two AWESOME WISCONSIN adults go to Disney for the first time. updated!!! 1/15/12 MK

[portobello_rd]

After breakfast we wanted to use the Safari Fastpasses that tim grabbed befre we ate. that i forgot to mention, but he did!
So lucky us, never being on the Killmanjaro safari before, we got front row seats, with one other gentleman.

LOVE HIPPOS. so cute. deadly. cute.

BABY ELEPHANT!!!!!

So twards the end of the safari, before you get on the "scary bridge"
i was looking yonder at all the animals when DH and the guy sitting next to him both yell "WATCH OUT!" and the lady safari driver slams on the breaks. SHe's like "WHAT!?!?!?!" and the guy sitting with us says "you hit that bird!" and she said "no i didnt they get out of the way!" and my DH is like "no, you hit it" and she got really angry and was like "they get out of the way!! I didnt hit ANYTHING!!!" and then the rest of the bus was trying to see this bird- which may or may not have been hit. I dont know. didnt see it. but DH and the guy in the front row swears that she hit it. Not like, ROADKILL hit it. but bumped the bird in the butt. one of those larger birds that walks everywhere.
Nevertheless, the bird walked away. Unharmed. Visually. Emotionally Scarred for life maybe.


Then we just mosied around, taking in the animals on that walk through.

Decided to ride EE- the wait was 5 minutes. FIVE MINUTES!!!! we rode it three times in a row. Got off the ride, got back on, no wait whatsoever THREE TIMES IN A ROW. it was awesome.
this is the only pic i got from the Q because tim and i found it informational. haha

Dinosaur the ride was ok. Kinda jerky. Fun. Tim LOVES dinosaurs. I felt bad for the poor dinosaur that held up the tree so we could escape. but then i found out we saved him right back SO YAY!
I know ive seen the dinosaur movie, but i cant remember anything about it. Do they die at the end? All i can think of is the Land Before Time.

i WISH WISH WISH WISH WISH i would have bought this. but it was kinda small. but i LOVED it. Next time. IM GETTING IT!!!

at this point it was hot. we were hungry and i hadnt made any ADR's for lunch but i knew where i wanted to eat based on you awesome DIS'ers opinion.

 

[Caretames1]

How in the world did I miss 2 updates!! We loved the Tusker House! The juice, the juice I can't even remember how many times our glasses were refilled! Great character interaction as well!

I do love your Panda top, it so cute. It looks nice on you.

Love the safari pics! I bet you the driver was freaking! We had to sit still for like 15 minutes because long horm cow just sat right in the middle of the road munching on some grass!

UGH, the heat.... just hearing you talk about it makes me remember the sweat filled days.

I'm so hungry right now, I could lick the screen so you had better have yummy pics!

p.s. Nice Poop Pics!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Your panda top is totally adorable! I love it. So appropriate for a day at the Animal Kingdom.

That Safari story is pretty funny. Thinking that the bird being hit is pretty hilarious. And the CM being all irritated about it. At least he wasn't physically harmed. He might have been emotionally scarred though...

 

[JanetMom]

Just found your trip report - it is great! Love a report with tons of pictures!

You would never know you were a Disney novice, clearly you did a ton of trip research. (And you taught me about the button under the umbrella - thanks!)

The food at California Grill looked so good. We ate in that room on our last trip and loved it. Such a nice spot!

Looking forward to more updates!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Thanks for sharing your report. Sounds like you are having a great trip. Can't wait to read more.

Congrats on the weight loss!

 

[portobello_rd]

How in the world did I miss 2 updates!! We loved the Tusker House! The juice, the juice I can't even remember how many times our glasses were refilled! Great character interaction as well!

I do love your Panda top, it so cute. It looks nice on you.

Love the safari pics! I bet you the driver was freaking! We had to sit still for like 15 minutes because long horm cow just sat right in the middle of the road munching on some grass!

UGH, the heat.... just hearing you talk about it makes me remember the sweat filled days.

I'm so hungry right now, I could lick the screen so you had better have yummy pics!

p.s. Nice Poop Pics!

i think our lunch this day was some of the best food i had at Disney- YUM. i think im going to do another update right now because tim's watching Breaking Bad and its a little too heavy for me.
poop pics are informational!!

