy (had a 5 min wait for Space Mountain!!)

I'm thinking whether or not we are going to do the Halloween Party or not. If we do, we will concentrate on character meet and greets only.

Our party in December was manageable except as you point out, one needed to decide between rides/character greets. I felt bad for guests attending the party on 12/5 or 12/6 as both those parties were sold out. Jeanette said it was a circus.

I would like to be able to do a bit of each and it jut wasn't possible.

Agree. Disney has been upping the price over the last several years (as well as increasing the crowd limit), and still excluding some nights for discounts..hey not that it's a huge savings, but still).

The prices, the number of tickets...they need to keep their customers happy and they don't always do that.

My all time fav is the Halloween party.

I prefer Christmas, but I like the Halloween one too.

Glad you all get a kick out of our snow. I know, I'll send it all to you.

The Boardwalk Bakery looks yummy! We are planning on eating there for lunch on the wedding day if the weather cooperates. We aren't going to a park that day and since the wedding is at Sea Breeze Point, the bakery seems like a good option.

There are so many goodies to choose from; I don't think you can go wrong there.

I love the shot of the Hippos out of the water! You don't see them out like that very often.

No you don't.

I had NO idea that Giraffes are your favorite.

HA HA HA...you are very funny.

 

[KatMark]

Great morning so far!

It started out really well.

Nice little breakfast snack with some gorgeous views!

The view could not be beat.

AK gets so very crowded or at least it seems that way.

I wonder why that is?

Bummer about your safari driver, but you did get some nice animal views and pictures. I like the one of the elephants trunk in a loop, too.

Thanks; the elephant one is cute...as was he.

We like the morning safaris on our July trips because the animals seem more active when it is cooler. I have heard rainy days are good too.

We always try to do the first thing in the a.m. when they aren't overly hot yet and still active; I don't think we've yet to do an evening one.

Lunch, huh?

Tusker House?

You'll find out in the very next update.

I didn't even see that you had updated again. Ooops! Caught again now though. Love the pictures that you took on the Boardwalk! The view is gorgeous!

No worries, Lisa. It really is a great view; second to the AKL view in my opinion.

I remember riding in the back row of the safari truck before and have to agree that you get jostled around something fierce. I do disagree that your pictures were bad. I thought that they were very good. You got an exceptionally good shot of an elephant butt.

I'm not sure I want to sit in that back row again. I'm glad you enjoyed my elephant butt picture.

Joining in. WOW MVMVP looked pretty busy that day. We are thinking of going around that time next year and want to do the Sunday or Tuesday party, thinking maybe it would not be very busy, but after looking at some of your pictures I am not so sure

Thank you for joining. It was a busy party day...oversold in my opinion. This was a Tuesday that we went, so maybe try the Sunday.

Cant wait to keep reading.

Thank you.

I think I'm all caught up!

Welcome back. I can't wait to read all about your trip.

I am sorry that your lunch at the Plaza had such horrible service and the girls lunches were meh. I've not been impressed with the service there the times I've been and have also noticed empty tables. We had a similar empty table scenario at Captian's grille this last trip but thankfully once actually seated, service was quite good.

Hmmm...we were at Captain's Grille for dinner and noticed several empty tables too. But our service was pretty good.

What fun holiday pictures you got throughout and really Kathy, is there such a thing as too many holiday borders?

I guess not since everyone seems to agree that there is never too many holiday borders.

The safari can be bumpy, I guess your experience is exactly why my sister (pregnant) wasn't allowed to go on it! Not bad pictures though, not at all.

Definitely NOT a ride for pregnant women. Glad you liked the pictures.

Just now caught up. Great pics Kathy! I love Kilimanjaro Safari!

Thanks, Alan. We love Kilimanjaro Safari too.

This may have already been discussed (heck, maybe I brought it up and can't remember ) but I love Mark's Darth Vader shirt...."this will be a day long remembered"!

Thanks, Glenn. I got that shirt for Mark last May when Mary and I were there for Star Wars weekend; it's one of his favorites.

for the Christmas party and the Safari updates! (I was a little behind).

Sheree, I've missed you. Hope you are all doing well. Glad you enjoyed the Christmas and safari updates.

I LOVE pictures of the castle all lit up like that!

That is my favorite time to see the castle...it's just gorgeous.

Who doesn't love the giraffes?

My husband? Well, I shouldn't say that. He loves elephants, but he likes giraffes too.

 

[KatMark]

I will try to do an update tomorrow if time allows.

It's been a rough two days. As many of you know, my brother has had some severe health issues over the years. He has been off of work for almost 8 weeks because he has a shunt in his arm for an antibiotic every day for an e coli infection he has in his foot. Unfortunately, it is NOT improving much. He goes back next week and they said if there is not improvement soon, they will probably have to amputate his foot. We are all very worried about him.

Anyway, Mark and I are going on a date. I'm off to get my nails done, and then we are going to Cheesecake Factory for lunch (thanks to a gift card we got from Todd and Nicki for Christmas) and then we are going to see a movie. Movie choice will be decided when we get to the theater...there is Saving Mr. Banks and Frozen at the same theater and we will go to whichever one we get there in time for (they are about 30 minutes difference in time).

Hope everyone has a great Saturday.