Your panda top is totally adorable! I love it. So appropriate for a day at the Animal Kingdom.

That Safari story is pretty funny. Thinking that the bird being hit is pretty hilarious. And the CM being all irritated about it. At least he wasn't physically harmed. He might have been emotionally scarred though...

i bought my panda top JUST for this day. i love it. i got a bajillion compliments on it.
i think the CM was just upset because they noticed what she did. I mean, who cares just fess up. i dont like birds. they have a million of them. Survival of the smartest- you step in front of a truck. WHAM.

Just found your trip report - it is great! Love a report with tons of pictures!

You would never know you were a Disney novice, clearly you did a ton of trip research. (And you taught me about the button under the umbrella - thanks!)

The food at California Grill looked so good. We ate in that room on our last trip and loved it. Such a nice spot!

Looking forward to more updates!

awww thanks so much for saying i pretend well like i know what im doing. i spent SO MUCH TIME on the DIS boards before going, i bought like 4 books, and i knew to pick what was important to me each park and just go with the flow.
i took notes about important things and then I WINGED IT. but i found myself giving help to other visitors if i overheard them- this lady was like "you sure know a lot you must come here a lot" and i just smiled.

Thanks for sharing your report. Sounds like you are having a great trip. Can't wait to read more.

Congrats on the weight loss!

thanks!!!!!!!
ive lost 87 pounds now!!
i finally bought 5 new pairs of pants yesturday since i started and i went down 12 sizes!
its such hard work but SO worth it when im at the mall and able to shop wherever i want to.

 

[portobello_rd]

so lunch.
i picked somewhere based on things i had heard on the resturaunt board.
YAK AND YETI!!
did not have ADRs but since it was September i knew i wouldnt be in too much of a pickle.
and yep, they were able to seat us right away!
yum.
got to sit on the second floor and by a window. it was a great seat!

(WEDDING RING CHECK-STILL HAVE IT!!!)


Tim ordered:
Wok-Fried Green Beans - battered green beans, sweet Thai chili dipping sauce $7.99

these were awesome. cant go wrong with anything deep fried, usually.

I had:
Seared Ahi Tuna - chilled, sesame-encrusted ahi tuna, wasabi aioli, and sweet chili slaw $10.99
this was sooooo good. yum yum yum.

I had:
Vegetable Lo Mein - lo Mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onions, bean sprouts $16.99; add tofu $2

and i added the tofu
OMG YUMMMMMMMM
this was so wonderfully fantastic. it was fresh and the veggies were cooked perfect.

Tim had:
Crispy Mahi Mahi - filet of mahi mahi, Japanese bread crumbs, Cantonese sweet and sour sauce, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables $22.99

he really liked it too.

FOr dessert i had:
Mango Pie - shortbread cookie crust, fresh whipped cream, raspberry sauce $6.99

Tim had:
Sorbet - Mango, lemon, raspberry $6.99

So lunch was awesome, and as im waiting for the bill tim's phone rings.
a little bit of back story here:
Tim builds power plants for a living and before we left he jumped through a bunch of hoops to get clearance to work at a nuclear power plant.
this is a lot of work because the FBI is literally the one doing a background check on you.
he knew that he'd be going to this job after he got home, so everything was GOOD! RIGHT!?!?!?!

so the phone call.
this lady calls and says that she LOST his paperwork for the job and if he didnt have it (re)turned in by TOMORROW at noon he wouldnt get on the job.
he says "im in florida"
she says "i dont care"
he says "im in disneyworld"
she says "i dont care"
he says "i called you after i faxed it the first time and you said you had it"
she says "i dont have it now"

@!$%#@

i meet tim outside the yak and yeti and decides what to do.
he calls my moms boyfriend who lives in green bay (9-0 today baby! go packers!!) and asks him to drive to our house (30 minutes away), break into our house, get my car key, get tim's paperwork, and fax it to him so that he can fill it out and fax it back.

he will take the ugly rental.
i decide to stick at the park, and meet back up with tim at ANIMAL KINGDOM lodge for out dinner ADR at 5. four hours away.


BUT. before he leaves. i want to do the POOH, tigger and eeyore meet and greet.

we hit a photopass guy on our way there:
i love this pic. i blew it up for my wall.

SO meet and greet::

Here i am saying
"look eeyore, you still have your TAEL!!"

Then i want to bounce with tigger we bounce. weeeeeee!!

Tigger and tim are done bouncing, BUT IM NOT. look how tigger covers his eyes. IM HAVING TOO MUCH FUN BOUNCING. hahahaha
im like a crazy person in this picture.

so then tim leaves.
so i run amok.
not really. it was toooooooooooooo hot. i rode EE again. i bought a sweet fleece (which the lady asks if i want to wear right away??? and she was serious! its like 90 degrees out!!)

i also forgot to mention before lunch tim and i went into its tough to be a bug. i loved it. the movement in the chair freaked me out but thats AWESOME.
and again- how many Disney shows will squirt water in my face?

i was over by the other charactor meet and greets and they had NO LINES but i wasnt feeling it. No tim. TOO HOT. and i was tired.
on my way out i snapped some pics.

close to me was a photopass guy in front of the tree and i really wanted to get the Simba pic, so i stopped and did it. he felt bad i was all alone - ive been abandoned!!!!

 

[chimmicat]

Love your TR post...bummer Tim had to leave during the day to take care of something that should have already been taken care of. : ( I live in Orlando and have a AP.....love Tigger. He is such a energetic fun character, I always interact with him in the park. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I love your panda shirt! I really hope he got the job! I hate how people turn their problems into yours...grrrr!

 

[Caretames1]

Girl, you have some of the most fun pictures! If I bounced like that, I'd knock myself out!

Your food looked great, but my DH wounldn't go for it

Too bad your DH had to go throught all of that! I hope he got the job after that!

 

[fromscratchmom]

You are too CUTE!

 

[reelmom]

Joining in. I have only read half way through your first day. I have to go fix lunch for the kids and will be back to finish. You look like you are really enjoying yourselves.

 

[reelmom]

ok, I am back. I am caught up and I am loving your TR. You look like you are having a blast. I hope Tim got the paper work faxed back in time and that it all worked out well. Can't wait for the next update.

 

[portobello_rd]

Love your TR post...bummer Tim had to leave during the day to take care of something that should have already been taken care of. : ( I live in Orlando and have a AP.....love Tigger. He is such a energetic fun character, I always interact with him in the park. Can't wait to hear more.

it was a bummer that he had to leave because we barely saw the park. i did a quick walk thru on my own- but it was hot and i was alllll alone.
i think i was just tired.
and that mean lady on the phone made me cranky.
and tigger was awesome. we bounced!

I love your panda shirt! I really hope he got the job! I hate how people turn their problems into yours...grrrr!

she was not a nice lady. more on that later.
i love my panda shirt too! its really a dress! but it was hot and my chub rub would have made for a rash (too much info???) so i wore it as a top. back here in frigid Wisconsin ive been wearing at a dress with leggings.

Girl, you have some of the most fun pictures! If I bounced like that, I'd knock myself out!

Your food looked great, but my DH wounldn't go for it

Too bad your DH had to go throught all of that! I hope he got the job after that!

we are fun. what can i say.
my DH and I are pretty adventurous eaters. and Yak and Yeti was so awesome. i was so happy with it.
have a great thanksgiving tomorrow!
GO PACKERS!!! OMG, we are doing so awesome!!! who can believe that we'd ever be scared to play the LIONS?!?!

You are too CUTE!

i agree. but thank you.

Joining in. I have only read half way through your first day. I have to go fix lunch for the kids and will be back to finish. You look like you are really enjoying yourselves.

ok, I am back. I am caught up and I am loving your TR. You look like you are having a blast. I hope Tim got the paper work faxed back in time and that it all worked out well. Can't wait for the next update.

thank you for reading everything!
we did have a blast. first trip and all, need to make it MAGICAL.
which i said to tim. WE WILL MAKE THIS MAGICAL EVEN IF I MUST FORCE YOU.
nah. we are go with the flow people for the most part, which i think can make or break your trip.
and i was just happy to BE IN DISNEY FINALLY so i was happy.
when i become a Disney snob maybe i will have more to complain about.

 

[Caretames1]

GO GREEN BAY! I'm so wired for the game and we've got 14 hours to go before game time!!!

 

[portobello_rd]

GO GREEN BAY! I'm so wired for the game and we've got 14 hours to go before game time!!!

11-0 baby!!!!!!! omg.
and rodgers got the gobbler award, yay! the first quarter was tough but WE WON. AGAIN. FIVE GAMES TO GO!!!!!!

 

[onelilspark]

I love your report, you guys really look like you're enjoying yourself.

I'm joining in for the rest!

 

[portobello_rd]

I love your report, you guys really look like you're enjoying yourself.

I'm joining in for the rest!

we did! and welcome!

 

[portobello_rd]

I think we left off and i was walking out of AK.
i was hot.
i was alone.
i was grumpy.
got on the bus heading to Animal Kingdom Lodge and the bus driver got the bus singing a lovely rendition of Hakuna Matata- since the movie had just come out that weekend or the one prior.

I got to Animal Kingdom Lodge at 330. ADR for Boma was at 515.
What to do, what to do.
I browsed the gift shop- fun times.
Then i got a soda with a snack credit, bought a People magazine.
Went into the lobby, and parked myself down, on a comfy chair.
Read my magazine.
Went on facebook on my phone.
And i was pretty happy.

At about 4 tim called and said he wasn't sure if he was going to make it.
i told him that he'd better, else i was eating alone.

at ten after five he shows up.
CRANKY. holy man the poor guy had a rough few hours.
So he went to POR to see if he could recieve faxes there and they said no, hed have to go to a buissness center at one of the Deluxe resorts.
He went to boardwalk.
Then he called my moms boyfriend who had finally broke into my car and at home and got his paperwork and was going to Kinko's to fax everything.
THe crazy lady that lost tims paperwork in the first place emailed tim 10 pages of paperwork that needed to be REFILLED OUT, and my moms boyfriend faxed him 24 pages of old paperwork that needed new dates on everything.
So to RECIEVE all the faxes and then to REFAX all those pages to that stupid lady it was over $150.
yeah.
tim was cranky.
he called her, she said she recieved them (AGAIN).

So tim was cranky, i was cranky but i was excited to eat at Boma. I had heard many good things and it smelled great!!!!!!!

my first ZEBRA DOME! it was good. not like, amazing, but pretty yummy.

I got a Fu-Fu alcoholic drink with a glo cube in it.

everything tastes better with a glo cube in it, i swear!

There always must be a pic with tim and his favorite drink. EVER.
Guinness.

Then, after we were done eating and had gotten like 3 dessert plates and we are ready to go the waitress bring out another cupcake/dessert plate/signed card for our anniversary.
UUUGH. so full
here is the card, signed by everyone in the resturaunt- sorry bad cell phone picture.

Then us with our plate. we picked at it.

We took the ugly rental back to the hotel room and found this:

We weren't sure what to do now. the day was kind of bust and i had been sitting for a long time. so we went here:

and went to downtown Disney.
I wanted to go to World of Disney to start planning souvies for others. and to look for ME of course.

My favorite Disney movies are Robin Hood and Ratatouille.
COULD I FIND ANYTHING TO DO WITH EITHER OF THESE MOVIES?!?!?!?!
no. because it is the same crap over and over again.
DISNEY, seriously!
it was my first trip and i had serious money to throw at you and i was soooooo mad about the lack of diverse stuff.
Now i had heard about this problem on the boards- Disney "dumbed" down the merch but i thought since it was my first trip EVER i would find plenty of stuff i liked. RIGHT???
ugh. i was so angry that Disney refuses to acknowledge most of their older movies that i got so angry i wanted to leave downtown Disney.
We were there like 45 minutes.
On the way back to the boat we stopped at Ghiradelli and got some ice cream.
i got a fudge sundae with a banana.
i ate a few bites.
I turned into a real bummer at the end of this day. Not happy to admit it.
I wake up happy the next day though, i promise!

p.s. Tim was able to work at his nuclear power plant job in the end.

 

[reelmom]

Sorry that day ended so badly. Stinks that Tim had to pay that much money for her mistake. Glad he got the job though.